Ştefan Radu

Infobox Football biography
playername = Ştefan Radu


fullname = Ştefan Daniel Radu
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1986|10|22
cityofbirth = Bucharest
countryofbirth = Romania
height = Height|m=1.83
nickname =
position = Defender
currentclub = Lazio
clubnumber = 32
youthyears =
youthclubs = FC Dinamo Bucureşti
years = 2004-2008
2008
2008-
clubs = Dinamo Bucureşti
→ Lazio (loan)
Lazio
caps(goals) = 61 (1)
11 (0)

nationalyears = 2006–
nationalteam = Romania
nationalcaps(goals) = 09 (0)
pcupdate = July 24, 2007
ntupdate = September 6, 2008

Ştefan Daniel Radu (born 22 October 1986 in Bucharest, Romania) is a Romanian football player. He currently plays for Lazio as a full back.

On 25 March, 2008 he was decorated by the president of România, Traian Băsescu for the results on Qualifying to EURO 2008 and qualification to UEFA Euro 2008 Group C with Medalia "Meritul Sportiv" — (The Medal "The Sportive Merit") class III.

Dinamo Bucureşti

Radu began his career with major Romanian club side Dinamo Bucureşti. Radu played four seasons of first team football with Dinamo, gaining a reputation as one of his country's brightest talents.

He has often been considered "The new Chivu" by Romanian media and was at varying stages been linked with moves to Juventus, A.S. Roma and GenoaFacts|date=July 2007.

In January 2008, major Italian Serie A side Lazio came calling, and signed Radu on a loan deal until the end of the season. Radu impressed and at was signed permanently in June, for a transfer fee of 5.4 million euro.

Lazio

Radu made his Lazio debut in a Coppa Italia match versus Fiorentina shortly after joining the team on loan. He has since been a revelation for Delio Rossi's team, as the young starlet has added extra quality to the backline and started all matches he featured in.

By the end of his loan spell, Radu impressed Rossi and club president Claudio Lotito enough to justify a transfer fee in excess of five million euros, and has now joined the club on a permanent basis.

International career

Radu made his debut for the Romanian national team in 2006, following the country's failure to qualify for the FIFA World Cup in Germany.

Over the course of Euro 2008 qualifying, Radu gained international experience and was selected in the squad for the final tournament in Switzerland and Austria. At Euro 2008 however, Radu remained a subsitute and did not see any game time.

External links

* [http://www.romaniansoccer.ro/players/s/stefan_radu.shtml Career stats at romaniansoccer.ro (English}]