Darius Olaru

Darius Dumitru Olaru (Romanian pronunciation: [ˈdari.us oˈlaru]; born 3 March 1998) is a Romanian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Liga I club FCSB, which he captains, and the Romania national team.

Darius Olaru
Olaru with FCSB in 2022
Personal information
Full name Darius Dumitru Olaru
Date of birth (1998-03-03) 3 March 1998
Place of birth Mediaș, Romania
Height 1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)[1]
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
 FCSB
Number 27
Youth career
2008–2011 CSȘ Mediaș
2011–2015 Gaz Metan Mediaș
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2015–2019 Gaz Metan Mediaș 113 (11)
2020– FCSB 128 (22)
International career‡
2018–2021 Romania U21 17 (2)
2021– Romania 14 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 22 October 2023
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 12 October 2023

After starting out at hometown side Gaz Metan Mediaș and amassing over 100 appearances in the Romanian top flight, Olaru transferred to FCSB in 2020.

Internationally, he represented Romania under-21 in two editions of the UEFA European Championship, in 2019 and 2021. Olaru went on to register his full debut for the country in June 2021, in a 1–2 loss to Georgia.

Club career

Gaz Metan Mediaș

Olaru made his senior debut for Gaz Metan Mediaș on 29 August 2015, appearing in a 2–1 away win over UTA Arad in the second division.[2] He amassed twelve games and scored two goals during the campaign, as his hometown club returned to the Liga I after only one year of absence.[3]

Olaru recorded his debut in the latter competition on 19 September 2016, in a 2–0 victory against defending champions Astra Giurgiu. On 23 May 2017, he scored his first league goal from the penalty spot in a 3–0 defeat of Concordia Chiajna.[4]

FCSB

In early 2018, Olaru signed a precontract with fellow Liga I side FCSB, but the move initially fell through after a transfer fee could not be agreed upon.[5] In May the following year, the capital-based reinstated its interest and signed him for an undisclosed sum, with the deal seeing him join up with the squad at the start of 2020.[6][7] FCSB reportedly outbid CFR Cluj for the transfer of Olaru, where he was highly regarded by manager Dan Petrescu.[8]

Olaru was officially unveiled as a FCSB player on 7 January 2020, and was assigned the number 27 jersey.[9] He made his first appearance for the Roș-albaștrii in a 0–1 loss to CFR Cluj on 2 February, and four days later scored the opener in a 2–1 win over Voluntari.[10]

Following the conclusion of his first full season at the club, during which he played 30 matches and netted seven times in the league, Olaru was named to the 2020–21 Liga I Team of the Season by the Liga Profesionistă de Fotbal.[11]

International career

Olaru received his first call-up for the Romania national under-21 team in September 2018,[12] and on 15 November that year scored in a 3–3 friendly draw with Belgium in Cluj-Napoca.[13] He was subsequently selected by Mirel Rădoi in Romania's squad for the 2019 UEFA European Under-21 Championship, where he played two matches in the group stage and was an unused substitute as his nation exited the competition after a 2–4 defeat to Germany in the semi-finals.[14]

Olaru's age also made him eligible for the 2021 edition of the competition, with head coach Adrian Mutu choosing him in the starting eleven in all three group fixtures of the final tournament. Romania finished with the same number of points as the Netherlands and Germany, but could not progress to the knockout stage.[15] Following Olaru's good display throughout the season, Rădoi—who was in the meantime promoted to the senior national team—handed him his full debut on 2 June 2021, in a 1–2 friendly loss to Georgia.[16]

Style of play

After being deployed as an offensive-minded midfielder or a winger in his beginnings, Olaru developed more into a box-to-box midfielder following his transfer to FCSB.[17] Romanian manager Ioan Sabău characterised him as "a player who is physically and mentally involved [in his team], both defends and attacks, also has physical strength and appears earnest".[18]

