Marius Popa

Marius Cornel Popa (born 31 July 1978 in Oradea) is a retired Romanian football player.

Marius Popa
Personal information
Date of birth (1978-07-31) 31 July 1978
Place of birth Oradea, Romania
Height 1.84 m (6 ft 1⁄2 in)
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1997–2000 Bihor Oradea 34 (0)
2000–2005 Naţional Bucureşti 46 (0)
2005–2009 Politehnica Timişoara 99 (0)
2009–2010 Internaţional 30 (0)
2010 Pandurii Târgu Jiu 12 (0)
2011–2012 Universitatea Cluj 22 (0)
Total 243 (0)
National team
2008–2009 Romania 2 (0)
Teams managed
2013 Luceafărul Oradea (goalkeeper coach)
2013–2014 Oțelul Galați (goalkeeper coach)
2014–2015 Poli Timișoara (goalkeeper coach)
2015 Steaua București (goalkeeper coach)
2016 Luceafărul Oradea (goalkeeper coach)
2016 Luceafărul Oradea
2017– FCSB (goalkeeper coach)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

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.

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.[1]

References
  1. UEFA Euro 2008: Romania Squad Archived 13 February 2009 at the Wayback Machine Euro 2008 Info. Retrieved 6 February 2010.


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