Adrian Popa (footballer, born 1988)
Adrian Popa (born 24 July 1988) is a Romanian professional footballer who plays as a winger for Liga II club Concordia Chiajna.
 Popa in 2021 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 24 July 1988 | ||
| Place of birth | Bucharest, Romania | ||
| Height | 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Winger | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Concordia Chiajna | ||
| Youth career | |||
| –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– | Concordia Chiajna | 4 | (0) |
| International career | |||
| 2012–2017 | Romania | 24 | (4) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 26 August 2023 | |||
Club career
Early years
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
On 16 October 2020, Popa signed a one-year contract with FC Voluntari.[10]
Steaua București
On 22 September 2021, Popa signed a two-year contract with his childhood team, Steaua București. [11]
International career
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
Club
- As of match played 4 March 2022[13]
| Club | Season | League | National cup | League cup | Europe | Other | Total | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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[lower-alpha 1] | 1 | – | 43 | 2 | |||
| 2013–14 | 28 | 7 | 5 | 0 | – | 11[lower-alpha 2] | 0 | 1[lower-alpha 3] | 0 | 45 | 7 | ||||
| 2014–15 | 28 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 10[lower-alpha 4] | 0 | 0 | 0 | 45 | 8 | |||
| 2015–16 | 32 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 6[lower-alpha 5] | 1 | 0 | 0 | 46 | 5 | |||
| 2016–17 | 19 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 10[lower-alpha 6] | 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[lower-alpha 7] | 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 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | – | – | 4 | 0 | ||||
| Career total | 378 | 52 | 22 | 6 | 9 | 0 | 49 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 457 | 60 | |||
- Appearances in the Europa League
- Appearances in the Champions League
- Appearance in the Supercupa României
- Five appearances in the Champions League and five in the Europa League
- Four appearances in the Champions League and two in the Europa League
- Four appearances in the Champions League and six in the Europa League
- One appearance in the Europa League
International
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Romania | 2012 | 1 | 0 |
| 2013 | 3 | 0 | |
| 2014 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2015 | 7 | 1 | |
| 2016 | 11 | 3 | |
| 2017 | 1 | 0 | |
| Total | 24 | 4 | |
- Scores and results list Romania's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Popa goal.
| No. | Date | Venue | Cap | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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
Steaua București
- 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
References
- "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.
- "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.
- "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.
- "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.
- "Royals complete Popa signing". Reading FC. 30 January 2017. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
- "Sheffield Wednesday 0–2 Reading". BBC Sport. 17 March 2017. Retrieved 17 March 2017.
- "Popa loan switch confirmed". Reading F.C. 29 January 2018. Retrieved 29 January 2018.
- "Adrian Popa has left Reading FC to join Saudi Arabian side Al-Taawoun on loan". Reading chronicle. 28 January 2018. Retrieved 28 January 2018.
- "Popa set to spend rest of season on loan at Ludogorets". readingfc.co.uk/. Reading F.C. 20 December 2018. Retrieved 20 December 2018.
- "OFICIAL". facebook.com/VoluntariFC/ (in Romanian). Voluntari FC Facebook. 16 October 2020. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
- "Adi Popa, prezentat oficial la Steaua! Ce număr va purta".
- "Romania 1–4 Netherlands". FIFA. 16 October 2012. Archived from the original on 6 June 2014. Retrieved 14 January 2017.
- "Adrian Popa". Soccerway. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
- "Adrian Popa". European Football. Retrieved 11 January 2017.
External links
- Adrian Popa at RomanianSoccer.ro (in Romanian)
- Adrian Popa at National-Football-Teams.com
- Adrian Popa – UEFA competition record (archive)
 | ||