Gheorghe Popescu
| Date of birth | 09 October 1967 |
| Place of birth | Calafat |
| Nationality | Romanian |
| Weight | 78 kg |
| Height | 1.88 m |
| Position | Defender |
Popescu has spent time in both the English and Spanish leagues with Tottenham Hotspur and Barcelona respectively.
His organisational ability makes him a valuable member of the Galatasaray team.
Club history
| Team | Joined | Left | Loan / Trialist |
|---|---|---|---|
| PSV Eindhoven | 09 Sep 1994 | ||
| Tottenham Hotspur | 09 Sep 1994 | 30 Jun 1995 |
Club stats
| Season | Team | Competition | Apps | Subs | Goals | Y | R |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1994-95 | Tottenham Hotspur | FA Cup | 3 | ||||
| 1994-95 | Tottenham Hotspur | League Cup | 2 | ||||
| 1994-95 | Tottenham Hotspur | Premier League | 23 | 3 |
3
|
||
| 1998-99 | World XI | State 75th Anniversary | 1 | ||||
| 1999-00 | Galatasaray | UEFA Champions League | 2 | ||||
| 1999-00 | Galatasaray | UEFA Cup | 3 |
1
|
|||
| 2000-01 | Galatasaray | Turkish First Division | 24 |
10
|
1
|
||
| 2000-01 | Galatasaray | UEFA Champions League | 14 |
5
|
|||
| 2001-02 | Galatasaray | UEFA Champions League | 3 |
1
|
|||
| 2001-02 | Lecce | Serie A | 28 | 3 |
6
|
1
|
|
| 2002-03 | Hannover 96 | Bundesliga | 13 | 1 |
1 |
4
|
Please note: Career stats are based on performances in the Premier and Football Leagues and (in most cases all) internationals.
Club matches
| Date | Match | Result | Competition | Round | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28 Sep 1999 | Chelsea v Galatasaray | L | 1-0 | UEFA Champions League | Group H |
| 20 Oct 1999 | Galatasaray v Chelsea | L | 0-5 | UEFA Champions League | Group H |
| 06 Apr 2000 | Galatasaray v Leeds United | W | 2-0 | UEFA Cup | Semi-final 1st leg |
| 20 Apr 2000 | Leeds United v Galatasaray | D |
2-2 Agg: 2-4 |
UEFA Cup | Semi-final 2nd leg |
| 17 May 2000 | Arsenal v Galatasaray | D | 0-0 | UEFA Cup | Final |
| 09 Aug 2000 | St Gallen v Galatasaray | W | 1-2 | UEFA Champions League | 3rd qualifying round 1st leg |
| 13 Aug 2000 | Denizlispor v Galatasaray | W | 0-1 | Turkish First Division | |
| 19 Aug 2000 | Galatasaray v Erzurumspor | W | 7-0 | Turkish First Division | |
| 22 Aug 2000 | Galatasaray v St Gallen | D |
2-2 Agg: 4-3 |
UEFA Champions League | 3rd round 2nd leg |
| 25 Aug 2000 | Real Madrid v Galatasaray | W | 1-2 | UEFA Super Cup | Final |
| 09 Sep 2000 | Galatasaray v Samsunspor | L | 1-2 | Turkish First Division | |
| 12 Sep 2000 | Galatasaray v AS Monaco | W | 3-2 | UEFA Champions League | Group D |
| 20 Sep 2000 | Sturm Graz v Galatasaray | L | 3-0 | UEFA Champions League | Group D |
| 23 Sep 2000 | Galatasaray v Istanbulspor | D | 1-1 | Turkish First Division | |
| 27 Sep 2000 | Galatasaray v Rangers | W | 3-2 | UEFA Champions League | Group D |
| 30 Sep 2000 | Gençlerbirligi v Galatasaray | W | 1-4 | Turkish First Division | |
