# Alexandru Epureanu

Alexandru Epureanu (born 27 September 1986) is a Moldovan former professional footballer who played as a centre-back for the Moldova national team.

## Club career

Born in Chișinau, Epureanu joined FC Sheriff Tiraspol in summer 2004.
He has won Moldovan Footballer of the Year in 2007, 2009, 2010, 2012 and 2018. Since playing for FC Sheriff Tiraspol, he has gone on to play for Dinamo Moscow.
On 2 July 2014, Epureanu signed for İstanbul Başakşehir. He made his league debut for the club on 30 August 2014 in a 1–1 home draw with Kasımpaşa, playing all ninety minutes of the match. He scored his first league goal for the club on 5 October 2014 in a 4–0 home victory over Akhisarspor. His goal, scored in the sixth minute, made the score 1–0 to İstanbul BB.
In January 2023, Epureanu departed Başakşehir and subsequently joined Ümraniyespor until the end of the season. On 25 March 2024, he confirmed that he retired from football.

## International career

Epureanu made his international debut in a 2–0 UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying loss against Norway on 6 September 2006, and has since been a regular in the national team, wearing the captain's armband on several occasions. In September 2019, Epureanu retired from the national team due to a knee injury. However, he returned in August 2020. He ranks first in terms of all-time appearances for Moldova. On 31 March 2021, he made his 100th and last appearance for Moldova in a 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification match against Israel.

## Career statistics
### Club

    As of 22 June 2023
| Club | Season | League | League | League | Cup | Cup | Europe | Europe | Other | Other | Total | Total |
| Club | Season | Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Zimbru Chișinău | 2002–03 | Moldovan National Division | 5 | 0 | | | 0 | 0 | — | — | 5 | 0 |
| Zimbru Chișinău | 2003–04 | Moldovan National Division | 24 | 2 | | | 3 | 0 | — | — | 27 | 2 |
| Zimbru Chișinău | Total | Total | 29 | 2 | | | 3 | 0 | — | — | 32 | 2 |
| Sheriff Tiraspol | 2004–05 | Moldovan National Division | 22 | 0 | | | 0 | 0 | — | — | 22 | 0 |
| Sheriff Tiraspol | 2005–06 | Moldovan National Division | 27 | 2 | | | 4 | 2 | — | — | 31 | 4 |
| Sheriff Tiraspol | 2006–07 | Moldovan National Division | 17 | 1 | | | 4 | 0 | — | — | 21 | 1 |
| Sheriff Tiraspol | Total | Total | 66 | 3 | | | 8 | 2 | — | — | 74 | 5 |
| FC Moscow | 2007 | Russian Premier League | 23 | 0 | | | — | — | — | — | 23 | 0 |
| FC Moscow | 2008 | Russian Premier League | 24 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0 | — | — | 29 | 2 |
| FC Moscow | 2009 | Russian Premier League | 25 | 2 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 26 | 2 |
| FC Moscow | Total | Total | 72 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 0 | — | — | 78 | 4 |
| Dynamo Moscow | 2010 | Russian Premier League | 23 | 2 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 25 | 2 |
| Dynamo Moscow | 2011–12 | Russian Premier League | 14 | 1 | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 17 | 1 |
| Dynamo Moscow | 2012–13 | Russian Premier League | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 7 | 0 |
| Dynamo Moscow | Total | Total | 44 | 3 | 5 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 49 | 3 |
| Krylia Sovetov (loan) | 2012–13 | Russian Premier League | 17 | 1 | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 19 | 2 |
| Anzhi Makhachkala (loan) | 2013–14 | Russian Premier League | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 | — | — | 12 | 1 |
| Anzhi Makhachkala | 2013–14 | Russian Premier League | 10 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | — | — | 14 | 2 |
| İstanbul Başakşehir | 2014–15 | Süper Lig | 32 | 4 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 33 | 4 |
| İstanbul Başakşehir | 2015–16 | Süper Lig | 14 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 23 | 0 |
| İstanbul Başakşehir | 2016–17 | Süper Lig | 30 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 4 | 0 | — | — | 40 | 1 |
| İstanbul Başakşehir | 2017–18 | Süper Lig | 31 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 0 | — | — | 42 | 6 |
| İstanbul Başakşehir | 2018–19 | Süper Lig | 22 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 25 | 3 |
| İstanbul Başakşehir | 2019–20 | Süper Lig | 29 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | — | — | 34 | 0 |
| İstanbul Başakşehir | 2020–21 | Süper Lig | 30 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 38 | 0 |
| İstanbul Başakşehir | 2021-22 | Süper Lig | 22 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 23 | 1 |
| İstanbul Başakşehir | 2022-23 | Süper Lig | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| İstanbul Başakşehir | Total | Total | 211 | 14 | 21 | 1 | 26 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 262 | 15 |
| Career total | Career total | Career total | 456 | 28 | 32 | 3 | 48 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 540 | 34 |
* ↑ Appearance in Turkish Super Cup.

