Man began his senior career at UTA Arad in 2015, and one year later transferred to FCSB. He became an undisputed starter at the capital-based club, being named to the Liga I Team of the Year in the 2018–19 season and winning a Cupa României in 2020. Shortly after receiving the 2020 Romanian Footballer of the Year award, Man joined Italian side Parma for an initial fee of €11 million, which made him the most expensive player ever signed from the Romanian championship.
Internationally, Man made his senior debut for Romania in March 2018, after being previously capped at under-19 and under-21 levels. He represented his country in the UEFA Euro 2024, achieving first place in their group and advancing to the round of 16.
Club career
Early career
While a junior at Atletico Arad, Man traveled to English club Manchester City for several trials,[2] but nothing came of it and later joined UTA Arad. Man was promoted from the UTA academy in the summer of 2015,[3] aged 17, and made his senior debut on 29 August in a 2–1 loss to Gaz Metan Mediaș for the Liga II championship.[4] On 25 October, he scored his first goal for the club in a 4–0 away win over Bihor Oradea.[5]
FCSB
On 6 September 2016, FC Steaua București transferred Man for an undisclosed fee, with the player penning a one-year deal with the option of another five years.[6][7][8] Man made his debut for the Roș-albaștrii on 2 October 2016 against Universitatea Craiova, coming on as a substitute for injured Florin Tănase in the first half of the game; he himself was replaced in the 66th minute by Ovidiu Popescu, as his team eventually won 2–1.[9] Later that month he netted his first Steaua—and Liga I—goal in a 2–0 victory over Politehnica Iași.[10]
In January 2018, Man was included by UEFA.com in a list of the 50 best young footballers to watch for that year.[15] On 18 February, he scored the first of his team in a 2–2 draw to rivalsDinamo București after appearing as a half-time substitute.[16] In July, Man was nominated along with compatriot Ianis Hagi for the 2018 Golden Boy award.[17] On the 25th that month, he scored his first European goal in a Europa Leaguesecond qualifying round 2–0 away win over Rudar Velenje.[18]
Man won his first career trophy on 22 July 2020, after scoring the only goal of the Cupa României final played against Sepsi OSK.[19] On 17 September that year, he scored a hat-trick in a Europa League second qualifying round away draw with Serbian team TSC Bačka Topola. The match ended 6–6 after extra time, and Man converted the winning penalty in the eventual shoot-out.[20] Three days later, on his 100th Liga I appearance, he again scored a hat-trick in a 3–0 defeat of Argeș Pitești.[21]
Man scored the opener and refused to celebrate in a 3–0 home win against former club UTA Arad on 5 December 2020, which took his league tally to ten goals. Two fixtures later on the 18th, he netted twice for a 2–0 away victory over title contenders Universitatea Craiova.[22] Shortly after, he was revealed as the winner of the 2020 Romanian Footballer of the Year award by the Gazeta Sporturilor newspaper.[23]
Parma
On 26 January 2021, FCSB owner Gigi Becali announced that Serie A club Parma submitted a bid for the transfer of Man, worth €11 million plus €2 million in add-ons; he accepted the offer the next day.[24][25] Parma officialised the move on the 29th, after Man penned a four-and-a-half-year contract.[26] The transfer fee made him the most expensive sale of the Romanian championship, as per FCSB's official website,[27] surpassing the €9.8 million move of former record holder Nicolae Stanciu from 2016.[28][29]
Man made his Parma debut on 31 January 2021, after coming on in the 80th minute of a 2–0 Serie A loss to Napoli at the Stadio San Paolo.[30] A substitute in his first five matches, he was handed his first start by manager Roberto D'Aversa in a 2–1 home defeat to Inter Milan on 4 March.[31] Ten days later, he assisted Valentin Mihăilă's opening goal in an eventual 2–0 victory over Roma.[32] On 3 April, Man scored his first Serie A goal in a 2–2 away draw with Benevento.[33] An injury effectively ended his season at Parma with two goals in 14 appearances, as the club got relegated to the Serie B.[34]
On 17 August 2024, in the opening fixture of the Serie A season, Man scored a goal in a 1–1 home draw with Fiorentina. One week later, he scored again in a 2–1 away win over AC Milan.[37]
In 2023, Man totalled four matches and one goal as Romania topped its group in the Euro 2024 qualifiers, missing several fixtures through injury.[43] On 7 June 2024, he was chosen by Edward Iordănescu in the squad for the final tournament.[44] Ten days later, Man provided two assists in a 3–0 win over Ukraine, representing their first victory in the competition in 24 years.[45] He then started in the 0–2 loss to Belgium, and came on in the 66th minute for Ianis Hagi in the 1–1 draw with Slovakia, which secured Romania the group win. On 2 July, he played the full match as they lost 0–3 to the Netherlands in the round of 16.[46]
Style of play
In his early days at UTA Arad, Man was primarily deployed as a centre-forward, but developed into a right winger after his transfer to FCSB. He is however known for his versatility, as he can play almost any attacking position when needed,[47][48] a trait his Parma manager Giuseppe Iachini encouraged to develop further.[49]
In December 2018, Mirel Rădoi, his under-21 national team coach, praised Man as "the most complete footballer" among young players in the Romanian top flight, citing his "technical ability, pace, physical power, work rate, mental toughness" as qualities that bring him the closest to "the full package".[48]
Personal life
Man's father, Cristian, is a football coach and former player in the Divizia B.[50][51]
^"Bine ai venit, Dennis Man!" [Welcome, Dennis Man!] (in Romanian). Steaua București. 6 September 2016. Archived from the original on 26 July 2019. Retrieved 27 October 2017.
^"Mulțumim, Dennis Man!" [Thank you, Dennis Man!] (in Romanian). FCSB. 29 January 2021. Retrieved 30 January 2021. Dennis Man is one of our team's most important players and became, once moving to Parma Calcio 1913, the player sold for the largest fee in the history of Liga 1.
^Ioanițoaia, Ovidiu (29 January 2021). "Afacerea Dennis Man" [The Dennis Man deal]. Gazeta Sporturilor (in Romanian). Retrieved 30 January 2021.
