Valentin Cojocaru
Romanian footballer (born 1995)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Valentin Alexandru Cojocaru (born 1 October 1995) is a Romanian professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Ekstraklasa club Pogoń Szczecin.[2]
|
Cojocaru with Pogoń Szczecin in 2025 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Valentin Alexandru Cojocaru | ||
| Date of birth | 1 October 1995 | ||
| Place of birth | Bucharest, Romania | ||
| Height | 1.95 m (6 ft 5 in)[1] | ||
| Position | Goalkeeper | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Pogoń Szczecin | ||
| Number | 77 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2004–2007 | Dinamo București | ||
| 2007–2011 | Steaua București | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2010–2011 | Steaua București II | 3 | (0) |
| 2011–2017 | Steaua București | 19 | (0) |
| 2016–2017 | → Crotone (loan) | 0 | (0) |
| 2017 | → Frosinone (loan) | 0 | (0) |
| 2017 | Apollon Limassol | 0 | (0) |
| 2018–2021 | Viitorul Constanța | 70 | (0) |
| 2020 | → Voluntari (loan) | 19 | (0) |
| 2021–2022 | Dnipro-1 | 14 | (0) |
| 2022 | → Feyenoord (loan) | 0 | (0) |
| 2022–2024 | OH Leuven | 37 | (0) |
| 2023–2024 | → Pogoń Szczecin (loan) | 27 | (0) |
| 2024– | Pogoń Szczecin | 68 | (0) |
| International career | |||
| 2014–2015 | Romania U19 | 7 | (0) |
| 2014–2016 | Romania U21 | 14 | (0) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 18:45, 8 August 2026 (UTC) | |||
Club career
Steaua București
In 2011, Cojocaru was selected for a trial at Liverpool, but he returned to Steaua because the clubs could not agree on a transfer sum.[3] He made his first appearance for Steaua București on 7 May 2013 against Gloria Bistrița, a game won with the score of 1–0. He is the son of former football referee Ispas Cojocaru.[4][5]
On 1 September 2016, Crotone announced the signing of Cojocaru on loan with a buy-out option.[6]
On 26 January 2017, Cojocaru joined Italian club Frosinone on loan.[7]
Apollon Limassol
On 7 September 2017, Apollon Limassol announced the signing of Cojocaru.[8] On 22 January 2018, Apollon Limassol mutually agreed to end player's contract.[9]
Viitorul Constanța
On 24 January 2018, Cojocaru joined Liga I side Viitorul Constanța.[10]
On 24 January 2020, Cojocaru was sent on loan to another Liga I club Voluntari until the end of the season with a buy-out option.[11]
Dnipro-1
On 5 July 2021, he joined Dnipro-1.[12]
Loan to Feyenoord
Pogoń Szczecin
After a year-long stint with Belgian side OH Leuven, Cojocaru moved to Polish Ekstraklasa club Pogoń Szczecin on a season-long loan on 4 September 2023. After establishing himself as the first-choice goalkeeper, his move was made permanent on 5 April 2024, two days after reaching the Polish Cup final with Pogoń.[14]
International career
In November 2016, Cojocaru received his first call-up to the senior Romania squad for matches against Poland and Russia.[15]
Career statistics
- As of match played 8 August 2026
| Club | Season | League | National cup[a] | League cup[b] | Europe | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Steaua București | 2012–13 | Liga I | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | — | 3 | 0 | ||
| 2014–15 | Liga I | 7 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 0 | |
| 2015–16 | Liga I | 7 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 5[c] | 0 | 1[d] | 0 | 20 | 0 | |
| 2016–17 | Liga I | 2 | 0 | — | — | 1[e] | 0 | — | 3 | 0 | ||||
| Total | 19 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 39 | 0 | ||
| Viitorul Constanța | 2017–18 | Liga I | 13 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 13 | 0 | ||||
| 2018–19 | Liga I | 27 | 0 | 4 | 0 | — | 4[f] | 0 | — | 35 | 0 | |||
| 2019–20 | Liga I | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||
| 2020–21 | Liga I | 30 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 2[g] | 0 | 32 | 0 | |||
| Total | 70 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 81 | 0 | ||
| Voluntari (loan) | 2019–20 | Liga I | 19 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 19 | 0 | ||||
| Dnipro-1 | 2021–22 | Ukrainian Premier League | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | 14 | 0 | |||
| Feyenoord (loan) | 2021–22 | Eredivisie | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | |||
| OH Leuven | 2022–23 | Belgian Pro League | 34 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 36 | 0 | |||
| 2023–24 | Belgian Pro League | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 3 | 0 | |||||
| Total | 37 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 39 | 0 | ||
| Pogoń Szczecin (loan) | 2023–24 | Ekstraklasa | 27 | 0 | 5 | 0 | — | — | — | 32 | 0 | |||
| Pogoń Szczecin | 2024–25 | Ekstraklasa | 34 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | 37 | 0 | |||
| 2025–26 | Ekstraklasa | 31 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 33 | 0 | ||||
| 2026–27 | Ekstraklasa | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | 3 | 0 | ||||
| Total | 68 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 73 | 0 | ||
| Career total | 254 | 0 | 25 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 297 | 0 | ||
- Includes Cupa României, Belgian Cup, Polish Cup
- Includes Cupa Ligii
- Four appearances in UEFA Champions League, one appearance in UEFA Europa League
- Appearance in Supercupa României
- Appearance in UEFA Champions League
- Appearances in UEFA Europa League
- Appearance in Liga I play-offs for UEFA Europa Conference League
Honours
Steaua București
- Liga I: 2012–13, 2014–15
- Cupa României: 2014–15
- Supercupa României: 2013
- Cupa Ligii: 2014–15, 2015–16
Viitorul Constanța
Feyenoord
- UEFA Europa Conference League runner-up: 2021–22[16]
Pogoń Szczecin
- Polish Cup runner-up: 2023–24, 2024–25