Today marks the end of a 40-year journey for Ciprian Deac, who will play his final match of his professional football career. This farewell echoes the legendary retirement of Francesco Totti with AS Roma, a moment when a player becomes synonymous with the club they have served. Deac played a staggering 508 matches for CFR Gruia, winning 14 titles with the club.

“It’s a mix of emotions. Emotions, fear, not knowing what lies ahead. For 6 years, I knew I would wake up and go to training, to do what I love. But now life is changing entirely. I am sure a beautiful life awaits me, especially with my family and loved ones, but I will miss the pitch very much. That I can guarantee,” Deac said in his final press conference before the match against FC Argeș.

The Challenges of a Long Career

Deac has faced numerous challenges throughout his career, including serious injuries that have taken a toll on him physically. In the last two years, he suffered a ruptured shoulder ligament and a meniscus operation, compounded by the aging process.

“It was clear that after 38, sustaining two serious injuries, no matter how hard I tried to compensate with training, diet, and serious effort, I couldn’t reach the level I had been at. Medicine has advanced a lot, extending the life of an athlete, but at 40, age catches up,” he said.

A Lesson in Humility

Deac also shared a lesson he learned from his time at Schalke 04 in Germany, where he was paid a substantial salary for a Romanian player.

“I went to Schalke on a big salary for Romania, and I think I began to believe I was the greatest. But I quickly looked in the mirror, slapped myself twice, and came back to reality. I learned that money and fame don’t mean everything. Simple things often make you happier. The people who love you are more important than all the money. That’s what I learned from this sport,” he said, reflecting on his transfer to Schalke 04 in 2010 for €3 million.

Deac’s daughter will be the happiest to see her father retire, marking the end of a remarkable career for the player who has been a constant presence for CFR Gruia.