{{short description|Romanian footballer}} {{Use dmy dates|date=February 2020}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Radu Jercan | image = Radu Jercan 1969.jpg | image_size = 200 | caption = Jercan with Argeș Pitești in 1969 | fullname = <!-- if different --> | birth_date = {{Birth date|1945|10|24|df=y}}<ref name=EU/> | birth_place = Popești-Leordeni, Romania<ref name=RS>{{RomanianSoccer|5059/radu-jercan}}</ref> | death_date = {{Death date and age|2012|09|29|1945|10|24|df=y}}<ref name=EU/> | death_place = Popești-Leordeni, Romania<ref name=GSP/> | height = 1.69 m<ref name=RS/> | position = Forward<ref name=GSP/> | years1 = 1966–1967 |clubs1 = Dinamo Victoria București |caps1 = |goals1 = | years2 = 1967–1976 |clubs2 = Argeș Pitești |caps2 = 247 |goals2 = 27 | years3 = 1976–1978 |clubs3 = Muscelul Câmpulung |caps3 = |goals3 = | nationalyears1 = 1972 | nationalteam1 = Romania | nationalcaps1 = 2 | nationalgoals1 = 0 | manageryears1 = 1978–1979 |managerclubs1 = ȘN Oltenița | manageryears2 = 1980–1981 |managerclubs2 = CS Târgoviște (assistant) | manageryears3 = |managerclubs3 = Muscelul Câmpulung | manageryears4 = |managerclubs4 = Chimia Găești | manageryears5 = |managerclubs5 = Textila Roșiori | manageryears6 = |managerclubs6 = IUPS Chitila }}
'''Radu Jercan''' (24 October 1945 – 29 September 2012) was a Romanian football forward and manager.<ref name=GSP>{{cite web | url=https://www.gsp.ro/fotbal/liga-2/radu-jercan-partenerul-lui-dobrin-in-atacul-lui-fc-arges-a-decedat-la-66-de-ani-363508.html | title=Radu Jercan, partenerul lui Dobrin în atacul lui FC Argeş, a decedat la 66 de ani| publisher=Gsp.ro| language=Romanian |trans-title=Radu Jercan, Dobrin's partner in the attack of FC Arges, died at 66| date=1 October 2012 | access-date=21 February 2020}}</ref><ref name=GSP2>{{cite web | url=https://www.gsp.ro/fotbal/liga-2/redy-jercan-a-fost-inmormintat-azi-citeste-povestea-unuia-din-locotenentii-lui-dobrin-363731.html | title=Redy Jercan a fost înmormîntat azi. Citeşte povestea unuia din "locotenenţii" lui Dobrin| publisher=Gsp.ro| language=Romanian |trans-title=Redy Jercan was buried today. Read the story of one of Dobrin's "lieutenants"| date=2 October 2012 | access-date=21 February 2020}}</ref>
==Club career== Jercan was born on 24 October 1945 in Popești-Leordeni, Romania and began playing football in 1966 at Divizia B side, Dinamo Victoria București.<ref name=RS/><ref name=GSP2/><ref name=arges>{{cite web | url=https://argesfc.ro/10-ani-fara-radu-jercan/ | title=10 ani fără Radu Jercan| publisher=Argesfc.ro| language=Romanian |trans-title=10 years without Radu Jercan| date=29 September 2022 | access-date=23 August 2024}}</ref><ref name=jurnalul>{{cite web | url=https://jurnaluldearges.ro/10-ani-de-la-disparitia-campionului-alb-violet-radu-jercan-216679/ | title=10 ani de la dispariția campionului alb-violet Radu Jercan| publisher=Jurnaluldearges.ro| language=Romanian |trans-title=10 years since the disappearance of the purple-white champion Radu Jercan| date=29 September 2022 | access-date=23 August 2024}}</ref>
One year later, Jercan joined Argeș Pitești where on 20 August 1967 he made his Divizia A debut under coach Ion Bălănescu in a 2–0 home loss to Rapid București.<ref name=RS/><ref name=GSP2/><ref>{{cite web|publisher=Labtof|url=https://www.labtof.ro/romania/1967-1968/divizia-a/1/rapid-bucuresti-3-vs-fc-arges-221-5770/|title=Rapid București vs FC Arges 0-2|access-date=27 October 2025}}</ref> He started playing in European competitions during the 1967–68 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup, scoring a goal in a victory over Ferencváros, and in the following edition he scored in a win against Göztepe, but on both occasions Argeș was eliminated on the aggregate result.<ref name=RS/><ref>{{cite web|publisher=WorldFootball|url=https://www.worldfootball.net/person/pe118901/radu-jercan/co132/uefa-europa-league/se3299/1967-1968/club-matches/|title=Radu Jercan. Europa League 1967/1968|access-date=22 August 2024}}<br>{{cite web|publisher=WorldFootball|url=https://www.worldfootball.net/person/pe118901/radu-jercan/co132/uefa-europa-league/se3298/1968-1969/club-matches/|title=Radu Jercan. Europa League 1968/1969|access-date=22 August 2024}}</ref> In the 1971–72 season he formed a successful offensive trio with Nicolae Dobrin and Constantin Radu that helped Argeș win the first title in its history.<ref name=RS/><ref name=RSC>{{cite web|url=https://www.romaniansoccer.ro/menu_items/champions.shtml|title=Romania National Champions |publisher=RomanianSoccer|access-date=22 August 2024}}</ref> Jercan netted a personal record of eight goals in the 29 appearances under coaches Titus Ozon and Florin Halagian, including a brace in Halagian's first game as coach, a 2–1 win over Rapid București.