Gheorghe "GicÃÂ" Popescu (; born 9 October 1967) is a Romanian former professional football player who played as a defender, currently he is the owner and the president of Liga I club Farul ConstanÃÂa.
He notably played in La Liga, where he was a former captain of FC Barcelona. He played for a string of European clubs in that period, including a four-year stint at PSV Eindhoven and winning the UEFA Cup with Galatasaray. He also played in the Premier League with Tottenham Hotspur, in Serie A with Lecce and in the Bundesliga with Hannover 96. In his native country he played for Universitatea Craiova, Steaua BucureÃÂti and Dinamo BucureÃÂti. In addition to his defensive skills, he was also capable of starting attacks deep from his own half. For 13 years, Popescu consistently ranked within the top four of the Romanian Footballer of the Year award between 1989 and 2001, winning it six times.
His tactical knowledge as a defender made him a valuable team member in top European competitions until he reached his late thirties. He was a key part of the Romania national team in the 1990s and earned 115 caps, scoring 16 goals. He was present at the 1990 World Cup, the 1994 World Cup, Euro 1996, the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000. He is the brother-in-law of fellow Romanian international Gheorghe Hagi.
Popescu, nicknamed Baciul (The Shepherd) due to his leadership skills, was born on 9 October 1967 in Calafat, Romania and began playing junior-level football in 1975 at local club DunÃÂrea. During his childhood years, his father would take him to Universitatea Craiova's matches during their "Craiova Maxima" era, and at one point Popescu told him:"Father, the day will come when I will be in ÃÂtefÃÂnescu's place. And the people will love me more than him!" He started to play in the Romanian lower leagues for DunÃÂrea's senior squad in 1982. His first coach, Valentin GhiÃÂÃÂ, noted Popescu's ambition and passion, citing an instance in the winter of 1983 when Popescu sought him out for training. GhiÃÂÃÂ agreed, training Popescu despite severe winter conditions.
In 1985, his talent was noticed by Nicolae Zamfir who brought him to play for Universitatea Craiova. He made his Divizia A debut on 9 June 1985, when coach Florin Halagian sent him in the second half to replace Marian Bâcu in a 1âÂÂ0 home victory against FCM BraÃÂov. He scored his first goal in the competition almost one year later in a 7âÂÂ0 win over Rapid BucureÃÂti.
In the middle of the 1987âÂÂ88 season, Popescu joined Steaua BucureÃÂti, winning the title under coach Anghel IordÃÂnescu, also reaching the European Cup semi-finals where he played in both legs of the 2âÂÂ0 aggregate loss to Benfica.
He returned in 1988 at "U" Craiova where in the following two seasons he developed an appetite for goal, netting 15 goals, scoring a career-best of eight goals in the 1988âÂÂ89 season.
In the summer of 1990, Popescu was transferred from Craiova to PSV Eindhoven, playing under Bobby Robson for two of his four seasons there. He made his Eredivisie debut on 28 August 1990 in a 5âÂÂ0 home win over FC Utrecht. He scored his first goal on 8 September 1990, sealing the win in a 3âÂÂ0 victory over MVV Maastricht. In his first two seasons, Popescu won two league titles under Robson. He then won the 1992 Dutch Supercup, being used the entire match by coach Hans Westerhof in the 1âÂÂ0 victory against Feyenoord. In his years at PSV, Popescu was a regular starter for the club, also developing a close friendship with Brazilians Romário and Ronaldo.
He was transferred to Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League on 9 September 1994 for a fee of ã2.9 million, being teammates with fellow Romanian Ilie Dumitrescu. He made his league debut on 24 September 1994, as coach Osvaldo Ardiles used him the entire match in a 4âÂÂ1 away loss to Nottingham Forest. He made 23 league appearances and scored three goals, including one in a home win against Arsenal, when he beat goalkeeper David Seaman after a counter-attack. Spurs (who changed managers from Ardiles to Gerry Francis a few weeks after Popescu arrived) finished seventh with his help â their highest league finish in five years. He also helped them reach the FA Cup semi-finals, where they lost 4âÂÂ1 to eventual cup winners Everton.
However, after less than a year in England, he left Tottenham to sign for Spanish club Barcelona for ã3 million, succeeding Ronald Koeman in the team. Popescu made his La Liga debut on 2 September 1995, opening the scoring in a 2âÂÂ0 away win against Real Valladolid. In his first season, he played alongside compatriot Gheorghe Hagi and was coached by Johan Cruyff. He scored a total of five goals in his first season with the Catalans, including a brace in a 4âÂÂ1 victory over UD Salamanca. Popescu also scored once in a 3âÂÂ1 win over Sevilla in the round of 16 of the 1995âÂÂ96 UEFA Cup, as Barça reached the semi-finals, where they were eliminated by eventual winners Bayern Munich.