| 14 Oct 2000 | Galatasaray v Siirt Jet Pa | W | 4-1 | Turkish First Division | 8 |
| 17 Oct 2000 | Rangers v Galatasaray | D | 0-0 | UEFA Champions League | Group D |
| 21 Oct 2000 | Besiktas v Galatasaray | L | 3-1 | Turkish First Division | |
| 25 Oct 2000 | AS Monaco v Galatasaray | L | 4-2 | UEFA Champions League | Group D |
| 07 Nov 2000 | Galatasaray v Sturm Graz | D | 2-2 | UEFA Champions League | Group D |
| 11 Nov 2000 | Galatasaray v Caykur Rizespor | W | 2-0 | Turkish First Division | |
| 18 Nov 2000 | Adanaspor v Galatasaray | W | 1-2 | Turkish First Division | 13 |
| 21 Nov 2000 | AC Milan v Galatasaray | D | 2-2 | UEFA Champions League | Group B |
| 26 Nov 2000 | Galatasaray v Fenerbahçe | D | 0-0 | Turkish First Division | |
| 01 Dec 2000 | Ankaragucu v Galatasaray | W | 1-3 | Turkish First Division | |
| 10 Dec 2000 | Galatasaray v Gaziantepspor | W | 2-0 | Turkish First Division | |
| 17 Dec 2000 | Trabzonspor v Galatasaray | D | 1-1 | Turkish First Division | |
| 20 Dec 2000 | Antalyaspor v Galatasaray | W | 0-1 | Turkish First Division | |
| 03 Feb 2001 | Erzurumspor v Galatasaray | W | 1-2 | Turkish First Division | |
| 14 Feb 2001 | Galatasaray v Deportivo La Coruña | W | 1-0 | UEFA Champions League | Group B |
| 17 Feb 2001 | Samsunspor v Galatasaray | D | 1-1 | Turkish First Division | |
| 20 Feb 2001 | Deportivo La Coruña v Galatasaray | L | 2-0 | UEFA Champions League | Group B |
| 25 Feb 2001 | Galatasaray v Kocaelispor | L | 2-3 | Turkish First Division | 22 |
| 07 Mar 2001 | Galatasaray v AC Milan | W | 2-0 | UEFA Champions League | Group B |
| 10 Mar 2001 | Galatasaray v Gençlerbirligi | W | 2-1 | Turkish First Division | 24 |
| 13 Mar 2001 | Paris St Germain v Galatasaray | L | 2-0 | UEFA Champions League | Group B |
| 03 Apr 2001 | Galatasaray v Real Madrid | W | 3-2 | UEFA Champions League | Quarter-final 1st leg |
| 08 Apr 2001 | Yozgatspor v Galatasaray | L | 4-2 | Turkish First Division | |
| 22 Apr 2001 | Caykur Rizespor v Galatasaray | W | 2-4 | Turkish First Division | 29 |
| 28 Apr 2001 | Galatasaray v Adanaspor | W | 4-1 | Turkish First Division | 30 |
| 06 May 2001 | Fenerbahçe v Galatasaray | L | 2-1 | Turkish First Division | 31 |
| 13 May 2001 | Galatasaray v Ankaragucu | L | 1-2 | Turkish First Division | 32 |
| 26 May 2001 | Galatasaray v Trabzonspor | W | 4-0 | Turkish First Division | 34 |
| 25 Jul 2001 | Galatasaray v Vllaznia Shkoder | D | 0-0 | UEFA Champions League | 2nd qualifying round 1st leg |
| 01 Aug 2001 | Vllaznia Shkoder v Galatasaray | D |
0-0 Agg: 0-0 |
UEFA Champions League | 2nd qualifying round 2nd leg |
| 08 Aug 2001 | Galatasaray v Levski Sofia | D | 0-0 | UEFA Champions League | 3rd qualifying round 1st leg |
Please note: Match history is complete for the Premier and Football Leagues and (in most cases all) internationals.
