Marin Radu (born 15 March 1956) is a retired Romanian football striker and manager, best known for his playing stints with ArgeÃÂ PiteÃÂti and Steaua BucureÃÂti.
Radu was born on 15 March 1956 in MareÃÂ, ArgeàCounty, Romania. He began playing junior-level football at ArgeàPiteÃÂti in 1968. Radu made his Divizia A debut on 11 August 1974 under coach Florin Halagian in a 3âÂÂ1 away loss to FC ConstanÃÂa in which he scored his side's goal. In the 1978âÂÂ79 UEFA Cup edition, he helped them eliminate Panathinaikos in the first round, scoring a goal in the 5âÂÂ1 aggregate victory. In the following round they met Valencia led by Mario Kempes, earning a 2âÂÂ1 win in the first leg, but they lost the second one with 5âÂÂ2, thus the campaign ending. In the same season, Radu formed a successful trio in the offence with Nicolae Dobrin and Doru Nicolae, being used by coach Halagian in 29 games in which he scored 22 goals. He netted a brace in the final game of the season against Dinamo BucureÃÂti, which ended with a 4âÂÂ3 victory that helped Argeàwin the title, and made him the top-scorer of the season. In the following season he scored a goal in the 3âÂÂ2 victory on aggregate against AEK Athens in the first round of the 1979âÂÂ80 European Cup, the team being eliminated in the following round by title holders and eventual winners, Nottingham Forest. He scored a personal record of 28 goals in the 1980âÂÂ81 season that earned him his second top-scorer title. In the 1981âÂÂ82 UEFA Cup edition, after scoring a goal for Argeàin a 2âÂÂ2 draw against Aberdeen, he was wanted by the opponent's coach, Alex Ferguson. However, during that time, the communist regime did not allow players to transfer outside the country.
After nine seasons spent at ArgeÃÂ, Radu went to play for one season at Olt ScorniceÃÂti where he worked once again with Halagian. Afterwards, he joined Steaua BucureÃÂti, reuniting for a while with Halagian. There, in the first season he helped the team win The Double, being used by coaches Halagian and Emerich Jenei in 23 league games in which he scored seven goals. He also played in the Cupa României final when he was sent in the 73rd minute to replace Mihail Majearu in the 2âÂÂ1 victory against Universitatea Craiova. In his second season spent with The Military Men he won another title, contributing with four goals in 21 appearances given to him by Jenei. The coach also used him in eight games in the historical 1985âÂÂ86 European Cup campaign in which Radu scored one goal in the first round against Vejle. He then entered the field in the 112th minute to replace Victor PiÃÂurcàin the 2âÂÂ0 victory after the penalty shoot-out in the final against Barcelona.
Afterwards, Radu returned to play for ArgeàPiteÃÂti for one and a half seasons. Subsequently, he switched teams again, this time going to Divizia B club Inter Sibiu, helping them get promoted to the first league. He made his last Divizia A appearance on 22 October 1989 in Inter's 3âÂÂ0 away loss to Jiul PetroÃÂani, totaling 385 matches with 191 goals in the competition and 23 games with four goals in European competitions. Radu retired after spending the 1990âÂÂ91 Divizia B season at ÃÂoimii IPA Sibiu. His career was affected by injuries, as he suffered three major ones which kept him off the field for about one and a half years. One of them occurred while he was playing for Argeàand the other two while being at Steaua. All of these incidents happened in games against Dinamo BucureÃÂti and were caused by collisions with Alexandru Nicolae.
On 25 March 2008, he was decorated by the president of Romania, Traian BÃÂsescu for the winning of the 1985âÂÂ86 European Cup with Ordinul "Meritul Sportiv" â (The Order "The Sportive Merit") class II.
Radu played seven games for Romania, making his debut on 12 May 1976 when coach ÃÂtefan Kovács sent him in the 60th minute to replace Stelian Anghel in a 1âÂÂ0 away loss to Bulgaria in the 1973âÂÂ76 Balkan Cup first leg final. He also appearing in the 3âÂÂ2 home victory in the second leg of the final. His third game was also against Bulgaria, a 2âÂÂ0 home victory in the successful 1977âÂÂ80 Balkan Cup. Radu played in a 1âÂÂ1 draw against Cyprus during the Euro 1980 qualifiers. His last appearance for the national team was in a 1982 friendly against East Germany which ended with a 4âÂÂ1 loss.
His brother, Nicolae, was also a footballer who played for ArgeàPiteÃÂti, and together they won the 1978âÂÂ79 Divizia A championship.
ArgeÃÂ PiteÃÂti
Steaua BucureÃÂti
Inter Sibiu
Romania