Personal life

Olaru's parents left Romania in order to work abroad and got divorced at some point during his childhood, leaving him mainly in the care of his grandparents. He stated that he was an ardent supporter of Dinamo București growing up.[19]

Career statistics

Club
As of match played 22 October 2023[20]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup League Cup Continental Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Gaz Metan Mediaș 2015–16 Liga II 12200———122
2016–17 Liga I 1011010——121
2017–18 36140———401
2018–19 34410———354
2019–20 21300———213
Total 113116010——12011
FCSB 2019–20 Liga I 12241———163
2020–21 30700—1[lower-alpha 1]100318
2021–22 36610—00—376
2022–23 37100—10[lower-alpha 2]0—471
2023–24 13610—4[lower-alpha 3]0—186
Total 1282261—1510014924
Career total 24133121101510026935
  1. Appearance in UEFA Europa League
  2. Appearances in UEFA Europa Conference League
  3. Appearances in UEFA Europa Conference League

International
As of match played 12 October 2023[21]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Romania
202120
202270
202350
Total140

Honours

Gaz Metan Mediaș[20]

FCSB[20]

Individual

References
  1. "OLARU DARIUS DUMITRU" (in Romanian). Liga Profesionistă de Fotbal. Retrieved 16 November 2018.
  2. "Medieşanul component al naţionalei României U18, Darius Olaru : "Cu fiecare evoluție pe care o am simt că mi se împlinește visul sa devin fotbalist"" [The Mediaș native who is part of the Romania national U18 squad, Darius Olaru: "With every match I play I feel closer to fulfilling my dream of becoming a footballer"] (in Romanian). Sibiu 100%. 20 November 2015. Retrieved 16 November 2018.
  3. "Gaz Metan Mediaş a obţinut promovarea în Liga I în ultima etapă a play-off-ului eşalonului secund" [Gaz Metan Mediaș obtained the Liga I promotion in the last fixture of the second division's play-off round] (in Romanian). News.ro. 28 May 2016. Retrieved 16 November 2018.
  4. "Gaz Metan - Concordia Chiajna 3-0 și ilfovenii au tot mai mari emoții cu retrogradarea" [Gaz Metan - Concordia Chiajna 3–0 and "the Ilfov people" are close to relegation]. Gazeta Sporturilor (in Romanian). 23 May 2017. Retrieved 16 November 2018.
  5. "Încă o lovitură pentru Gigi Becali! Darius Olaru: "E adevărat că am semnat un precontract cu FCSB!"" [Another hit for Gigi Becali! Darius Olaru: "It's true that I've signed a precontract with FCSB!"] (in Romanian). Fanatik.ro. 3 October 2018. Retrieved 24 November 2018.
  6. "FCSB a transferat un fotbalist din lotul convocat de Rădoi la Euro 2019" [FCSB transferred a player that is selected in Rădoi's Euro 2019 squad]. ProSport (in Romanian). 20 May 2019.
  7. "Gaz Metan a dezvăluit contractul cu Gigi Becali: "Am făcut un "deal" bun"" [Gaz Metan revealed the contract it made with Gigi Becali: "It was a good deal"]. Gazeta Sporturilor (in Romanian). 22 May 2019.
  8. "Lovitura pe care FCSB i-a dat-o lui CFR Cluj! Dan Petrescu: "Este jucătorul pe care-l doream cel mai mult!"" [The hit that CFR Cluj got from FCSB! Dan Petrescu: "He is the player I wanted the most!"] (in Romanian). Digi Sport. 12 June 2019. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
  9. "Bine ai venit, Darius Olaru!" [Welcome, Darius Olaru!] (in Romanian). FCSB. 7 January 2020. Retrieved 3 April 2020.
  10. "Golazo Darius Olaru la primul meci ca titular la FCSB! Mijlocaşul a prins un voleu de senzaţie" [Golazo from Darius Olaru on his first start at FCSB! The midfielder scored an amazing volley] (in Romanian). Digi Sport. 6 February 2020. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
