Nicolao Dumitru

In this Portuguese name, the first or maternal family name is Dumitruand the second or paternal family name is Cardoso.

Nicolao Dumitru

Dumitru with Johor Darul Ta'zim in 2024
Personal information
Full name	Nicolao Manuel Dumitru Cardoso
Date of birth	(1991-10-12) 12 October 1991 (age 32)
Place of birth	Nacka, Sweden [1]
Height	1.84 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s)	Winger, forward
Team information
Current team	Johor Darul Takzim
Number	27
Youth career
0000–2004	Massetana
2005–2010	Empoli
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2008–2010	Empoli	2	(0)
2010–2017	Napoli	9	(0)
2011–2012	→ Empoli (loan)	25	(4)
2012–2013	→ Ternana (loan)	15	(1)
2013–2014	→ Cittadella (loan)	18	(1)
2014	→ Reggina (loan)	13	(2)
2014–2015	→ Veria (loan)	27	(6)
2015–2016	→ Latina (loan)	34	(7)
2016–2017	→ Nottingham Forest (loan)	10	(1)
2017–2018	Alcorcón	12	(2)
2018–2019	Gimnàstic	13	(1)
2019	Livorno	8	(0)
2019–2021	Gaz Metan Mediaș	41	(12)
2021	Suwon Samsung Bluewings	17	(1)
2022	UTA Arad	13	(3)
2022–2023	Bnei Sakhnin	28	(3)
2023–2024	Buriram United	6	(0)
2024–	Johor Darul Ta'zim	0	(0)
International career
2009–2010	Italy U19 [2]	8	(1)
2010–2011	Italy U20 [2]	9	(2)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 15 May 2023

Nicolao Manuel Dumitru Cardoso ^[2] (born 12 October 1991) is an Italian professional footballer who plays for Malaysia Super League club Johor Darul Ta'zim. Mainly a left-winger, he can also play as a forward.

Club career

Empoli

Dumitru started his professional career at Empoli, in a match during the 2008–09 season in Serie B. He also played another game in the following season, still at Serie B level.^{[ citation needed ]}

Napoli

On 31 August 2010, he was signed by Serie A club S.S.C. Napoli at age 18 and 11 months. ^[3] He failed to break into the first team during his period at Napoli, making only nine Serie A appearances at the club. Dumitru also played a few games for the reserve.

Return to Empoli

On 20 July 2011, it was announced Dumitru would return to Empoli in Serie B for the 2011–12 season on a one-year loan basis. ^[4] On 27 August he scored on his debut, in the first match of the league, against Juve Stabia.

Further Italian loan spells

On 23 July 2012, Dumitru joined Serie B club Ternana on a season-long loan deal until the end of the 2012–13 season. ^[5] On 31 January 2013 the loan was terminated. ^[6] Dumitru joined Citadella on a temporary deal the same day. ^[7] He joined Reggina on loan for the 2013–14 season. ^[8]

Loan to Veria

On 13 August 2014, Greek club Veria announced the loan signing of Dumitru from Napoli on a one-year deal. ^[9] He debuted on 24 August 2014 in the season's premiere home match against Skoda Xanthi where he scored his first goal. On 13 September 2014, in a match against Kerkyra, he scored his second goal and was the victim of "derogatory and racist remarks" Horacio Cardozo. ^{[10] [11]} The incident was reported by Veria's squad ^[12] and Cardozo was invited by the Hellenic Football Federation to further give an explanation of the incident that took place. The HFF found Cardozo not guilty due to the lack of strong evidence.^{[ citation needed ]} Dumitru was twice nominated for the Best Goal award for the goals that he scored on the first matchday as well as on the third, and won the award for his second goal in the championship. He also scored twice on his 2014–15 Greek Cup debut in home 4–1 victory against Ermionida. He got his first assist with Veria against PAS Giannina where Nikos Kaltsas scored. He scored his third championship goal in a home victory against Levadiakos during Superleague's seventh matchday.

