Ionuț Rada (footballer, born 1982)

Not to be confused with Ionuț Rada (footballer, born 1990).

Ionuț Rada
Rada with CFR Cluj in 2010
Personal information
Full name Ionuț Alin Rada
Date of birth (1982-07-06) 6 July 1982 (age 43)
Place of birth Craiova, Romania
Height 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)
Position Defender
Youth career
CSS Craiova
Școala de Fotbal Gheorghe Popescu
FC Universitatea Craiova
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2000–2004 FC Universitatea Craiova 46 (1)
2001 → Rocar București (loan) 13 (0)
2004–2007 Rapid București 65 (3)
2005 → Național București (loan) 14 (2)
2007–2010 Steaua București 32 (1)
2009–2010 → Otopeni (loan) 13 (0)
2010 Al-Nasr 4 (0)
2010–2015 CFR Cluj 78 (4)
2012 → Karlsruher SC (loan) 15 (1)
2015–2016 Bari 26 (2)
2016–2018 Fidelis Andria 54 (2)
2018–2020 Sănătatea Cluj
Total 360 (16)
International career‡
2000 Romania U18 7 (0)
2000 Romania U19 8 (0)
2001–2003 Romania U21 9 (0)
2004 Romania B 2 (0)
2003–2004 Romania 2 (0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 9 September 2018
‡ National team caps and goals as of 31 July 2011

Ionuț Alin Rada (born 6 July 1982) is a Romanian retired footballer who played as a centre-back or a left-back.[1]

After starting out with hometown club FC Universitatea Craiova, Rada played for București - Ilfov sides Rocar, Rapid, Național, Steaua and Otopeni until 2010, when he moved abroad for the first time with a brief stint at Al-Nasr. He returned to Romania the same year to sign for CFR Cluj, and also represented Karlsruher SC, Bari, Fidelis Andria and Sănătatea Cluj before retiring in 2020.

Internationally, Rada earned two caps for Romania's national team between 2003 and 2004.

Club career

Early career

Rada was born on 6 July 1982 in Craiova, Romania.[2][3] He began playing junior-level football at CSS Craiova, then moving to Gheorghe Popescu's football school.[3] Subsequently, Rada joined FC Universitatea Craiova where he made his Divizia A debut on 17 March 2001 under coach Ilie Balaci in a 4–2 away loss to Gloria Bistrița.[2][3][4] In the first half of the 2001–02 season, he was loaned to Divizia B side Rocar București, returning afterwards to "U" Craiova.[2][3] He made his European competitions debut by playing four matches in the 2001 Intertoto Cup.[2][5] Rada scored his first league goal in a 3–1 home win over Astra Ploiești.[2][6] In early 2004, Rapid București transferred him and Ionuț Stancu, paying €500,000 to Universitatea, of which €400,000 was for Rada.[3][7][8]

Rapid București and Național București

His limited playing time in his first year at Rapid resulted in a half-year loan to Național București in 2005.[2][3] There, he scored two goals in a 1–0 victory against Steaua București and in a 2–1 win over FCM Bacău.[2][9]

Afterwards, Rada returned to The Railwaymen, playing 15 matches in their 2005–06 UEFA Cup campaign, where they defeated Feyenoord with 2–1 on aggregate and reached the group stage.[2][3][10][11][12] There, they finished first in a group composed of Shakhtar Donetsk, VfB Stuttgart, PAOK and Rennes.[3][10][11] Subsequently, they advanced past Hertha Berlin and Hamburg, reaching the quarter-finals where they were eliminated by rivals Steaua on the away goal rule after 1–1 on aggregate.[3][10][11][13] The team finished the season by winning the 2005–06 Cupa României, with Rada playing the entire match under coach Răzvan Lucescu in the 1–0 extra-time win against his former side, Național, in the final.[2][3][14]

Rada netted a goal that helped Rapid eliminate Nacional and reach the 2006–07 UEFA Cup group stage, where he made four appearances.[2][15] He ended the season by winning another Cupa României, with coach Lucescu using him the full 90 minutes in the 2–0 victory against Politehnica Timișoara in the final.[2][3][16]

