Constantin Radu (5 January 1945 â 16 May 2020) was a Romanian football forward.
Radu, also known as "Tache" or "BurtilÃÂ", was born on 5 January 1945 in PiteÃÂti, Romania. He began playing junior-level football at local club ArgeÃÂ, after his talent was noticed by coach Leonte Ianovschi. On 15 November 1964, he made his Divizia A debut at age 18 under coach Virgil MÃÂrdÃÂrescu in a 1âÂÂ1 draw against Petrolul PloieÃÂti. At the end of his first season, the team reached the 1965 Cupa României final, but coach MÃÂrdÃÂrescu did not use him in the 2âÂÂ1 loss to ÃÂtiinÃÂa Cluj. He played six matches during the 1966âÂÂ67 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup, as they eliminated Sevilla and Toulouse, Radu scoring once against the first and twice against the second. The campaign ended in the third round where they were defeated with 1âÂÂ0 on aggregate by Dinamo Zagreb who eventually won the competition. In the 1971âÂÂ72 season he formed a successful offensive trio with Nicolae Dobrin and Radu Jercan which helped Argeàwin their first title, Radu netting nine goals in the 27 appearances given to him by coaches Titus Ozon and Florin Halagian. He would say about that performance:"I will never forget the championship in which I won the first championship title with FC ArgeÃÂ. Out of 30 matches, I played 27 and scored nine goals." Afterwards he played four games in the 1972âÂÂ73 European Cup, eliminating Aris Bonnevoie in the first round, scoring two goals against them. Then, in the following round, they won a home game with 2âÂÂ1 against Real Madrid but lost the second leg with 3âÂÂ1 in which he scored his side's goal. Radu's last Divizia A appearance took place on 9 April 1975 in a 1âÂÂ0 away loss to Jiul PetroÃÂani, totaling 246 matches with 63 goals in the competition and 16 games with six goals in European competitions (including 10 games with three goals in the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup). He was forced to retire at age 32 because he suffered a hard injury during a friendly against Steagul RoÃÂu BraÃÂov.
Radu tried a comeback, playing for Muscelul Câmpulung, where his former Argeàteammate, Ion Barbu was coach, and he was also colleagues with other former Argeàteammates such as Radu Jercan, Vasile Stan and Marian Popescu. They managed to get the team promoted from the third league to the second where he ended his career in 1978.
Radu played three friendly games for Romania, making his debut on 7 December 1966 when coach Ilie Oanàsent him in the 62nd minute to replace Mircea Lucescu in a 2âÂÂ1 away victory against Israel. His following game was a 2âÂÂ1 away win over Greece. His last game played for the national team was a 4âÂÂ2 away win against Morocco in which he scored one goal.
Radu coached teams in the Romanian lower leagues such as Unirea DrÃÂgÃÂÃÂani and also worked at the youth center of ArgeÃÂ PiteÃÂti.
Radu died on 16 May 2020 at age 75.
ArgeÃÂ PiteÃÂti
Muscelul Câmpulung