Mihai Popa

Mihai Popa
	Popa with Torino in 2023
Personal information
Full name	Mihai Maximilian Popa
Date of birth	12 October 2000 (age 24)
Place of birth	Constanța, Romania
Height	1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)
Position(s)	Goalkeeper
Team information
Current team	CFR Cluj; (on loan from Torino)
Number	21
Youth career
2007–2009	Farul Constanța
2009–2018	Gheorghe Hagi Academy
Senior career*
Years	Team
2018–2019	Viitorul Constanța
2018–2019	→ Farul Constanța (loan)
2019–2021	Astra Giurgiu
2020	→ Rapid București (loan)
2021–2023	Voluntari
2023–	Torino
2024–	→ CFR Cluj (loan)
International career‡
2021–2023	Romania U21
2021	Romania Olympic
	*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 25 October 2024; ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 21 June 2023

Mihai Maximilian Popa (Romanian pronunciation: [miˈhaj ˈpopa]; born 12 October 2000) is a Romanian professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Liga I club CFR Cluj, on loan from Serie A club Torino.

Club career

Early career / Farul Constanța

Popa started practising youth football with his hometown club Farul Constanța at age seven, and two years later moved to the nearby Gheorghe Hagi Academy.^[1] He returned to his former side in 2018, going on to make his senior debut in a 1–0 Liga II win over Viitorul Târgu Jiu on 30 September.

Astra Giurgiu

Popa joined Liga I team Astra Giurgiu in the summer of 2019, but did not feature in any matches during his first year in the top flight. On 14 February 2020, he was loaned out to Liga II side Rapid București for the remainder of the season.^[1]

On 11 July 2020, in a league derby against Petrolul Ploiești, Popa was given two yellow cards and sent off for stepping out of the goal-line twice during a penalty kick; Petrolul missed the subsequent third shot and the game finished goalless.^[2]

On 14 November 2020, upon his return to Giurgiu, Popa registered his Liga I debut by starting in a 1–1 draw at Dinamo București.^[3] On 22 May 2022, he played the full match as Astra lost 2–3 after extra time to Universitatea Craiova in the Cupa României final.^[4] He appeared in 15 games all competitions comprised during the 2020–21 campaign, which ended in relegation for "the Black Devils".

Voluntari

On 11 August 2021, Popa was transferred to Voluntari for an undisclosed fee,^[5] with Astra Giurgiu reportedly retaining 50% participation rights in a co-ownership deal.^[6] On 19 May 2022, he was again runner-up in his second successive Cupa României final after a 1–2 loss to Sepsi OSK.^[7]

Three days after the final, the Gazeta Sporturilor daily wrote that five-time defending champions CFR Cluj made a €300,000 offer to sign Popa,^[6] but on 17 June 2022 the Voluntari Board of Directors decided that he would not be sold for less than €1 million.^[8]

In the 2022–23 season, Popa kept 13 clean sheets, the most in the national league tied with Mihai Aioani.

Torino

On 8 June 2023, Italian club Torino confirmed the signing of Popa for an undisclosed period.^[9]

On 4 August 2024, after failing to record his official debut for Torino, Popa returned to his home country on a one-year loan at CFR Cluj.^[10] He made his club and European debut on 22 August, in a 1–0 home win over Pafos in the UEFA Conference League play-off round.^[11]

International career

In June 2021, Popa was part of the Romania squad for the postponed 2020 Summer Olympics.^[12] Two years later, he was selected by Romania under-21 for the 2023 UEFA European Championship.^[13]

Personal life

Popa's paternal grandfather, Gheorghe, was also a professional footballer.^[14] He too played as a goalkeeper for Farul Constanța, between 1969 and 1977.

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 25 October 2024^[15]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club	Season	League			National Cup		Continental		Other		Total
Club	Season	Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Farul Constanța (loan)	2018–19	Liga II	13	0	0	0	—		—		13	0
Astra Giurgiu	2019–20	Liga I	0	0	0	0	—		—		0	0
	2020–21	Liga I	13	0	2	0	—		—		15	0
	2021–22	Liga II	1	0	0	0	—		—		1	0
	Total		14	0	2	0	—		—		16	0
Rapid București (loan)	2019–20	Liga II	7	0	0	0	—		—		7	0
Voluntari	2021–22	Liga I	35	0	4	0	—		—		39	0
	2022–23	Liga I	37	0	0	0	—		1^[a]	0	38	0
	Total		72	0	4	0	—		1	0	77	0
Torino	2023–24	Serie A	0	0	0	0	—		—		0	0
CFR Cluj (loan)	2024–25	Liga I	8	0	0	0	2	0	—		10	0
Career total			112	0	6	0	2	0	1	0	121	0

