Mirel Radoi
Encyclopedia
Mirel Matei Rădoi is a Romania
n football
midfielder
who can also play as center back. He currently plays for Al-Ain FC in the UAE Pro-League
. Radoi is considered a symbolic player for Steaua Bucureşti. He became also a symbolic player for Al-Hilal
and in Saudi Arabia
, he received in June 2010 the award for the Player of the Year of the Saudi Professional League. His main nickname at Steaua was "The Godson", being the Godson of FC Steaua's owner, Gigi Becali. Other nicknames: "Zorro"; "The Captain"; "The Warrior". Rădoi is well known for his leadership and tackling. He also has the ability to drive forward, where his technical skills come into use.
, the coach of FC Extensiv Craiova, who purchased Rădoi in 1999. Cârţu financed the transfer with his own money because he was so impressed with Rădoi's ability. He noted Rădoi's potential to play at a higher level during his time at Extensiv Craiova. He made his professional debut in 1999, in a defeat against Dinamo Bucureşti on 4 March 2000. Just one year later he signed for Steaua Bucureşti, the club he played for between 2000 and 2009.
In his first match for the club, Rădoi played very well. He scored a goal at the Ghencea football stadium, when the score was 4–3 (against FCM Bacău
), Rădoi equalled the score in the 9th minute after Cătălin Cursaru
opened the score less than a minute. His coach at Steaua was Victor Piţurcă
, the former Romanian national team coach, who promoted him to the Steaua first team. Rădoi then became one of Steaua's most important players. Rădoi describing the first day at Steaua: "It was like a positive shock for me. Suddenly I was in the same place with players like Iulian Miu
, Marius Baciu
and Miodrag Belodedici
, players I saw on TV. It was like a dream." In 2001, he helped Steaua win the championship of the Romanian league, and after this he won the Romanian Supercup
against rivals Dinamo Bucureşti. In 2005, Rădoi won a second championship title, and in 2006 the 23rd championship title for Steaua and his 3rd personal. On 24 February 2005, he won an important match in the UEFA Cup
against holder Valencia
, and in 2006 (with Rădoi as captain) the team had played the UEFA Cup semifinal against Middlesbrough but lost 4–3 on aggregate. In 2006, Steaua qualified after a 10-year absence for the UEFA Champions League
in a group with Real Madrid
, Olympique Lyonnais
and Dinamo Kiev but Rădoi did not play in the first games because he was injured. During the last six years, Rădoi had been targeted by some of the biggest European football clubs, such as Real Madrid
, Liverpool
and Portsmouth
. However, he preferred to stay with Steaua Bucureşti instead and help the team play in UEFA Champions League. In the summer of 2006 rumour was that Rădoi would be signed by Premier League club Portsmouth as soon as the transfer window would open in England. The transfer fee was said to be around 11 million dollars. However, the transfer did not occur, many believing that the 11 million offer from Portsmouth was no more than a mediatic attempt to rise the player's potential transfer fee. In the end, Gigi Becali
stated that he would no longer sell Rădoi. Being injured, he only played his first official game in the 2006–07 season on November 12, when Steaua won 6–0 against Naţional Bucureşti
. Although he had been absent for a period of five months, he scored a penalty for Steaua with his first touch of the ball. He was a key player for Steaua Bucureşti in his nine seasons, and captained the team for many years.
, Rădoi has been capped 67 times, scoring twice. In 2005, he was suspended by the coach of Romania national team, Victor Piţurcă
, for leaving the national team training camp without permission, before matches against the Netherlands
and Armenia
. Coach Piţurcă recalled him back in February 2006 to play for the national team in a friendly tournament in Cyprus
after Rădoi apologised for his behaviour. He was included in Romania's squad for the 2008 European Championships. However, he suffered a head injury in the second group game versus Italy
after a clash of heads with team-mate Răzvan Raţ
, who emerged unscathed. It was revealed that he would require eye surgery, and also suffered a broken nose and could therefore play no further part in the championships. After a confrontation with Răzvan Lucescu
in 2010, Radoi declared that he will retire from the national team.
