Nicolae Mitea

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Personal information
Nicolae Mitea
Full name	Nicolae Mitea
Date of birth	March 24, 1985 (1985-03-24) (age 23)
Place of birth	Bucharest, Romania
Height	1.72 m (5 ft 7+¹⁄₂ in)
Playing position	Left Winger
Club information
Current club	Ajax
Number	22
Youth clubs
	FC Rapid Bucureşti
Senior clubs¹
Years	Club	App (Gls)*
2002-2003 2003-	FC Dinamo Bucureşti Ajax	0900(0) 530(11)
National team²
2003-	Romania	0800(2)
¹ Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of August 19, 2007. ² National team caps and goals correct as of August 19, 2007. * Appearances (Goals)

Nicolae Mitea (born March 24, 1985 in Bucharest) is a Romanian footballer who currently plays as a forward for Ajax. Despite not being first choice at Ajax he is renowned for his dribbling ability and fast pace.

Mitea started his professional carrier in the Romanian Divizia A, playing for FC Dinamo Bucureşti in the 2002-03 season. After having played only 9 matches in the Romanian league, he was picked up by Dutch club Ajax after he impressed on a trial. Before he left he and Dinamo won the Cupa României. His first season at Ajax was a success as he, at the tender age of 18 played 23 matches and scored 7 goals in the team that won the Eredivisie championship. This period also saw him making his debut for the Romanian national team on August 20, 2003. The 2004-2005 season proved more difficult, as Mitea struggled to find the back of the net and only scored twice during that season. He performed very well on the Romanian youth team and became more interesting for the national team.

2005 was his breakthrough year in the national team, as he played 4 matches that year in which he scored twice. He established himself as a more important player for the team as well. His development in his career was set on hold due to a knee injury which sidelined him for a long time, resulting in only one appearance for Ajax in the 2005-06 season. Also in the following season he did not play regularly as manager Henk ten Cate choose for other players in his position first. Despite the lack of appearances in these two seasons he added two KNVB Cups to his list of trophies.

[edit] Statistics

Season	Club	Competition	Apps	Goals
2002/03	FC Dinamo Bucureşti	Divizia A	9	0
2003/04	Ajax	Eredivisie	23	7
2004/05	Ajax	Eredivisie	21	2
2005/06	Ajax	Eredivisie	1	0
2006/07	Ajax	Eredivisie	8	2
2007/08	Ajax	Eredivisie	0	0
Total			62	11