Marian Popa (born 3 March 1964) is a Romanian former football striker.
Popa was born on 3 March 1964 in ConstanÃÂa, Romania and began playing junior-level football at age 11 for FC ConstanÃÂa under coach Adam Munteanu, and later worked with Constantin Tâlvescu. In 1982, he started his senior career at Divizia C club VoinÃÂa ConstanÃÂa and after one year he moved to Metalul Mangalia. In 1987 he joined Farul ConstanÃÂa in Divizia B where he was coached by Emanoil HaÃÂoti, scoring six goals in his first season that helped the club earn promotion to Divizia A. Subsequently, he made his debut in the competition on 21 August 1988 in a 3âÂÂ0 home win over ASA Târgu MureÃÂ. In the 1989âÂÂ90 season, Popa scored a personal record of 15 goals which placed him second in the top-scorer of the season ranking, four goals fewer than Steaua BucureÃÂti's Gabi Balint. Afterwards Farul sent him to Steaua BucureÃÂti in exchange for Gheorghe Butoiu and Ioan TÃÂtÃÂran. There, he started to play in European competitions, making his debut in a 5âÂÂ0 away loss to Montpellier in the 1990âÂÂ91 European Cup Winners' Cup second round in which he received a red card. In the following season he played six games in the 1991âÂÂ92 UEFA Cup campaign, helping the team get past Anorthosis Famagusta and Sporting Gijón, scoring two goals against the latter, reaching the round of 16 where they were defeated by Genoa. In the same season he won the Cupa României, being used by coach Victor PiÃÂurcàin the first 54 minutes until he was replaced by Ion VlÃÂdoiu in the penalty shoot-out victory against Politehnica TimiÃÂoara in the final.
In 1992, Popa was close to a move to La Liga team Logroñés, but eventually went back to Farul. He scored 14 times in 18 matches in the 1992âÂÂ93 season which helped The Sailors avoid relegation, including six goals netted in a 6âÂÂ3 victory against OÃÂelul GalaÃÂi. He made a comeback to Steaua, managing to win the 1994 Supercupa României as coach Dumitru Dumitriu sent him in the second half to replace Adrian Ilie, then he scored the golden goal in extra time which brought the victory against Gloria BistriÃÂa. During the 1994âÂÂ95 season, Popa scored seven goals in the 14 league games Dumitriu used him as Steaua won the title. In the same season he made four appearances in the Champions League campaign of which three were in the group stage. Popa would go for another spell at Farul, then he joined FC BraÃÂov where on 7 September 1996 he made his last Divizia A appearance in a 2âÂÂ1 away loss to Chindia TârgoviÃÂte, totaling 168 matches with 73 goals in the competition.
In 1996 he had his only experience outside Romania at Hungarian side Budapesti VSC. He made his Nemzeti Bajnokság I on 20 October as coach László Dajka used him in the first half of a 3âÂÂ1 home win over Gyà Âr, replacing him for the second half with his compatriot Constantin StÃÂnici. His fifth and last Nemzeti Bajnokság I game took place on 30 November in a 1âÂÂ0 home loss to Vác, retiring afterwards from professional football. Subsequently, Popa would play for a short while at SÃÂgeata Stejaru, helping the club gain promotion from Divizia D to Divizia C.
Popa played two friendly games for Romania, making his debut on 25 April 1990 when coach Emerich Jenei sent him in the 81st minute to replace Michael Klein in a 4âÂÂ1 away win over Israel. His second game was also a win against Israel, a 1âÂÂ0 at home.
After he ended his playing career, Popa had several businesses and coached juniors at Farul ConstanÃÂa and Metalul Mangalia, and the Municipal ConstanÃÂa futsal team. For a while he was president of Portul ConstanÃÂa.
Metalul Mangalia
Farul ConstanÃÂa
Steaua BucureÃÂti
SÃÂgeata Stejaru