In his second season, his former coach from PSV, Bobby Robson became Barcelona's manager, and made Popescu the club's captain ahead of veterans Pep Guardiola and Albert Ferrer, and superstars Ronaldo, Luis Figo, and Luis Enrique. In that season, Popescu helped Barcelona win a cup treble, starting with the 1996 Supercopa de España after a 6âÂÂ5 aggregate win over Atlético Madrid. The Copa del Rey was won after a 3âÂÂ2 win over Real Betis in the final. Then, in the Cup Winners' Cup he scored one goal against AIK Stockholm in the quarter-finals and played the first half of the 1âÂÂ0 win in the final against Paris Saint-Germain.
After leaving Barcelona in the summer of 1997, Popescu was transferred to Galatasaray in Turkey, where he reunited with Hagi, and with Romanians Adrian Ilie and Iulian Filipescu also at the club. He made his Turkish league debut on 31 July 1997 under coach Fatih Terim in a 0âÂÂ0 draw against Ankaragücü, scoring his first goal in the competition on 26 September 1997 in a 4âÂÂ1 home win over à Âekerspor. In his first three seasons, he won three league titles, two Turkish Cups and the 1999âÂÂ2000 UEFA Cup in May 2000 â where Galatasaray defeated Arsenal in the final on penalties after a goalless draw in open play. He scored the final penalty, defeating David Seaman in the shoot-out, and securing the victory.
In June 2000, Mircea Lucescu replaced Fatih Terim as coach, and the club clinched the 2000 UEFA Super Cup after a 2âÂÂ1 victory against Real Madrid. They also reached the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League during the 2000âÂÂ01 season, where after a 3âÂÂ2 victory in the first leg, they lost 3âÂÂ0 in the second leg against Real Madrid.
In 2001, Popescu moved to Serie A club Lecce, stating in an interview with la Repubblica: "I think of Lecce as something romantic. It is the only team in Italy that comes from the south of the country. I am fascinated by the battle with the troops of the North. I would like to complete my two-year contract". He made his league debut on 26 August 2001 in the 1âÂÂ1 draw against Parma. He wore the number 10 shirt, scoring a brace in a 4âÂÂ3 loss to Bologna and one goal in his last appearance for I Lupi, a 1âÂÂ1 draw against Torino.
After 12 years, Popescu returned to his native Romania in 2002, signing with Dinamo BucureÃÂti, and wearing the captain's armband from his first game, a 5âÂÂ0 win over CeahlÃÂul Piatra Neamàon 17 August 2002. The following matches were less successful, as Popescu's performances and the club's results were disappointing in the eyes of the fans. In a derby against rivals Rapid BucureÃÂti, he committed a handball, leading to a penalty, which resulted in losing the match. In his last game for the club, a 2âÂÂ0 loss to OÃÂelul GalaÃÂi, he struggled to contain Mihai GuriÃÂÃÂ, who scored both goals. After the match, fans chanted for Popescu to leave and told Giani KiriÃÂÃÂ, the club's captain before Popescu's arrival, to tell him to leave. KiriÃÂàapplauded the supporters, a gesture that did not sit well with Popescu, who remarked: "In his place, I would have done it differently". The next day, Popescu terminated his contract with the club, stating: "I had to come to see for myself what is in Romanian football". He would later describe his transfer to Dinamo as "The mistake of my life".
His last club was the German side Hannover 96, where he made his Bundesliga debut on 8 February 2003, when coach Ralf Rangnick sent him at half-time to replace Kostas Konstantinidis in a 4âÂÂ2 victory against FC Nürnberg. Popescu scored his only league goal when he opened the scoring in a 2âÂÂ1 loss to Bayer Leverkusen. The final game of his career took place on 17 May 2003, ending in a 2âÂÂ2 draw against Borussia Mönchengladbach, a result that earned Hannover the point that mathematically saved them from relegation. Popescu announced his retirement afterward, stating: "I feel tired, there is no point in taking money without working for it until 2004".
Popescu played 115 matches and scored 16 goals for Romania, making his debut on 20 September 1988 at age 20 under coach Emerich Jenei in a 3âÂÂ0 friendly win over Albania.
He played six matches and scored once with a header in a 1âÂÂ0 victory over Bulgaria during the 1990 World Cup qualifiers. In the final tournament, where coach Jenei used him in all four matches, Romania was eliminated by Ireland on penalties in the round of 16. In the first game of the group stage, Popescu delivered a highly praised performance in the 2âÂÂ0 win over the Soviet Union. The following day, his agent, Mircea Petescu, presented him with a contract offer from Real Madrid, which he ultimately declined in favor of PSV Eindhoven. AC Milan captain Franco Baresi stated that he considered Popescu the best sweeper of the tournament.
