Ștefan Radu

Ştefan Radu
Personal information
Full name Ştefan Daniel Radu
Date of birth 22 October 1986 (1986-10-22) (age 25)
Place of birth Bucharest, Romania
Height 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Playing position Center back/Left-back
Club information
Current club Lazio
Number 26
Youth career
Dinamo Bucureşti
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2004–2008 Dinamo Bucureşti 61 (1)
2008 Lazio (loan) 11 (0)
2008– Lazio 80 (0)
National team
2006–2008 Romania U-21 13 (1)
2006– Romania 11 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 14 March 2011.

† Appearances (Goals).

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 15 November 2011

Ştefan Daniel Radu (born 22 October 1986 in Bucharest) is a Romanian football player who plays for Lazio, as a full back.

Contents

Club career

Dinamo Bucharest

Radu began his career with major Romanian club side Dinamo Bucureşti. Radu played four seasons of first team football with Dinamo, gaining a reputation as one of his country's brightest talents. However, he only became a key first team-player in the 2006–07 season, when the transfer period left a gap in Dinamo's central defense, a gap which Radu successfully covered, turning over the course of the season from a promising young player into one of the best central defenders in the league, helping Dinamo to win its 18th championship and gaining the attention of several western clubs.

He has often been considered "The new Chivu" by Romanian media. In January 2008, major Italian Serie A side Lazio came calling, and signed Radu on a loan deal until the end of the season, the loan fee was €1 million. Radu impressed and at was signed permanently in June, for a transfer fee of €3.5 million.[1]

Lazio

Radu made his Lazio debut in a Coppa Italia match versus Fiorentina shortly after joining the team on loan. He has since been a revelation for Delio Rossi's team, as the young starlet has added extra quality to the backline and started all matches he featured in.

By the end of his loan spell, Radu impressed Rossi and club president Claudio Lotito enough to justify a transfer fee of €3.5 million, and has now joined the club on a permanent basis.

On 17 June 2011 he signed a new 5-year contract. Radu holds a vital role in the current squad as he has become one of the most important players for Lazio, which in the 2011-12 season has also been the Captain. Radu's role at Lazio is of centre back eventhough has been used as a left full back for the last two seasons under Edoardo Reja.[2]

Statistics

Club Season League Cup Europe Other Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Dinamo 2004–05 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
2005–06 8 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 8 0
2006–07 32 1 2 0 12 1 0 0 46 2
2007–08 19 0 0 0 4 0 1 0 24 0
Total 61 1 2 0 16 1 1 0 80 2
Lazio 2007–08 11 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 13 0
2008–09 19 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 19 0
2009–10 28 0 2 0 6 0 0 0 36 0
2010–11 26 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 27 0
2011–12 7 0 0 0 4 0 0 0 11 0
Total 91 0 5 0 10 0 0 0 106 0
Career total 156 1 7 0 26 1 1 0 186 2

Statistics accurate as of match played 28 October 2011

International career

Radu made his debut for the Romanian national team in 2006, following the country's failure to qualify for the FIFA World Cup in Germany.

Over the course of Euro 2008 qualifying, Radu gained international experience and was selected in the squad for the final tournament in Switzerland and Austria. At Euro 2008 however, Radu remained a substitute and did not see any game time.

On 25 March 2008 he was decorated by the president of Romania, Traian Băsescu for the results on Qualifying to EURO 2008 and qualification to UEFA Euro 2008 Group C with Medalia "Meritul Sportiv" — (The Medal "The Sportive Merit") class III.

Honours

Dinamo Bucureşti

Lazio

References

External links