| Ovidiu Popescu | |
| Upright: | 0.85 |
| Fullname: | Ovidiu Marian Popescu |
| Birth Date: | 27 February 1994 |
| Birth Place: | Reșița, Romania |
| Height: | 1.81 m |
| Position: | Defensive midfielder, defender |
| Currentclub: | Universitatea Cluj |
| Clubnumber: | 23 |
| Youthyears1: | 2004–2009 |
| Youthclubs1: | Muncitorul Reșița |
| Youthyears2: | 2009–2013 |
| Youthclubs2: | Școala de Fotbal Marcel Băban Jimbolia |
| Years1: | 2013–2014 |
| Clubs1: | UTA Arad |
| Caps1: | 24 |
| Goals1: | 6 |
| Years2: | 2014–2016 |
| Clubs2: | ACS Poli Timișoara |
| Caps2: | 47 |
| Goals2: | 5 |
| Years3: | 2016–2024 |
| Clubs3: | FCSB |
| Caps3: | 200 |
| Goals3: | 4 |
| Years4: | 2024– |
| Clubs4: | Universitatea Cluj |
| Caps4: | 5 |
| Goals4: | 1 |
| Nationalyears1: | 2015–2016 |
| Nationalteam1: | Romania U21 |
| Nationalcaps1: | 8 |
| Nationalgoals1: | 1 |
| Nationalyears2: | 2021 |
| Nationalteam2: | Romania |
| Nationalcaps2: | 2 |
| Nationalgoals2: | 0 |
| Pcupdate: | 12 August 2024 |
| Ntupdate: | 28 March 2021 |
Ovidiu Marian Popescu (in Romanian; Moldavian; Moldovan pronounced as /oˈvidju mariˈan poˈpesku/; born 27 February 1994) is a Romanian professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder or a defender for Liga I club Universitatea Cluj.
In June 2016, FCSB transferred Popescu for undisclosed fee, with the player penning a five-year deal with a €10 million buyout clause.[1] He made his debut in the Liga I on 12 August against FC Botoșani, a game Steaua went on to win 2–0.[2] On 8 September, also against Botoșani but in the Cupa Ligii, Popescu scored his first goal for the Roș-albaștrii.[3]
He finally scored his first league goal for the club with a free kick in a 2–0 victory over CFR Cluj on 12 March 2017.[4] During early April, following Popescu's good display, it was reported that Celtic and Southampton were interested in signing him.[5]
In June 2015, Popescu was selected in Romania's squad for the 2017 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualifier against Armenia.[6]
He made his debut for Romania national football team on 25 March 2021 in a World Cup qualifier against North Macedonia.[7]
| Club | Season | League | National Cup | League Cup | Continental | Other | Total | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |||
| UTA Arad | 2013–14 | Liga II | 24 | 6 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 25 | 6 | ||||
| ACS Poli Timișoara | 2014–15 | Liga II | 22 | 3 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | 22 | 3 | ||||
| 2015–16 | Liga I | 25 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 27 | 2 | ||||
| Total | 47 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 49 | 5 | |||||
| FCSB | 2016–17 | Liga I | 27 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 0 | — | 37 | 3 | ||
| 2017–18 | 24 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 8 | 0 | — | 33 | 0 | |||||
| 2018–19 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 2 | 0 | — | 12 | 0 | |||||
| 2019–20 | 27 | 1 | 4 | 0 | — | 8 | 0 | — | 39 | 1 | |||||
| 2020–21 | 35 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 38 | 0 | ||||
| 2021–22 | 30 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 2 | 0 | — | 33 | 0 | |||||
| 2022–23 | 17 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | 3 | 0 | — | 20 | 1 | |||||
| 2023–24 | 30 | 1 | 3 | 0 | — | 3 | 0 | — | 36 | 1 | |||||
| Total | 200 | 4 | 12 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 32 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 248 | 6 | |||
| Universitatea Cluj | 2024–25 | Liga I | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | 5 | 1 | ||||
| Career total | 276 | 16 | 15 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 32 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 327 | 18 | |||
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Romania | ||||
| 2021 | 2 | 0 | ||
| Total | 2 | 0 | ||
ACS Poli Timișoara
FCSB