{{short description|Romanian former footballer (1947–2005)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=December 2019}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Dan Anca | image = Dan Anca 1966 (cropped).jpg | image_size = 200 | caption = Anca in 1966 | fullname = Dan Sabin Anca<ref name=RS>{{RomanianSoccer|38/dan-sabin-anca}}</ref> | birth_date = {{Birth date|1947|01|07|df=y}} | birth_place = Turda, Romania<ref name=RS/> | death_date = {{Death date and age|2005|10|20|1947|01|07| df=y}} | death_place = Turda, Romania<ref name=RS/> | height = 1.82 m<ref name=RS/> | position = Midfielder<ref name=NFT>{{NFT|37723}}</ref> | youthyears1 = 1959–1961 | youthclubs1 = Chimia Turda | years1 = 1961–1964 |clubs1 = Chimia Turda |caps1 = |goals1 = | years2 = |clubs2 = → Unirea Dej |caps2 = |goals2 = | years3 = 1964–1980 |clubs3 = Universitatea Cluj<ref name=RS/><ref name=4ever>{{cite web | url=https://www.4everucluj.ro/jucatori/dan-anca/ | title=Dan Anca profile| publisher=4everucluj.ro| language=Romanian}}</ref> |caps3 = 398 |goals3 = 32 | nationalyears1 = 1966–1970 | nationalteam1 = Romania U23<ref name=v>{{cite news|url=https://www.11v11.com/players/dan-anca-166677/|title=Dan Anca profile|publisher=11v11|accessdate=8 June 2020}}</ref> | nationalcaps1 = 15 | nationalgoals1 = 0 | nationalyears2 = 1966 | nationalteam2 = Romania B<ref name=v/> | nationalcaps2 = 1 | nationalgoals2 = 0 | nationalyears3 = 1969–1973 |nationalteam3 = Romania | nationalcaps3 = 7 |nationalgoals3= 0 | manageryears1 = 1980–1981 | managerclubs1 = Universitatea Cluj (assistant) | manageryears2 = 1989 | managerclubs2 = Universitatea Cluj (assistant) | manageryears3 = 1989–1990 | managerclubs3 = Universitatea Cluj | manageryears4 = 1993–1994 | managerclubs4 = Universitatea Cluj | manageryears5 = 1995–1997 | managerclubs5 = Universitatea Cluj | manageryears6 = 1998–1999 | managerclubs6 = Universitatea Cluj | manageryears7 = 2002 | managerclubs7 = Universitatea Cluj | manageryears8 = 2002–2003 | managerclubs8 = Universitatea Cluj | pcupdate = 31 December 2019 | ntupdate = 31 December 2019 }}
'''Dan Sabin Anca''' (7 January 1947 – 20 October 2005) was a Romanian football midfielder and manager for Universitatea Cluj.<ref name=RS/><ref name=NFT/><ref name=stiri>{{cite web|url=https://www.stiridecluj.ro/sport/6-ani-de-la-moartea-lui-dan-anca-suporterii-plang|title=6 ani de la moartea lui Dan Anca! Suporterii plang|publisher=Stiridecluj.ro|language=Romanian |trans-title=6 years since Dan Anca died! The fans still crying| date=20 October 2011 |access-date= 31 December 2019}}</ref><ref name=wesport>{{cite web|url=https://welovesport.ro/stiri/fotbal-vintage-baciul-anca-30348|title=Baciul Anca|publisher=Welovesport.ro|language=Romanian| date=19 February 2024|access-date=23 February 2024}}</ref>
==Club career== Anca was born on 7 January 1947 in Turda, Romania and began playing junior-level football in 1959 at local club Chimia.<ref name=RS/><ref name=4ever/><ref name=wesport/> When he was 14, he started to play for Chimia at senior level in the Romanian lower leagues and he also played for a few months at Unirea Dej during his military service.<ref name=ovidiu>{{cite web|url=https://ovidiublag.ro/2019/08/dan-anca-si-atit/|title=Dan Anca. Și atît.|publisher=Ovidiublag.ro|language=Romanian |trans-title=Dan Anca. And that's all| date=23 August 2019 |access-date=8 March 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fcucluj.ro/stiri/12-ani-fara-dan-anca|title=12 ani fără Dan Anca|publisher=Fcucluj.ro|language=Romanian |trans-title=12 years without Dan Anca| date=20 October 2017 |access-date=9 March 2024}}<br>{{cite web|url=https://zcj.ro/sport/--165052.html|title=12 ani fără Dan Anca:"Era un băiat liniștit, l-a iubit toată lumea"|publisher=Zcj.ro|language=Romanian |trans-title=12 years without Dan Anca: "He was a quiet boy, everyone loved him"| date=20 October 2017 |access-date=9 March 2024}}</ref> He joined Universitatea Cluj in 1964, after two of the club's officials, Dr. Mircea Luca and Dr. Ioanete, came to his home to convince his parents to allow him to play for the team.<ref name=RS/><ref name=wesport/><ref name=ovidiu/> [[File:Știința Cluj 1965.jpg|thumb|left|200px|<small>{{center|Anca (standing, fifth from the left) with Știința Cluj in 1965}}</small>]] Anca would spend the rest of his career with "U", making his Divizia A debut under coach Andrei Sepci on 8 November 1964 in a 3–1 home loss to CSMS Iași.