Iulian Cristea

Lucian Iulian Cristea (Romanian pronunciation: [ˈkriste̯a]; born 17 July 1994) is a Romanian professional footballer who plays as a centre-back or a defensive midfielder for Liga I club Rapid București.

Iulian Cristea
Cristea with FCSB in 2022
Personal information
Full name Lucian Iulian Cristea
Date of birth (1994-07-17) 17 July 1994
Place of birth Mediaș, Romania
Height 1.84 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s) Centre-back, defensive midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Rapid București
Number 15
Youth career
2007–2013 Gaz Metan Mediaș
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2014–2019 Gaz Metan Mediaș 109 (6)
2014 → Metalurgistul Cugir (loan)
2019–2023 FCSB 120 (8)
2023– Rapid București 4 (0)
International career‡
2014–2016 Romania U21 6 (0)
2019– Romania 4 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 1 September 2023
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 4 June 2022

Club career

After playing over 110 matches for his hometown club Gaz Metan Mediaș, Cristea moved to fellow Liga I team FCSB on 26 February 2019.[1] He signed a five-year contract for a €150,000 transfer fee.[2]

On 13 June 2023, after being released by FCSB, Cristea moved to cross-town rivals Rapid București on a two-year deal.[3]

International career

On 10 June 2019, Cristea made his debut for the Romania national team in a 4–0 win against Malta counting for the UEFA Euro 2020 qualifiers.[4]

Style of play

Cristea has been described as versatile, due to his ability to play equally well as either a centre-back or a defensive midfielder, and has been noted for his aerial prowess.[5]

Career statistics

Club
As of match played 28 September 2023[6]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup League Cup Continental Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Gaz Metan Mediaș 2014–15Liga I 1501000——160
2015–16Liga II 22100———221
2016–17Liga I 2811000——291
2017–18Liga I 21150———261
2018–19Liga I 23310———243
Total 109680———1176
FCSB 2018–19Liga I 101————101
2019–20Liga I 28130—71—382
2020–21Liga I 35 4 0 0 — 1 0 0 0 36 4
2021–22Liga I 33 2 1 0 — 1 0 — 35 2
2022–23Liga I 14 0 0 0 — 0 0 — 14 0
Total 120840—91001339
Rapid București 2023–24Liga I 4011———51
Career total 2331413100910025516

International
As of match played 4 June 2022[7]
National teamYearAppsGoals
Romania
201910
2020 2 0
202210
Total40

Honours

Gaz Metan Mediaș[6]

FCSB[6]

Individual

References
  1. "Bine ai venit, Iulian Cristea!" [Welcome, Iulian Cristea!] (in Romanian). FCSB. 26 February 2019. Retrieved 15 March 2019.
  2. "Iulian Cristea a semnat în această seară cu FCSB! » Gigi Becali, pentru GSP.ro: "Băiatul vine de mâine la antrenament"" [Iulian Cristea signed with FCSB this evening! » Gigi Becali, for GSP.ro: "The boy is coming to training tomorrow"]. Gazeta Sporturilor (in Romanian). 25 February 2019.
  3. "IULIAN CRISTEA ESTE NOUL FUNDAȘ AL RAPIDULUI" [IULIAN CRISTEA IS RAPID'S NEW DEFENDER] (in Romanian). FC Rapid București. 13 June 2023. Retrieved 13 June 2023.
  4. "Misiune îndeplinită pentru tricolori în Malta: victorie cu 4-0!" [Mission accomplished for "the Tricolours" in Malta: a 4–0 victory!] (in Romanian). Romanian Football Federation. 10 June 2019. Retrieved 11 June 2019.
  5. "EXCLUSIV Echipa din străinătate care l-a dorit pe Iulian Cristea, înainte să semneze cu Rapid" [EXCLUSIVE The foreign team that wanted Iulian Cristea, before he signed for Rapid] (in Romanian). Digi Sport. 13 June 2023. Retrieved 13 June 2023.
  6. Iulian Cristea at Soccerway. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
  7. "Iulian Cristea". European Football. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
  8. "LPF a anunțat echipa ideală a sezonului de Liga 1 » FCSB și CFR Cluj, reprezentate de câte 3 jucători" [LPF has chosen the "ideal team" of the Liga 1 season! Which team offers the most players] (in Romanian). Gazeta Sporturilor. 3 June 2022. Retrieved 6 June 2022.
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