Adrian Popa (footballer, born 1988)

Romanian footballer

Adrian Popa

Popa in 2021

Personal information
Date of birth|  (1988-07-24) 24 July 1988 (age 35)
Place of birth|  Bucharest, Romania
Height|  1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)
Position(s)|  Winger
Team information

Current team

|  CSA Steaua București
Number|  77
Youth career
0000–2005|  CSȘ 1 Pajura
Senior career*
Years|  Team|  Apps|  (Gls)
2005–2009|  Politehnica II Timișoara|  87|  (26)
2007–2008|  → CS Buftea (loan)|  11|  (2)
2009|  → Gloria Buzău (loan)|  12|  (1)
2009–2010|  Universitatea Cluj|  24|  (3)
2010–2012|  Concordia Chiajna|  60|  (10)
2012–2017|  Steaua București|  137|  (20)
2017–2020|  Reading|  15|  (1)
2018|  → Al-Taawoun (loan)|  10|  (2)
2019|  → Ludogorets Razgrad (loan)|  13|  (0)
2019–2020|  → FCSB (loan)|  17|  (2)
2020–2021|  Voluntari|  8|  (2)
2021|  Academica Clinceni|  19|  (2)
2021–2023|  CSA Steaua București|  47|  (11)
2023–2024|  Concordia Chiajna|  5|  (0)
2024–|  CSA Steaua București|  7|  (0)
International career
2012–2017|  Romania|  24|  (4)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 11 May 2024

Adrian Popa (born 24 July 1988) is a Romanian professional footballer who plays as a winger for Liga II club CSA Steaua București.

## Club career[edit]

### Early years[edit]

Popa was one of the most proficient players of the Politehnica Timișoara reserve team, and was loaned to CS Buftea and Gloria Buzău.

### Universitatea Cluj[edit]

In July 2009, Popa signed a contract with Universitatea Cluj. Although he showed impressive skills and helped the team get promoted to the first division, he left the club after one year.

### Concordia Chiajna[edit]

In 2010, Popa joined Concordia Chiajna. He contributed to the club's promotion to the first division and was kept for the following season.

### FCSB[edit]

On 15 August 2012, Popa signed a five-year contract with FCSB for an undisclosed transfer fee.[1][2] One week later, he scored his first goal for the club in a 2–0 away win over FK Ekranas in the Europa League play-off round's first leg.[3]

He played over 200 games during his spell with the capital-based club.

### Reading[edit]

On 27 January 2017, it was announced that Popa agreed to transfer to English team Reading after reaching the final six months of his contract with FCSB.[4] The transfer was made official three days later, with Popa signing with Reading until the summer of 2020.[5]

His first goal came on 17 March 2017, scoring Reading's second in injury time in a 2–0 win over Sheffield Wednesday at the Hillsborough Stadium.[6]

#### Loan to Al-Taawon[edit]

On 29 January 2018, Reading confirmed that Popa had joined Saudi Arabian side Al-Taawon on loan until the end of the 2017–18 season.[7][8]

#### Loan to Ludogorets Razgrad[edit]

On 20 December 2018, Reading announced that Popa had moved to Ludogorets Razgrad on loan for the rest of the 2018–19 season.[9]

### Voluntari[edit]

On 16 October 2020, Popa signed a one-year contract with FC Voluntari.[10]

### Steaua București[edit]

On 22 September 2021, Popa signed a two-year contract with his childhood team, Steaua București. [11]

## International career[edit]

Popa made his debut for the Romania senior team in October 2012, in a 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification match against Netherlands.[12]

## Career statistics[edit]

### Club[edit]

As of match played 21 March 2024[13]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition  Club  | Season  | League  | National cup  | League cup  | Europe | Other  | Total

|
|
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|
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|
|

Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals
CS Buftea (loan)  | 2008–09 | Liga II | 11 | 2 | 0 | 0 | – | – | – | 11 | 2
Gloria Buzău (loan)  | 2008–09 | Liga I | 12 | 1 | – | – | – | – | 12 | 1
Universitatea Cluj | 2009–10 | Liga II  | 24 | 3 | 0 | 0 | – | – | – | 24 | 3
Concordia Chiajna | 2011–12 | Liga II  | 27 | 4 | 0 | 0 | – | – | – | 27 | 4
2011–12 | Liga I  | 29 | 3 | 1 | 1 | – | – | – | 30 | 4
2012–13 | 4 | 3 | – | – | – | – | 4 | 3
Total  | 60 | 10 | 1 | 1 | – | – | – | – | – | – | 61 | 11
Steaua București | 2012–13 | Liga I  | 30 | 1 | 2 | 0 | – | 11[a] | 1 | – | 43 | 2
2013–14 | 28 | 7 | 5 | 0 | – | 11[b] | 0 | 1[c] | 0 | 45 | 7
2014–15 | 28 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 10[d] | 0 | 0 | 0 | 45 | 8
2015–16 | 32 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 6[e] | 1 | 0 | 0 | 46 | 5
2016–17 | 19 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 10[f] | 0 | – | 31 | 3
Total  | 137 | 20 | 17 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 48 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 230 | 28
Reading | 2016–17 | Championship | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | – | 8 | 1
2017–18 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | – | – | 8 | 0
2018–19 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | – | 1 | 0
Total  | 15 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | – | – | 17 | 1
Al-Taawoun (loan)  | 2017–18 | Saudi Professional League | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | – | – | 9 | 0
Ludogorets Razgrad (loan)  | 2018–19 | First League | 13 | 0 | 1 | 0 | – | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 0
FCSB (loan)  | 2019–20 | Liga I  | 17 | 2 | 2 | 1 | – | 1[g] | 0 | – | 20 | 3
Voluntari | 2020–21 | Liga I  | 8 | 2 | 0 | 0 | – | – | – | 8 | 2
Academica Clinceni | 2020–21 | Liga I  | 19 | 2 | 0 | 0 | – | – | – | 19 | 2
CSA Steaua București | 2021–22 | Liga II  | 19 | 5 | 0 | 0 | – | – | – | 19 | 5
2022–23 | 28 | 6 | 1 | 1 | – | – | – | 29 | 7
Total  | 47 | 11 | 1 | 1 | – | – | – | 49 | 12
Concordia Chiajna  | 2023–24 | Liga II  | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | – | – | 5 | 0
CSA Steaua București  | 2023–24 | Liga II  | 7 | 0 | – | – | – | – | 7 | 0
Career total  | 386 | 52 | 22 | 6 | 9 | 0 | 49 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 465 | 60

1. ^ Appearances in the Europa League
2. ^ Appearances in the Champions League
3. ^ Appearance in the Supercupa României
4. ^ Five appearances in the Champions League and five in the Europa League
5. ^ Four appearances in the Champions League and two in the Europa League
6. ^ Four appearances in the Champions League and six in the Europa League
7. ^ One appearance in the Europa League

### International[edit]

[14]

Appearances and goals by national team and year  National team | Year | Apps | Goals

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|
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Romania | 2012 | 1 | 0
2013 | 3 | 0
2014 | 1 | 0
2015 | 7 | 1
2016 | 11 | 3
2017 | 1 | 0
Total | 24 | 4

[14]

Scores and results list Romania's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Popa goal.
List of international goals scored by Adrian Popa  No.  | Date  | Venue  | Cap  | Opponent  | Score  | Result  | Competition

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1  | 14 February 2015 | Mardan Sports Complex, Aksu, Turkey | 7 |  Moldova | 2–0 | 2–1 | Friendly
2  | 3 June 2016 | Arena Națională, Bucharest, Romania | 14 |  Georgia | 1–0 | 5–1 | Friendly
3  | 4 September 2016 | Cluj Arena, Cluj-Napoca, Romania | 17 |  Montenegro | 1–0 | 1–1 | 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification
4  | 8 October 2016 | Vazgen Sargsyan, Yerevan, Armenia | 18 |  Armenia | 2–0 | 5–0 | 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification

## Honours[edit]

FCSB

* Liga I: 2012–13, 2013–14, 2014–15
* Cupa României: 2014–15, 2019–20
* Cupa Ligii: 2014–15, 2015–16
* Supercupa României: 2013

