Former Romanian Footballer Gabi Morșan Dies at 44 After Drowning Near Apold Village

Gabi Morșan, a former Romanian football midfielder and local council head, tragically died at age 44 after drowning in a lake near the village of Apold, where he served as mayor since 2020. Rescue teams were called to search for Morșan on the evening of the incident, eventually retrieving him from the water. Despite resuscitation efforts and hospitalization in Târgu Mureș, doctors were unable to save him.

According to Ștefan Grozdea, a CFR Cluj shareholder and close associate of Morșan, the former player had been in a sauna before entering the lake, likely to cool off as he had done before. His family noticed his absence, reviewed security footage showing him entering the water, and alerted emergency services. Grozdea stated that although Morșan briefly responded to resuscitation attempts, he could not be revived.

Morșan was a defensive midfielder who earned nine caps for the Romanian national team. He began his career at Gaz Metan Mediaș, played for Gloria Bistrița, and spent six seasons at CFR Cluj, becoming one of the club's iconic players during its peak years. He also played a season in Russia with Tom Tomsk and finished his career at ASA Târgu Mureș. His honors include three Romanian league titles, three cups, and two super cups with CFR Cluj, plus an additional super cup with ASA Târgu Mureș. He made 260 appearances in the Romanian league, scored 37 goals, provided 10 assists, and appeared 28 times in European competitions, including the UEFA Champions League.

After retiring in 2018, Morșan returned to Apold, opened a guesthouse, and entered public service. He was elected mayor in 2020 with 63.09% of the vote and re-elected in 2024 with 88.83%. The Apold municipality, Romanian Football Federation, and CFR Cluj issued condolences, and UEFA also mourned his passing, highlighting his contributions to Romanian football and expressing sympathy to his family and friends.