Gheorghe Popescu (footballer, born 1967)
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Date of birth | 9 October 1967 | ||
Place of birth | Calafat, Romania | ||
Height | 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) | ||
Position(s) |
centre back, midfielder | ||
Team information | |||
Current team |
Farul Constanța (chairman) | ||
Youth career | |||
1975–1984 | Dunărea Calafat | ||
1984–1985 | Universitatea Craiova | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
1985–1990 | Universitatea Craiova | 124 | (18) |
1988 | → Steaua București (loan) | 13 | (1) |
1990–1994 | PSV | 108 | (23) |
1994–1995 | Tottenham Hotspur | 23 | (3) |
1995–1997 | Barcelona | 68 | (9) |
1997–2001 |
Galatasaray | 111 | (6) |
2001–2002 | Lecce | 28 | (3) |
2002 | Dinamo București | 8 | (0) |
2002–2003 | Hannover 96 | 14 | (1) |
Total | 497 | (64) | |
International career | |||
1988–2003 | Romania | 115 | (16) |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals |
Gheorghe "Gică" Popescu (Romanian pronunciation: [ˈɡe̯orɡe ˈd͡ʒikə poˈpesku]; born 9 October 1967) is a Romanian former professional football player who played as a defender.
He notably played in
His tactical knowledge as a defender made him a valuable team member in top European competitions until he reached his late-thirties. He was a key part of the Romania national team in the 1990s and earned 115 caps, scoring 16 goals. He was present at 1990 World Cup, 1994 World Cup, Euro 1996, 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000. He is the brother-in-law of fellow Romanian international Gheorghe Hagi.
Club career
After playing six seasons for
After leaving Barcelona during the summer of 1997, he was transferred to
Popescu was never outside the top four in the
International career
At international level, Popescu is Romania's all-time third most capped players with 115, in which he scored 16 goals. He played for his country in the 1990, 1994, and 1998 World Cups, Euro 1996 and Euro 2000. He also entered the symbolic but exclusive circle of players with a century of caps.[5]
Personal life
He is the brother-in-law of fellow Romanian international Gheorghe Hagi.
Tax evasion and imprisonment
On 4 March 2014, Popescu and seven others, among them
Career statistics
Club
Club | Season | League | National Cup | League Cup | Continental | Total | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
Universitatea Craiova | 1984–85 | Divizia A | 2 | 0 | – | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |||
1985–86 | 18 | 1 | – | 3 | 0 | 21 | 1 | |||||
1986–87 | 31 | 1 | – | 4 | 0 | 35 | 1 | |||||
1987–88 | 14 | 1 | – | 2 | 0 | 16 | 1 | |||||
1988–89 | 33 | 8 | – | 0 | 0 | 33 | 8 | |||||
1989–90 | 26 | 7 | – | 0 | 0 | 26 | 7 | |||||
Total | 124 | 18 | – | 9 | 0 | 133 | 18 | |||||
Steaua București (loan)
|
1987–88 | Divizia A | 13 | 1 | – | 3 | 0 | 16 | 1 | |||
PSV | 1990–91 | Eredivisie | 30 | 5 | 1 | – | 2 | 0 | 32 | 6 | ||
1991–92 | 29 | 7 | 0 | – | 3 | 0 | 32 | 7 | ||||
1992–93 | 24 | 6 | 0 | – | 6 | 0 | 30 | 6 | ||||
1993–94 | 23 | 5 | 0 | – | 1 | 1 | 24 | 6 | ||||
1994–95 | 2 | 0 | 0 | – | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | ||||
Total | 108 | 23 | 1 | – | 12 | 1 | 120 | 25 | ||||
Tottenham Hotspur | 1994–95 | Premier League | 23 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | – | 28 | 3 | |
Barcelona | 1995–96 | La Liga | 39 | 5 | 7 | 2 | – | 8 | 1 | 54 | 8 | |
1996–97 | 29 | 4 | 5 | 0 | – | 8 | 1 | 42 | 5 | |||
Total | 68 | 9 | 12 | 2 | – | 16 | 1 | 96 | 12 | |||
Galatasaray | 1997–98 | 1.Lig | 32 | 2 | 8 | 2 | – | 8 | 0 | 48 | 4 | |
1998–99 | 29 | 2 | 5 | 1 | – | 8 | 0 | 42 | 3 | |||
1999–2000 | 25 | 2 | 3 | 0 | – | 14 | 0 | 42 | 2 | |||
2000–01 | 24 | 0 | 3 | 0 | – | 15 | 0 | 42 | 0 | |||
2001–02 | 1 | 0 | – | – | 3 | 0 | 4 | 0 | ||||
Total | 111 | 6 | 19 | 3 | – | 48 | 0 | 178 | 9 | |||
Lecce
|
2001–02 | Serie A | 28 | 3 | 0 | 0 | – | – | 28 | 3 | ||
Dinamo București | 2002–03 | Divizia A | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | |
Hannover | 2002–03 | Bundesliga | 14 | 1 | 0 | 0 | – | – | 14 | 1 | ||
Career total | 497 | 64 | 34 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 88 | 3 | 621 | 73 |
International
National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
---|---|---|---|
Romania | 1988 | 4 | 0 |
1989 | 8 | 1 | |
1990 | 14 | 0 | |
1991 | 6 | 0 | |
1992 | 4 | 1 | |
1993 | 4 | 0 | |
1994 | 15 | 1 | |
1995 | 5 | 0 | |
1996 | 8 | 6 | |
1997 | 7 | 4 | |
1998 | 12 | 2 | |
1999 | 8 | 0 | |
2000 | 6 | 0 | |
2001 | 5 | 1 | |
2002 | 8 | 0 | |
2003 | 1 | 0 | |
Total | 115 | 16 |
- Scores and results list Romania's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Popescu goal.