Loan to Nottingham Forest

On 30 August 2016, Dumitru joined Nottingham Forest on a season-long loan. ^[13] On 30 December 2016, he scored his first goal for the club in a 3–1 lost against Newcastle United. ^[14]

Alcorcón

On 1 August 2017, Dumitru signed a two-year deal with Spanish Segunda División club AD Alcorcón. ^[15]

Gimnàstic

On 11 January 2018, he moved to fellow league team Gimnàstic de Tarragona. ^[16]

Livorno

On 5 February 2019, Dumitru signed with Italian club Livorno. ^[17]

Gaz Metan Mediaș

On 25 July 2019, Dumitru signed a two-year contract with Romanian club Gaz Metan Mediaș. ^[18]

Suwon Samsung Bluewings

On 14 January 2021, Dumitru signed a contract with Korean club Suwon Bluewings.

UTA Arad

On 17 January 2021, Dumitru moved to Romania to sign with UTA Arad

Bnei Sakhnin

In July 2022, Dumitru successively signed a one-year contract for Israel club, Bnei Sakhnin. ^[19]

Buriram United

On 8 July 2023, Dumitru moved to Thailand giants, Buriram United.^{[ citation needed ]}

Johor Darul Ta'zim

On 3 February 2024, Dumitru moved to Malaysia giants, Johor Darul Ta'zim.

International career

Dumitru was eligible to play international football for Sweden by birth, Brazil through his mother, Romania through his father and Italy through residency, his family having migrated there from Sweden when he was a child.^{[ citation needed ]}

With the Italy U-19 national team in 2010, he took part in the U-19 European Championship. He was also a member of the Italy U-20 national team.^{[ citation needed ]}

Personal life

Dumitru was born in Nacka, Sweden to a Romanian father (who later took Italian citizenship) and an Afro-Brazilian mother, and successively moved to Empoli, Tuscany in 1998 with his parents. ^{[20] [21]} He is fluent in Romanian.^{[ citation needed ]}

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 13 May 2022 ^[22]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	Division	League		Cup		Europe		Other		Total
			Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Empoli	2008–09	Serie B	1	0	0	0	–		–		1	0
	2009–10		1	0	0	0	–		–		1	0
	2010–11		0	0	1	0	–		–		1	0
	2011–12		25	4	2	0	–		–		27	4
	Total		27	4	3	0	0	0	0	0	30	4
Napoli	2010–11	Serie A	9	0	0	0	3	0	–		12	0
Ternana	2012–13	Serie B	15	1	2	0	–		–		17	1
Cittadella	2012–13	Serie B	5	0	0	0	–		–		5	0
	2013–14		13	1	2	0	–		–		15	1
	Total		18	1	2	0	0	0	0	0	20	1
Reggina	2013–14	Serie B	13	2	0	0	–		–		13	2
Veria	2014–15	Super League 1	27	6	3	2	–		–		30	8
Latina	2015–16	Serie B	34	7	0	0	–		–		34	7
Nottingham	2016–17	Championship	10	1	1	0	–		1	0	12	1
Alcorcón	2017–18	Segunda División	12	2	1	1	–		–		13	3
Gimnàstic	2017–18	Segunda División	10	1	0	0	–		–		10	1
	2018–19		3	0	1	0	–		1	0	5	0
	Total		13	1	1	0	0	0	1	0	15	1
Livorno	2018–19	Serie B	8	0	0	0	–		–		8	0
Gaz Metan	2019–20	Liga I	29	5	1	0	–		–		30	5
	2020–21		12	7	0	0	–		–		12	7
	Total		41	12	1	0	0	0	0	0	42	12
Suwon Bluewings	2021	K League 1	17	1	2	0	–		–		19	1
UTA Arad	2021–22	Liga I	13	3	–		–		–		13	3
Bnei Sakhnin	2022–23	Liga I	0	0	–		–		–		0	0
Career total			257	41	16	3	3	0	2	0	278	44

