Vlad Chiricheș, Romanian footballer
Vlad Iulian Chiricheș (Romanian pronunciation: [ˈvlad ˈkirikeʃ]; born 14 November 1989) is a Romanian professional footballer who plays for Serie A club Sassuolo and captains the Romania national team. Primarily a centre-back, he can also be deployed as a right-back or a defensive midfielder.
Chiricheș spent the first part of his senior career with Internațional Curtea de Argeș, Pandurii Târgu Jiu and Steaua București. He helped the latter to a Liga I title and a Supercupa României, before transferring in 2013 to Tottenham Hotspur in a then-Romania record sale of €9.5 million. After two seasons in the Premier League, he signed for Napoli in Italy. In 2020, following an initial loan, Chiricheș was acquired by Sassuolo for a €11 million fee.
A full international for Romania since September 2011, he has earned 70 caps for the country and represented it at the UEFA Euro 2016.