Steaua București, Otopeni and Al-Nasr

Rada training for Steaua București in 2008

On 25 July 2007, Rada signed with Steaua București, which paid €1.6 million to Rapid.[3][7][17] He was wanted there by Gheorghe Hagi as a replacement for injured Sorin Ghionea.[3][7][18] Rada helped them eliminate Zagłębie Lubin and BATE Borisov in the Champions League qualifying rounds, reaching the group stage.[3][19] There, he played in all six matches facing Arsenal, Sevilla and Slavia Prague, but earned only one draw against the latter, losing the other matches.[2][3][20] He scored his only goal for Steaua in September 2007 in a 1–0 league victory over FC Vaslui with a header, following a corner kick executed by Bănel Nicoliță.[2][21]

In February 2009, Rada was loaned, at his request, to CS Otopeni for half a year.[2][3][22] Subsequently, he returned to The Military Men, playing six games in the 2009–10 Europa League group stage.[2][23]

On 28 December 2009, Steaua announced that Rada was sold to Al-Nasr for €300,000.[3][24][25] However, he made only four league appearances there.[26]

CFR Cluj and Karlsruher SC

On 11 June 2010, Rada signed with CFR Cluj.[2][3][27] He played six matches in the 2010–11 Champions League group stage, scoring two goals, one in a win over Basel and another in a loss to AS Roma.[2][3] In the first half of the 2011–12 season, he made four league appearances under coach Jorge Costa.[2][3][28] However, he was loaned for the second half of the season to 2. Bundesliga side Karlsruher SC, but CFR still managed to win the title at the end of the season without him.[2][3][28]

After his loan in Germany ended, Rada returned to CFR at the request of coach Ioan Andone.[2][3] He played nine games in the team's 2012–13 Champions League campaign as they got past Slovan Liberec and Basel in the qualifying rounds, then earned 10 points in a group composed of Manchester United, Galatasaray and Braga, which helped them finish third.[2][3][29] Subsequently, they qualified for the round of 32 in the Europa League, where they were defeated by Inter Milan.[2][30] On 7 December 2017, Rada made his last Liga I appearance in CFR's 0–0 draw against CS Universitatea Craiova, totaling 246 matches with 11 goals in the competition and 64 matches with three goals in European competitions (including four appearances in the Intertoto Cup).[2][31]

Late career

On 19 January 2015, Rada signed a contract with Serie B outfit Bari.[2][3][32] In August 2016, he joined Serie C side Fidelis Andria for a two-year spell.[1][3][26] From 2018 to 2020, he played for Liga III team Sănătatea Cluj, retiring afterwards.[3][26][33]

International career

Between 2000 and 2004, Rada was consistently featured for Romania's under-18, under-19, under-21 and B sides.[34]

Rada played two matches for Romania, making his debut on 20 August 2003 when coach Anghel Iordănescu sent him in the 88th minute to replace Răzvan Raț in a 2–0 friendly victory against Ukraine.[35][36] His second appearance occurred on 18 February 2004 in a 3–0 win over Georgia during the Cyprus International Football Tournament.[35][37]

Writing

Rada wrote an autobiographical book titled Vreau să joc (I want to play), which was released on 29 June 2022.[38] He was inspired to start writing by his former Al-Nasr teammate, Carlos Tenorio.[38]

