1. Overview
Răzvan Cociș is a Romanian former professional footballer who carved out a distinguished career across multiple European leagues and in Major League Soccer. Beginning his youth career at the reputable Universitatea Cluj where he won a national youth title, he quickly rose through the ranks to achieve professional status. Throughout his career, Cociș played for notable clubs such as Sheriff Tiraspol in Moldova, Lokomotiv Moscow and Rostov in Russia, Karpaty Lviv and Hoverla Uzhhorod in Ukraine, and Chicago Fire in the United States. He also represented the Romanian national team at both youth and senior levels, earning 50 caps and scoring two international goals.
2. Early Life and Youth Career
Răzvan Cociș was born on 19 February 1983 in Cluj-Napoca, Cluj County, Romania. He is a product of the prolific and highly regarded youth academy of Universitatea Cluj-Napoca. During his time in the youth ranks, Cociș achieved significant success, including winning a national youth title alongside his teammates. This formative period laid the foundation for his professional career.
2.1. Professional Debut and Early Transfers
Cociș swiftly progressed through the youth setup at Universitatea Cluj, earning a regular first-team spot by the age of 21. His impressive performances attracted attention from several clubs across Europe, with rumors suggesting interest from teams like French club Stade Rennais. However, at the conclusion of the 2003-04 season, he was transferred to the Moldovan club Sheriff Tiraspol. This move saw him join a fellow player from his generation, George Florescu.
3. Club Career
Răzvan Cociș embarked on a diverse professional club career, playing for teams in Moldova, Russia, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Ukraine, and the United States. His journey saw him contribute to various successes, including league titles and cup victories, while showcasing his adaptable midfield skills.
3.1. Sheriff Tiraspol
After his transfer from Universitatea Cluj, Răzvan Cociș joined Moldovan club Sheriff Tiraspol in 2004. He spent three successful seasons with the club until 2006, making 56 appearances and scoring 24 goals. During his tenure, Sheriff Tiraspol enjoyed a period of significant dominance in Moldovan football. Cociș was instrumental in the team securing three consecutive Divizia Națională titles in the 2004-05, 2005-06, and 2006-07 seasons. He also helped the club win the Moldovan Cup in the 2005-06 season and the Moldovan Super Cup in both 2004 and 2005.
3.2. Lokomotiv Moscow
In early 2007, Răzvan Cociș made a significant move to Russian club Lokomotiv Moscow, signing a three-year contract. The transfer fee for Cociș was approximately 2.60 M EUR. During his time at Lokomotiv Moscow, which lasted until the end of 2009, he made 54 appearances and scored 4 goals. He notably scored his first goal in the Russian Premier League against Rubin Kazan. While at Lokomotiv, Cociș also played a part in the team's Russian Cup victory in 2007.
3.3. FC Timișoara and Al-Nassr
Following his departure from Lokomotiv Moscow, Răzvan Cociș signed a short-term contract with Romanian club FC Timișoara on 1 March 2010. This three-month deal, which ran until the summer, included an option for a five-year renewal. During his brief spell with FC Timișoara, he made 9 appearances and scored 3 goals. On 22 May 2010, it was announced that Cociș had signed a contract with Saudi Arabian side Al-Nassr. He played 12 matches and scored 2 goals for Al-Nassr during his time there, which extended into 2011.
3.4. Karpaty Lviv
On 25 February 2011, Cociș moved to Ukrainian club Karpaty Lviv on a loan deal from Al-Nassr. He quickly made an impact, scoring his first goal for Karpaty in a crucial 1-0 victory over Shakhtar Donetsk. He made 11 appearances for the club, scoring 2 goals during his loan spell.
3.5. FC Rostov
After his loan spell at Karpaty Lviv, Răzvan Cociș permanently transferred to Russian Premier League club Rostov in June 2011, following the conclusion of the 2010-11 season. He remained with Rostov for two seasons, from 2011 to 2013, where he made 42 appearances and scored 5 goals.
3.6. FC Hoverla Uzhhorod
In 2013, Cociș returned to Ukraine, joining Hoverla Uzhhorod. He played for the club during the 2013-14 season, making 25 appearances and scoring 3 goals before moving on to his next venture.
3.7. Chicago Fire
On 14 July 2014, it was announced that Răzvan Cociș had joined Major League Soccer club Chicago Fire in the United States. He became a key player for the team, making 66 appearances and scoring 7 goals during his time with the club. He re-signed with Chicago Fire on 23 January 2016. However, on 23 November 2016, Chicago Fire announced that they did not exercise his contract option for the following year, marking the conclusion of his tenure with the team.
4. International Career
Răzvan Cociș proudly represented the Romanian national football team at both the youth and senior levels, participating in various international competitions and qualifying matches.
4.1. Youth National Team
Cociș was a part of the Romanian U-21 national team from 2003 to 2005. During this period, he made 12 appearances and scored 4 goals, showcasing his potential at the youth international stage.
4.2. Senior National Team
Cociș made his debut for the senior Romanian national team on 17 August 2005, in a match against Andorra, which Romania won 2-0. He went on to earn a total of 50 caps for the national team between 2005 and 2013, scoring two goals.
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Romania | 2005 | 5 | 0 |
| 2006 | 8 | 1 | |
| 2007 | 5 | 0 | |
| 2008 | 11 | 1 | |
| 2009 | 3 | 0 | |
| 2010 | 7 | 0 | |
| 2011 | 8 | 0 | |
| 2012 | 2 | 0 | |
| 2013 | 1 | 0 | |
| Total | 50 | 2 | |
4.3. International Goals
Cociș scored two goals for the Romanian national team during his international career.
| # | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 28 February 2006 | GSP Stadium, Nicosia, Cyprus | Armenia | 2-0 | 2-0 | Friendly |
| 2 | 10 September 2008 | Tórsvøllur, Tórshavn, Faroe Islands | Faroe Islands | 1-0 | 1-0 | 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification |
5. Personal Life
On 13 July 2015, while playing for Chicago Fire, Răzvan Cociș successfully obtained a US green card. This achievement was significant for his professional career in the United States, as it qualified him as a domestic player for Major League Soccer roster purposes.
6. Honours
Răzvan Cociș accumulated several team honors throughout his club career:
- Universitatea Cluj
- Divizia C: 2000-01
- Sheriff Tiraspol
- Divizia Națională: 2004-05, 2005-06, 2006-07
- Moldovan Cup: 2005-06
- Moldovan Super Cup: 2004, 2005
- Lokomotiv Moscow
- Russian Cup: 2007