Former Chelsea defender Dan Petrescu has been diagnosed with cancer, it has been revealed in his home country. Romanian football League president Gino Iorgulescu has revealed that he is undergoing chemotherapy treatment as he released an emotional statement announcing the news.

The news comes just four months after Petrescu stepped down as head coach of Romanian side CFR Cluj. He has since kept a low profile. Speaking to local media, Iorgulescu said : “I don’t know what to say – it is a delicate situation. May God help Dan to get better, for there to be a cure.

“I don’t know the exact diagnosis, but I understand that it is very serious. He is undergoing chemotherapy. I don’t know what he is doing.

“He played for me, and he also worked for me as a coach at FC National. I was also friends with him. Such news makes me uncomfortable – it makes my skin crawl.

“I had, and still have, a good relationship with him. Since I found out his situation was very serious, I haven’t spoken to him.”

The former full-back, who has recently turned 58, joined Chelsea from Sheffield Wednesday in November 1995. In his four-and-a-half years at the club, he played 208 times, scoring 23 goals and providing a further 20 assists.

He was part of the team that won the League Cup, FA Cup (x2), UEFA Super Cup and European Cup Winners’ Cup. He left the club to join Bradford City in August 2000. After six months at Rodney Parade, he joined Southampton, where he spent 18 months before returning to Romania with FC National.

He hung up his boots in the summer of 2003, and turned to management. He has had spells in charge of several clubs around the world, but was in his fourth spell in charge of CFR Cluj, after rejoining in April 2024.

He has led the club to the league title on four separate ocassions, the last time being beack in the 2020/21 campaign. He also led the club to a Romanian Cup victory last season.

It is reported that Petrescu’s three daughters have returned home to Romania to support their father.