<ref name=RS/><ref name=wesport/><ref name=ovidiu/><ref name=zcj>{{cite web|url=https://zcj.ro/sport/17-ani-de-la-disparitia-lui-dan-anca-una-dintre-figurile-emblematice-din-istoria-universitatii-cluj--239165.html|title=17 ani de la dispariția lui Dan Anca, una dintre figurile emblematice din istoria Universității Cluj|publisher=Zcj.ro|language=Romanian |trans-title=17 years since the disappearance of Dan Anca, one of the emblematic figures in the history of Cluj University| date=20 October 2022 |access-date= 19 February 2023}}</ref><ref name=vip>{{cite web | url=http://www.revistavip.net/Arhiva_RevistaVIP/Drama_eroului_de_pe_Wembley_Fostul_fotbalist_Dan_Anca_lupta_pentru_supravietuire/51/593/ | title=Drama eroului de pe Wembley. Fostul fotbalist Dan Anca lupta pentru supravietuire| publisher=Revistavip.net| language=Romanian |trans-title=The drama of the hero at Wembley. Former footballer Dan Anca is fighting for survival| date= | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230219115758/http://www.revistavip.net/Arhiva_RevistaVIP/Drama_eroului_de_pe_Wembley_Fostul_fotbalist_Dan_Anca_lupta_pentru_supravietuire/51/593/| access-date=21 August 2025| archive-date=19 February 2023}}</ref> At the end of his first season, the club won the 1964–65 Cupa României, but he was not used by Sepci in the 2–1 victory in the final against Dinamo Pitești.<ref name=RS/><ref name=wesport/><ref name=zcj/><ref name=vip/><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.4everucluj.ro/istorie/1964-1965/ | title=Universitatea Cluj 1964–65 season| publisher=4everucluj.ro| language=Romanian}}<br>{{cite web|url=https://www.romaniansoccer.ro/romanian_cup/1964_1965.shtml|title=Romanian Cup - Season 1964–1965|publisher=RomanianSoccer|access-date=19 February 2023}}</ref> He scored his first goals for the club in the 1967–68 season, netting the only goal of a victory against Steagul Roșu Brașov, one goal in a 2–0 win over Dinamo Bacău and his team's goal in a 1–1 draw against Steaua București at the Ghencea stadium.<ref name=RS/><ref name=4ever/> Anca played 30 games and scored seven goals in the 1971–72 season, helping ''The Red Caps'' finish in third position.<ref name=RS/><ref name=4ever/><ref name=vip/> Thus, the team earned a spot in the 1972–73 UEFA Cup, where he played in both matches in the first round as Levski Sofia defeated them 6–5 on aggregate.<ref name=RS/><ref name=4ever/><ref name=vip/><ref>{{cite web|publisher=WorldFootball|url=https://www.worldfootball.net/person/pe58356/dan-anca/co132/uefa-europa-league/se3294/1972-1973/club-matches/|title=Dan Anca. UEFA Cup 1972/1973|access-date=19 February 2023}}</ref> At the end of the 1975–76 season, the team was relegated to Divizia B, but Anca stayed with the club, helping it obtain promotion back to the first league after three years.<ref name=RS/><ref name=4ever/><ref name=stiri/><ref name=wesport/> He made his last Divizia A appearance on 11 November 1979 in a 2–0 away loss to FC Baia Mare, totaling 318 matches with 25 goals in the competition.<ref name=RS/><ref name=4ever/><ref name=stiri/><ref name=wesport/>
==International career== Anca appeared in seven matches for Romania, making his debut on 15 January 1969 under coach Angelo Niculescu in a 1–1 friendly draw against England played at the Wembley Stadium in London, where he delivered an appreciated performance against his direct opponent, Bobby Charlton.<ref name=4ever/><ref name=wesport/><ref name=vip/><ref name=EU>{{cite web|url=https://eu-football.info/_player.php?id=455|title=Dan Anca|publisher=European Football|access-date=31 December 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://eu-football.info/_match.php?id=14047|title=England - Romania 1:1|publisher=European Football|access-date=8 June 2020}}</ref> He also played two games in the Euro 1972 qualifiers and one during the 1974 World Cup qualifiers.<ref name=EU/> His last appearance for the national team was a friendly which occurred on 18 April 1973 and ended in a 2–0 away loss to Soviet Union.<ref name=EU/>
