Nicolae "Nae" Stanciu (born 13 November 1973) is a former Romanian professional footballer who played as a defender.
He spent most of his career with Rapid BucureÃÂti, which he captained, and had two brief spells with Anzhi Makhachkala and FC Oradea before retiring in 2004.
Stanciu was born on 13 November 1973 in Bucharest, Romania, growing up in the GiuleÃÂti neighborhood. He began playing junior-level football at local club Rapid at age 10. He made his Divizia A debut on 16 September 1990 under coach Ion Pop in Rapid's 1âÂÂ0 home loss to Inter Sibiu. His first performance with The White-Burgundies was winning the 1997âÂÂ98 Cupa României, being used by coach Mircea Lucescu the entire match in the 1âÂÂ0 win over Universitatea Craiova in the final. In the following season he helped the club win the league title, appearing in 28 games in which he scored one goal. Stanciu then won the 1999 Supercupa României, Lucescu using him the full 90 minutes in the 5âÂÂ0 victory against rivals Steaua BucureÃÂti. Stanciu's last trophy won with The Railwaymen was the 2001âÂÂ02 Cupa României, playing the entire match under coach Mircea Rednic in the 2âÂÂ1 win over Dinamo BucureÃÂti in the final. During his years spent with Rapid, he also made 29 appearances with one goal in European competitions (including four matches in the Intertoto Cup).
In 2002, Stanciu joined Anzhi Makhachkala, making his debut in the Russian Premier League on 25 August under coach Gadzhi Gadzhiyev in a 3âÂÂ1 away loss to CSKA Moscow, totaling nine appearances in the competition until the end of the season. Afterwards he returned to Romania, signing with FC Oradea, making his last Divizia A appearance on 12 May 2004 in a 1âÂÂ1 draw against OÃÂelul GalaÃÂi, totaling 345 matches with 13 goals in the competition.
On 13 May 2020, Gazeta Sporturilor included him in a first XI of best Romanian players who never played for Romania's national team. In September 2014 he was appointed president at Rapid BucureÃÂti, a position he held until December.
Rapid BucureÃÂti