Denis Alibec (born 5 January 1991) is a Romanian professional footballer who plays as a forward for Qatar Stars League club Muaither and the Romania national team.
Alibec began his senior career at Farul Constanta, and at age 18 was signed by Italian club Inter Milan. He only made two Serie A appearances and was loaned out several times, before being brought back to Romania by Astra Giurgiu. He became a regular starter and goalscorer with the latter, and also aided it in winning its first national title in the 2015–16 season. This inspired a move to his former youth team FCSB in 2017, but Alibec transferred back to Astra after only one and a half years. Since 2020, in addition to Romania he has had brief stints in Turkey, Greece and Qatar.
Internationally, Alibec featured for Romania at under-17, under-19 and under-21 levels, prior to earning his full debut in a 3–0 win over the Faroe Islands in October 2015. The following year, he represented the country in the UEFA Euro 2016.
Alibec played youth football for Romania at under-17, under-19 and under-21 levels. On 11 October 2015, after being called up on several occasions in the past, he gained his first cap for the full side in the last UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying match against the Faroe Islands, replacing Bogdan Stancu in the 90th minute of the 3–0 win.
In June 2016, Alibec was selected by Anghel Iordanescu in his squad for the final tournament in France, and entered as a substitute in the opening 1–2 defeat to the hosts. He appeared sparringly for the national team in the following years, and only scored his first official goal in a 3–2 Nations League away win over Austria, on 7 September 2020.
In the Euro 2024 qualifiers, Alibec totalled nine games and scored three goals, including one in the final 1–0 victory over Switzerland. Romania finished its group unbeaten and qualified from the first place. |
