Sergiu Hanca

Sergiu Cătălin Hanca (born 4 April 1992) is a Romanian professional footballer who plays as a winger or a right-back for Liga I club Petrolul Ploiești.

Hanca began his senior career with spells at Snagov, Bihor Oradea, and his hometown club ASA Târgu Mureș, before making a name for himself at Dinamo București. He moved abroad for the first time by signing with Cracovia in 2019, for which he appeared in over 100 Ekstraklasa matches. Three years later, Hanca returned to Romania at Universitatea Craiova.

Internationally, Hanca recorded his debut for Romania in June 2017, in a 1–3 FIFA World Cup qualifier loss to Poland.

Early career
Hanca played football as a youngster for his hometown club FCM Târgu Mureș. In 2009, he joined Liga II team Snagov, for which he amassed 38 league games and one goal. At the start of 2012, Hanca had a brief stint at Bihor Oradea.

Return to Târgu Mureș
During mid-2012, Hanca was brought back by his former youth side FCM Târgu Mureș. He made 22 appearances and scored two goals during the 2013–14 season, as his team achieved promotion to the Liga I.

On 8 July 2015, Hanca won his first career trophy after his club—which was renamed ASA Târgu Mureș—defeated FC Steaua București 1–0 in the Supercupa României. He recorded his debut in European competitions on 6 August 2015, starting in a 2–1 away victory over Saint-Étienne in the Europa League play-off round.

Dinamo București
On 8 January 2016, Hanca signed a three-and-a-half-year contract with fellow Liga I team Dinamo București. He made his official debut for "the Red Dogs" in a 1–0 league win over Botoșani, on 14 February. On 17 May, he started in the Cupa României final played against CFR Cluj, which Dinamo lost 4–5 at the penalty shootout.

Hanca scored his first goal on 17 October 2016, in a 2–1 victory against Universitatea Craiova in the Liga I. On the 30th the next month, he converted a penalty in a 3–1 derby defeat of FC Steaua București. On 20 May 2017, he won the Cupa Ligii trophy after his side defeated ACS Poli Timișoara 2–0 in the final.

Universitatea Craiova
On 29 July 2022, Hanca returned to Romania and its Liga I by signing a three-year deal with Universitatea Craiova. He scored his only goal in a 2–1 local derby win over FC U Craiova, on 7 August.

Hanca soon fell out of favour with head coach Mirel Rădoi and the club's directors, being sent to the reserve team and suing them for €2 million. He terminated his contract on 18 June 2023, after receiving €120,000 in compensations.

Petrolul Ploiești
On 5 July 2023, Hanca agreed to a contract with Petrolul Ploiești.

International career
In March 2017, Hanca was selected by manager Christoph Daum in Romania's squad for a 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Denmark. On 10 June that year, he made his debut by coming on as a substitute in a 1–3 loss to Poland in the same competition.

Personal life
Hanca married his girlfriend Andreea in May 2016, and their wedding took place in Târgu Mureș in the summer of the same year. The couple is known for its charity work.

Honours
ASA Târgu Mureș
 * Supercupa României: 2015

Dinamo București
 * Cupa României runner-up: 2015–16
 * Cupa Ligii: 2016–17

Cracovia
 * Polish Cup: 2019–20
 * Polish Super Cup: 2020

Individual
 * Liga I Team of the Season: 2016–17
 * Digi Sport Liga I Player of the Month: April 2017, August 2017