No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 17 May 1989 | Stadionul Ghencea, Bucharest, Romania | Bulgaria | 1–0 | 1–0 | FIFA World Cup 1990 Qualifying |
2 | 29 November 1992 | Neo GSZ Stadium, Larnaca , Cyprus |
Cyprus | 1–0 | 4–1 | FIFA World Cup 1994 Qualifying |
3 | 12 November 1994 | Stadionul Ghencea, Bucharest, Romania | Slovakia | 1–0 | 3–2 | UEFA Euro 1996 Qualifying |
4 | 1 June 1996 | Stadionul Ghencea, Bucharest, Romania | Moldova | 2–0 | 3–1 | Friendly |
5 | 1 June 1996 | Stadionul Ghencea, Bucharest, Romania | Moldova | 3–0 | 3–1 | Friendly |
6 | 9 October 1996 | Laugardalsvöllur, Reykjavík, Iceland | Iceland | 3–0 | 4–0 | World Cup 1998 Qualifying |
7 | 14 December 1996 | Republic of Macedonia |
Macedonia | 1–0 | 3–0 | World Cup 1998 Qualifying |
8 | 14 December 1996 | Gradski Stadium, Skopje, Republic of Macedonia | Macedonia | 2–0 | 3–0 | World Cup 1998 Qualifying |
9 | 14 December 1996 | Gradski Stadium, Skopje, Republic of Macedonia | Macedonia | 3–0 | 3–0 | World Cup 1998 Qualifying |
10 | 29 March 1997 | Stadionul Ghencea, Bucharest, Romania | Liechtenstein | 2–0 | 8–0 | World Cup 1998 Qualifying |
11 | 29 March 1997 | Stadionul Ghencea, Bucharest, Romania | Liechtenstein | 3–0 | 8–0 | World Cup 1998 Qualifying |
12 | 29 March 1997 | Stadionul Ghencea, Bucharest, Romania | Liechtenstein | 6–0 | 8–0 | World Cup 1998 Qualifying |
13 | 29 March 1997 | Stadionul Ghencea, Bucharest, Romania | Liechtenstein | 8–0 | 8–0 | World Cup 1998 Qualifying |
14 | 6 June 1998 | Ploieşti , Romania |
Moldova | 1–0 | 5–1 | Friendly |
15 | 2 September 1998 | Stadionul Ghencea, Bucharest, Romania | Liechtenstein | 1–0 | 7–0 | UEFA Euro 2000 Qualifying |
16 | 6 October 2001 | Stadionul Ghencea, Bucharest, Romania | Georgia | 1–1 | 1–1 | World Cup 2002 Qualifying |
Honours
Steaua București
PSV
- Eredivisie: 1990–91, 1991–92
- Johan Cruijff Shield: 1992
Barcelona
Galatasaray
- 1.Lig: 1997–98, 1998–99, 1999–2000
- Turkish Cup: 1998–99, 1999–2000
- Turkish Super Cup: 1997
- UEFA Cup: 1999–2000
- UEFA Super Cup: 2000
Individual
- Romanian Footballer of the Year: 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1995, 1996[11]
See also
References
- ^ "Football: Spurs sign Popescu: Sugar takes outlay to 7.5m pounds". The Independent. 10 September 1994.
- ^ "Gheorghe POPESCU". Sporting-heroes.net. Retrieved 28 December 2012.
- ^ Ridley, Ian (13 August 1995). "Club-by-club guide: The prospects, the players to watch, the arrivals and departures". The Independent.
- ^ "Planet World Cup: The All-Time World Cup Squads". planetworldcup.com. Retrieved 23 July 2009.
- ^ a b Mamrud, Roberto (5 April 2003). "Gheorghe Popescu – Century of International Appearances". RSSSF. Retrieved 28 December 2012.
- ^ "Ex-aanvoerder Barcelona moet drie jaar de cel in" (in Dutch). De Standaard. Retrieved 5 March 2014.
- ^ "Gică Popescu, condamnat cu EXECUTARE cu o zi înaintea alegerilor de la FRF" (in Romanian). romaniatv.net. 4 March 2014. Retrieved 5 March 2014.
- ^ "Gheorghe Popescu, la ieşirea din închisoare: A fost cea mai grea perioadă din viaţa mea" (in Romanian). agerpres.ro. 4 November 2015. Archived from the original on 2 October 2022. Retrieved 25 June 2021.
- ^ Gheorghe Popescu at National-Football-Teams.com
- ^ Gheorghe Popescu at RomanianSoccer.ro (in Romanian)
- ^ Razvan Toma (6 January 2016). "Romania – Player of the Year Awards". RSSSF. Retrieved 9 February 2016.
Further reading
- Nanu, Daniel (2003). Gică Popescu: Viața mea. Edigold. ISBN 978-9-7300-2985-7.
External links
- Gica Popescu's International caps
- Gheorghe Popescu at RomanianSoccer.ro (in Romanian)
- Gheorghe Popescu at National-Football-Teams.com