<ref name=RS/><ref name=RSC/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://argesfc.ro/halagian-la-primul-meci-pe-banca-argesului/|title=Halagian la primul meci pe banca Argeșului|trans-title=Halagian at the first game on the Argeș bench|language=Romanian|publisher=Argesfc.ro|date=29 August 2023|access-date=22 August 2024}}<br>{{cite web|url=https://jurnaluldearges.ro/halagian-la-primul-meci-pe-banca-argesului-dobrin-si-momentele-sale-magice-270891/|title=Halagian la primul meci pe banca Argeșului. Dobrin și momentele sale magice|trans-title=Halagian at the first match on the Argeș bench. Dobrin and his magical moments|language=Romanian|publisher=Jurnaluldearges.ro|date=29 August 2023|access-date=22 August 2024}}</ref> Afterwards he played three games in the 1972–73 European Cup, eliminating Aris Bonnevoie in the first round, then in the following one they won a home game with 2–1 against Real Madrid, but lost the second leg with 3–1.<ref name=RS/><ref>{{cite web | url=https://adevarul.ro/stiri-locale/pitesti/singura-echipa-romaneasca-de-fotbal-care-a-invins-1846838.html | title=Singura echipă românească de fotbal care a învins trei mari cluburi din Spania. Marele Dobrin a fost cheia succeselor| publisher=Adevarul.ro| language=Romanian |trans-title=The only Romanian football team that has defeated three major clubs in Spain. The great Dobrin was the key to success| date=1 March 2018 | access-date=23 August 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|publisher=WorldFootball|url=https://www.worldfootball.net/person/pe118901/radu-jercan/co19/uefa-champions-league/se3038/1972-1973/club-matches/|title=Radu Jercan. Champions League 1972/1973|access-date=22 August 2024}}</ref> Jercan's last Divizia A appearance took place on 13 June 1976 in a 7–1 away loss to Dinamo București, totaling 247 matches with 27 goals in the competition and 11 games with two goals in European competitions (including six games with two goals in the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup).<ref name=RS/>
In 1976, Jercan went to Muscelul Câmpulung, where his former Argeș teammate, Ion Barbu was coach, and he was also colleagues with other former Argeș teammates such as Constantin Radu, Vasile Stan and Marian Popescu.<ref name=RS/><ref name=arges2>{{cite web | url=https://argespress.ro/cutia-cu-amintiri-vasile-stan-cea-mai-mare-satisfactie-era-sa-i-vezi-pe-acei-oameni-ca-te-felicita-si-sunt-fericiti-de-jocul-tau/ | title=Cutia cu amintiri: VASILE STAN: "Cea mai mare satisfacție era să-i vezi pe acei oameni că te felicită și sunt fericiți de jocul tău"| publisher=Argespress.ro| language=Romanian |trans-title=Box of memories: VASILE STAN: "The greatest satisfaction was to see those people congratulating you and being happy with your game"| date=3 September 2022| access-date=25 August 2024}}</ref> They managed to get the team promoted from the third league to the second where he ended his career in 1978.<ref name=RS/><ref name=arges2/> During his career he was known for his speed, running 100 metres in about 11 seconds.<ref name=GSP/><ref name=GSP2/><ref name=arges/><ref name=jurnalul/>
==International career== Jercan played two friendly games for Romania, making his debut on 30 January 1972 under coach Gheorghe Ola in a 4–2 away victory against Morocco.<ref name=EU>{{cite web|url=https://eu-football.info/_player.php?id=9501|title=Radu Jercan |publisher=European Football|access-date=21 February 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://eu-football.info/_match.php?id=11800|title=Morocco – Romania 2:4|publisher=European Football|access-date=28 July 2020}}</ref> His second game was a 2–2 draw against Peru.<ref name=EU/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://eu-football.info/_match.php?id=11815|title=Romania – Peru 2:2|publisher=European Football|access-date=28 July 2020}}</ref>
==Coaching career== After he ended his playing career, Jercan coached teams in the Romanian lower leagues such as Muscelul Câmpulung, Ș.N. Oltenița, CS Târgoviște, Chimia Găiești, Textila Roșiori and IUPS Chitila.<ref name=GSP/><ref name=GSP2/><ref name=arges/><ref name=jurnalul/>
==Death== Jercan spent the final years of his life in his hometown, Popești-Leordeni where on 29 September 2012 he died at age 66.<ref name=EU/><ref name=GSP/><ref name=GSP2/>
==Honours== '''Argeș Pitești''' *Divizia A: 1971–72<ref name=RS/><ref>{{NFT|37749}}</ref> '''Muscelul Câmpulung''' *Divizia C: 1976–77<ref name=arges2/>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *{{WorldFootball.net|radu-jercan}} *[https://www.labtof.ro/profil/radu-jercan-3563/ Radu Jercan] at Labtof.ro
{{DEFAULTSORT:Jercan, Radu}} Category:1945 births Category:2012 deaths Category:Romanian men's footballers Category:Romania men's international footballers Category:Men's association football forwards Category:Liga I players Category:Liga II players Category:Victoria București players Category:FC Argeș Pitești players Category:Romanian football managers Category:Footballers from Ilfov County Category:20th-century Romanian sportsmen