Gabriel Popescu (footballer)

Gabriel "Gabi" Popescu (born 25 December 1973) is a Romanian former professional footballer who played as a midfielder.

Gabriel Popescu

Personal information
Date of birth	(1973-12-25) 25 December 1973 (age 51)
Place of birth	Craiova, Romania
Height	1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position(s)	Midfielder
Youth career
0000–1992	Electroputere Craiova
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1992–1994	Electroputere Craiova	65	(0)
1995–1997	Universitatea Craiova	93	(15)
1998	Salamanca	15	(4)
1998–1999	Valencia	25	(1)
1999	Numancia	7	(1)
2000	Dinamo București	9	(0)
2000–2001	National București	47	(5)
2001	→ Universitatea Craiova (loan)	8	(1)
2002–2004	Suwon Samsung Bluewings	59	(12)
2004	→ National București (loan)	11	(1)
2005	JEF United Chiba	7	(1)
Total		346	(41)
International career
1993–1995	Romania U21	3	(0)
1996–1998	Romania	15	(1)
Managerial career
2011	Sportul Studențesc
* Club domestic league appearances and goals

Career

Popescu represented the Romania national team 15 times and scored one goal. The undoubted highlight of his international career was his appearances at the 1998 FIFA World Cup, where he played in all four Romanian matches, including their dramatic 2–1 victory over England. However, during the round of 16 match against Croatia, he fouled Aljoša Asanović in the penalty area. Croatia was awarded a penalty which Davor Šuker scored. Romania lost 1 - 0 and was eliminated from the tournament.

Popescu began his career with Romanian side Universitatea Craiova, before moving to Spain where he played with three different La Liga clubs – UD Salamanca, Valencia CF and CD Numancia. After his Spanish spell he returned to Romania firstly with Dinamo București before joining city rivals National București. Popescu then joined Suwon Samsung Bluewings in June 2002, in a double deal that also saw Bosnian-born forward Slaviša Mitrović join the K-League club.

'Gabi', as he was known to Korean fans, made a great impression in the Suwon Samsung Bluewings midfield during his first season, scoring six times in his 24 appearances. He weighed in with another six strikes in the 2003 season to further endear himself to the Suwon Samsung Bluewings fans, but struggled with injury during the close season and was limited to a peripheral role during the first half of 2004.

Popescu was allowed to return to National București on a 6-month loan deal in the summer of 2004, where he linked up again with Slaviša Mitrović. At the end of the year, Popescu completed a switch to Japanese side JEF United Chiba.

Career statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition^[1]

Club	Season	League			National Cup		League Cup		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Electroputere Craiova	1992–93	Divizia A	16	0					16	0
	1993–94		33	0					33	0
	1994–95		16	0					16	0
	Total		65	0					65	0
Universitatea Craiova	1994–95	Divizia A	15	1					15	1
	1995–96		30	2					30	2
	1996–97		29	7					29	7
	1997–98		19	5					19	5
	Total		93	15					93	15
Salamanca	1997–98	La Liga	15	5	0	0			15	5
Valencia	1998–99	La Liga	25	1	6	0			31	1
Numancia	1999–2000	La Liga	7	1					7	1
Dinamo București	1999–2000	Divizia A	9	0					9	0
Naţional București	2000–01	Divizia A	18	1					18	1
	2001–02		29	4					29	4
	Total		47	5					47	5
Suwon Samsung Bluewings	2002	K-League	24	6					24	6
	2003		31	6					31	6
	2004		4	0					4	0
	Total		59	12					59	12
Naţional București	2004–05	Divizia A	11	1					11	1
JEF United Chiba	2005	J1 League	7	1	0	0	7	5	14	6
Career total			338	41	6	0	7	5	351	46

International

Appearances and goals by national team and year

National team	Year	Apps	Goals
Romania	1996	4	0
	1997	4	1
	1998	7	0
Total		15	1

Score and result list Romania's goal tally first, score column indicates score after Popescu goal.

International goal scored by Gabriel Popescu

No.	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1	19 November 1997	Lluís Sitjar Stadium, Palma de Mallorca, Spain	Spain	1–1	1–1	Friendly

Honours

Valencia

• Copa del Rey: 1998–99
• UEFA Intertoto Cup: 1998

Dinamo București

• Divizia A: 1999–2000
• Cupa României: 1999–2000

Suwon Samsung Bluewings

• Korean FA Cup: 2002
• Asian Club Championship: 2001–02
• Asian Super Cup: 2002

JEF United Chiba

• J.League Cup: 2005