Athlete of the Week on RRI – Footballer Nicolae Stanciu

Stanciu had a solid game for his club Anderlecht

Steliu Lambru, 06.12.2016, 13:30

Romanian midfielder Nicolae Stanciu has scored yet another goal for his club RSC Anderlecht, which grabbed a 3-1 away win against Kortrijk, in a fixture counting towards the 17th round of Belgium’s domestic championship. Stanciu opened on 29 minutes, got yellow-booked in minute 36 and was sent off in minute 59, due to a second booking. Another Romanian footballer currently playing for Anderlecht Alex Chipciu was on the pitch from minute 62 and got yellow-booked in minute 90. So far, Nicolae Stanciu has scored four goals in the domestic championship and two other in the Europa League, for his team. At the moment, Anderlecht are 3rd placed in the Belgian championship, with 31 points. Because of his excellent run in recent games, Radio Romania International has designated Nicolae Stanciu Athlete of the Week.

The young Romanian footballer was born on May 7, 1993, in the village of Cricau in central Romania’s Alba County. Nicolae Stanciu made his debut with Unirea Alba Iulia. He played his first Second League fixture when he was 15, against Corvinul Hunedoara, a game Unirea Alba Iulia won, 4-1. Stanciu made his League One debut at the age of 17, in a game against Steaua Bucharest on May 1st, 2010, a match Unirea Aba Iulia won, 2-1.

In June 2010, German team VfB Stuttgart transferred Stanciu for the sum of 500,000 Euros, but for one season Stanciu was on loan to the team he had been transferred from, Unirea Alba Iulia. In 2011 Stanciu was signed up by FC Vaslui and in 2013 he played for Steaua Bucharest. This year he was transferred to Anderlecht.

Nicolae Stanciu made his debut with Romania’s national squad on March 23rd, 2016, in a friendly game against Lithuania, and scored the only goal of the match. His first official game with the national squad was the opening match against France at the European Championship this year, when Romania sustained a 1-2 defeat. We recall the national squad’s only goal was scored by Bogdan Stancu through a penalty granted to Stanciu who was fouled by Patrice Evra.

(Translated by E. Nasta)