==Managerial career== As his playing career, Anca spent his entire managerial career at Universitatea Cluj.<ref name=4ever/><ref name=zcj/><ref name=ovidiu2>{{cite web|url=https://ovidiublag.ro/2011/03/dan-anca-partea-a-doua/|title=Dan Anca, partea a doua|publisher=Ovidiublag.ro|language=Romanian |trans-title=Dan Anca, second part| date=11 March 2011 |access-date=8 March 2024}}</ref> He started at the end of the 1979–80 Divizia A season when he worked as Gheorghe Staicu's assistant, also guiding the team together for the entire following season.<ref name=4ever/><ref name=zcj/><ref name=ovidiu2/><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.4everucluj.ro/istorie/1979-1980/| title=Universitatea Cluj 1979–80 season| publisher=4everucluj.ro| language=Romanian}}<br>{{cite web | url=https://www.4everucluj.ro/istorie/1980-1981/| title=Universitatea Cluj 1980–81 season| publisher=4everucluj.ro| language=Romanian}}</ref> In the middle of the 1988–89 Divizia A season, he worked again as an assistant, this time with Cornel Dinu as head coach.<ref name=wesport/><ref name=ovidiu2/><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.4everucluj.ro/istorie/1988-1989/| title=Universitatea Cluj 1988–89 season| publisher=4everucluj.ro| language=Romanian}}</ref> In the next season he replaced Dinu after the 9th round, leading the team as head coach until the 20th round when he was succeeded by Ștefan Sameș.<ref name=wesport/><ref name=ovidiu2/><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.4everucluj.ro/istorie/1989-1990/| title=Universitatea Cluj 1989–90 season| publisher=4everucluj.ro| language=Romanian}}</ref> Anca worked on a few other occasions as head coach at "U", his last spell taking place in the 2002–03 Divizia B season, totaling 112 matches as a manager in the Romanian top-division, Divizia A, consisting of 35 victories, 22 draws and 55 losses.<ref name=ovidiu2/><ref>{{cite web|publisher=Labtof.ro|url=http://www.labtof.ro/profil/dan-anca-6932/|title=Dan Anca managerial statistics|access-date=19 February 2023|archive-date=19 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170119050813/http://www.labtof.ro/profil/dan-anca-6932/|url-status=dead}}<br>{{cite web | url=https://www.4everucluj.ro/istorie/1993-1994/| title=Universitatea Cluj 1993–94 season| publisher=4everucluj.ro| language=Romanian}}<br>{{cite web | url=https://www.4everucluj.ro/istorie/1995-1996/| title=Universitatea Cluj 1995–96 season| publisher=4everucluj.ro| language=Romanian}}<br>{{cite web | url=https://www.4everucluj.ro/istorie/1996-1997/| title=Universitatea Cluj 1996–97 season| publisher=4everucluj.ro| language=Romanian}}<br>{{cite web | url=https://www.4everucluj.ro/istorie/2001-2002/| title=Universitatea Cluj 2001–02 season| publisher=4everucluj.ro| language=Romanian}}<br>{{cite web | url=https://www.4everucluj.ro/istorie/2002-2003/| title=Universitatea Cluj 2002–03 season| publisher=4everucluj.ro| language=Romanian}}</ref>
==Personal life== His brother was also a footballer who played for Cimentul Turda, and while Anca played for Chimia, they played against each other.<ref name=ovidiu/>
He was married to Floarea Anca who was an international basketball player and they had a son together.<ref name=wesport/> Anca died on 20 October 2005 at age 58 in his native Turda, and the multi-use stadium, Baza Sportivă Dan Anca in Cluj-Napoca was named after him.<ref name=RS/><ref name=4ever/><ref name=stiri/><ref name=wesport/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://cluj.com/locatii/baza-sportiva-dan-anca/|title=Baza Sportiva Dan Anca, U Cluj|publisher=Cluj.com|language=Romanian |trans-title=Dan Anca Sports Base, U Cluj| date= |access-date= 19 February 2023}}</ref>
Journalist Ion Arcaș said about him:"No, he was not a talent like Zoltán Ivansuc, but when will another Ivansuc be born? He was not proud like Mateieanu; but how many live on pride? He wasn't a star like Petru Emil, but how many stars don't become ephemeris? He was not a hope; but how many high hopes were not true illusions? He was a modest, hardworking, disciplined footballer, who gave shine to the "peaks", "sacreds" carried on the arms of enthusiasm."<ref name=4ever/>
==Honours== ===Player=== '''Universitatea Cluj''' *Cupa României: 1964–65<ref name=RS/> *Divizia B: 1978–79<ref name=RS/>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *{{WorldFootball.net|dan-anca}}
{{FC Universitatea Cluj managers}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Anca, Dan}} Category:1947 births Category:2005 deaths Category:Romanian men's footballers Category:Romania men's international footballers Category:Men's association football defenders Category:Liga I players Category:Liga II players Category:FC Unirea Dej players Category:FC Universitatea Cluj players Category:Romanian football managers Category:FC Universitatea Cluj managers Category:Sportspeople from Turda Category:Footballers from Cluj County Category:20th-century Romanian sportsmen