International stats
| Season | Team | Competition | Apps | Subs | Goals | Y | R |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1983-84 | Romania | Olympics | 1 | ||||
| 1985-86 | Romania | Under-21 | 1 | ||||
| 1986-87 | Romania | UEFA Under-21 | 3 | ||||
| 1986-87 | Romania | Under-21 | 2 | 1 |
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| 1987-88 | Romania | Olympics | 1 | 1 |
|||
| 1987-88 | Romania | OT | 3 | ||||
| 1987-88 | Romania | UEFA Under-21 | 2 | ||||
| 1987-88 | Romania | Under-21 | 1 | ||||
| 1988-89 | Romania | FIFA World Cup | 4 | 1 |
|||
| 1988-89 | Romania | International Friendly | 4 |
1
|
|||
| 1989-90 | Romania | FIFA World Cup | 6 | ||||
| 1989-90 | Romania | International Friendly | 8 | ||||
| 1990-91 | Romania | International Friendly | 2 | ||||
| 1990-91 | Romania | UEFA European Championship | 5 | ||||
| 1990-91 | Romania | Unofficial | 1 | ||||
| 1991-92 | Romania | FIFA World Cup | 2 | ||||
| 1991-92 | Romania | International Friendly | 1 | ||||
| 1991-92 | Romania | UEFA European Championship | 3 | ||||
| 1992-93 | Romania | FIFA World Cup | 2 | 1 |
|||
| 1993-94 | Romania | FIFA World Cup | 8 |
2
|
|||
| 1993-94 | Romania | International Friendly | 5 | ||||
| 1994-95 | Romania | International Friendly | 2 | ||||
| 1994-95 | Romania | UEFA European Championship | 6 | 1 |
|||
| 1995-96 | Romania | International Friendly | 2 | 2 |
|||
| 1995-96 | Romania | King`s Cup | 1 | 2 |
|||
| 1995-96 | Romania | UEFA European Championship | 6 | ||||
| 1996-97 | Romania | FIFA World Cup | 5 | 8 |
|||
| 1996-97 | Romania | International Friendly | 1 | ||||
| 1997-98 | Romania | FIFA World Cup | 6 | 1 |
2
|
||
| 1997-98 | Romania | International Friendly | 4 | 1 |
|||
| 1998-99 | Romania | International Friendly | 3 | ||||
| 1998-99 | Romania | UEFA European Championship | 6 | 1 |
1
|
||
| 1999-00 | Romania | International Friendly | 4 | ||||
| 1999-00 | Romania | UEFA European Championship | 6 | ||||
| 2001-02 | Romania | FIFA World Cup | 4 | 1 |
|||
| 2001-02 | Romania | International Friendly | 4 | ||||
| 2002-03 | Romania | International Friendly | 1 | ||||
| 2002-03 | Romania | UEFA European Championship | 4 |
1
|
Please note: Career stats are based on performances in the Premier and Football Leagues and (in most cases all) internationals.
International matches
| Date | Match | Result | Competition | Round | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18 Apr 1984 | Romania v Yugoslavia | W | 1-0 | Olympics | Group C |
| 03 Jun 1986 | Romania v Norway | D | 3-3 | U21 | |
| 20 Aug 1986 | Norway v Romania | L | 3-0 | U21 | |
| 12 Nov 1986 | Spain v Romania | L | 1-0 | UEFA U21 | Group 1 |
| 03 Mar 1987 | Turkey v Romania | L | 3-1 | U21 | |
| 24 Mar 1987 | Romania v Albania | W | 3-2 | UEFA U21 | Group 1 |
| 15 Apr 1987 | Czechoslovakia v Romania | W | 0-1 | U21 | |
| 28 Apr 1987 | Romania v Spain | L | 0-1 | UEFA U21 | Group 1 |
| 19 Aug 1987 | Romania v Bulgaria | D | 2-2 | OT | |
| 03 Sep 1987 | Romania v Denmark | L | 1-2 | Olympics | Europe group A |
| 06 Oct 1987 | Romania v Greece | W | 1-0 | U21 | |
| 27 Oct 1987 | Albania v Romania | W | 1-2 | UEFA U21 | Group 1 |
| 17 Nov 1987 | Austria v Romania | L | 2-1 | UEFA U21 | Group 1 |
