Cernea played for Grivița IRA until 1997, when he joined the Divizia B team Minerul Motru.
In 1999, he returns to Grivița IRA but after only few weeks joins Petrolul Ploiești and makes Divizia A debut.
In 2003, he joins Oțelul Galați for a couple of seasons, before being bought by Steaua București in 2005 for a fee of €75,000.
Petrolul Ploiești Oțelul Galați Steaua București
This biographical article related to a Romanian association football goalkeeper is a stub.