Ianis Alin Zicu (born 23 October 1983) is a Romanian professional football manager and former player who played as a midfielder, currently in charge of Liga II club Metaloglobus București.
Ianis Zicu was born on 23 October 1983 in Constanța, Romania, starting to play football at the youth center of local club Farul, under the guidance of coach Iosif Bükössy.
[1][2][11][14] Upon his return, Zicu helped The Red Dogs win the 2004–05 Cupa României, being sent on the field by Ioan Andone in the 56th minute to replace Ovidiu Burcă in the 1–0 victory against Farul from the final.
[1][2][15] He started the following season by coming as a substitute to replace Vlad Munteanu in the 69th minute of the 3–2 victory against rivals Steaua which helped the team earn for the first time in its history the Supercupa României, also Andone used him in the 2005–06 UEFA Cup campaign when team reached the group stage after eliminating Omonia Nicosia against whom he scored a brace in the first leg and Everton against whom he scored a goal in a historical 5–2 on aggregate, after which the British newspaper Daily Mirror wrote about Zicu:"There is no doubt.
[1][3][36] On 24 July 2012, he agreed to join the K League side Gangwon on a six-month loan deal until the end of the 2012 season, a period in which he scored nine goals in 17 K-League appearances, including a hat-trick in a 5–3 away loss in front of Daejeon Citizen.
[42] The team was close to winning the league, Zicu being one of its best players, one of the most important moments being when he scored the only goal of a 1–0 away victory against Steaua București which helped ASA reach the first position with five rounds before the end of the season.
[1][3][47] Ianis Zicu was an under-21 international before he made his debut for the senior side in 2003, being banned together with teammate Lucian Goian from representing his country at any level for two years in 2004, because the Romanian Football Federation considered they had a "defiant attitude" during a 4–1 loss in front of Czech Republic U21.
[48] Zicu played 12 games and scored one goal for Romania's senior team, making his debut on 11 October 2003 when coach Anghel Iordănescu sent him on the field in the 82nd minute to replace Daniel Pancu in a friendly which ended 1–1 against Japan.
[49][50] He made three appearances in three victories at the successful Euro 2008 qualifiers, coach Victor Pițurcă considering to take him in the squad that would participate at the final tournament, but couldn't as Zicu was injured.