Ștefan Radu

Ștefan Radu
Personal information
Full nameȘtefan Daniel Radu
Date of birth22 October 1986
Place of birthBucharest, Romania
Height1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Playing positionLeft back / Centre back
Club information
Current team
Lazio
Number26
Youth career
Dinamo București
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps†(Gls)†
2004–2008Dinamo București61(1)
2008→ Lazio (loan)11(0)
2008–Lazio161(2)
National team‡
2006–2008Romania U2113(1)
2006–2013Romania14(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 22 March 2015.

† Appearances (Goals).

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 22 March 2013

Ștefan Daniel Radu (born 22 October 1986) is a Romanian footballer who plays as a defender for Serie A club Lazio.

Club career

Dinamo Bucharest

Radu began his career with major Romanian club side Dinamo București. 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 €4.5 million, and has now joined the club on a permanent basis.

On 17 June 2011 he signed a new five year contract. Radu has become one of the most important players for Lazio, a team which he captained during the 2011–12 season. His role at Lazio is usually that of centre back though he has been used as a left back during the last two seasons under Edoardo Reja.[2]

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.

Statistics

Statistics accurate as of match played 30 January 2015

Club Season League Cup Europe Other Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Dinamo 2004–05 2000000020
2005–06 8000000080
2006–07 3212012100462
2007–08 190004010240
Total 6112016110802
Lazio 2007–08 110200000130
2008–09 190000000190
2009–10 280206000360
2010–11 260100000270
2011–12 210005000260
2012–13 231317100333
2013–14 251105010321
2014–15 120200000140
Total 1652111231101914
Career total 2263131392202806

Honours

Club

Dinamo Bucharest
Lazio

References

  1. ↑ "Bilancio separato e consolidato S.S.Lazio SpA" (PDF). SS Lazio (in Italian). 23 October 2008. Retrieved 17 June 2011.
  2. ↑ "COMUNICATO" [Communication]. SS Lazio (in Italian). 17 June 2011. Retrieved 17 June 2011.

External links