^ Appearance in Liga I European play-offs

Honours

Astra Giurgiu^[15]

Cupa României runner-up: 2020–21

Voluntari^[15]

Cupa României runner-up: 2021–22

Individual

Liga I Team of the Season: 2021–22^[16]
Liga I Most Cleansheets: 2022–23 (shared with Mihai Aioani)

References

^ ^a ^b "Rapid a semnat cu Mihai Popa" [Rapid signed Mihai Popa] (in Romanian). FC Rapid București. 14 February 2020. Retrieved 23 May 2022.
^ "VIDEO Momente ireale în Petrolul - Rapid. De la "nici dacă ești blat, nu intri așa" la un penalty ratat de trei ori" [VIDEO Unreal moments in Petrolul - Rapid. From "even if you're a match fixer, you don't foul like that" to a penalty missed three times] (in Romanian). Digi Sport. 11 July 2020. Retrieved 23 May 2022.
^ "Astra va miza cu Dinamo pe Mihai Popa, portarul implicat în faza anului din fotbalul românesc!" [Astra will count with Dinamo on Mihai Popa, the goalkeeper involved in the stage of the year in Romanian football!] (in Romanian). Digi Sport. 12 November 2020.
^ "CS Universitatea Craiova câștigă a doua Cupă a României în ultimii 3 ani, după o finală epică împotriva retrogradatei Astra" [CS Universitatea Craiova wins the second Romanian Cup in the last 3 years, after an epic final against relegated Astra]. Gazeta Sporturilor (in Romanian). 22 May 2021. Retrieved 23 May 2022.
^ "Lovitură dată de FC Voluntari. Ilfovenii l-au transferat pe portarul Mihai Popa" [A hit for FC Voluntari. The Ilfov team transferred goalkeeper Mihai Popa] (in Romanian). Look Sport. 11 August 2021. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
^ ^a ^b "CFR Cluj a ofertat un internațional de tineret din play-off! Suma pusă pe masă" [CFR Cluj made an offer for a youth international participating in the play-offs! The amount it put on the table]. Gazeta Sporturilor (in Romanian). 22 May 2022. Retrieved 23 May 2022.
^ "FOTO Finala Cupei României: Sepsi – FC Voluntari 2-1! Ștefănescu aduce Cupa la Sfântu Gheorghe!" [PHOTO Romanian Cup Final: Sepsi - FC Voluntari 2–1! Ștefănescu brings the Cup to Sfântu Gheorghe!] (in Romanian). Romanian Football Federation. 19 May 2022. Retrieved 23 May 2022.
^ "Lovitură pentru campioana CFR Cluj: "Conducerea societății trebuie să obțină minimum un milion de euro pentru jucător"" [Blow for the champion CFR Cluj: "The directors of the firm must obtain at least one million euros for the player"]. Gazeta Sporturilor (in Romanian). 17 June 2022. Retrieved 19 June 2022.
^ "Popa al Toro" (in Italian). Torino F.C. 8 June 2023. Retrieved 8 June 2023.
^ "Bine ai venit, Mihai Popa!" [Welcome, Mihai Popa!] (in Romanian). CFR Cluj. 14 August 2024. Retrieved 14 August 2024.
^ "CFR Cluj - Pafos 1–0". UEFA.com. 22 August 2024. Retrieved 25 August 2024.
^ "Lotul României U23 convocat pentru Jocurile Olimpice de la Tokyo" [Romania U23's squad called up for the Olympic Games in Tokyo]. Romanian Football Federation. 29 June 2021. Retrieved 23 May 2022.
^ "U21 la EURO 2023 | VIDEO: Ei sunt ROMÂNIA U21 pentru Campionatul European!" [U21 at EURO 2023 | VIDEO: They are ROMANIA U21 for the European Championship!] (in Romanian). Romanian Football Federation. 15 June 2023. Retrieved 15 June 2023.
^ "Gheorghe Popa a lăsat poarta pe mâini bune. Cele ale nepoților săi - Mihai și "Bagheera"" [Gheorghe Popa left the goal in good hands. Those of his grandchildren — Mihai and "Bagheera"] (in Romanian). Ziua de Constanța. 10 June 2021. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
^ ^a ^b ^c Mihai Popa at Soccerway. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
^ "LPF a anunțat echipa ideală a sezonului de Liga 1. FCSB și CFR Cluj, reprezentate de câte 3 jucători" [LPF announced the ideal team of the League 1 season. FCSB and CFR Cluj, represented by 3 players each]. Gazeta Sporturilor (in Romanian). 3 June 2022. Retrieved 3 June 2022.

