{{Short description|Romanian footballer (born 1999)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2024}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Marco Dulca | image = | fullname = Marco Alexandru Dulca | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1999|05|11|df=yes}} | birth_place = Pohang, South Korea | height = 1.84 m | position = Midfielder | currentclub = Petrolul Ploiești | clubnumber = 88 | youthyears1 = 2004–2015 | youthclubs1 = Universitatea Cluj | youthyears2 = 2015–2019 | youthclubs2 = Swansea City | years1 = 2019–2021 | clubs1 = Viitorul Constanța | caps1 = 14 | goals1 = 0 | years2 = 2020–2021 | clubs2 = → Chindia Târgoviște (loan) | caps2 = 31 | goals2 = 2 | years3 = 2021–2022 | clubs3 = Chindia Târgoviște | caps3 = 36 | goals3 = 2 | clubs4 = FCSB | years4 = 2022–2023 | caps4 = 5 | goals4 = 0 | years5 = 2023 | clubs5 = Chindia Târgoviște | caps5 = 16 | goals5 = 0 | years6 = 2023–2025 | clubs6 = Celje | caps6 = 38 | goals6 = 0 | years7 = 2025– | clubs7 = Petrolul Ploiești | caps7 = 23 | goals7 = 2 | nationalyears1 = 2015 | nationalteam1 = Romania U17{{efn|name=uefa|Official competitive matches only}} | nationalcaps1 = 1 | nationalgoals1 = 0 | nationalyears2 = 2018 | nationalteam2 = Romania U19{{efn|name=uefa}} | nationalcaps2 = 3 | nationalgoals2 = 0 | nationalyears3 = 2017–2021 | nationalteam3 = Romania U21{{efn|name=uefa}} | nationalcaps3 = 6 | nationalgoals3 = 0 | nationalyears4 = 2021 | nationalteam4 = Romania Olympic{{efn|name=uefa}} | nationalcaps4 = 3 | nationalgoals4 = 0 | pcupdate = 18 May 2026 | ntupdate = }}
'''Marco Alexandru Dulca''' (born 11 May 1999) is a Romanian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Liga I club Petrolul Ploiești.
==Club career==
===Early career / Viitorul Constanța=== Dulca started practising football with Universitatea Cluj at the age of five,<ref name="prosport_aug21">{{cite web|url=https://www.prosport.ro/sport-life/marco-dulca-se-iubeste-cu-mihaela-buzarnescu-19328465|title=O nouă poveste de dragoste în sportul românesc: Marco Dulca se iubește cu Mihaela Buzărnescu {{!}} SPECIAL|trans-title=A new love story in Romanian sports: Marco Dulca is in a relationship with Mihaela Buzărnescu {{!}} SPECIAL|publisher=ProSport|language=ro|date=15 September 2021|access-date=24 September 2021}}</ref> and remained at the club for more than a decade before joining the academy of Swansea City in 2015.
He returned to Romania four years later by signing for Viitorul Constanța,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gsp.ro/fotbal/liga-1/marco-dulca-a-semnat-cu-viitorul-571136.html|title=Marco Dulca a semnat cu Viitorul » Din Anglia, direct în Liga 1|trans-title=Marco Dulca signed with Viitorul » From England, directly to Liga 1|newspaper=Gazeta Sporturilor|language=ro|date=2 July 2019|access-date=2 November 2021}}</ref> where he recorded his senior debut in a 3–2 Liga I victory over Hermannstadt on 28 July 2019.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fanatik.ro/viitorul-hermannstadt-live-stream-liga-1-video-online-tv-pe-digisport-telekom-look-tv-si-fanatik-ro-19038135|title=Hagi revine pe locul 1! Spectacol total la Viitorul – Hermannstadt: 3-2, după 0-0 la pauză. VIDEO|trans-title=Hagi returns to the first place! Total entertainment in Viitorul – Hermannstadt: 3–2, after 0–0 at the break. VIDEO|publisher=Fanatik.ro|language=ro|date=28 July 2019|access-date=2 November 2021}}</ref>
===Chindia Târgoviște=== On 30 August 2020, Dulca was loaned out to fellow league team Chindia Târgoviște.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.farulconstanta.com/stiri/noutati/tiberiu-capusa-si-paul-iacob-vor-evolua-la-chindia-targoviste|title=Tiberiu Căpușă, Marco Dulca și Paul Iacob vor evolua la Chindia Târgoviște|trans-title=Tiberiu Căpușă, Marco Dulca și Paul Iacob will play for Chindia Târgoviște|publisher=FC Viitorul Constanța|language=ro|date=30 August 2020}}</ref> He scored his first career goal in a 2–2 home draw with Argeș Pitești on 19 December, and totalled 33 matches in all competitions during the 2020–21 season.
