Iulian Cristea

Lucian Iulian Cristea (Romanian pronunciation: [lutʃiˈan juliˈan ˈkriste̯a]; born 17 July 1994) is a Romanian professional footballer who plays as a centre-back or a defensive midfielder for Liga I club Universitatea Cluj.

Iulian Cristea

Cristea with FCSB in 2022
Personal information
Full name	Lucian Iulian Cristea
Date of birth	(1994-07-17) 17 July 1994 (age 31)
Place of birth	Mediaș, Romania
Height	1.84 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s)	Centre-back, defensive midfielder
Team information
Current team	Universitatea Cluj
Number	6
Youth career
2007–2013	Gaz Metan Mediaș
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2014–2019	Gaz Metan Mediaș	109	(6)
2014	→ Metalurgistul Cugir (loan)
2019–2023	FCSB	120	(8)
2023–2024	Rapid București	14	(0)
2024–	Universitatea Cluj	35	(2)
International career‡
2014–2016	Romania U21	6	(0)
2019–	Romania	4	(0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 28 July 2025 ‡ National team caps and goals as of 4 June 2022

Club career

After playing over 110 matches in all competitions for his hometown club Gaz Metan Mediaș, Cristea moved to fellow Liga I team FCSB on 26 February 2019.^[1] He signed a five-year contract for a €150,000 transfer fee.^[2]

On 13 June 2023, after being released by FCSB, Cristea moved to cross-town rivals Rapid București on a two-year deal.^[3] He terminated his agreement with Rapid București on 31 May 2024,^[4] and on 5 June Universitatea Cluj announced the signing of Cristea as a free agent.^[5]

International career

On 10 June 2019, Cristea made his debut for the Romania national team in a 4–0 win against Malta counting for the UEFA Euro 2020 qualifiers.^[6]

Style of play

Cristea has been described as versatile, due to his ability to play equally well as either a centre-back or a defensive midfielder, and has been noted for his aerial prowess.^[7]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 28 July 2025^[8]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			National Cup		League Cup		Continental		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Gaz Metan Mediaș	2014–15	Liga I	15	0	1	0	0	0	—		—		16	0
	2015–16	Liga II	22	1	0	0	—		—		—		22	1
	2016–17	Liga I	28	1	1	0	0	0	—		—		29	1
	2017–18	Liga I	21	1	5	0	—		—		—		26	1
	2018–19	Liga I	23	3	1	0	—		—		—		24	3
	Total		109	6	8	0	—		—		—		117	6
FCSB	2018–19	Liga I	10	1	—		—		—		—		10	1
	2019–20	Liga I	28	1	3	0	—		7	1	—		38	2
	2020–21	Liga I	35	4	0	0	—		1	0	0	0	36	4
	2021–22	Liga I	33	2	1	0	—		1	0	—		35	2
	2022–23	Liga I	14	0	0	0	—		0	0	—		14	0
	Total		120	8	4	0	—		9	1	0	0	133	9
Rapid București	2023–24	Liga I	14	0	2	1	—		—		—		16	1
Universitatea Cluj	2024–25	Liga I	32	2	0	0	—		—		—		32	2
	2025–26	Liga I	3	0	0	0	—		1	0	—		4	0
	Total		35	2	0	0	—		1	0	—		36	2
Career total			278	16	14	1	0	0	10	1	0	0	302	18

International

As of match played 4 June 2022^[9]

National team	Year	Apps	Goals
Romania
	2019	1	0
	2020	2	0
	2022	1	0
Total		4	0

Honours

Gaz Metan Mediaș^[8]

• Liga II: 2015–16

FCSB^[8]

• Cupa României: 2019–20
• Supercupa României runner-up: 2020

Individual

• Liga I Team of the Season: 2021–22^[10]
• Liga I Team of the Championship Play-Offs: 2018–19^[11]