External links

Mihai Popa at RomanianSoccer.ro (in Romanian)
Mihai Popa at Liga Profesionistă de Fotbal (in Romanian)

[16] Appearance in Liga I European play-offs

[rapid_transfer-1] "Rapid a semnat cu Mihai Popa" [Rapid signed Mihai Popa] (in Romanian). FC Rapid București. 14 February 2020. Retrieved 23 May 2022.

[2] "VIDEO Momente ireale în Petrolul - Rapid. De la "nici dacă ești blat, nu intri așa" la un penalty ratat de trei ori" [VIDEO Unreal moments in Petrolul - Rapid. From "even if you're a match fixer, you don't foul like that" to a penalty missed three times] (in Romanian). Digi Sport. 11 July 2020. Retrieved 23 May 2022.

[3] "Astra va miza cu Dinamo pe Mihai Popa, portarul implicat în faza anului din fotbalul românesc!" [Astra will count with Dinamo on Mihai Popa, the goalkeeper involved in the stage of the year in Romanian football!] (in Romanian). Digi Sport. 12 November 2020.

[4] "CS Universitatea Craiova câștigă a doua Cupă a României în ultimii 3 ani, după o finală epică împotriva retrogradatei Astra" [CS Universitatea Craiova wins the second Romanian Cup in the last 3 years, after an epic final against relegated Astra]. Gazeta Sporturilor (in Romanian). 22 May 2021. Retrieved 23 May 2022.

[5] "Lovitură dată de FC Voluntari. Ilfovenii l-au transferat pe portarul Mihai Popa" [A hit for FC Voluntari. The Ilfov team transferred goalkeeper Mihai Popa] (in Romanian). Look Sport. 11 August 2021. Retrieved 22 May 2022.

[cfr_offer-6] "CFR Cluj a ofertat un internațional de tineret din play-off! Suma pusă pe masă" [CFR Cluj made an offer for a youth international participating in the play-offs! The amount it put on the table]. Gazeta Sporturilor (in Romanian). 22 May 2022. Retrieved 23 May 2022.

[7] "FOTO Finala Cupei României: Sepsi – FC Voluntari 2-1! Ștefănescu aduce Cupa la Sfântu Gheorghe!" [PHOTO Romanian Cup Final: Sepsi - FC Voluntari 2–1! Ștefănescu brings the Cup to Sfântu Gheorghe!] (in Romanian). Romanian Football Federation. 19 May 2022. Retrieved 23 May 2022.

[8] "Lovitură pentru campioana CFR Cluj: "Conducerea societății trebuie să obțină minimum un milion de euro pentru jucător"" [Blow for the champion CFR Cluj: "The directors of the firm must obtain at least one million euros for the player"]. Gazeta Sporturilor (in Romanian). 17 June 2022. Retrieved 19 June 2022.

[9] "Popa al Toro" (in Italian). Torino F.C. 8 June 2023. Retrieved 8 June 2023.

[10] "Bine ai venit, Mihai Popa!" [Welcome, Mihai Popa!] (in Romanian). CFR Cluj. 14 August 2024. Retrieved 14 August 2024.

[11] "CFR Cluj - Pafos 1–0". UEFA.com. 22 August 2024. Retrieved 25 August 2024.

[12] "Lotul României U23 convocat pentru Jocurile Olimpice de la Tokyo" [Romania U23's squad called up for the Olympic Games in Tokyo]. Romanian Football Federation. 29 June 2021. Retrieved 23 May 2022.

[13] "U21 la EURO 2023 | VIDEO: Ei sunt ROMÂNIA U21 pentru Campionatul European!" [U21 at EURO 2023 | VIDEO: They are ROMANIA U21 for the European Championship!] (in Romanian). Romanian Football Federation. 15 June 2023. Retrieved 15 June 2023.

[14] "Gheorghe Popa a lăsat poarta pe mâini bune. Cele ale nepoților săi - Mihai și "Bagheera"" [Gheorghe Popa left the goal in good hands. Those of his grandchildren — Mihai and "Bagheera"] (in Romanian). Ziua de Constanța. 10 June 2021. Retrieved 22 May 2022.

[SW-15] Mihai Popa at Soccerway. Retrieved 22 May 2022.

[17] "LPF a anunțat echipa ideală a sezonului de Liga 1. FCSB și CFR Cluj, reprezentate de câte 3 jucători" [LPF announced the ideal team of the League 1 season. FCSB and CFR Cluj, represented by 3 players each]. Gazeta Sporturilor (in Romanian). 3 June 2022. Retrieved 3 June 2022.

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