During the summer of 2021, Dulca joined Chindia Târgoviște on a permanent basis as part of a swap deal.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.prosport.ro/fotbal-intern/liga-1/chindia-da-lovitura-pe-piata-transferurilor-sase-jucatori-de-la-clubul-lui-gheorghe-hagi-ajung-la-echipa-din-targoviste-dupa-plecarea-lui-marian-aioani-la-noul-farul-19283255|title=Chindia dă lovitura pe piața transferurilor! Șase jucători de la clubul lui Gheorghe Hagi ajung la echipa din Târgoviște, după plecarea lui Marian Aioani la noul Farul|trans-title=Chindia hits the jackpot on the transfer market! Six players from Gheorghe Hagi's club are joining the team from Târgoviște, after Marian Aioani left for the new Farul|publisher=ProSport|language=ro|date=21 June 2021}}</ref>
===FCSB=== On 5 August 2022, FCSB officially announced the signing of Dulca after diverting him from his way to 1899 Hoffenheim and meeting his €200,000 release clause.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fcsb.ro/ro/stiri/stire-bine-ai-venit-marco-dulca/|title=Bine ai venit, Marco Dulca!|trans-title=Welcome, Marco Dulca|publisher=FCSB|language=ro|date=5 August 2022|access-date=5 August 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.prosport.ro/fotbal-intern/superliga/s-a-aflat-cum-a-reusit-fcsb-super-transferul-lui-marco-dulca-conducatorul-chindiei-a-dat-cartile-pe-fata-am-fost-obligati-sa-l-cedam-se-stie-asta-de-acum-un-an-exclusiv-19500366|title=S-a aflat cum a reușit FCSB super transferul lui Marco Dulca! Conducătorul Chindiei a dat cărțile pe față: "Am fost obligați să-l cedăm! Se știe asta de acum un an!" | EXCLUSIV|trans-title=It was found out how FCSB managed the super transfer of Marco Dulca! Chindia's director revealed everything: "We were forced to give up on him! This has been known since a year ago!" | EXCLUSIVE|publisher=ProSport|language=ro|date=6 August 2022|access-date=6 August 2022|quote=Marcel Ghergu, the director of Chindia, said that Marco Dulca had the 250,000 euro clause since the moment the contract was signed.}}</ref><ref name="abuse">{{cite web|url=https://www.fanatik.ro/gigi-becali-a-adus-la-fcsb-un-jucator-cu-probleme-marco-dulca-acuzat-de-mihaela-buzarnescu-ca-a-agresat-o-fizic-20106878|title=FCSB a transferat un jucător cu probleme? Marco Dulca, acuzat de Mihaela Buzărnescu că a agresat-o fizic|trans-title=FCSB transferred a problem player? Marco Dulca, accused by Mihaela Buzărnescu of physical abuse|publisher=Fanatik.ro|language=ro|date=9 August 2022}}</ref> He made his debut the following day in a 1–1 league draw at Mioveni.
===Celje=== On 14 September 2023, Dulca moved abroad for the first time in his senior career and signed with Slovenian PrvaLiga outfit Celje on a contract until 2026.<ref>{{cite web |title=Albert Riera je dobil novo okrepitev, v zvezni vrsti bo igral Marco Dulca, ki ima tržno vrednost 750.000 evrov |url=https://www.nogomania.com/Novica/Albert-Riera-je-dobil-novo-okrepitev-v-zvezni-vrsti-bo-igral-Marco-Dulca-ki-ima-trzno-vrednost-750-000-evrov |publisher=Nogomania |access-date=14 September 2023 |language=sl |date=14 September 2023}}</ref>
==International career== Dulca represented the Romania national under-23 team in the 2020 Summer Olympics in Japan,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.frf.ro/nationale/masculin/echipa-nationala/live-aflam-impreuna-tricolorii-convocati-pentru-jocurile-olimpice-de-la-tokyo/|title=Lotul României U23 convocat pentru Jocurile Olimpice de la Tokyo|trans-title=Romania U23's squad called up for the Olympic Games in Tokyo|publisher=Romanian Football Federation|date=29 June 2021|access-date=14 September 2021}}</ref> starting in all three games of the group-stage exit.<ref name="SW"/>