He made seven appearances and scored one goal in a 4âÂÂ1 victory over Cyprus during the 1994 World Cup qualifiers. In the final tournament group stage, Romania's "Golden Generation" earned victories over Colombia and the United States, then defeated Argentina 3âÂÂ2 in the round of 16. Subsequently, they were eliminated by Sweden after the penalty shoot-out in the quarter-finals. Popescu played the full 90 minutes in all five games under coach Anghel IordÃÂnescu.
Popescu played seven games, scoring the opening goal in the 3âÂÂ2 win over Slovakia during the Euro 1996 qualifiers. He was used by IordÃÂnescu in all three matches in the final tournament, which was unsuccessful as they lost to France, Bulgaria and Spain.
During the 1998 World Cup qualifiers, he made eight appearances, scoring one goal against Iceland, a hat-trick against Macedonia and four goals against Liechtenstein, making him his side's top-scorer. Popescu was used as a starter by IordÃÂnescu in all four games in the final tournament. In the group stage, Romania earned victories in the first two rounds against Colombia and England, thus securing mathematical qualification before the last group match against Tunisia. To celebrate, the team dyed their hair blonde and showed up on the pitch with their new look. However, they were defeated 1âÂÂ0 by Croatia in the round of 16 after Davor à  uker scored a penalty, which was awarded following a duel between Aljoà ¡a Asanoviàand Gabriel Popescu.
Popescu played nine games and scored one goal in the 7âÂÂ0 win over Liechtenstein in the Euro 2000 qualifiers. Jenei used him as a starter in all three group-stage matches during the final tournament. In the last one, against England, he was made captain as Hagi was suspended, but he got injured after the first 30 minutes and was replaced by Miodrag Belodedici. The Tricolours defeated England 3âÂÂ2 and qualified for the quarter-finals, where they lost 2âÂÂ0 to Italy, with Popescu not playing.
In his final years with the national team, Popescu played four games and netted once in a 1âÂÂ1 draw against Georgia during the 2002 World Cup qualifiers, playing in both legs of the play-off against Slovenia, which was lost 3âÂÂ2 on aggregate. He played four matches in the Euro 2004 qualifiers, with the last one, a 5âÂÂ2 home loss against Denmark on 29 March 2003, being his final appearance for Romania.
For representing his country at five final tournaments, Popescu was decorated by then President of Romania, Traian BÃÂsescu on 25 March 2008, with the Ordinul "Meritul Sportiv" â (The Medal of "Sportive Merit") Class III. In 2022, the International Federation of Football History & Statistics (IFFHS) included Popescu in its "Romania's all-time dream team" first XI.
A highly inteligent defender who could play as a libero, center-back or as a defensive midfielder, Popescu is mostly known for captaining Barcelona during the mid 1990s. Known for his strong leadership skills, elegant tackles, distribution and passing skills, Popescu was fully capable of starting attacks from inside his own half. He was also a prominent goal-scoring defender, scoring 16 goals for the national team.
In 2000, he opened the "Gheorghe Popescu Football School" in Craiova, which developed players such as IonuÃÂ Rada, Adrian Stoian, Sabrin Sburlea, Constantin Grecu and Ovidiu BurcÃÂ. For a while, he also worked as a sports agent.
In 2003, journalist Daniel Nanu released a book about him titled Gheorghe Popescu - viaÃÂa mea (Gheorghe Popescu - my life).
In 2010, Popescu was one of the founding members of Chindia TârgoviÃÂte through one of his companies, leaving the club in 2013. In 2019, he was appointed by Gheorghe Hagi as president at Viitorul ConstanÃÂa, then when the club merged with Farul ConstanÃÂa, he continued to work as president for the new club.
He is the brother-in-law of fellow Romanian international Gheorghe Hagi, as he married Hagi's wife's sister. His son Nicolas is also a footballer, as is his nephew Ianis Hagi â both of the younger men were born in Istanbul while their fathers were playing for Galatasaray.
In 1994, Popescu was named Honorary Citizen of Bucharest. In 2003, he received the Honorary Citizen of Craiova title.
On 4 March 2014, Popescu and seven others, among them Mihai Stoica, were convicted by a Romanian appeals court of money laundering and tax evasion in connection with the transfer of football players from Romania to other countries. Popescu was sentenced to a jail term of three years and one month. He was released for good conduct on 4 November 2015, after serving half of his sentence. The books he wrote and published during his imprisonment also contributed to the reduction of his sentence, as is customary under Romanian law.
Steaua BucureÃÂti
PSV Eindhoven
Barcelona
Galatasaray
Individual