Gabriel Iancu

Gabriel Iancu
Iancu with Akhmat Grozny in 2021
Personal information
Full name Gabriel Cristian Iancu
Date of birth (1994-04-15) 15 April 1994 (age 30)
Place of birth Bucharest, Romania
Height 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)[1]
Position(s) Forward, attacking midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Farul Constanța
Number 10
Youth career
2001–2006 Steaua București
2006–2009 CSȘ Pajura
2009–2011 Gheorghe Hagi Academy
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2011–2012 Viitorul Constanța 30 (11)
2013–2016 Steaua București 54 (8)
2015–2016 → Karabükspor (loan) 4 (1)
2016–2017 Viitorul Constanța 24 (5)
2017–2018 Termalica Nieciecza 14 (2)
2018–2019 Voluntari 1 (0)
2019 Dunărea Călărași 12 (2)
2019–2021 Viitorul Constanța 37 (22)
2021–2023 Akhmat Grozny 12 (1)
2022 → Farul Constanța (loan) 11 (1)
2022–2023 → FC U Craiova (loan) 15 (2)
2023 → Hermannstadt (loan) 9 (1)
2023–2024 Hermannstadt 34 (5)
2024– Farul Constanța 13 (1)
International career‡
2010–2011 Romania U17 3 (2)
2012 Romania U19 3 (0)
2012–2014 Romania U21 8 (2)
2020 Romania 4 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 15 December 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 14 October 2020

Gabriel Cristian Iancu (Romanian pronunciation: [gabriˈel kristiˈan ˈjaŋku]; born 15 April 1994) is a Romanian professional footballer who plays as a forward or an attacking midfielder for Liga I club Farul Constanța.

Iancu began his senior career at Viitorul Constanța in 2011, and at age 18 returned to Steaua București where he was previously a junior. He won six trophies with the latter, but has since had multiple brief spells since leaving the capital in 2015. On his second stint at Viitorul, Iancu aided to a league title in the 2016–17 season, and on his third netted 18 times to become the top scorer of the 2019–20 Liga I. He has competed professionally in three countries apart from his own, namely Turkey, Poland and Russia.

Internationally, Iancu represented the Romania national team at several youth levels including the under-21 side, before going on to record his debut for the seniors in 2020.

Club career

Viitorul Constanța

Iancu made his senior debut for Viitorul Constanța on 1 September 2011, in a 2–0 Liga II home win over Callatis Mangalia. In March 2012, he and his Viitorul teammate Bogdan Țîru were on trial at Ajax,[2] and he was also linked with a move to Galatasaray.[3]

Iancu's first goal also came in a match against Callatis Mangalia, scoring the last of his team in a 5–1 away thrashing on 21 April 2012. By the end of the season which ended in promotion to the Liga I, he totalled five goals in twelve appearances.

Steaua București

Iancu continued his goalscoring run by netting six times from 18 games in the first half of the 2012–13 Liga I, which inspired a move to his former boyhood club FC Steaua București in the winter transfer window. The eventual champions acquired 70% of his economic rights for a rumoured €500,000 fee,[4][5] and his five-year contract included a €25 million buyout clause.[6]

On 30 July 2013, Iancu scored the goals of a 2–0 away victory over Georgian side Dinamo Tbilisi, facilitating Steaua's progression to the UEFA Champions League play-off round.[7] He played two matches in the group stage of the latter competition, as Steaua finished last behind Chelsea, Schalke 04 and Basel, respectively.

Loan to Karabükspor

Iancu did not impose himself at the Bucharest-based club and in the 2015–16 campaign was sent out on loan to Karabükspor in Turkey,[8] where he only scored once in four games.

Return to Viitorul Constanța

In the summer of 2016, Iancu rejoined Viitorul Constanța as a free agent. On 13 May 2017, he converted a penalty in a 1–0 defeat of CFR Cluj, which earned Viitorul its first national title.[9]

Termalica Nieciecza

In September 2017, Iancu joined Polish club Termalica Nieciecza on a two-year deal.[10] Two weeks later, he made his Ekstraklasa debut by coming on as a substitute and scoring the winner in a 2–1 victory against Lechia Gdańsk.[11]

Return to Romania

Iancu returned to Romania for the 2018–19 season, playing in quick succession for Voluntari and Dunărea Călărași before being once again re-signed by Viitorul Constanța in June 2019.[12] He managed to become top scorer of the 2019–20 Liga I by netting 18 goals from 28 appearances.[13]

Akhmat Grozny

Iancu earned a €500,000 transfer to Akhmat Grozny on 13 January 2021,[14] signing a three-and-a-half-year contract with the Russian Premier League club.[15]