| 28 Jan 1988 | Albania v Romania | L | 1-0 | OT | |
| 02 Feb 1988 | Albania v Romania | D | 0-0 | OT | |
| 31 May 1988 | West Germany v Romania | L | 3-0 | Olympics | Europe group A |
| 20 Sep 1988 | Romania v Albania | W | 3-0 | International Friendly | |
| 19 Oct 1988 | Bulgaria v Romania | W | 1-3 | FIFA World Cup | Group 1 |
| 02 Nov 1988 | Romania v Greece | W | 3-0 | FIFA World Cup | Group 1 |
| 23 Nov 1988 | Romania v Israel | W | 3-0 | International Friendly | |
| 29 Mar 1989 | Romania v Italy | W | 1-0 | International Friendly | |
| 12 Apr 1989 | Poland v Romania | L | 2-1 | International Friendly | |
| 26 Apr 1989 | Greece v Romania | D | 0-0 | FIFA World Cup | Group 1 |
| 17 May 1989 | Romania v Bulgaria | W | 1-0 | FIFA World Cup | Group 1 |
| 31 Aug 1989 | Portugal v Romania | D | 0-0 | International Friendly | |
| 05 Sep 1989 | Czechoslovakia v Romania | L | 2-0 | International Friendly | |
| 11 Oct 1989 | Denmark v Romania | L | 3-0 | FIFA World Cup | Group 1 |
| 15 Nov 1989 | Romania v Denmark | W | 3-1 | FIFA World Cup | Group 1 |
| 04 Feb 1990 | Algeria v Romania | D | 0-0 | International Friendly | |
| 28 Mar 1990 | Egypt v Romania | W | 1-3 | International Friendly | |
| 03 Apr 1990 | Switzerland v Romania | L | 2-1 | International Friendly | |
| 25 Apr 1990 | Israel v Romania | W | 1-4 | International Friendly | |
| 21 May 1990 | Romania v Egypt | W | 1-0 | International Friendly | |
| 26 May 1990 | Belgium v Romania | D | 2-2 | International Friendly | |
| 09 Jun 1990 | USSR v Romania | W | 0-2 | FIFA World Cup | Finals Group B |
| 14 Jun 1990 | Cameroon v Romania | L | 2-0 | FIFA World Cup | Finals Group B |
| 18 Jun 1990 | Argentina v Romania | D | 1-1 | FIFA World Cup | Finals Group B |
| 25 Jun 1990 | Republic of Ireland v Romania | L | 0-0 (4-5) | FIFA World Cup | Finals 2nd round |
| 12 Sep 1990 | Scotland v Romania | L | 2-1 | UEFA European Championship | Group 2 |
| 26 Sep 1990 | Romania v Poland | W | 2-1 | International Friendly | |
| 17 Oct 1990 | Romania v Bulgaria | L | 0-3 | UEFA European Championship | Group 2 |
| 05 Dec 1990 | Romania v San Marino | W | 6-0 | UEFA European Championship | Group 2 |
| 22 Dec 1990 | Croatia v Romania | L | 2-0 | UNOFFICIAL | |
| 27 Mar 1991 | San Marino v Romania | W | 1-3 | UEFA European Championship | Group 2 |
| 03 Apr 1991 | Switzerland v Romania | D | 0-0 | UEFA European Championship | Group 2 |
| 17 Apr 1991 | Spain v Romania | W | 0-2 | International Friendly | |
| 16 Oct 1991 | Romania v Scotland | W | 1-0 | UEFA European Championship | Group 2 |
| 13 Nov 1991 | Romania v Switzerland | W | 1-0 | UEFA European Championship | Group 2 |
| 20 Nov 1991 | Bulgaria v Romania | D | 1-1 | UEFA European Championship | Group 2 |
| 08 Apr 1992 | Romania v Latvia | W | 2-0 | International Friendly | |
| 06 May 1992 | Romania v Faroe Islands | W | 7-0 | FIFA World Cup | Group 4 |
| 20 May 1992 | Romania v Wales | W | 5-1 | FIFA World Cup | Group 4 |
| 29 Nov 1992 | Cyprus v Romania | W | 1-4 | FIFA World Cup | Group 4 |
| 02 Jun 1993 | Czechoslovakia (RCS) v Romania | L | 5-2 | FIFA World Cup | Group 4 |
| 08 Sep 1993 | Faroe Islands v Romania | W | 0-4 | FIFA World Cup | Group 4 |
