Ovidiu Popescu
![]() Popescu with FCSB in 2022 | |||
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Ovidiu Marian Popescu | ||
Date of birth | (1994-02-27) 27 February 1994 (age 30) | ||
Place of birth | Reșița, Romania | ||
Height | 1.81 m (5 ft 11 in) | ||
Position(s) | Defensive midfielder, defender | ||
Team information | |||
Current team | Universitatea Cluj | ||
Number | 23 | ||
Youth career | |||
2004–2009 | Muncitorul Reșița | ||
2009–2013 | Școala de Fotbal Marcel Băban Jimbolia | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2013–2014 | UTA Arad | 24 | (6) |
2014–2016 | ACS Poli Timișoara | 47 | (5) |
2016–2024 | FCSB | 200 | (4) |
2024– | Universitatea Cluj | 5 | (1) |
International career‡ | |||
2015–2016 | Romania U21 | 8 | (1) |
2021 | Romania | 2 | (0) |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 12 August 2024 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 28 March 2021 |
Ovidiu Marian Popescu (Romanian pronunciation: [oˈvidju mariˈan poˈpesku]; born 27 February 1994) is a Romanian professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder or a defender for Liga I club Universitatea Cluj.
Club career
FCSB
In June 2016, FCSB transferred Popescu for undisclosed fee, with the player penning a five-year deal with a €10 million buyout clause.[1] He made his debut in the Liga I on 12 August against FC Botoșani, a game Steaua went on to win 2–0.[2] On 8 September, also against Botoșani but in the Cupa Ligii, Popescu scored his first goal for the Roș-albaștrii.[3]
He finally scored his first league goal for the club with a free kick in a 2–0 victory over CFR Cluj on 12 March 2017.[4] During early April, following Popescu's good display, it was reported that Celtic and Southampton were interested in signing him.[5]
International career
In June 2015, Popescu was selected in Romania's squad for the 2017 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualifier against Armenia.[6]
He made his debut for Romania national football team on 25 March 2021 in a World Cup qualifier against North Macedonia.[7]
Career statistics
Club
- As of match played 12 August 2024[8]
Club | Season | League | National Cup | League Cup | Continental | Other | Total | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |||
UTA Arad | 2013–14 | Liga II | 24 | 6 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 25 | 6 | ||||
ACS Poli Timișoara | 2014–15 | Liga II | 22 | 3 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | 22 | 3 | ||||
2015–16 | Liga I | 25 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 27 | 2 | ||||
Total | 47 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 49 | 5 | |||||
FCSB | 2016–17 | Liga I | 27 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 0 | — | 37 | 3 | ||
2017–18 | 24 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 8 | 0 | — | 33 | 0 | |||||
2018–19 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 2 | 0 | — | 12 | 0 | |||||
2019–20 | 27 | 1 | 4 | 0 | — | 8 | 0 | — | 39 | 1 | |||||
2020–21 | 35 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 38 | 0 | ||||
2021–22 | 30 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 2 | 0 | — | 33 | 0 | |||||
2022–23 | 17 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | 3 | 0 | — | 20 | 1 | |||||
2023–24 | 30 | 1 | 3 | 0 | — | 3 | 0 | — | 36 | 1 | |||||
Total | 200 | 4 | 12 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 32 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 248 | 6 | |||
Universitatea Cluj | 2024–25 | Liga I | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | 5 | 1 | ||||
Career total | 276 | 16 | 15 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 32 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 327 | 18 |
International
- As of match played 28 March 2021[9]
National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
---|---|---|---|
Romania | |||
2021 | 2 | 0 | |
Total | 2 | 0 |
Honours
ACS Poli Timișoara
FCSB[8]
- Liga I: 2023–24
- Cupa României: 2019–20
- Supercupa României runner-up: 2020[10]
References
- ^ "De ce Ovidiu Popescu a fost luat de Steaua. "E liniștit, n-are carnet, am stat 4 ore cu el la masă!"" (in Romanian). Digi Sport. 4 June 2016.
- ^ "Botoșani - Steaua 0–2" (in Romanian). Digi Sport. 12 August 2016. Retrieved 8 April 2017.
- ^ "Saptamana de vis pentru Ovidiu Popescu: Dupa golul la Romania U21, a reusit sa marcheze si pentru Steaua! Prima sa reactie" [Incredible week for Ovidiu Popescu: After his goal for Romania U21, he also managed to score for Steaua! His first reaction] (in Romanian). Sport.ro. 8 September 2016. Retrieved 8 April 2017.
- ^ "Ovidiu Popescu l-a impresionat pe Ilie Dumitrescu: "A dat mai bine decât mine cu Argentina"" [Ovidiu Popescu impressed Ilie Dumitrescu: "He hit it better than I did against Argentina!"] (in Romanian). Digi Sport. 13 March 2017. Retrieved 8 April 2017.
- ^ "After missing out on team-mate, should Southampton challenge Celtic for Ovidiu Popescu?". hitc.com. 5 April 2017. Retrieved 9 July 2017.
- ^ "UNDER 21: LOTUL PENTRU DEBUTUL ÎN PRELIMINARIILE EURO 2017" [UNDER 21: SQUAD FOR THE EURO 2017 DEBUT] (in Romanian). FRF. 26 May 2015. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016.
- ^ "Romania v North Macedonia game report". FIFA. 25 March 2021.[dead link]
- ^ a b Ovidiu Popescu at Soccerway. Retrieved 6 March 2017.
- ^ "Ovidiu Popescu". European Football. Retrieved 10 June 2021.
- ^ "FOTO&VIDEO | CFR Cluj a câștigat Supercupa României!" [PHOTO&VIDEO | CFR Cluj won the Romanian Supercup!] (in Romanian). Romanian Football Federation. 15 April 2021. Retrieved 16 April 2021.
External links
- Ovidiu Popescu at RomanianSoccer.ro (in Romanian)
- Ovidiu Popescu – UEFA competition record (archive)
- v
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- e
- 1 Kis
- 3 Mitrea
- 5 Masoero
- 6 Cristea
- 7 Silaghi
- 8 Codrea
- 9 Bettaieb
- 10 Nistor
- 12 Moldovan
- 13 Tchassem
- 16 van der Werff
- 17 Lasure
- 18 Ștefan
- 19 Moraru
- 20 Bota
- 21 Șfaiț
- 22 Rață
- 23 Popescu
- 24 Boboc
- 26 Oancea
- 27 Chipciu (c)
- 30 Gertmonas
- 33 Gorcea
- 66 Opriș
- 77 Blănuță
- 93 Thiam
- 94 Bic
- 97 Baciu
- 98 Simion
- 99 Berto
- Head coach: Sabău