[{"@context":"http:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/wiki.edu.vn\/en\/wiki21\/octavian-popescu-footballer-born-2002\/#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/wiki.edu.vn\/en\/wiki21\/octavian-popescu-footballer-born-2002\/","headline":"Octavian Popescu (footballer, born 2002)","name":"Octavian Popescu (footballer, born 2002)","description":"before-content-x4 Romanian professional footballer after-content-x4 Octavian George Popescu (Romanian pronunciation:\u00a0[oktavi\u02c8an \u02c8d\u0292e\u032ford\u0292e po\u02c8pesku]; born 27 December 2002) is a Romanian professional","datePublished":"2021-01-18","dateModified":"2021-01-18","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/wiki.edu.vn\/en\/wiki21\/author\/lordneo\/#Person","name":"lordneo","url":"https:\/\/wiki.edu.vn\/en\/wiki21\/author\/lordneo\/","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/c9645c498c9701c88b89b8537773dd7c?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/c9645c498c9701c88b89b8537773dd7c?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Enzyklop\u00e4die","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/wiki.edu.vn\/wiki4\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/download.jpg","url":"https:\/\/wiki.edu.vn\/wiki4\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/download.jpg","width":600,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/commons\/thumb\/0\/05\/Lazaros_Rota_and_Octavian_Popescu_-_Romania_vs_Greece%2C_25_March_2022.jpg\/180px-Lazaros_Rota_and_Octavian_Popescu_-_Romania_vs_Greece%2C_25_March_2022.jpg","url":"https:\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/commons\/thumb\/0\/05\/Lazaros_Rota_and_Octavian_Popescu_-_Romania_vs_Greece%2C_25_March_2022.jpg\/180px-Lazaros_Rota_and_Octavian_Popescu_-_Romania_vs_Greece%2C_25_March_2022.jpg","height":"282","width":"180"},"url":"https:\/\/wiki.edu.vn\/en\/wiki21\/octavian-popescu-footballer-born-2002\/","wordCount":6416,"articleBody":"     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});before-content-x4Romanian professional footballer       (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});after-content-x4Octavian George Popescu (Romanian pronunciation:\u00a0[oktavi\u02c8an \u02c8d\u0292e\u032ford\u0292e po\u02c8pesku]; born 27 December 2002) is a Romanian professional footballer who plays as a winger or an attacking midfielder for Liga I club FCSB and the Romania national team.After playing junior football for Rapid Bucure\u0219ti and Universitatea Craiova among others, Popescu recorded his professional debut with FCSB in 2020, at age 17.Internationally, he made his senior debut for Romania in a 0\u20131 friendly loss to Greece in March 2022. He previously represented the nation at under-21 and under-23 levels.       (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});after-content-x4Table of ContentsClub career[edit]Early career[edit]FCSB[edit]International career[edit]Player profile[edit]Style of play[edit]Reception[edit]Career statistics[edit]Club[edit]International[edit]Honours[edit]References[edit]External links[edit]Club career[edit]Early career[edit]Popescu started practising football at age eight with the team of his local high school from Nucet, D\u00e2mbovi\u021ba County.[1] In 2014, he moved to Regal Sport Bucure\u0219ti, where he was teammates with Radu Dr\u0103gu\u0219in and Luca Floric\u0103 among others. The capital-based club loaned him out to Rapid Bucure\u0219ti and Universitatea Craiova, respectively, before Popescu joined FCSB in 2020.[2][3]FCSB[edit]Popescu was loaned out by FCSB to second tier side Turris Turnu M\u0103gurele on 20 August 2020, but was immediately recalled to his parent club after general manager Mihai Stoica and owner Gigi Becali found out the deal was agreed over their heads.[4] One month later, aged 17, he made his professional debut for FCSB by coming on for Robert Ion in the 50th minute of a 3\u20130 Liga I win over Arge\u0219 Pite\u0219ti.