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Theodore "Ted" Dumitru (born Dumitru Teodorescu on September 2, 1939 in Bucharest, Romania) is the current coach of Mamelodi Sundowns in the South African Premier Soccer League. He is a former coach of the South Africa national football team.

[edit] Playing and coaching career

Playing football at Sportul Studenţesc but injuries have to end his career, so that started to coach Stiinta Craiova, Universitatea Craiova today, in season 1964-65, the first year of olteni in Divizia A. He was just 25 years, establishing such a record in the Liga I: the youngest coach. After saved in extremis team from relegation in the first season, in the second finish in eighth place. Left Craiova in 1966 and was a time coach of Youth Romania national team. In 1969 went to Turkey where he trained Altay Izmir, Beşiktaş and then Mersin.

In 1973 was called back in Romania but was refused. He arrived in Germany where he requested political asylum. In Romania, was sentenced in absentia to 20 years in prison. In 1974 restart to coach, but this time across the ocean, in America, with Rochester Lancers. He continued to train them, when it was moved to San Diego where he became the San Diego United. From that moment begins to be known as Ted Dumitru.

In 1980 arrives in Africa, and was appointed as technical director of Zambia, than in 1981 is called coach and lead team in the Preliminaries African Cup of Nations, qualified in final tournament, where they don't participate, due to his U.S. passport, because tournament being hosted by Libya, a country where Americans are not welcomed.

He left Zambia and signed a contract with the African Football Confederation, is sent to Swaziland, then in Namibia to help develop football in those countries.

In South Africa came as a result of the contract signed with the Kaizer Chiefs who won two championship titles and two national cups. Then he moved to Mamelodi Sundowns, the other big team in South Africa, which has won two titles and qualified for the first time a South African team in the African Champions Cup final.

In South Africa has also trained the club of Orlando Pirates. The Fifth and Sixth title in South Africa have been conquered with the Kaiser Chiefs, where he made the big step toward national Bafana-Bafana, in November 2005 which unfortunately was not performing, being dismissed in February 2006, after the final tournament in African Cup of Nations.

He published a book about football, "Mosaic Training," which was published in Germany.

In South Africa is nicknamed "The Professor" or "Mr Magic".

[edit] External links

• (Romanian) Profile at Sport365

v • d • e South Africa squad – 2006 Africa Cup of Nations 1 Marlin • 2 Tau • 3 D. Tshabalala • 4 Katza • 5 Mabizela • 6 Gaxa • 7 S. Tshabalala • 8 Gumbi • 9 Nhleko • 10 Vilakazi • 11 van Heerden • 12 Makhanya • 13 Issa • 14 Nomvethe • 15 Zuma • 16 Josephs • 17 McCarthy • 18 Mphela • 19 Masilela • 20 Nkosi • 21 Mere • 22 Phali • 23 Mokoena • Coach: Dumitru