, Steaua's owner and chairman. Becali is also his godfather, and it is alleged that the choice of coach at Steaua has been influenced by Rădoi. It is rumored that the former Steaua coach, Cosmin Olăroiu
, was brought to the club by Rădoi. In a 2006 poll conducted by Romanian Television
to identify the "greatest Romanians of all time", Rădoi came in 21st.
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...
midfielder
Defender (football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
who can also play as center back. He currently plays for Al-Ain FC in the UAE Pro-League
UAE Pro-League
The UAE Pro-League is the First Division of the UAE Football League, commonly known as Etisalat Pro-League for sponsorship reasons, since 2008, is the top professional association football league in United Arab Emirates...
. Radoi is considered a symbolic player for Steaua Bucureşti. He became also a symbolic player for Al-Hilal
Al-Hilal
Al-Hilal Saudi Football Club , also known simply as Al-Hilal, is a Saudi Arabian sports club based in the country's capital of Riyadh and best known for its professional football team, known as Al-Hilal Saudi Football Club...
and in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia , commonly known in British English as Saudi Arabia and in Arabic as as-Sa‘ūdiyyah , is the largest state in Western Asia by land area, constituting the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, and the second-largest in the Arab World...
, he received in June 2010 the award for the Player of the Year of the Saudi Professional League. His main nickname at Steaua was "The Godson", being the Godson of FC Steaua's owner, Gigi Becali. Other nicknames: "Zorro"; "The Captain"; "The Warrior". Rădoi is well known for his leadership and tackling. He also has the ability to drive forward, where his technical skills come into use.
Extensiv Craiova
Rădoi started to play football at the age of eight, first as a goalkeeper and then as a defender. He started his youth career at FC Drobeta Turnu Severin and there he was spotted by Sorin CârţuSorin Cârtu
Sorin Cârţu is a former football striker and current manager. He is currently unemployed, after leaving as manager Steaua Bucureşti in May 2011. Cârţu won 2 Romanian Championships and 4 Romanian Cups with Universitatea Craiova...
, the coach of FC Extensiv Craiova, who purchased Rădoi in 1999. Cârţu financed the transfer with his own money because he was so impressed with Rădoi's ability. He noted Rădoi's potential to play at a higher level during his time at Extensiv Craiova. He made his professional debut in 1999, in a defeat against Dinamo Bucureşti on 4 March 2000. Just one year later he signed for Steaua Bucureşti, the club he played for between 2000 and 2009.
Steaua Bucureşti
Steaua paid €110,000 for the defender in 2000.In his first match for the club, Rădoi played very well. He scored a goal at the Ghencea football stadium, when the score was 4–3 (against FCM Bacău
FCM Bacau
FCM Bacău is a Romanian football club, founded in 1950, currently playing in the Liga II. It's the best placed Moldovan team in the Liga I All-Time Table, ranking 9th with 42 seasons played.-History:...
), Rădoi equalled the score in the 9th minute after Cătălin Cursaru
Cătălin Cursaru
Cătălin Cursaru is a retired Romanian footballer.At his peak, he was considered amongst the best strikers in Romania, displaying a vast array of skills: dribble, shot accuracy, aerial ability and off-the-ball movements; he is best known for his FCM Bacău spell, where he played five full...
opened the score less than a minute. His coach at Steaua was Victor Piţurcă
Victor Piturca
Victor Piţurcă is a Romanian football manager and former player.-Club career:Piţurcă was one of the prolific strikers of Steaua Bucureşti, being one of the team's top scorers – he scored 137 goals in 174 league games...