Ludogorets Razgrad

* First Professional Football League: 2018–19

## References[edit]

1. ^ "Adrian Popa este noul jucător al Stelei!" [Adrian Popa is the new player of Steaua!] (in Romanian). FC Steaua București. 15 August 2012. Archived from the original on 17 August 2012. Retrieved 11 January 2011.
2. ^ "Astea-s contractele! » Gazeta are toate datele din acordurile pe care le-au semnat Adi Popa şi Szukala" [These are the contracts! » Gazeta has all the details about the agreements signed by Popa and Szukala] (in Romanian). Gazeta Sporturilor. 18 August 2012. Retrieved 11 January 2011.
3. ^ "Ekranas – Steaua 0–2! Kawasaki-vicius! Titular în premieră, Adi Popa a înscris PRIMUL său gol în tricoul grupării din Ghencea" [Ekranas – Steaua 0–2! Kawasaki-vicius! A starter for the first time, Adi Popa scored his FIRST goal for the Ghencea-based team] (in Romanian). Pro Sport. 23 August 2012. Retrieved 11 January 2011.
4. ^ "Despărțire emoționantă la Steaua! Adi Popa și-a luat "la revedere" de la colegi" [Heartwarming farewell at Steaua! Adi Popa said goodbye to his teammates] (in Romanian). Digi Sport. 27 January 2017. Retrieved 27 January 2017.
5. ^ "Royals complete Popa signing". Reading FC. 30 January 2017. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
6. ^ "Sheffield Wednesday 0–2 Reading". BBC Sport. 17 March 2017. Retrieved 17 March 2017.
7. ^ "Popa loan switch confirmed". Reading F.C. 29 January 2018. Retrieved 29 January 2018.
8. ^ "Adrian Popa has left Reading FC to join Saudi Arabian side Al-Taawoun on loan". Reading chronicle. 28 January 2018. Retrieved 28 January 2018.
9. ^ "Popa set to spend rest of season on loan at Ludogorets". readingfc.co.uk/. Reading F.C. 20 December 2018. Retrieved 20 December 2018.
10. ^ "OFICIAL". facebook.com/VoluntariFC/ (in Romanian). Voluntari FC Facebook. 16 October 2020. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
11. ^ "Adi Popa, prezentat oficial la Steaua! Ce număr va purta".
12. ^ "Romania 1–4 Netherlands". FIFA. 16 October 2012. Archived from the original on 6 June 2014. Retrieved 14 January 2017.
13. ^ "Adrian Popa". Soccerway. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
14. ^ a b "Adrian Popa". European Football. Retrieved 11 January 2017.

## External links[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Adrian Popa.

* Adrian Popa at RomanianSoccer.ro (in Romanian)
* Adrian Popa at National-Football-Teams.com
* Adrian Popa – UEFA competition record (archive)

* v
* t
* e

CSA Steaua București - current squad

* 2 Maftei
* 4 Beța
* 5 Walace
* 6 Vîrtej
* 8 Bărbulescu
* 9 Miguélez
* 10 Chipirliu (c)
* 11 Herras
* 12 Frânculescu
* 13 Ilie
* 15 Shehait
* 17 Raicu
* 19 Drăghici
* 20 Florea
* 21 Dobrescu
* 22 Iancu
* 23 Chunchukov
* 25 Ceceri
* 27 Sierra
* 32 Boiciuc
* 36 Mancuso
* 76 Matei
* 77 Popa
* 78 Dumitru
* 94 Enceanu
* Head coach: Oprița

* v
* t
* e

Romania squad – UEFA Euro 2016

* 1 Pantilimon
* 2 Mățel
* 3 Raț
* 4 Moți
* 5 Hoban
* 6 Chiricheș (c)
* 7 Chipciu
* 8 Pintilii
* 9 Alibec
* 10 Stanciu
* 11 Torje
* 12 Tătărușanu
* 13 Keșerü
* 14 Andone
* 15 Găman
* 16 Filip
* 17 Sânmărtean
* 18 Prepeliță
* 19 Stancu
* 20 Popa
* 21 Grigore
* 22 Săpunaru
* 23 Lung Jr.
* Coach: Iordănescu

*[Apps]: League appearances
*[Gls]: League goals
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*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template