Honours

Rapid București

CFR Cluj

References

  1. ^ a b "Surpriză. Ionuț Rada, înapoi în fotbalul românesc, la 36 de ani. EXCLUSIV. Prima reacție a veteranului" [Surprise. Ionuț Rada, back in Romanian football, at 36 years old. EXCLUSIVE. The veteran's first reaction] (in Romanian). Prosport.ro. 7 September 2018. Retrieved 10 January 2026.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z Ionuț Rada at RomanianSoccer.ro (in Romanian)
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z "A inceput fotbalul la Craiova si a trecut pe la Rapid, Steaua si CFR Cluj, insa a fost mereu iubit de toti fanii. Povestea unei acriere de succes cu Ionut Rada, discutata pe instagram" [He started playing football in Craiova and played for Rapid, Steaua and CFR Cluj, but he was always loved by all the fans. The story of a successful match with Ionut Rada, discussed on Instagram] (in Romanian). Oraexactainsport.ro. 29 April 2020. Retrieved 10 January 2026.
  4. ^ "Universitatea Craiova vs ACF Gloria Bistrița 1-1". Labtof. Retrieved 10 January 2026.
  5. ^ "Ionuț Rada. UI-Cup 2001". WorldFootball. Retrieved 10 January 2026.
  6. ^ "Univ. Craiova – Astra Ploiesti 3-1" (in Romanian). Libertatea.ro. 18 August 2002. Retrieved 10 January 2026.
  7. ^ a b c "Lovitura! Ionut Rada a venit de la Rapid la Steaua!" [The blow! Ionut Rada came from Rapid to Steaua!] (in Romanian). Gsp.ro. 26 July 2007. Retrieved 10 January 2026.
  8. ^ "Ionuț Rada și Ionuț Stancu au "trădat" Craiova. Cei doi au plecat cu scandal, în 2004, la Rapid" [Ionuț Rada and Ionuț Stancu "betrayed" Craiova. The two left for Rapid in 2004 with a scandal] (in Romanian). Gsp.ro. 28 August 2021. Retrieved 10 January 2026.
    "Starlets leave Universitatea for Rapid". Uefa.com. 24 February 2004. Retrieved 10 January 2026.
  9. ^ "Scandal - Bataie la Steaua!" [Scandal - Fight at Steaua!] (in Romanian). Jurnalul.ro. 18 May 2005. Retrieved 10 January 2026.
    "Ionuț Rada. Liga I 2004/05". WorldFootball. Retrieved 10 January 2026.
  10. ^ a b c "15 ani de la Steaua – Rapid, sfertul de finală UEFAntastic! Unde sunt acum eroii acelei duble" [15 years since Steaua – Rapid, the UEFA quarter-final! Where are the heroes of that double now?] (in Romanian). Fanatik.ro. 6 April 2021. Retrieved 10 January 2026.
  11. ^ a b c "Ionuț Rada. UEFA Cup 2005/06". WorldFootball. Retrieved 10 January 2026.
  12. ^ "Ionuț Rada. UEFA Cup qual. 2005/06". WorldFootball. Retrieved 10 January 2026.
  13. ^ "Povestea magicului Rapid – Hamburg 2-0, contra lui van der Vaart și Boulahrouz! De la "suntem șmecheri rău de tot dacă nu pierdem" la călcâiul fermecat al lui Mugurel Buga: "Antrenorii ziceau că tratez jocul la mișto!"" [The story of the magical Rapid – Hamburg 2-0, against van der Vaart and Boulahrouz! From "we're really bad tricksters if we don't lose" to Mugurel Buga's magical heel: "The coaches said I treat the game cool!".] (in Romanian). Prosport.ro. 4 September 2024. Retrieved 10 January 2026.
  14. ^ "Romanian Cup – Season 2005–2006". RomanianSoccer. Retrieved 10 January 2026.
    "Rapid a castigat Cupa" [Rapid won the Cup] (in Romanian). Hotnews.ro. 18 May 2006. Retrieved 10 January 2026.
  15. ^ "Ionuț Rada. UEFA Cup 2006/2007". WorldFootball. Retrieved 10 January 2026.
  16. ^ "Romanian Cup – Season 2006–2007". RomanianSoccer. Retrieved 10 January 2026.
    "Finala Cupei Romaniei: Rapid isi pastreaza trofeul" [Final of the Romanian Cup: Rapid keeps the trophy] (in Romanian). Ziare.com. 26 May 2007. Retrieved 10 January 2026.
