Adrian Popa (footballer, born 1988)

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
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	6	(0)
International career
2012–2017	Romania	24	(4)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 21 March 2024

Adrian Popa (born 24 July 1988) is a Romanian professional footballer who plays as a winger.

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 21 March 2024 ^[13]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

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	5	0	0	0	–		–		–		5	0
CSA Steaua București	2023–24	Liga II	1	0	0	0	–		–		–		1	0
Career total			380	52	22	6	9	0	49	2	1	0	459	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

^[14]

Appearances and goals by national team and year

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

^[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
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

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

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. "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 )