Constantin Năsturescu

Constantin Năsturescu (2 October 1940 – 10 December 2021) was a Romanian professional footballer who played as a midfielder.

Constantin Năsturescu

Năsturescu with Rapid București in 1963.
Personal information
Date of birth	(1940-10-02)2 October 1940
Place of birth	Giurgiu, Romania
Date of death	10 December 2021(2021-12-10) (aged 81)
Height	1.67 m (5 ft 6 in)
Position	Midfielder
Youth career
	Dunărea Giurgiu
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1960–1961	CFR Roșiori
1962–1974	Rapid București	288	(25)
1974–1975	Progresul Brăila
1975–1976	Unirea Focșani
International career
1964–1969	Romania[a]	6	(0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals

Club career

Năsturescu, nicknamed "Bebe", was born on 2 October 1940 in Giurgiu, Romania and began playing junior-level football in 1952 at local club Dunărea.^[3][4][5][6] He started his senior career in 1961 at CFR Roșiori in Divizia B.^[3][5][7][8]

He was transferred to Rapid București where on 8 April 1962 he made his Divizia A debut under coach Ion Mihăilescu in a 3–1 away loss to Steagul Roșu Brașov.^{[3][4][5][7][9]} Năsturescu spent 13 seasons at Rapid in which he helped the club win the 1966–67 Divizia A, their first title, being used by coach Valentin Stănescu in 25 matches, scoring three goals.^{[3][4][5][7][10]} In the following season he played four games in the 1967–68 European Cup, helping The Railwaymen eliminate Trakia Plovdiv and advance to the following round where they were eliminated by Juventus.^[3][11] Năsturescu also won two Balkans Cups in 1964 and 1966, and the 1971–72 Cupa României where he was used the entire match by coach Bazil Marian in the 2–0 win over Jiul Petroșani in the final.^[3][4][12]

Năsturescu (front row, second from the left) with Rapid in 1970.

Năsturescu played a total of 20 games and scored two goals in European competitions (including four games and two goals in the Inter-cities Fairs Cup).^[3] He took part in the 1971–72 UEFA Cup campaign, playing all six games as Rapid reached the third round, eliminating Napoli and Legia Warsaw, being eliminated by the eventual winners of the competition, Tottenham.^[3][13] He also took part in the 1972–73 European Cup Winners' Cup campaign, playing all six games, helping the team reach the quarter-finals, eliminating Landskrona BoIS against whom he scored a goal and Rapid Wien, being knocked out by Leeds United who reached the final.^[3][14] Năsturescu made his last Divizia A appearance on 19 June 1974 in a 1–0 away loss to Politehnica Iași, having a total of 288 matches and 25 goals in the competition, all for Rapid.^[3][4][7][5] He retired after playing two more seasons for Progresul Brăila and Unirea Focșani in Divizia B.^[3][7][5]

International career

Năsturescu played three matches for Romania, making his debut under coach Bazil Marian on 4 January 1967 in a 1–1 friendly draw against Uruguay in Montevideo at Estadio Gran Parque Central.^[15][16] His following games were also friendlies, a 0–0 draw against Poland and a 1–0 loss to France.^[15] He also played three games for Romania's Olympic team.^[17]

Death

Năsturescu died on 10 December 2021 at the age of 81.^{[3][4][6][7][8]}

Honours

Rapid București

• Divizia A: 1966–67^[2]
• Cupa României: 1971–72^[2]
• Balkans Cup: 1963–64, 1964–66^[4]

Notes

1. Including three appearances for Romania's Olympic team^[1][2]