Virgil "Puiu" Dridea was born on 17 November 1940 in Ploiești, Romania and started to play junior level football at local club, Petrolul where his first coach was Mihai Cristache, afterwards working with Emil Avasilichioaie and on 24 August 1958 he made his senior debut being used by coach Ilie Oană in a 3–0 Divizia A victory against Jiul Petroșani, that being his only appearance in that season as the club won the title.

[1][2][3][4][5][6][8] In 1983 he went to work abroad in Angola at Petro do Huambo until 1985, then he returned to Romania at Prahova Ploiești which he led for three years in Divizia B.

[1][2][3][4][5][6][8][13] In 1992 he had his second experience abroad going to coach for one year the Syrian national team,[14] afterwards coaching Dacia Unirea Brăila which he earned a 2nd place in Divizia B, worked for a while in a second spell at Metalul Plopeni, had second experience in Syria at Al-Jaish and earned another 2nd Divizia B place with Midia Năvodari.

[1][2][3][4][5][6][8][10][15][16] Virgil Dridea has a total of 134 games managed in Divizia A, all at Petrolul consisting of 58 victories, 23 draws and 53 losses.

[8][17] Virgil Dridea's brother, Mircea was also a footballer and a manager, they played together at Petrolul Ploiești, winning two Divizia A titles together and were opponents as managers in the 1981–82 Divizia B season when Virgil coached Metalul Plopeni and Mircea coached Petrolul.