, the former Romanian national team coach, who promoted him to the Steaua first team. Rădoi then became one of Steaua's most important players. Rădoi describing the first day at Steaua: "It was like a positive shock for me. Suddenly I was in the same place with players like Iulian Miu
Iulian Miu
Iulian Ilie Miu is a Romanian former football player. He played for Liga I clubs such as Steaua Bucureşti, and abroad in Turkey at Bursaspor.-External links:* at RomanianSoccer.ro...
, Marius Baciu
Marius Baciu
Marius Baciu is a Romanian football manager and former player, currently the manager of CSMS Iași.-Club career:Baciu started his career playing as a youth for Gaz Metan Mediaş, before joining the squad of FC Inter Sibiu as a professional player in 1992...
and Miodrag Belodedici
Miodrag Belodedici
Miodrag Belodedici is a Romanian former football player.Nicknamed The deer due to his elegant tackles, he won the European Cup twice, in 1986 with Steaua Bucureşti and 1991 with Red Star Belgrade, thus becoming the first player to win the trophy with two different clubs...
, players I saw on TV. It was like a dream." In 2001, he helped Steaua win the championship of the Romanian league, and after this he won the Romanian Supercup
Romanian Supercup
The Supercupa României is a football competition, held at the beginning of each domestic season and disputed between the winners of Romanian Liga I and the winners of Cupa României. It was usually played at National Stadium in Bucharest. During the period when the new Stadionul Naţional is being...
against rivals Dinamo Bucureşti. In 2005, Rădoi won a second championship title, and in 2006 the 23rd championship title for Steaua and his 3rd personal. On 24 February 2005, he won an important match in the UEFA Cup
UEFA Cup
The UEFA Europa League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1971 for eligible European football clubs. It is the second most prestigious European club football contest after the UEFA Champions League...
against holder Valencia
Valencia CF
Valencia Club de Fútbol is a Spanish football club based in Valencia, Spain. They play in La Liga and are one of the most successful and biggest clubs in Spanish Football and European Football. Valencia have won six La Liga titles, seven Copa del Rey trophies, two Fairs Cups which was the...
, and in 2006 (with Rădoi as captain) the team had played the UEFA Cup semifinal against Middlesbrough but lost 4–3 on aggregate. In 2006, Steaua qualified after a 10-year absence for the UEFA Champions League
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
in a group with Real Madrid
Real Madrid
Real Madrid Club de Fútbol , commonly known as Real Madrid, is a professional football club based in Madrid, Spain. The club have won a record 31 La Liga titles, the Primera División of the Liga de Fútbol Profesional , 18 Copas del Rey, 8 Spanish Super Cups, 1 Copa Eva Duarte and 1 Copa de la...
, Olympique Lyonnais
Olympique Lyonnais
Olympique Lyonnais is a French association football club based in Lyon. They play in France's highest football division, Ligue 1. The club was formed as Lyon Olympique Universitaire in 1899, according to many supporters and sport historians, but was nationally established as a club in 1950. The...
and Dinamo Kiev but Rădoi did not play in the first games because he was injured. During the last six years, Rădoi had been targeted by some of the biggest European football clubs, such as Real Madrid
Real Madrid
Real Madrid Club de Fútbol , commonly known as Real Madrid, is a professional football club based in Madrid, Spain. The club have won a record 31 La Liga titles, the Primera División of the Liga de Fútbol Profesional , 18 Copas del Rey, 8 Spanish Super Cups, 1 Copa Eva Duarte and 1 Copa de la...
, Liverpool
Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
and Portsmouth
Portsmouth F.C.
Portsmouth Football Club is an English football club based in the city of Portsmouth. The club is nicknamed Pompey. Portsmouth's home matches have been played at Fratton Park since the club's formation in 1898. The team currently play in the Football League Championship after being relegated from...
