Joined Tottenham from Steaua Bucharest for £2.6 million in July 1994 after starring for Romania in the 1994 World Cup finals in the USA, which saw his country reach the quarter-final.
A gifted player who had quick feet and a good goal-scoring knack never really hit it off at Tottenham, despite some promising early performances. Part of Ossie Ardiles' "Famous Five" strikers, Dumi looked to make the step up to play alongside players like Sheringham, Klinsmann, Barmby and Anderton. Quick footed when on the ball and busy in getting into position off it, Dumitrescu showed flashes of invention during his time at Spurs, but he soon fell out of favour once Gerry Francis took over and despite a good scoring rate of one every four games, he drifted out of the first team picture. Dumi played only 20 games for Tottenham, but his lack of all-round involvement might have counted against him being a long-term part of the team.
Went out on loan to Sevilla in Spain, but was sent back early, before he moved onto West Ham United for £1.5 million in January 1996.
He failed to stay long at Upton Park and left to join Club de Futbol, FC America and FC Atlante (all Mexico), before returning to Romania to play for Steaua once more.
Having retired from the game, he went into coaching and took charge of Otelul Galati and FC Brasov in his homeland, before moving on to manage Alkicc (Cyprus), the Romania Under-21 side, FCM Bacau (Romania), Apollon Limassol (Cyprus) and then moved to Greece to coach AEK Athens, Aigaleo, Akratitos, Kallithea and PAOK, who he left in October 2006. In 2009, he returned to Greece to manage Panthrakikos for a short spell.
In August 2010, he was installed as manager of Steaua Bucharesti, before walking out as he did not feel wanted at the Romanian club.