Various loans

On 3 February 2022, Iancu returned for a third time to Viitorul, now renamed Farul Constanța, on loan for the remainder of the season.[16]

On 20 July 2022, Iancu signed for FC U Craiova after his loan at Farul expired.[17] On 13 February 2023, Iancu joined Hermannstadt until the end of the 2022–23 season.[18]

Hermannstadt

On 10 June 2023, Iancu returned to Hermannstadt on a permanent basis and signed a two-year contract.[19]

International career

On 7 September 2020, Iancu made his debut for the Romania national team by coming on for injured Ciprian Deac in the 40th minute of a 3–2 away win over Austria in the UEFA Nations League.[20]

Personal life

Iancu has been married since 2019, with the couple having one son who was born the following year.[21]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 18 December 2024[22]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup League Cup Continental Other[a] Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Viitorul Constanța 2011–12 Liga II 12 5 0 0 — — — 12 5
2012–13 Liga I 18 6 0 0 — — — 18 6
Total 30 11 0 0 — — — 30 11
Steaua București 2012–13 Liga I 10 2 0 0 — 0 0 — 10 2
2013–14 Liga I 19 2 2 0 — 8[b] 2 1 0 30 4
2014–15 Liga I 20 3 3 4 2 1 6[c] 1 1 0 32 9
2015–16 Liga I 5 1 0 0 0 0 3[d] 0 1 0 9 1
Total 54 8 5 4 2 1 17 3 3 0 81 16
Karabükspor (loan) 2015–16 TFF Second League 4 1 3 1 — — — 7 2
Viitorul Constanța 2016–17 Liga I 24 5 2 1 1 0 2[e] 0 0 0 29 6
Termalica Nieciecza 2017–18 Ekstraklasa 14 2 0 0 — — — 14 2
Voluntari 2018–19 Liga I 1 0 0 0 — — — 1 0
Dunărea Călărași 2018–19 Liga I 12 2 1 0 — — — 13 2
Viitorul Constanța 2019–20 Liga I 28 18 0 0 — 2[e] 2 1 0 31 20
2020–21 Liga I 9 4 1 0 — — — 10 4
Total 37 22 1 0 — 2 2 1 0 41 24
Akhmat Grozny 2020–21 Russian Premier League 6 0 1 0 — — — 7 0
2021–22 Russian Premier League 6 1 1 1 — — — 7 2
Total 12 1 2 1 — — — 14 2
Farul Constanța (loan) 2021–22 Liga I 11 1 — — — — 11 1
FC U Craiova (loan) 2022–23 Liga I 15 2 2 1 — — — 17 3
Hermannstadt (loan) 2022–23 Liga I 9 1 1 0 — — — 10 1
Hermannstadt 2023–24 Liga I 34 5 4 1 — — — 38 6
Total 43 6 5 1 — — — 48 7
Farul Constanța 2024–25 Liga I 13 1 3 0 — — — 16 1
Career total 270 62 24 9 3 1 21 5 4 0 322 77
  1. ^ All appearances in Supercupa României
  2. ^ Appearances in UEFA Champions League
  3. ^ Four appearances and one goal in UEFA Champions League, two appearances in UEFA Europa League
  4. ^ One appearance in UEFA Champions League, two appearances in UEFA Europa League
  5. ^ a b Appearances in UEFA Europa League

International

As of match played 14 October 2020[23]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
Romania
2020 4 0
Total 4 0

Honours

Steaua București[22]

Viitorul Constanța[22]

