Background
He was born in Bucharest and started his career for Dinamo Bucureşti.
He was born in Bucharest and started his career for Dinamo Bucureşti.
His breakthrough came with U Cluj in the 1988/89 season. Later he was the first-choice goalkeeper for for six seasons. Prunea got 40 caps for the national team, and represented his country at the 1994 World Cup, Euro 1996, 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000.
In the 1994 World Cup, he replaced Bogdan Stelea as the goalkeeper in Romania"s starting eleven after a devastating 1-4 loss against Switzerland, which shattered Stelea"s confidence.
Although Prunea kept a clean sheet in Romania"s final group game against the United States of America, he performed rather badly in the Round of 16 game against Argentina, conceding an easy goal against Balbo in the 75th minute. However, due to splendid performances by Dumitrescu and Hagi, the result of the game was 3-2 for Romania.
Another mistake in the quarter-final game against Sweden would not go by unpunished, however. After a goal by Brolin in the 78th minute and double goals by Răducioiu in the 88th and 101st minute, the outcome seemed to be Romanian victory yet again.
But with five minutes to the final whistle, Prunea gave giant striker Kennet Andersson the chance to level the score to 2-2.