Sergiu Cătălin Hanca (; born 4 April 1992) is a Romanian professional footballer who plays as a winger or a right-back for Liga I club Petrolul Ploiești.
Hanca began his senior career with spells at Snagov, Bihor Oradea, and his hometown club ASA Târgu Mureș, before making a name for himself at Dinamo București. He moved abroad for the first time by signing with Cracovia in 2019, for which he appeared in over 100 Ekstraklasa matches. Three years later, Hanca returned to Romania at Universitatea Craiova.
Internationally, Hanca recorded his debut for Romania in June 2017, in a 1–3 FIFA World Cup qualifier loss to Poland.
Club career
Early career Hanca played football as a youngster for his hometown club FCM Târgu Mureș. In 2009, he joined Liga II team Snagov, for which he amassed 38 league games and one goal. At the start of 2012, Hanca had a brief stint at Bihor Oradea.
Return to Târgu Mureș During mid-2012, Hanca was brought back by his former youth side FCM Târgu Mureș. He made 22 appearances and scored two goals during the 2013–14 season, as his team achieved promotion to the Liga I.
On 8 July 2015, Hanca won his first career trophy after his club—which was renamed ASA Târgu Mureș—defeated FC Steaua București 1–0 in the Supercupa României. He recorded his debut in European competitions on 6 August 2015, starting in a 2–1 away victory over Saint-Étienne in the Europa League play-off round.
Dinamo București On 8 January 2016, Hanca signed a three-and-a-half-year contract with fellow Liga I team Dinamo București. He made his official debut for "the Red Dogs" in a 1–0 league win over Botoșani, on 14 February. On 17 May, he started in the Cupa României final played against CFR Cluj, which Dinamo lost 4–5 at the penalty shootout.
Hanca scored his first goal on 17 October 2016, in a 2–1 victory against Universitatea Craiova in the Liga I. On the 30th the next month, he converted a penalty in a 3–1 derby defeat of FC Steaua București. On 20 May 2017, he won the Cupa Ligii trophy after his side defeated ACS Poli Timișoara 2–0 in the final.
Cracovia Sergiu Hanca joined Cracovia in January 2019, transferring from Dinamo București for a fee reportedly around €60,000. His debut for Cracovia in February 2019 he scored the winning goal in a 2–1 victory over Piast Gliwice. His performances made him one of the team’s top contributors, and ahead of a season he was named captain of Cracovia reflecting his importance on and off the pitch.
By mid‑2022, after roughly three and a half seasons, he had made around 115 appearances, scored 19 goals, and provided 20 assists for Cracovia in all competitions, according to Romanian media reporting his departure.
In summer 2022, Hanca left Cracovia and returned to Romania.
Universitatea Craiova On 29 July 2022, Hanca returned to Romania and its Liga I by signing a three-year deal with Universitatea Craiova.OFICIAL | Bun venit, Sergiu Hanca! He scored his only goal in a 2–1 local derby win over FC U Craiova, on 7 August.
Hanca soon fell out of favour with head coach Mirel Rădoi and the club's directors, being sent to the reserve team and suing them for €2 million. He terminated his contract on 18 June 2023, after receiving €120,000 in compensations.Le-a luat banii și a plecat! Suma uriașă primită de Sergiu Hanca la rezilierea contractului cu Universitatea Craiova
Petrolul Ploiești On 5 July 2023, Hanca agreed to a contract with Petrolul Ploiești.
International career In March 2017, Hanca was selected by manager Christoph Daum in Romania's squad for a 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Denmark. On 10 June that year, he made his debut by coming on as a substitute in a 1–3 loss to Poland in the same competition.
Personal life Hanca married his girlfriend Andreea in May 2016, and their wedding took place in Târgu Mureș in the summer of the same year. The couple is known for its charity work.Gest superb al lui Sergiu Hanca şi al soţiei sale. Au ajutat o familie nevoiaşă să se mute în casă nouă
Career statistics Club
+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueNational CupEuropeOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsSnagov2009–10Liga II8000——802010–11Liga II21100——2112011–12Liga II9000——90Total38100——381Bihor Oradea2011–12Liga II10———10ASA Târgu Mureș2012–13Liga II22220——2422013–14Liga II22210——1322013–14Liga I7000—00702015–16Liga I170301020230Total684601020774Dinamo București2015–16Liga I11030—101502016–17Liga I33930—5341122017–18Liga I3363020—3862018–19Liga I18220——202Total9517110206311420Cracovia2018–19Ekstraklasa162———1622019–20Ekstraklasa3495020—4192020–21Ekstraklasa2144010002642021–22Ekstraklasa31410——3242022–23Ekstraklasa00———00Total10219100300011519Universitatea Craiova2022–23Liga I1012040—161Petrolul Ploiești2023–24Liga I30000——3002024–25Liga I31142——3532025–26Liga I28131——3122026–27Liga I8010——90Total97283——1054Career total411443731008346650
International
+ Appearances and goals by national team and yearNational teamYearAppsGoalsRomania201740202010202220Total70
Honours ASA Târgu Mureș Supercupa României: 2015
Dinamo București Cupa României runner-up: 2015–16 Cupa Ligii: 2016–17
Cracovia Polish Cup: 2019–20 Polish Super Cup: 2020
Individual Liga I Team of the Season: 2016–17 Digi Sport Liga I Player of the Month: April 2017, August 2017
References
External links