| 13 Oct 1993 | Romania v Belgium | W | 2-1 | FIFA World Cup | Group 4 |
| 17 Nov 1993 | Wales v Romania | W | 1-2 | FIFA World Cup | Group 4 |
| 23 Mar 1994 | Northern Ireland v Romania | L | 2-0 | International Friendly | |
| 20 Apr 1994 | Romania v Bolivia | W | 3-0 | International Friendly | |
| 25 May 1994 | Romania v Nigeria | W | 2-0 | International Friendly | |
| 01 Jun 1994 | Romania v Slovenia | D | 0-0 | International Friendly | |
| 13 Jun 1994 | Romania v Sweden | D | 1-1 | International Friendly | |
| 18 Jun 1994 | Colombia v Romania | W | 1-3 | FIFA World Cup | Finals Group A |
| 22 Jun 1994 | Romania v Switzerland | L | 1-4 | FIFA World Cup | Finals Group A |
| 26 Jun 1994 | USA v Romania | W | 0-1 | FIFA World Cup | Finals Group A |
| 03 Jul 1994 | Romania v Argentina | W | 3-2 | FIFA World Cup | Finals 2nd round |
| 10 Jul 1994 | Sweden v Romania | L | 2-2 (4-5) | FIFA World Cup | Finals quarter-final final |
| 07 Sep 1994 | Romania v Azerbaijan | W | 3-0 | UEFA European Championship | Group 1 |
| 08 Oct 1994 | France v Romania | D | 0-0 | UEFA European Championship | Group 1 |
| 12 Oct 1994 | England v Romania | D | 1-1 | International Friendly | |
| 12 Nov 1994 | Romania v Slovakia | W | 3-2 | UEFA European Championship | Group 1 |
| 14 Dec 1994 | Israel v Romania | D | 1-1 | UEFA European Championship | Group 1 |
| 23 Dec 1994 | Argentina v Romania | L | 1-0 | International Friendly | |
| 29 Mar 1995 | Romania v Poland | W | 2-1 | UEFA European Championship | Group 1 |
| 26 Apr 1995 | Azerbaijan v Romania | W | 1-4 | UEFA European Championship | Group 1 |
| 06 Sep 1995 | Poland v Romania | D | 0-0 | UEFA European Championship | Group 1 |
| 11 Oct 1995 | Romania v France | L | 1-3 | UEFA European Championship | Group 1 |
| 15 Nov 1995 | Slovakia v Romania | W | 0-2 | UEFA European Championship | Group 1 |
| 16 Feb 1996 | Romania v Denmark | W | 2-1 | KINGS CUP | Final |
| 24 Apr 1996 | Romania v Georgia | W | 5-0 | International Friendly | |
| 01 Jun 1996 | Romania v Moldova | W | 3-1 | International Friendly | |
| 10 Jun 1996 | Romania v France | L | 0-1 | UEFA European Championship | Finals Group B |
| 13 Jun 1996 | Bulgaria v Romania | L | 1-0 | UEFA European Championship | Finals Group B |
| 18 Jun 1996 | Romania v Spain | L | 1-2 | UEFA European Championship | Finals Group B |
| 18 Sep 1996 | Romania v United Arab Emirates | L | 1-2 | International Friendly | |
| 09 Oct 1996 | Iceland v Romania | W | 0-4 | FIFA World Cup | Group 8 |
| 15 Dec 1996 | North Macedonia v Romania | W | 0-3 | FIFA World Cup | Group 8 |
| 29 Mar 1997 | Romania v Liechtenstein | W | 8-0 | FIFA World Cup | Group 8 |
| 02 Apr 1997 | Lithuania v Romania | W | 0-1 | FIFA World Cup | Group 8 |
| 30 Apr 1997 | Romania v Republic of Ireland | W | 1-0 | FIFA World Cup | Group 8 |
| 20 Aug 1997 | Romania v North Macedonia | W | 4-2 | FIFA World Cup | Group 8 |
| 10 Sep 1997 | Romania v Iceland | W | 4-0 | FIFA World Cup | Group 8 |
| 11 Oct 1997 | Republic of Ireland v Romania | D | 1-1 | FIFA World Cup | Group 8 |
| 19 Nov 1997 | Spain v Romania | D | 1-1 | International Friendly | |
| 18 Mar 1998 | Romania v Israel | L | 0-1 | International Friendly | |
