Ted Dumitru

Ted Dumitru

Personal information
Full name	Dumitru Teodorescu
Date of birth	(1939-09-02)September 2, 1939
Place of birth	Bucharest, Romania
Date of death
Place of death	Johannesburg, South Africa
Managerial career
Years	Team
1964–1966	Universitatea Craiova
1967–1968	Romania U-23
1969–1970	Altay Izmir
1970–1971	Beşiktaş
1971–1972	Mersin İdmanyurdu
1974–1975	Rochester Lancers
1976–1980	New York Apollo
1980–1982	Zambia
1983–1984	Swaziland
1985–1988	Kaizer Chiefs
1997–1999	Mamelodi Sundowns
1999–2000	Orlando Pirates
2000	Manning Rangers
2000–2001	Namibia
2001–2002	Mamelodi Sundowns
2003–2005	Kaizer Chiefs
2005–2006	South Africa
2009	Mamelodi Sundowns

Theodore "Ted" Dumitru (born Dumitru Teodorescu; September 2, 1939 – May 26, 2016) was a Romanian football manager and teacher best known for his time in South Africa. Dumitru was one of a few coaches to have guided the 'big three' in South Africa Kaizer Chiefs, Sundowns and Orlando Pirates. He led the South African national team at the African Cup of Nations.

Playing and coaching career

Dumitru started playing football with local club Sportul Studenţesc in the late 1950s, but injuries saw him end his football career prematurely as a result, he started to coach Ştiinţa Craiova currently known as Universitatea Craiova in the 1964–65 season, the first for the Students in Divizia A. He was only 25 years old, thus establishing a record in the Divizia A as the youngest coach ever. He helped Ştiinţa Craiova avoid relegation in his first season and finished in eighth position on the following season. Dumitru also coached the Romania U23 Olympic team between 1967 and 1968.

In 1969 he went to Turkey where he managed Altay Izmir, Beşiktaş and then Mersin. In his first season in charge at Altay he guided the club to a top-three position in the Turkish Super League.

Dumitru was called back by the Securitate in Romania, but he refused. He arrived in West Germany where he requested political asylum. In Romania, he was sentenced in absentia to 20 years in prison during the communist regime. In 1974, he began coaching again, but this time in the United States with Rochester Lancers in the NASL. He remained in the States for several years at the helm of New York Apollo.

In 1980, Dumitru arrived in Africa, and was appointed head coach of Zambia. He helped Chipolopolo qualify for the 1982 Africa Cup of Nations, but was unable to coach them during the tournament itself due to his US passport. The Afcon tournament was hosted by Libya, a country where Americans were not welcome at the time. During his stint Zambia's President Kenneth Kaunda once said of him: "He is more than a coach; he is a son of Africa. He is a humanist who puts sports well-being ahead of his profession."

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

In 1985, Dumitru joined South African side Kaizer Chiefs and won eight trophies with them during his three-year stay. Dumitru was also instrumental in developing young players across South Africa, during 1988 and 1997. Dumitru's work with youngsters continued and he was partly responsible for the Esselen Park School of Excellence that has produced players such as Steven Pienaar and Daine Klate.

In 1997–98, he took over as head coach of Mamelodi Sundowns, leading The Brazilians to two consecutive PSL titles in 1998 and 1999 and both the Nedbank Cup and Rothmans Cup. Dumitru managed among others, Orlando Pirates and Manning Rangers with mixed success. He was appointed manager of the Namibian national team in November 2000 replacing Lucky Richter.

He rejoined Mamelodi Sundowns and helped his side reach their first and only African Champions League Final in 2001, which they lost to record holders Al Ahly.

In June 2003, he returned to Kaiser Chiefs and won back-to-back league titles in 2004 and 2005, setting a record for most titles won by a single coach in South Africa. In November 2005, he was hired as South Africa's manager ahead of the 2006 edition of the Africa Cup of Nations, but he was shown the exit door soon after his team's dismissal performance at the tournament where they failed to score a goal.

In South Africa, Dumitru was nicknamed Master Ted, The Professor or Mr Magic. He was one of the most decorated names in South African football.

Many top players have passed through his hands to win acclaim in international football. Over 150 players were developed at the Sport School of Excellence under his guidance and through his coaching solutions. Over 180 local coaches were developed through his programmes at the SA Soccer Academy. In 2009 Dumitru got involved with the Mamelodi Sundowns Youth Academy. Dubbed the Puk Tawana Project, it produced a 26 players who went onto play professional football that were on an accelerated development programme for 18months. Breaking records for the number of graduates from academy to professional level. After leaving Mamelodi Sundowns in 2011, he joined the North West University Sports Institute from 2012 to 2013 briefly. Then in 2013 he played an instrumental role in the revival of the South African Football Coaches Association (SAFCA). He played a key role in setting up the structures, giving the organisation direction and leadership as well as rolling out workshops around the country. He was involved up until his day of passing May 26, 2016.

Death

Dumitru died on May 26, 2016 after collapsing at a Johannesburg shopping mall, with reports that he died of a heart attack.

Honours

Manager

Club

Kaizer Chiefs

• PSL Champion (2): 2003–04, 2004–05
• Vodacom Challenge (1): 2003
• MTN 8 (2): 1985, 1987
• Telkom Knockout (4): 1986, 1988, 2003, 2004
• Nedbank Cup (1): 1987
• Telkom Charity Cup (4): 1986, 1987, 1988, 2003
• NSL Runner-up (1): 1987

Mamelodi Sundowns

• PSL Champion (2): 1997–98, 1998–99
• Nedbank Cup (1): 1998
• Rothmans Cup (1): 1999
• CAF Champions League Runner-up (1): 2001

Orlando Pirates

• African Cup Winners' Cup Semi-final (1): 1999