  17. ^ "Rada si Zaharia, noile achizitii!" (in Romanian). steauafc.com. Archived from the original on 8 March 2012.
  18. ^ "Steaua l-a achizitionat pe Rada" [Steaua acquired Rada] (in Romanian). Ziare.com. 25 July 2007. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
  19. ^ "Ionuț Rada. Champions League qual. 2007/08". WorldFootball. Retrieved 10 January 2026.
  20. ^ "Ionuț Rada. Champions League 2007/08". WorldFootball. Retrieved 10 January 2026.
  21. ^ "Steaua a obținut prima victorie în Liga I" [Steaua achieved its first victory in Liga I.] (in Romanian). Mediafax.ro. 29 September 2007. Retrieved 10 January 2026.
  22. ^ "Ionuț Rada, împrumutat de Steaua la CS Otopeni" [Ionuț Rada, loaned by Steaua to CS Otopeni] (in Romanian). Mediafax.ro. 27 February 2009. Retrieved 10 January 2026.
  23. ^ "Ionuț Rada. Europa League 2009/10". WorldFootball. Retrieved 10 January 2026.
  24. ^ "Ionuț Rada după transferul la Al Nasr: "Am ajuns în Paradis!"" [Ionuț Rada after the transfer to Al Nasr: "I have arrived in Paradise!"] (in Romanian). Gsp.ro. 16 January 2010. Retrieved 10 January 2026.
  25. ^ "Multumim, Ionut Rada!" (in Romanian). steauafc.com. Archived from the original on 17 January 2010.
  26. ^ a b c Ionuț Rada at National-Football-Teams.com
  27. ^ "Ionuț Rada a semnat un contract valabil patru ani cu CFR Cluj" [Ionuț Rada signed a four-year contract with CFR Cluj] (in Romanian). Mediafax.ro. 11 June 2010. Retrieved 10 January 2026.
  28. ^ a b "Romania National Champions". RomanianSoccer. Retrieved 10 January 2026.
  29. ^ "Ionuț Rada. Champions League Qualifiers 2012/2013". WorldFootball. Retrieved 10 January 2026.
    "Ionuț Rada. Champions League 2012/2013". WorldFootball. Retrieved 10 January 2026.
  30. ^ "CFR - Inter 0-3. Un gol splendid și o gafă a lui Felguieras au decis meciul" [CFR - Inter 0-3. A splendid goal and a mistake by Felguieras decided the match] (in Romanian). Digisport.ro. 21 February 2013. Retrieved 10 January 2026.
    "Ionuț Rada. Europa League 2012/2013". WorldFootball. Retrieved 10 January 2026.
  31. ^ "Ionuț Rada profile". Labtof. Retrieved 10 January 2026.
  32. ^ "OFICIAL Ionuț Rada a semnat un contract cu Bari" [OFFICIAL Ionuț Rada signed a contract with Bari] (in Romanian). Prosport.ro. 19 January 2015. Retrieved 10 January 2026.
  33. ^ "Fost campion al Ligii I, Ionut Rada s-a intors in Romania! Cu ce echipa a semnat" [Former Liga I champion, Ionut Rada returned to Romania! Which team did he sign with?] (in Romanian). Sport.ro. 7 September 2018. Retrieved 10 January 2026.
  34. ^ "Despre mine, Ionuț Alin Rada" [About me, Ionuț Alin Rada] (in Romanian). Ionutrada.com. Retrieved 10 January 2026.
    "Ionuț Rada profile". 11v11. Retrieved 10 January 2026.
  35. ^ a b "Ionuț Rada". European Football. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
  36. ^ "Ukraine – Romania 0:2". European Football. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
  37. ^ "Georgia – Romania 0:3". European Football. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
  38. ^ a b "Ionuț Rada și-a lansat cartea autobiografică "Vreau să joc". Cum a motivat numele ales" [Ionuț Rada și-a lansat cartea autobiografică „Vreau să joc”. Cum a motivat numele ales] (in Romanian). Digisport.ro. 29 June 2022. Retrieved 10 January 2026.
allikas: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ionu%C8%9B_Rada_(footballer,_born_1982)