==Personal life== Dulca was born in Pohang, South Korea, where his father Cristian was playing for Pohang Steelers. The latter was also a professional footballer and was part of the Romania squad for the 1998 FIFA World Cup.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.digisport.ro/fotbal/echipa-nationala/marco-dulca-o-ia-pe-urmele-tatalui-sau-e-gata-sa-se-vopseasca-blond-daca-romania-se-intoarce-cu-o-medalie-de-la-tokyo-1170249|title=Marco Dulca o ia pe urmele tatălui său! E gata să se vopsească blond dacă România se întoarce cu o medalie de la Tokyo|trans-title=Marco Dulca follows in his father's footsteps! He is ready to paint his hair blonde if Romania returns with a medal from Tokyo|publisher=Digi Sport|language=ro|date=3 July 2021|access-date=24 September 2021}}</ref>
In 2021, it was reported that Dulca started dating Mihaela Buzărnescu, a Romanian tennis player 11 years his senior.<ref name="prosport_aug21"/> They ended their relationship the following year, after she accused him of emotional abuse.<ref name="abuse"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gsp.ro/stire/stire-659338.html|title=Marco Dulca reacționează la acuzațiile aduse de Mihaela Buzărnescu, fosta lui iubită|trans-title=Marco Dulca reacts to the accusations brought by Mihaela Buzărnescu, his ex-girlfriend|newspaper=Gazeta Sporturilor|language=ro|date=30 March 2022|access-date=1 April 2022}}</ref>
==Career statistics== {{Updated|match played 18 May 2026}}<ref name="SW">{{Soccerway|marco-dulca/416846|access-date=30 August 2021}}</ref> {| class=wikitable style=text-align:center |+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition |- !rowspan=2|Club !rowspan=2|Season !colspan=3|League !colspan=2|National cup{{efn|Includes Cupa României, Slovenian Cup}} !colspan=2|Continental !colspan=2|Other !colspan=2|Total |- !Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals |- |Viitorul Constanța |2019–20 |Liga I |14||0||1||0||0||0||0||0||15||0 |- |Chindia Târgoviște (loan) |2020–21 |Liga I |31||2||2||0||colspan=2|—||colspan=2|—||33||2 |- |rowspan="3"|Chindia Târgoviște |2021–22 |Liga I |33||2||2||0||colspan=2|—||2{{efn|name=LIPRPO|Appearances in Liga I promotion/relegation play-offs}}||0||37||2 |- |2022–23 |Liga I |19||0||colspan=2|—||colspan=2|—||colspan=2|—||19||0 |- !colspan="2"|Total!!83!!4!!4!!0||colspan=2|—||2||0||89!!4 |- |FCSB |2022–23 |Liga I |5||0||3||0||5{{efn|name=CON|Appearances in UEFA Conference League}}||0||colspan=2|—||13||0 |- |rowspan=3|Celje |2023–24 |Slovenian PrvaLiga |21||0||2||0||colspan=2|—||colspan=2|—||23||0 |- |2024–25 |Slovenian PrvaLiga |17||0||4||1||13{{efn|Two appearances in UEFA Champions League, two appearances in UEFA Europa League, nine appearances in UEFA Conference League}}||0||colspan=2|—||34||1 |- !colspan="2"|Total!!38!!0!!6!!1||13!!0||colspan=2|—||57!!1 |- |Petrolul Ploiești |2025–26 |Liga I |23||2||1||0||colspan=2|—||colspan=2|—||24||2 |- !colspan="3"|Career total !163!!6!!15!!1!!18!!0!!2!!0!!198!!7 |} {{notelist}}
==Honours== '''Viitorul Constanța''' *Supercupa României: 2019<ref name="SW"/>
'''Celje''' *Slovenian PrvaLiga: 2023–24<ref name="SW"/> *Slovenian Cup: 2024–25<ref name="SW"/>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *{{RomanianSoccer|4773/marco-dulca}}
{{FC Petrolul Ploiești squad}} {{Romania men's football squad 2020 Summer Olympics}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Dulca, Marco}} Category:1999 births Category:Living people Category:Footballers from Pohang Category:Footballers from Cluj-Napoca Category:Romanian men's footballers Category:Men's association football midfielders Category:Liga I players Category:Slovenian PrvaLiga players Category:Swansea City A.F.C. players Category:FC Viitorul Constanța players Category:AFC Chindia Târgoviște players Category:FCSB players Category:NK Celje players Category:FC Petrolul Ploiești players Category:Romania men's youth international footballers Category:Romania men's under-21 international footballers Category:Olympic footballers for Romania Category:Footballers at the 2020 Summer Olympics Category:Romanian expatriate men's footballers Category:Romanian expatriate sportspeople in Wales Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Wales Category:Romanian expatriate sportspeople in Slovenia Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Slovenia Category:21st-century Romanian sportsmen