. However, he preferred to stay with Steaua Bucureşti instead and help the team play in UEFA Champions League. In the summer of 2006 rumour was that Rădoi would be signed by Premier League club Portsmouth as soon as the transfer window would open in England. The transfer fee was said to be around 11 million dollars. However, the transfer did not occur, many believing that the 11 million offer from Portsmouth was no more than a mediatic attempt to rise the player's potential transfer fee. In the end, Gigi Becali
Gigi Becali
George Becali is a controversial Romanian politician and businessman, mostly known for his involvement in the Steaua Bucureşti football club.He has been a Member of the European Parliament since June 2009.-Biography:...
stated that he would no longer sell Rădoi. Being injured, he only played his first official game in the 2006–07 season on November 12, when Steaua won 6–0 against Naţional Bucureşti
FC National Bucuresti
Fotbal Club Progresul Bucureşti is a Romanian football club from Bucharest, founded in 1944...
. Although he had been absent for a period of five months, he scored a penalty for Steaua with his first touch of the ball. He was a key player for Steaua Bucureşti in his nine seasons, and captained the team for many years.
Al-Hilal
On January 2009, he signed a three-year that will earn him €1,400,000, Al-Hilal has paid €6,000,000 to Steaua Bucureşti. Rădoi made his debut for Al-Hilal in the local derby against Al-Nassr. Al-Hilal won the game with 2–0 and Rădoi scored the second goal. After the sixth game against Al-Shabab, he won the Prince Cup with Al-Hilal. He was nicknamed "The Warrior" among his fans in Saudi Arabia.Club statistics
| Club | Season | Domestic League | Domestic Cups | Continental games | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| App | Goals | App | Goals | App | Goals | App | Goals | ||||
| Al-Hilal Al-Hilal Al-Hilal Saudi Football Club , also known simply as Al-Hilal, is a Saudi Arabian sports club based in the country's capital of Riyadh and best known for its professional football team, known as Al-Hilal Saudi Football Club... |
|||||||||||
| 10-11 | 21 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 27 | 6 | |||
| 09-10 | 23 | 2 | 12 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 45 | 2 | |||
| 08-09 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 2 | |||
| Total | 49 | 10 | 14 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 77 | 10 | |||
| Steaua Bucureşti | |||||||||||
| 08-09 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 20 | 1 | |||
| 07-08 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 19 | 0 | |||
| 06-07 | 14 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 19 | 1 | |||
| 05-06 | 24 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 17 | 3 | 42 | 7 | |||
| 04-05 | 20 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 28 | 1 | |||
| 03-04 | 29 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 37 | 3 | |||
| 02-03 | 23 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 25 | 1 | |||
| 01-02 | 22 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 25 | 1 | |||
| 00-01 | 25 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 25 | 1 | |||
| Total | 186 | 12 | 6 | 1 | 48 | 3 | 240 | 16 | |||
| FC Extensiv Craiova | 99-00 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 0 | ||
| Total | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 0 | |||
| Career Totals | 241 | 20 | 20 | 1 | 62 | 3 | 331 | 26 | |||
| Last updated 21:25, 19 July 2011 (UTC) | |||||||||||
International career
For the Romania national teamRomania 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...
, Rădoi has been capped 67 times, scoring twice. In 2005, he was suspended by the coach of Romania national team, Victor Piţurcă
Victor Piturca
Victor Piţurcă is a Romanian football manager and former player.-Club career:Piţurcă was one of the prolific strikers of Steaua Bucureşti, being one of the team's top scorers – he scored 137 goals in 174 league games...
, for leaving the national team training camp without permission, before matches against the Netherlands
Netherlands national football team
The Netherlands National Football Team represents the Netherlands in association football and is controlled by the Royal Dutch Football Association , the governing body for football in the Netherlands...
and Armenia
Armenia national football team
The Armenia national football team represents Armenia in association football and is controlled by the Football Federation of Armenia, the governing body for football in Armenia...