[3]       (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});after-content-x4Popescu scored his first career goal and also provided an assist on 30 January 2021, in a 3\u20131 defeat of Politehnica Ia\u0219i at the Arena Na\u021bional\u0103.[5] On 15 April 2021, he started in a 1\u20134 penalty shoot-out loss to CFR Cluj in the Supercupa Rom\u00e2niei.[6] FCSB also lost the national title to the latter opponent, and he ended his first season as a senior with four goals from 34 appearances in all competitions.On 25 July 2021, Popescu scored in a 4\u20131 league defeat of his former youth team Universitatea Craiova,[7] and on 12 September netted in a 6\u20130 derby thrashing of Dinamo Bucure\u0219ti.[8] In January 2022, he opened the scoring in successive fixtures against CFR Cluj and Dinamo Bucure\u0219ti, which ended in a 3\u20133 draw and a 3\u20130 win, respectively.[9][10] Popescu scored the only goal of a championship play-off match against CFR Cluj on 17 April, representing FCSB’s first win at the Dr. Constantin R\u0103dulescu Stadium in almost eight years.[11]At the start of the 2022\u201323 campaign, he switched his shirt number from 9 to 11, but at the end of July was handed the number 10 jersey and also appointed vice-captain as a result of Florin T\u0103nase’s imminent departure.[12]International career[edit]  Popescu (right) on his senior debut for Romania against Greece in March 2022Popescu did not represent Romania at any level prior to 2021, in spite of being considered a talented prospect.[13][14] He made his debut for the under-21 side in March 2021,[15] aged 18, after entering as a substitute in the UEFA European Championship group stage matches against Hungary and Germany, which ended 2\u20131 and 0\u20130, respectively.In June 2021, Popescu featured for the under-23 team in friendlies against Mexico and Australia, but was later not allowed by FCSB to participate in the postponed 2020 Summer Olympics.[16] On 25 March 2022, 19-year-old Popescu was handed his full debut for Romania in a 0\u20131 exhibition loss to Greece at the Stadionul Steaua, being brought on for Alexandru Mitri\u021b\u0103 in the 62nd minute.[17]Player profile[edit]Style of play[edit]Popescu’s best attributes are his pace and acceleration, while at the same time possesses appreciable dribbling skills and creativity. He is able to strike the ball with both feet, and has been deployed in the centre as an attacking midfielder or wide as a winger.[18][2]Reception[edit]Popescu’s breakthrough in FCSB’s senior team was highly regarded by Romanian pundits; Cornel Dinu described him as a “very talented kid of extraordinary quality” who “has similarities to Florea Dumitrache”,[19]Gabi Balint stated he is a quick-thinking genius “just like [Gheorghe] Hagi was”,[18] and Basarab Panduru emphasised his versatility. Dinu continued his praises and compared him to Adrian Mutu, considering Popescu can have a much more successful career.[20]His former coach Daniel Pancu regarded him a “fantastic talent”,[2] while Dorinel Munteanu said that he is a “youngster who looks different from what we have in Romania” and that from his “generation, from [Gheorghe] Hagi\u2014not even from Adrian Mutu, but from Hagi” he has “never seen such a lightness to play in depth or to provide the final pass”.[21] When discussing his weaknesses, Gabi Balint noted in February 2021 that Popescu should become more consistent during the full 90 minutes and build muscle mass,[18] and the following year Ioan Sab\u0103u made a similar remark.[22]Career statistics[edit]Club[edit]As of match played 18 March 2023[23]Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueNational CupContinentalOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsFCSB2020\u201321Liga I324001[a]01[b]03442021\u201322Liga I3610002[c]0\u201438102022\u201323Liga I2931012[c]0\u2014423Total9717101501011417International[edit]As of match played 28 March 2023[24]Appearances and goals by national team and yearNational teamYearAppsGoalsRomania202250202320Total70Honours[edit]FCSBIndividualReferences[edit]^ “Micu\u021ba \u0219coal\u0103 din D\u00e2mbovi\u021ba, care i-a descoperit pe Tavi Popescu \u0219i al\u021bi fotbali\u0219ti din Liga 1” [The small school in D\u00e2mbovi\u021ba, which discovered Tavi Popescu and other footballers from Liga 1] (in Romanian). Sport.ro. 24 January 2022. Retrieved 25 January 2022.