References

1. "nicolao manuel cardoso dumitru empoli – Serie B" (in Italian). La Gazzetta dello Sport. Retrieved 11 August 2010.
2. "Convocazioni e presenze in campo – NOME: DUMITRU CARDOSO NICOLAO M" (in Italian). FIGC.it. Archived from the original on 21 September 2016. Retrieved 11 August 2010.
3. "UFFICIALE: Nicolao Dumitru al Napoli" (in Italian). SSC Napoli.it. Archived from the original on 24 March 2012. Retrieved 31 August 2010.
4. "Arriva Nicolao Dumitru: stasera sarà presente a Fucecchio" (in Italian). Empoli FC. 12 June 2012. Archived from the original on 13 December 2013. Retrieved 20 July 2011.
5. "FERE: DUMITRU È UFFICIALE" (in Italian). Ternana Calcio. 23 July 2012. Retrieved 5 July 2013.
6. "MERCATO IN USCITA: NICOLAO DUMITRU RIENTRA AL NAPOLI" (in Italian). Ternana Calcio. 31 January 2013. Retrieved 5 July 2013.
7. "CITTA: ARRIVA DUMITRU" (in Italian). AS Cittadella. 31 January 2013. Retrieved 5 July 2013.
8. "Dumitru e Azizi alla Reggina, Rigoni al Cittadella" (in Italian). Reggina Calcio. 31 January 2014. Archived from the original on 2 February 2014. Retrieved 3 February 2014.
9. "Παίκτης της Βέροιας o Nicolao Manuel Dumitru Cardoso" (in Greek). 13 August 2014. Archived from the original on 14 August 2014. Retrieved 13 August 2014.
10. "Anti-racism: Greek union unites players". FIFPro World Players' Union. 2 October 2014. Archived from the original on 29 August 2016. Retrieved 27 August 2016.
11. "'Show respect to everyone' says Olympiacos star Eric Abidal at anti-racism conference". Network Fare. 22 October 2014. Retrieved 27 August 2016.
12. "Ανακοίνωση των ποδοσφαιριστών της ΠΑΕ Βέροια" (in Greek). veriafc.gr. 14 September 2014. Archived from the original on 14 September 2014. Retrieved 14 September 2014.
13. "Nottingham Forest sign Carayol and Dumitru – and still want more additions". Nottingham Post. 30 August 2016. Archived from the original on 31 August 2016. Retrieved 30 August 2016.
14. "Newcastle 3-1 Forest". BBC. 30 December 2016.
15. "Nicolao Dumitru, nuevo jugador de la A.D. Alcorcón" [Nicolao Dumitru, new player of A.D. Alcorcón] (in Spanish). AD Alcorcón. 1 August 2017. Retrieved 1 August 2017.
16. "Dumitru Cardoso, velocitat per a l'extrem esquerre" [Dumitru Cardoso, speed for the left flank] (in Catalan). Gimnàstic de Tarragona. 11 January 2018.
17. "UFFICIALE: Dumitru è un nuovo attaccante del Livorno" . Retrieved 5 February 2019.
18. "Nicolao Dumitru Cardoso prezentat oficial la Gaz Metan" (in Romanian). CS Gaz Metan Mediaș. 25 July 2019. Retrieved 25 July 2019.
19. "اللاعب نيكولا دوميطرو يوقع في صفوف الفريق لموسم واحد" [The player Nicolao Dumitru has signed for the team for one season] (in Hebrew). Bnei Sakhnin F.C. - Official Facebook. 26 June 2022.
20. "Dumitru: "Spero di giocare titolare per questa squadra e per questa città"" (in Italian). GoNews.it. 28 January 2010. Archived from the original on 5 July 2010. Retrieved 11 August 2010.
21. "Empoli e Brescia, grandi con i ragazzi della B" (in Italian). La Gazzetta dello Sport. 4 June 2010. Retrieved 11 August 2010.
22. Nicolao Dumitru at Soccerway

External links

• Nicolao Dumitru at BDFutbol
• Nicolao Dumitru at Soccerway
• Nicolao Dumitru – K League stats at kleague.com (in Korean)