FC Pune City’s fans have a huge reason for cheer. Their favourite club has found its marquee player for Season 2 of the Hero Indian Super League (ISL) in international and club star Adrian Mutu.Born in Călineşti, Romania in 1979, this future Guerin d’Oro-winning striker found his calling at a young age. He began his youth career with Romanian club Argeș Pitești, whose senior side he was to join a few years later. Over a period of three years, his exploits on the Liga I (then, Divizia A) circuit helped him score 14 goals in 47 appearances for Pitești. His form further bettered with his move to Dinamo București FC for two seasons, scoring 29 times on 51 occasions. Strong and precise, Mutu’s finishing skills were to take him to other parts of the continent now.Halfway through the 1999-’00 season, Mutu travelled to Italy and began his campaign with Inter Milan. His first goal in his first Coppa Italia match for the Nerazzuri against arch-rivals AC Milan made him a favourite amongst the fans. However, an unsuccessful Serie A season saw him move to Verona and then Parma, where he amassed a total of 39 goals in the country’s top flight, all by the end of 2003. These years saw him improve upon his agility and his ability to set up goals as well. Finally, the call from London was due. Roman Abramovich’s Chelsea lapped him up for two seasons beginning 2003 where he played alongside the likes of John Terry, Frank Lampard and other greats.His feats transcended the club game. Adrian Mutu is regarded as one of the best strikers to have played for the Romanian national team. With 77 international caps, he has levelled the record tally of his compatriot and ace midfielder Gheorghe Hagi with 35 goals. His international career of 13 years has seen him represent Romania at various international competitions, including UEFA Euro 2000, 2004, and 2008.Mutu was back on Italian shores by 2005 when Turin giants Juventus put him on the attacking front, alongside future-PSG powerhouse Zlatan Ibrahimovic and legends such as former Delhi Dynamos striker Alessandro Del Piero and Pavel Nedvěd. Two years and 11 goals later, he ended his stint with Juventus.The Italian region of Florence welcomed him with open arms, and Mutu returned the favour handsomely. Joining Serie A side Fiorentina was one of the best decisions of his life as he would embark upon a purple patch in his career. His football life under the Tuscan sun saw him reunite with his former Parma manager Cesare Prandelli which saw his game improve to a great extent. Years 2006 to 2011 helped him add around 70 goals to his tally earning him acclaim from the press and fans alike. His keen eye for goals as well as his flawless knack of scoring headers proved to be great tools in his growth on the Italian circuit.Later on, he went on to join Serie A side Cesena and AC Ajaccio in French Ligue 1. He would return to his birth country with Liga I side Petrolul Ploiesti where he was introduced to a screaming sea of fans.And now that FC Pune City has signed Adrian Mutu on as their marquee player for the Hero ISL 2015, it would be interesting to see his chemistry with Costa Rican forward Yendrick Ruiz. His tremendous level of experience should enthral the League’s budding players and fans alike.Elated about his new signing, FC Pune City head coach David Platt said, “Adrian Mutu is capable of taking pressure; his experience is welcoming.”Catch FC Pune City in action on 5th October, 2015, as they go up against rivals Mumbai City FC in the season’s first-ever Maharashtra derby.
