Florian Radu (8 April 1920 â 10 November 1991) was a Romanian footballer who played as a forward and coach.
He won three consecutive Cupa României with his hometown club Rapid BucureÃÂti. When the communists took over Romania, Radu moved abroad, first in Hungary at Szentlà Ârinci, then in Italy at AS Roma, Cosenza and Marsala. Radu has earned only one cap for Romania in a 2âÂÂ2 draw against Croatia, during which he also scored. He served as head coach for Stade Athletique Spinalien in France.
Radu was born on 8 April 1920 in Bucharest, Romania and began playing football at local club Metaloglobus in the Romanian lower leagues. In 1939 he joined Rapid BucureÃÂti, making his Divizia A debut on 15 October in a 3âÂÂ2 home win over Ripensia TimiÃÂoara. At the end of the season, Radu won his first trophy, the 1939âÂÂ40 Cupa României, coach ÃÂtefan Auer using him in one of the four games against Venus BucureÃÂti in the final. In the following two seasons he would win two more Cupa României under coach Iuliu Baratky, opening the score in each of the finals, a 4âÂÂ3 victory against Unirea Tricolor BucureÃÂti in the one in 1941 and a 7âÂÂ1 win over Universitatea Cluj in the 1942 final. On 8 June 1947, Radu made his last Divizia A appearance, scoring a brace in a 10âÂÂ1 victory against FC Craiova, totaling 39 games with eight goals in the competition.
In 1948, as Romania was becoming communist, he moved to Hungary at Szentlà Ârinci. Radu made his Nemzeti Bajnokság I debut on 15 February under coach János Nagy in a 3âÂÂ2 home loss to Csepel. In the following round, he scored his first goal in a 10âÂÂ3 away loss to ÃÂjpest. Then, on 5 June, he scored the only goal in a victory against MTK Budapest.
Afterwards he went to Italy, having offers from Lazio Roma and Novara, but eventually signed with AS Roma which was desperately looking for a forward after failing to sign László Kubala. Radu made his Serie A debut on 13 February 1949 under coach Luigi Brunella, who used him the entire match in a 0âÂÂ0 draw against Bari. He scored his first goal on 30 April in a 2âÂÂ1 loss to Novara. Subsequently, on 8 May he opened the score from a penalty in a 3âÂÂ1 victory against Pro Patria which helped the club earn important points to avoid relegation.
Radu spent the last two years of his career in Serie C at Cosenza and Marsala, retiring in 1951.
Radu played one friendly game for Romania on 11 October 1942 when coach Ion LÃÂpuÃÂneanu used him the entire match in a 2âÂÂ2 draw against Croatia in which he scored one goal.
He coached French side Stade Athletique Spinalien from 1956 to 1957.
Radu died on 10 November 1991 at the age of 71.
Rapid BucureÃÂti