^ a b c ““E din categoria lui Dobrin! Iti sare in ochi de la 100 de metri!” Ce club ar fi putut sa-l transfere pe Octavian Popescu inainte de FCSB si Craiova” [“He’s from Dobrin’s category! It strikes you from 100 meters away!” Which club could have transferred Octavian Popescu before FCSB and Craiova] (in Romanian). Sport.ro. 31 January 2021.^ a b “Octavian Popescu, juc\u0103torul “furat” Craiovei, a debutat la FCSB!” [Octavian Popescu, the player “stolen” from Craiova, made his debut for FCSB!] (in Romanian). Fanatik.ro. 20 September 2020.^ “Mihai Stoica, dezv\u0103luiri despre modul \u00een care l-a “furat” pe Octavian Popescu de la Turris Turnu M\u0103gurele: “I-am explicat lui Gigi c\u0103 nu e normal!”“ [Mihai Stoica, revealings about the way he “stole” Octavian Popescu from Turris Turnu M\u0103gurele: “I explained Gigi that it’s not normal!”] (in Romanian). ProSport. 21 September 2020. Retrieved 2 February 2022.^ “Octavian Popescu, omul serii \u00een FCSB – Poli Ia\u0219i! Ilie Dumitrescu \u0219i Gabi Balint, impresiona\u021bi de pu\u0219tiul de 18 ani” [Octavian Popescu, the man of the evening in FCSB – Poli Ia\u0219i! Ilie Dumitrescu and Gabi Balint, impressed by the 18-year-old kid] (in Romanian). Digi Sport. 30 January 2021.^ a b “FOTO&VIDEO | CFR Cluj a c\u00e2\u0219tigat Supercupa Rom\u00e2niei!” [PHOTO&VIDEO | CFR Cluj won the Romanian Supercup!] (in Romanian). Romanian Football Federation. 15 April 2021. Retrieved 16 April 2021.^ “FCSB – Universitatea Craiova 4-1. Oltenii au fost f\u0103cu\u021bi KO pe Arena Na\u021bional\u0103! Moru\u021ban \u0219i Markovic, goluri de generic” [FCSB – Universitatea Craiova 4\u20131. Oltenii were knocked out at the National Arena! Moru\u021ban and Markovi\u0107, incredible goals] (in Romanian). Digi Sport. 25 July 2021. Retrieved 8 April 2022.^ “VIDEO FCSB – Dinamo 6-0! Rezultat istoric ob\u0163inut de echipa lui Iord\u0103nescu! ‘C\u00e2inii’ nu au avut nicio \u015fans\u0103 dup\u0103 eliminarea lui Filip” [VIDEO FCSB – Dinamo 6\u20130! Historic result obtained by Iord\u0103nescu’s team! The “dogs” had no chance after Filip’s sending off] (in Romanian). Telekom Sport. 12 September 2021. Retrieved 25 January 2021.^ “FCSB – CFR CLUJ. I-a ie\u0219it bijuteria!\u00a0\u00bb Cum a reu\u0219it Octavian Popescu unul dintre golurile sezonului \u00een derby: 3 vinova\u021bi” [FCSB – CFR CLUJ. The rocket hit its target!\u00a0\u00bb How Octavian Popescu managed to score one of the season’s best goals in the derby: 3 guilties]. Gazeta Sporturilor (in Romanian). 23 January 2022. Retrieved 25 January 2022.^ “EXCLUSIV Tavi Popescu era convins c\u0103 va \u00eenscrie \u00een derby-ul cu Dinamo: “M-am \u00eent\u00e2lnit cu el \u0219i mi-a spus asta”“ [EXCLUSIVE Tavi Popescu was certain he would score in the derby against Dinamo: “I met with him and he said this”]. Gazeta Sporturilor (in Romanian). 31 January 2022. Retrieved 31 January 2022.^ “Entuziasm la FCSB, dup\u0103 prima victorie la Cluj \u00een ultimii opt ani: “Am ar\u0103tat c\u0103 nu suntem copila\u0219i!” Tavi Popescu sper\u0103 s\u0103 calce pe urmele lui Ronaldo. Toate reac\u021biile” [Enthusiasm at FCSB, after the first victory in Cluj in the last eight years: “We showed that we are not small kids!” Tavi Popescu hopes to follow in Ronaldo’s footsteps. All the reactions] (in Romanian). Playsport.ro. 17 April 2022. Retrieved 18 April 2022.^ “EXCLUSIV FCSB are un nou num\u0103r 10! “Dic\u0103 a fost cu ideea”“ [EXCLUSIVE FCSB has a new number 10! “Dic\u0103 came up with the idea”] (in Romanian). Digi Sport. 29 July 2022. Retrieved 18 August 2022.^ “FCSB. FRF l-a ignorat pe noul Dobrin! \u00cen trecut a mai existat un caz asem\u0103n\u0103tor” [FCSB. FRF ignored the new Dobrin! There has been a similar case in the past]. Gazeta Sporturilor (in Romanian). 1 February 2021.