# Maximilian Nicu

Maximilian Nicu (born 25 November 1982) is a former professional footballer who played as a midfielder or centre-back. He spent most of his career in Germany, apart from two short spells in Romania and Cyprus. Born in Germany, he played for the Romania national team internationally, making three appearances in 2009.

## Club career
### Hertha BSC

Nicu made his first appearance with Hertha BSC on 31 July 2008 in the 2008–09 UEFA Cup first qualifying round second leg against FC Nistru Otaci. He made his Bundesliga debut on 17 August 2008 in Hertha's opening fixture against Eintracht Frankfurt. Nicu came on in the 71st minute as a substitute, replacing Patrick Ebert. After two seasons with Hertha, the club chose not to renew Nicu's contract following their relegation to the 2. Bundesliga.

### SC Freiburg

On 1 July 2010, Nicu signed for SC Freiburg.

### 1860 Munich

On 31 January 2012, Nicu signed for 2. Bundesliga side 1860 Munich.

### Universitatea Cluj

On 14 January 2014 he signed a contract with Universitatea Cluj making it the first Romanian club in his career.

### Aris Limassol

In July 2014, Nicu signed a one-year contract with Cypriot Second Division club Aris Limassol.

### SV Elversberg

In January 2015, after a year abroad, he returned to his native Germany and signed for fourth tier Regionalliga Südwest side SV Elversberg until 2016.

### SpVgg Unterhaching

In August 2015, Nicu joined SpVgg Unterhaching from Elversberg for a second stint at the club. In April 2018, Unterhaching announced Nicu would retire from professional football at the end of the 2017–18 season.

## International career

Nicu elected to play for the country of his parents, rather than his country of birth. In 2009, he requested a Romanian passport. Nicu was called up for matches against Serbia and Austria. At first it appeared he would not be able to play, since he had not received his Romanian citizenship yet, but on 17 March it was announced that Nicu had been granted citizenship and would be permitted to play.
On 20 March 2009, he pledged his vow to become a Romanian citizen. He made his debut for Romania on 1 April 2009 against Austria.

## Career statistics
### Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition :
| Club | Season | League | League | League | National Cup | National Cup | Continental | Continental | Total | Total |
| Club | Season | Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| SpVgg Unterhaching | 2002–03 | Regionalliga Süd | 23 | 2 | 3 | 0 | — | — | 26 | 2 |
| SpVgg Unterhaching | 2003–04 | 2. Bundesliga | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 |
| SpVgg Unterhaching | Total | Total | 23 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 26 | 2 |
| Rot-Weiß Erfurt | 2003–04 | Regionalliga Süd | 13 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 13 | 0 |
| Wehen Wiesbaden | 2004–05 | Regionalliga Süd | 14 | 4 | — | — | — | — | 14 | 4 |
| Wehen Wiesbaden | 2005–06 | Regionalliga Süd | 34 | 16 | — | — | — | — | 34 | 16 |
| Wehen Wiesbaden | Total | Total | 48 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 48 | 20 |
| Wacker Burghausen | 2006–07 | 2. Bundesliga | 31 | 6 | 3 | 1 | — | — | 34 | 7 |
| Wehen Wiesbaden | 2007–08 | 2. Bundesliga | 32 | 6 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 33 | 6 |
| Hertha BSC | 2008–09 | Bundesliga | 28 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 37 | 3 |
| Hertha BSC | 2009–10 | Bundesliga | 15 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 26 | 1 |
| Hertha BSC | Total | Total | 43 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 16 | 1 | 63 | 4 |
| SC Freiburg | 2010–11 | Bundesliga | 23 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 24 | 0 |
| SC Freiburg | 2011–12 | Bundesliga | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 5 | 0 |
| SC Freiburg | Total | Total | 27 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 29 | 0 |
| 1860 Munich | 2011–12 | 2. Bundesliga | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 15 | 0 |
| 1860 Munich | 2012–13 | 2. Bundesliga | 10 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 12 | 0 |
| 1860 Munich | Total | Total | 25 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 27 | 0 |
| Universitatea Cluj | 2013–14 | Liga I | 8 | 2 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 8 | 2 |
| Aris Limassol | 2014–15 | Cypriot Second Division | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 7 | 0 |
| SV Elversberg | 2014–15 | Regionalliga Südwest | 14 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 14 | 1 |
| SV Elversberg | 2015–16 | Regionalliga Südwest | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 5 | 0 |
| SV Elversberg | Total | Total | 18 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 1 |
| SpVgg Unterhaching | 2015–16 | Regionalliga Bayern | 21 | 4 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 23 | 4 |
| SpVgg Unterhaching | 2016–17 | Regionalliga Bayern | 35 | 2 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 36 | 2 |
| SpVgg Unterhaching | 2017–18 | 3. Liga | 14 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 7 | 0 |
| SpVgg Unterhaching | Total | Total | 70 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 73 | 7 |
| Career total | Career total | Career total | 345 | 47 | 19 | 1 | 16 | 1 | 380 | 49 |
* 1 2 Appearances in the Europa League

### International

Appearances and goals by national team and year :
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
| Romania |
| Romania | 2009 | 3 | 0 |
| Total | Total | 3 | 0 |

## Honours

SpVgg Unterhaching
* Regionalliga Süd: 2002–03
Individual
* Regionalliga Süd top scorer: 2005–06 (16 goals)