ADALBERT STANESCU (1924-2004)

This page is dedicated to Adalbert "Stubi" Stanescu, whose passing on December 21, 2004, marked the end of a distinguished athletic and coaching career, both in terms of success and longevity. 

Left:     Adalbert Stanescu in the early 1950s, as a member of Romania's water polo national team

Right:   Adalbert Stanescu at home (2003)

         BIOGRAPHICAL DATA

• Born in 1924 (surname at birth: Sterbenz)

• One of the original ILSA athletes - joined the club in the 1930s

• Achieved national prominence in the 1940s as ILSA's high-scoring point man

• Changed his surname to Stanescu in the late 1940s (in response to an official "suggestion")

• Played for ILSA during three decades (1930s, 40s and 50s)

• Six-time Romanian national champion as a key member of ILSA's Arany Csapat (Dream Team)

• Multiple scoring champion in Romania's water polo league

• Key member of Romania's water polo national team (scored 55 goals in international competition)

• Participated in the Helsinki Olympic Games (1952)

• Awarded the " Maestru al Sportului" title in recognition of his contribution to Romanian water polo

• Became ILSA's coach in the late 1950s, immediately after the end of his playing career

• Coached ILSA's water polo team during three decades (1950s, 60s and 70s)

• Involved with club management, in various capacities

• Awarded the "Antrenor Emerit" title in 2002 (see article below)

• Water polo referee at both national and international level (1958-1968)

• Retired in the 1970s, when coaching duties went to former player Alexandru Cinteanu

• Multilingual (Romanian, Hungarian, German)

• Passed away on December 21, 2004, at the age of 80 (heart attack)

The following article was published in June 2002 by www.ziuadevest.ro

Distinctie pentru o legenda vie a sportului banatean  (by Alexandru Oprea)

Adalbert Stanescu (Stubi bacsi) este un nume de legenda al sportului timisorean. Polivalent intr-ale performantei, el ramane unul din artizanii echipei de aur a ILSEI, cu care a castigat, de sase ori consecutiv, primele tot atatea editii ale Campionatului National de polo. 

Gruparea textilista a insemnat eterna sa dragoste sportiva, in cadrul ei activand trei decenii ca jucator (1938-1958) si doua ca antrenor (1950-1970). Concomitent, intre 1958 si 1964, el a indeplinit functiile de secretar si vicepresedinte al A.S. ILSA. Timp de zece ani (1958-1968), a oficiat ca arbitru de categoria I, precum si ca arbitru international. Maestru al sportului, impreuna cu toata trupa de glorie a textilistilor, a adunat 16 selectii sub tricolorul romanesc, pentru care a inscris 55 de goluri. 

Deunazi, un telefon primit din partea federalului Anatol Grintescu, membru in Comisia Tehnica a Ligii Europene de Natatie, l-a anuntat ca a primit titlul de antrenor emerit. O hotarare tarzie, care, insa, a produs o imensa bucurie venerabilului Stubi bacsi. Un om ce, in pofida varstei (se apropie de 79 de ani), priveste viitorul cu luciditate si realism.