| 03 Jun 1998 | Romania v Paraguay | W | 3-2 | International Friendly | |
| 06 Jun 1998 | Romania v Moldova | W | 5-1 | International Friendly | |
| 15 Jun 1998 | Romania v Colombia | W | 1-0 | FIFA World Cup | Finals group G |
| 22 Jun 1998 | Romania v England | W | 2-1 | FIFA World Cup | Finals group G |
| 26 Jun 1998 | Romania v Tunisia | D | 1-1 | FIFA World Cup | Finals group G |
| 30 Jun 1998 | Romania v Croatia | L | 0-1 | FIFA World Cup | Finals 2nd round |
| 19 Aug 1998 | Norway v Romania | D | 0-0 | International Friendly | |
| 02 Sep 1998 | Romania v Liechtenstein | W | 7-0 | UEFA European Championship | Group 7 |
| 05 Sep 1998 | Germany v Romania | D | 1-1 | International Friendly | |
| 10 Oct 1998 | Portugal v Romania | W | 0-1 | UEFA European Championship | Group 7 |
| 14 Oct 1998 | Hungary v Romania | D | 1-1 | UEFA European Championship | Group 7 |
| 03 Mar 1999 | Romania v Estonia | W | 2-0 | International Friendly | |
| 27 Mar 1999 | Romania v Slovakia | D | 0-0 | UEFA European Championship | Group 7 |
| 05 Jun 1999 | Romania v Hungary | W | 2-0 | UEFA European Championship | Group 7 |
| 09 Jun 1999 | Romania v Azerbaijan | W | 4-0 | UEFA European Championship | Group 7 |
| 18 Aug 1999 | Cyprus v Romania | D | 2-2 | International Friendly | |
| 04 Sep 1999 | Slovakia v Romania | W | 1-5 | UEFA European Championship | Group 7 |
| 08 Sep 1999 | Romania v Portugal | D | 1-1 | UEFA European Championship | Group 7 |
| 09 Oct 1999 | Liechtenstein v Romania | W | 0-3 | UEFA European Championship | Group 7 |
| 26 Apr 2000 | Romania v Cyprus | W | 2-0 | International Friendly | |
| 27 May 2000 | Netherlands v Romania | L | 2-1 | International Friendly | |
| 03 Jun 2000 | Romania v Greece | W | 2-1 | International Friendly | |
| 12 Jun 2000 | Germany v Romania | D | 1-1 | UEFA European Championship | Finals Group A |
| 17 Jun 2000 | Romania v Portugal | L | 0-1 | UEFA European Championship | Finals Group A |
| 20 Jun 2000 | England v Romania | W | 2-3 | UEFA European Championship | Finals Group A |
| 15 Aug 2001 | Slovenia v Romania | D | 2-2 | International Friendly | |
| 05 Sep 2001 | Hungary v Romania | W | 0-2 | FIFA World Cup | Europe group 8 |
| 06 Oct 2001 | Romania v Georgia | D | 1-1 | FIFA World Cup | Europe group 8 |
| 10 Nov 2001 | Slovenia v Romania | L | 2-1 | FIFA World Cup | Europe play-off |
| 14 Nov 2001 | Romania v Slovenia | D | 1-1 | FIFA World Cup | Europe play-off |
| 13 Feb 2002 | France v Romania | L | 2-1 | International Friendly | |
| 27 Mar 2002 | Romania v Ukraine | W | 4-1 | International Friendly | |
| 17 Apr 2002 | Poland v Romania | W | 1-2 | International Friendly | |
| 21 Aug 2002 | Romania v Greece | L | 0-1 | International Friendly | |
| 07 Sep 2002 | Bosnia and Herzegovina v Romania | W | 0-3 | UEFA European Championship | Group 2 |
| 12 Oct 2002 | Romania v Norway | L | 0-1 | UEFA European Championship | Group 2 |
| 16 Oct 2002 | Luxembourg v Romania | W | 0-7 | UEFA European Championship | Group 2 |
| 29 Mar 2003 | Romania v Denmark | L | 2-5 | UEFA European Championship | Group 2 |
Please note: Match history is complete for the Premier and Football Leagues and (in most cases all) internationals.