### International

    As of match played 31 March 2021
Appearances and goals by national team and year :
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
| Moldova | 2006 | 3 | 0 |
| Moldova | 2007 | 9 | 1 |
| Moldova | 2008 | 10 | 0 |
| Moldova | 2009 | 8 | 1 |
| Moldova | 2010 | 7 | 1 |
| Moldova | 2011 | 8 | 0 |
| Moldova | 2012 | 6 | 1 |
| Moldova | 2013 | 7 | 0 |
| Moldova | 2014 | 8 | 3 |
| Moldova | 2015 | 3 | 0 |
| Moldova | 2016 | 7 | 0 |
| Moldova | 2017 | 7 | 0 |
| Moldova | 2018 | 8 | 0 |
| Moldova | 2019 | 0 | 0 |
| Moldova | 2020 | 6 | 0 |
| Moldova | 2021 | 3 | 0 |
| Total | Total | 100 | 7 |
    Scores and results list Moldova's goal tally first.
List of international goals scored by Alexandru Epureanu :
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
| 1 | 24 March 2007 | Zimbru Stadium, Chișinău | Malta | 1–1 | 1–1 | Euro 2008 qualifier |
| 2 | 12 August 2009 | Republican Stadium, Yerevan | Armenia | 4–1 | 4–1 | Friendly |
| 3 | 3 March 2010 | Antalya Atatürk Stadium, Antalya | Kazakhstan | 1–0 | 1–0 | Friendly |
| 4 | 16 October 2012 | Stadio Olimpico, Serravalle | San Marino | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2014 World Cup qualifier |
| 5 | 5 March 2014 | Estadi Comunal d'Andorra la Vella, Andorra la Vella | Andorra | 1–0 | 3–0 | Friendly |
| 6 | 5 March 2014 | Estadi Comunal d'Andorra la Vella, Andorra la Vella | Andorra | 3–0 | 3–0 | Friendly |
| 7 | 12 October 2014 | Otkrytie Arena, Moscow | Russia | 1–1 | 1–1 | Euro 2016 qualifier |
Note: Some sources have credited Epureanu with scoring the second goal in a 4–0 victory over Saudi Arabia in 2014, however this was a penalty converted by Igor Picușceac.

## Honours
### Club

Zimbru Chișinău
* Moldovan Cup: 2003–04
Sheriff Tiraspol
* Divizia Naţională: 2004–05, 2005–06
* Moldovan Cup: 2005–06
* Moldovan Supercup: 2005
Dynamo Moscow
* Russian Cup runner-up: 2011–12
İstanbul Başakşehir
* Süper Lig: 2019–20

### Individual

* Moldovan Footballer of the Year: 2007, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2018
* Süper Lig Defender of the Season: 2018–19
* Süper Lig Team of the Season: 2018–19