Marius Popa
Encyclopedia
Marius Cornel Popa is a Romania
n football
player, currently contracted by Universitatea Cluj
. He is one of the team's goalkeepers.
He started his career at the local team, FC Bihor in 1997 and three years later moved to FC Naţional
. He managed to break into the first team in 2003 and his performances have earned him a few call-ups, although Popa has not played any minute yet for the Romanian National team. He joined Poli in the winter break of the 2004/2005 season, together with National coach Cosmin Olăroiu
and team-mates Gabriel Cânu
, Gabriel Caramarin
and Gigel Coman
.
He has been the number one goalkeeper since arriving at Poli. However, he missed out on the Romanian Cup
Final lost against Rapid Bucharest in the 2006/2007 season, when poor form and an injury a few weeks before the match offered youngster Costel Pantilimon
the chance the shine. Pantilimon did not manage to hold on to his first team slot and Popa has since returned in goal.
Of the current squad, he has made the most appearances for Poli.
Popa has also been called up to the Romanian National team
eleven times and made his debut in a friendly against Russia
. He represented his country at the 2008 UEFA European Championship in Austria
and Switzerland
.
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
n football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
player, currently contracted by Universitatea Cluj
FC Universitatea Cluj
Fotbal Club Universitatea Cluj is a Romanian professional football club from Cluj-Napoca, founded in 1919 by Iuliu Hațieganu. The team plays in the country's top-flight league, Liga I...
. He is one of the team's goalkeepers.
He started his career at the local team, FC Bihor in 1997 and three years later moved to FC Naţional
FC National Bucuresti
Fotbal Club Progresul Bucureşti is a Romanian football club from Bucharest, founded in 1944...
. He managed to break into the first team in 2003 and his performances have earned him a few call-ups, although Popa has not played any minute yet for the Romanian National team. He joined Poli in the winter break of the 2004/2005 season, together with National coach Cosmin Olăroiu
Cosmin Olaroiu
Aurelian Cosmin Olăroiu is a former Romanian football player and football manager.-Club career:As a player, Olăroiu's best-known clubs he played for are Universitatea Craiova and Naţional Bucureşti. However, he also played with success in K-League for Suwon Samsung Bluewings and helped the team to...
and team-mates Gabriel Cânu
Gabriel Cânu
Gabriel Cânu is a Romanian footballer who captains Romanian Liga I club SC Vaslui. He is best known for his impressive height, powerful header and aerial game effective both defensively and in attack...
, Gabriel Caramarin
Gabriel Caramarin
Gabriel Gheorghe Caramarin is a retired Romanian football player, and current assistant coach of Anorthosis Famagusta....
and Gigel Coman
Gigel Coman
Gigel Coman is a Romanian football player, raised at FC Naţional Bucureşti, currently playing for CS Otopeni. He is a left winger.- Club career :...
.
He has been the number one goalkeeper since arriving at Poli. However, he missed out on the Romanian Cup
Romanian Cup
The Cupa României is a football competition which was held annually since 1933-34, except during the World War II. It is the country's main cup competition, and it is open to all clubs affiliated with FRF and the county football associations regardless of the league they belong to...
Final lost against Rapid Bucharest in the 2006/2007 season, when poor form and an injury a few weeks before the match offered youngster Costel Pantilimon
Costel Pantilimon
Costel Pantilimon is a Romanian footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for the Premier League club Manchester City, on loan from Politehnica Timişoara.-Early career:...
the chance the shine. Pantilimon did not manage to hold on to his first team slot and Popa has since returned in goal.
Of the current squad, he has made the most appearances for Poli.
Popa has also been called up to the Romanian National team
Romania national football team
The Romania national football team is the national football team of Romania and is controlled by the Romanian Football Federation.Romania is one of only four national teams, the other three being Brazil, France, and Belgium, that took part in the first three World Cups.However, after that...
eleven times and made his debut in a friendly against Russia
Russia national football team
The Russia national football team represents Russia in association football and is controlled by the Russian Football Union , the governing body for football in Russia. Russia's home grounds are Luzhniki Stadium, Lokomotiv Stadium , and Petrovsky Stadium in St.Petersburg and their head coach is...
. He represented his country at the 2008 UEFA European Championship in Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
and Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
.