  11. "LPF a ales "echipa ideală" a sezonului din Liga 1! Care echipă a oferit cei mai mulți jucători" [LPF has chosen the "ideal team" of the Liga 1 season! Which team offers the most players] (in Romanian). Digi Sport. 4 June 2021. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
  12. "INTERVIU cu Darius Olaru: "Regula U21 m-a ajutat să ajung la națională"" [INTERVIEW of Darius Olaru: "The under-21 rule helped me to get convoked to the national team"] (in Romanian). Romanian Football Federation. 3 September 2018. Retrieved 16 November 2018.
  13. "ROMÂNIA U21 - BELGIA U21 3-3 // Darius Olaru, eroul revenirii "tricolorilor": "E cel mai bun grup în care am fost vreodată. Vreau să rămân în el"" [ROMANIA U21 - BELGIUM U21 3–3 // Darius Olaru, the comeback hero of "the Tricolours": "It's the best group I was ever in. I want to stay"]. Gazeta Sporturilor (in Romanian). 15 November 2018. Retrieved 16 November 2018.
  14. "Germany 4–2 Romania". UEFA.com. 27 June 2019. Retrieved 3 April 2020.
  15. "Prima reacție a lui Adi Mutu, după eliminarea de la EURO 2021: "Băieții trebuie felicitați". Cum a explicat schimbările" [Adi Mutu's first reaction, after the elimination from EURO 2021: "The boys must be congratulated". How he explained the changes] (in Romanian). DigiSport. 30 March 2021. Retrieved 13 April 2021.
  16. "Romania vs. Georgia - Football Match Line-Ups - June 2, 2021 - ESPN". ESPN. 2 June 2021.
  17. "Darius Olaru, sincer despre rolul din teren care i se potrivește cel mai bine. "Aș fi răspuns fără ezitare"" [Darius Olaru, honest about the role in the field that suits him best. "I would have answered without hesitation"] (in Romanian). Digi Sport. 15 April 2022. Retrieved 15 April 2022.
  18. "Ioan Ovidiu Sabău îl sfătuiește pe Tavi Popescu: "De asta are nevoie pentru a juca la o echipă din Europa" + Ce fotbaliști admiră din Liga 1 și pe cine vede liderul naționalei" [Ioan Ovidiu Sabău advises Tavi Popescu: "This is what he need in order to play for a European team" + What footballers he admires from the Liga 1 and who he sees as the leader of the national team]. Gazeta Sporturilor (in Romanian). 12 April 2022. Retrieved 15 April 2022.
  19. "Darius Olaru, povestea impresionantă a noii vedete. Crescut fără părinți de bunicii mamei. Bunica a murit recent!" [Darius Olaru, the impressive story of the new star. He was raised by his mother's parents. The grandmother passed away recently] (in Romanian). Fanatik.ro. 26 September 2018. Retrieved 16 November 2018.
  20. Darius Olaru at Soccerway. Retrieved 22 May 2019.
  21. "Darius Olaru". European Football. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
  22. "LLPF a anunțat echipa ideală a sezonului de Liga 1 » FCSB și CFR Cluj, reprezentate de câte 3 jucători" [LPF has chosen the "ideal team" of the Liga 1 season! Which team offers the most players] (in Romanian). Gazeta Sporturilor. 3 June 2022. Retrieved 6 June 2022.
  23. "Bucureștiul și-a împărțit trofeele » Darius Olaru a fost ales "Jucătorul lunii aprilie", iar Adrian Mutu - "Antrenorul lunii"! Cum s-a votat" [Bucharest shared its trophies » Darius Olaru was chosen "Player of the month in April", and Adrian Mutu - "Coach of the month"! How the voting took place]. Gazeta Sporturilor (in Romanian). 4 May 2022. Retrieved 4 May 2022.
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