Individual

References

  1. ^ Gabriel Iancu at Russian Premier League
  2. ^ "Roemeense talenten op stage bij Ajax" [Romanian talents on a tryout at Ajax] (in Dutch). De Telegraaf. 23 March 2012. Archived from the original on 26 August 2014.
  3. ^ "Hagi'den G.Saray'a hediye futbolcu" [Gift football player from Hagi to Galatasaray] (in Turkish). Milliyet. 14 September 2012.[permanent dead link‍]
  4. ^ "Gabriel Iancu a fost prezentat oficial la Steaua" [Gabriel Iancu was officially prestented at Steaua] (in Romanian). Digi24. 23 December 2012. Archived from the original on 26 August 2014.
  5. ^ "Noua achizitie a Stelei ii umple de bani pe constanteni! Gabriel Iancu ar putea aduce 1,5 milioane euro in contul Viitorului" [Steaua's newest purchase brings a lot of money to the Constanța people! Gabriel Iancu could bring 1.5 million euros to Viitorul's bank account] (in Romanian). Sport Total FM. 14 December 2012. Archived from the original on 26 August 2014.
  6. ^ "Steaua i-a stabilit o clauză de reziliere uriașă lui Gabriel Iancu" [Steaua set up a huge buyout clause for Iancu] (in Romanian). B1 TV. 11 December 2012. Archived from the original on 13 December 2012.
  7. ^ "Tătăruşanu şi Iancu, eroii de la Tbilisi » Steaua e la un pas de play-off, după 2-0 cu Dinamo" [Tătărușanu and Iancu, the heroes of Tbilisi » Steaua is one step away from the play-off, after 2–0 against Dinamo]. Gazeta Sporturilor (in Romanian). 30 July 2013.
  8. ^ "OFICIAL Gabi Iancu a semnat cu Karabukspor" [OFFICIAL Gabi Iancu signed with Karabükspor] (in Romanian). Digi Sport. 31 August 2015. Retrieved 18 December 2021.
  9. ^ "Viitorul - CFR 1–0" (in Romanian). Digi Sport. 13 May 2017. Retrieved 16 December 2021.
  10. ^ "Gabriel Iancu zawodnikiem Bruk-Betu Termaliki" [Gabriel Iancu is a player of Bruk-Bet Termalica] (in Polish). Bruk-Bet Termalica Nieciecza. 1 September 2017. Archived from the original on 2 September 2017. Retrieved 2 September 2017.
  11. ^ "Ekstraklasa: Bruk-Bet Termalica 2–1 Lechia Gdańsk" (in Polish). Interia Sport. 23 September 2017. Retrieved 24 September 2017.
  12. ^ "Gabi Iancu la Viitorul. Atacantul a acceptat un salariu mic pentru a reveni sub comanda lui Gică Hagi. În 2017 a plecat cu scandal" [Gabi Iancu to Viitorul. The striker accepted a modest salary to return under the management of Gică Hagi. In 2017 he left with a scandal] (in Romanian). Fanatik.ro. 11 June 2019. Retrieved 18 December 2021.
  13. ^ a b "Secretul lui Gabi Iancu. Cum a devenit golgheterul campionatului" [Gabi Iancu's secret. How he became the league's top scorer] (in Romanian). Digi Sport. 18 August 2020. Retrieved 18 December 2021.
  14. ^ "Salariul pentru care Gabi Iancu a plecat de la Viitorul. Echipa lui Gică Hagi ia 500.000 de euro" [The salary Gabi Iancu left Viitorul for. Gică Hagi's teams receives 500,000 euros] (in Romanian). Digi Sport. 18 August 2020. Retrieved 18 December 2021.
  15. ^ "Габриэль Янку перешёл в "Ахмат"" [Gabriel Iancu moved to "Akhmat"] (in Russian). FC Akhmat Grozny. 13 January 2021. Archived from the original on 13 January 2021. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
  16. ^ "Bine ai (re)venit Gabriel Iancu !" [Welcome back (again) Gabriel Iancu!] (in Romanian). FCV Farul Constanța. 3 February 2022. Retrieved 3 February 2022.
  17. ^ "Gabriel Iancu a semnat cu FC U CRAIOVA 1948!" (in Romanian). 20 July 2022. Retrieved 20 July 2022.
  18. ^ "Bine ai venit la FCH, Gabi Iancu!" (in Romanian). FC Hermannstadt. 13 February 2023. Retrieved 13 February 2023.
  19. ^ "Gabi Iancu a semnat un contract valabil pentru următoarele două sezoane @ FCH!" (in Romanian). FC Hermannstadt. 10 June 2023.
  20. ^ "Austria - România 2-3, VIDEO+FOTO » România la MAXIM! Suntem lideri în grupa de Liga Națiunilor" [Austria - Romania 2–3, VIDEO + PHOTO » Romania at MAXIMUM! We are leaders in the Nations League group]. Gazeta Sporturilor (in Romanian). 7 September 2020. Archived from the original on 16 September 2021. Retrieved 19 December 2021.
  21. ^ "FOTO Ea l-a salvat! Mariajul cu Ioana și nașterea primului copil l-au transformat total pe Gabi Iancu, aflat la cel mai bun sezon din carieră" [PHOTO She saved him! The marriage with Ioana and the birth of the first child completely transformed Gabi Iancu, who is at the best season of his career]. Gazeta Sporturilor (in Romanian). 13 July 2020. Retrieved 19 December 2021.
  22. ^ a b c Gabriel Iancu at Soccerway. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
  23. ^ "Gabriel Iancu". European Football. Retrieved 9 September 2020.
  24. ^ "Buletin informativ - Nr. 17" [Newsletter - No. 17] (in Romanian). Liga Profesionistă de Fotbal. 7 August 2020. Retrieved 19 December 2021.
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