Former Romanian football player Daniel Prodan, a member of the "golden generation" who took Romania to the quarter finals of the 1994 World Cup in the U.S.,  died on Wednesday night after suffering a heart attack.

Although two ambulances went to his home and tried to resuscitate him, the former football player passed away. He was just 44 years old.

Daniel Prodan was born in Satu Mare, Romania, in 1972, and was an important Romanian football player. He started his career at local team Olimpia Satu Mare, and in 1993 signed with FC Steaua Bucuresti, one of the biggest football teams in Romania. He played for this team until 1997, winning five consecutive Liga I titles.

The goal he scored for Steaua against Glasgow Rangers in 1995, is one of the most beautiful goals in Romanian football history.

Steaua Bucuresti football club wrote on Facebook: “FC Steaua Bucuresti expresses its regret and shock at the news that the former great defenders of our team, Daniel Prodan, died at the age of 44 years. Our clubs sends its sincere condolences to the grieving family!”

In January 1997, Prodan moved to Spain with Atletico Madrid. His former team also released a press statement announcing the former Romanian footballer’s death, and expressing the management’s condolences to his family.

“Daniel Prodan, a former player of our club, has died at 44 due to a heart attack. The footballer played with Atlético for a season and a half. He arrived in January, 1997, and left in June, 1998. In 2012, our club and the Romanian player crossed paths again when Atlético played the Europe League final in Bucharest, the capital of his home country. There, he saw his Atleti win the European title, being the ambassador of the final. The chairman, CEO and our board extend their condolences to his family. May Daniel Prodan rest in peace,” reads the statement.

In the summer of 1998, Daniel Prodan joined the Rangers Football Club in Glasgow, Scotland, but made no first-team appearances in the two and a half years spent there, due to a serious knee injury. He returned to Steaua Bucuresti in 2000, but was soon transferred to Rocar Bucuresti.

During his football career, Prodan also played 54 games for the Romanian national team, including at the 1994 World Cup and 1996 European Championship.

May he rest in peace!

Irina Popescu, irina.popescu@romania-insider.com

(Photo source: FC Steaua Bucuresti on Facebook)