^ “Mihai Stoichi\u021b\u0103, dezv\u0103luiri incredibile despre Octavian Popescu: “Craiova nu l-a l\u0103sat la lot!”“ [Mihai Stoichi\u021b\u0103, incredible disclosures about Octavian Popescu: “Craiova did not allow him to join the team!”] (in Romanian). ProSport. 3 February 2021.^ “Adrian Mutu a anun\u021bat lotul Rom\u00e2niei pentru Euro 2021! Ce juc\u0103tori vor merge \u00een Ungaria \u0219i Slovenia” [Adrian Mutu announced Romania’s squad for Euro 2021! What players will go to Hungary and Slovenia] (in Romanian). Eurosport Rom\u00e2nia. 14 March 2021. Retrieved 25 January 2022.^ ““I-am spus lui Mirel c\u0103-i dau!” Anun\u0163ul f\u0103cut de Gigi Becali \u00een privin\u0163a juc\u0103torilor de la FCSB” [“I told Mirel I would allow them to go!” The announcement made by Gigi Becali regarding the FCSB players] (in Romanian). Digi Sport. 4 June 2021. Retrieved 2 February 2022. They also took Tavi, but we will need him, because Tavi is an important player now, even if he is 18 years old.^ “Octavian Popescu a debutat la na\u021bionala Rom\u00e2niei! Fanii de la CSA Steaua nu s-au putut ab\u021bine” [Octavian Popescu made his debut for the Romania national team! Fans of CSA Steaua could not contain themselves] (in Romanian). Sport.ro. 25 March 2022. Retrieved 7 April 2022.^ a b c “Balint, discurs FANTASTIC despre Octavian Popescu: “E ca Hagi, are geniu!” Fazele care l-au impresionat pe idolul Stelei: “E deja peste Man, asa il vad!” The dribbles that impressed the Steaua legend: “He’s already better than Man, that’s how I see it!”“ [Balint, FANTASTIC speech about Octavian Popescu: “He’s like Hagi, he has genius!”] (in Romanian). Sport.ro. 2 February 2021.^ “Cornel Dinu, cuvinte mari despre un fotbalist de la FCSB! L-a asem\u0103nat cu marele Florea Dumitrache: “Seam\u0103n\u0103 izbitor cu el. Uita\u0163i-v\u0103 cum \u0163ine mingea la picior!”“ [Cornel Dinu, big words about a footballer of FCSB! He likened him to the great Florea Dumitrache: “He looks strikingly like him. Just notice how he keeps the ball at his feet!”] (in Romanian). Telekom Sport. 23 November 2020.^ “Octavian Popescu, comparat cu Adrian Mutu. Cornel Dinu: “Asta ne \u0219ocheaz\u0103”“ [Octavian Popescu, compared to Adrian Mutu. Cornel Dinu: “That shocks us”] (in Romanian). Fanatik.ro. 2 February 2021.^ ““De la Hagi n-am mai v\u0103zut a\u0219a ceva”. Octavian Popescu, l\u0103udat de dou\u0103 legende: “Sunt pu\u021bini \u00een lume care pot asta”“ [“I’ve never seen anything like this since Hagi”. Octavian Popescu, praised by two legends: “There are few in the world who can do this”] (in Romanian). Digi Sport. 4 February 2021.^ “Ioan Ovidiu Sab\u0103u \u00eel sf\u0103tuie\u0219te pe Tavi Popescu: “De asta are nevoie pentru a juca la o echip\u0103 din Europa” + Ce fotbali\u0219ti admir\u0103 din Liga 1 \u0219i pe cine vede liderul na\u021bionalei” [Ioan Ovidiu Sab\u0103u advises Tavi Popescu: “This is what he need in order to play for a European team” + What footballers he admires from the Liga 1 and who he sees as the leader of the national team]. Gazeta Sporturilor (in Romanian). 12 April 2022. Retrieved 12 April 2022.^ Octavian Popescu at Soccerway. Retrieved 31 January 2021.^ “Octavian Popescu”. European Football. Retrieved 26 March 2022.^ “Luna juniorilor\u00a0\u00bb Octavian Popescu a fost ales “Juc\u0103torul lunii martie”, iar R\u0103zvan Lucescu – “Antrenorul lunii”! Cum s-a votat” [Month of the juniors\u00a0\u00bb Octavian Popescu was chosen “Player of the month in March”, and R\u0103zvan Lucescu – “Coach of the month”! How the voting took place]. Gazeta Sporturilor (in Romanian). 4 April 2022. Retrieved 8 April 2022.External links[edit]     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});after-content-x4"},{"@context":"http:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"https:\/\/wiki.edu.vn\/en\/wiki21\/#breadcrumbitem","name":"Enzyklop\u00e4die"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"https:\/\/wiki.edu.vn\/en\/wiki21\/octavian-popescu-footballer-born-2002\/#breadcrumbitem","name":"Octavian Popescu (footballer, born 2002)"}}]}]