After spells with Brasov, FC Universitatea Craiova, and Gloria Bistrita, he made his name with Rapid Bucharest, helping them to league success in the 1998/99 season with 28 goals.

Stuttgart snapped him up and he quickly established himself at international level with six goals in his first nine internationals.

Came on as a substitute and scored Romania's vital penalty against England that sent them through to the next round.

Showed why he has made such a meteoric rise onto the international scene in recent months when he teamed up with the prodigious Mutu in the second half against the Italians.