. Coach Piţurcă recalled him back in February 2006 to play for the national team in a friendly tournament in Cyprus
Cyprus
Cyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.The earliest known human activity on the...
after Rădoi apologised for his behaviour. He was included in Romania's squad for the 2008 European Championships. However, he suffered a head injury in the second group game versus Italy
Italy national football team
The Italy National Football Team , represents Italy in association football and is controlled by the Italian Football Federation , the governing body for football in Italy. Italy is the second most successful national team in the history of the World Cup having won four titles , just one fewer than...
after a clash of heads with team-mate Răzvan Raţ
Razvan Rat
Răzvan Dincă Raț is a Romanian footballer who currently plays as a left back for Ukrainian Premier League club Shakhtar Donetsk and the Romanian national team.- Club:...
, who emerged unscathed. It was revealed that he would require eye surgery, and also suffered a broken nose and could therefore play no further part in the championships. After a confrontation with Răzvan Lucescu
Razvan Lucescu
Răzvan Lucescu is a Romanian former football goalkeeper and currently the manager of Rapid Bucharest. He is the son of football player and manager Mircea Lucescu.-1987–2003:...
in 2010, Radoi declared that he will retire from the national team.
International goals
| # | Date | Venue | Opponent | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 16 October 2002 | Luxembourg, Luxembourg | 7–0 | UEFA Euro 2004 Qual. | |
| 2 | 5 June 2010 | Sankt Veit an der Glan Sankt Veit an der Glan Sankt Veit an der Glan is a town in the Austrian state of Carinthia. It is the capital of a district with the same name.-Location:This town is a major point on the Glan River in the north of the Zollfeld Valley.... , Carinthia Carinthia (state) Carinthia is the southernmost Austrian state or Land. Situated within the Eastern Alps it is chiefly noted for its mountains and lakes.The main language is German. Its regional dialects belong to the Southern Austro-Bavarian group... , Austria |
3–0 | Friendly Exhibition game An exhibition game is a sporting event in which there is no competitive value of any significant kind to any competitor regardless of the outcome of the competition... |
Trivia
Rădoi has a very strong personality and acted as adviser to Gigi BecaliGigi Becali
George Becali is a controversial Romanian politician and businessman, mostly known for his involvement in the Steaua Bucureşti football club.He has been a Member of the European Parliament since June 2009.-Biography:...
, Steaua's owner and chairman. Becali is also his godfather, and it is alleged that the choice of coach at Steaua has been influenced by Rădoi. It is rumored that the former Steaua 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...
, was brought to the club by Rădoi. In a 2006 poll conducted by Romanian Television
Romanian television
Romanian television may refer to:* Communications media in Romania* Televiziunea Română, TVR, the national television network* List of Romanian language television channels...
to identify the "greatest Romanians of all time", Rădoi came in 21st.
Club
Steaua-
- Liga ILiga ILiga I, or in full, due to sponsorship reasons, Liga I Bergenbier, is the top division of the Romanian football league system. Before the 2006/2007 season, it was called Divizia A, but the name had to be changed following the discovery that someone else had registered the trademark "Divizia A"...
(3): 2000–01, 2004–05, 2005–06 - Supercupa României (2): 2001, 2006 Al-HilalAl-HilalAl-Hilal Saudi Football Club , also known simply as Al-Hilal, is a Saudi Arabian sports club based in the country's capital of Riyadh and best known for its professional football team, known as Al-Hilal Saudi Football Club...
- Saudi Professional League (2): 2009–2010, 2010-2011
- Crown Prince CupCrown Prince CupThe Crown Prince Cup, officially known as , is the top knockout tournament of the Saudi Arabia football.The King's Cup, officially known as , was a Saudi football tournament created in 1956...
(3): 2008–09, 2009–10, 2010–11 - 2011 Match World Cup2011 Match World CupThe 2011 Match World Cup was a friendly football tournament that took place in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates in January 2011.-Participant teams:*still active-Group A:---------Group B:---------5th place Match:-Third place Match:...
(1): 2010-11
- Liga I