Ștefan Barbu

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Ștefan Barbu

|image = Ștefan_Barbu_1966_(cropped).jpg

| fullname =

| birth_date = {{birth date|df=y|1908|03|02}}

| birth_place = Arad, Austria-Hungary

| death_date = {{death date and age|df=y|1970|06|30|1908|03|02}}

| death_place = Arad, Romania

| currentclub =

| position = Striker

| youthyears1 = 1921 | youthyears2 = 1921–1927

| youthclubs1 = Olimpia Arad | youthclubs2 = Gloria Arad

| totalcaps = 77 | totalgoals = 47

| nationalyears1= 1927–1930

| nationalteam1= Romania

| nationalcaps1= 7 | nationalgoals1 = 0

| manageryears1=

| managerclubs1= Gloria Arad

| manageryears2=

| managerclubs2= CA Pecica

}}

Ștefan Barbu (2 March 1908 in Arad, Austria-Hungary (now Romania) – 30 June 1970 in Arad) was a Romanian football striker, who played at the 1930 FIFA World Cup in Uruguay.

Club career

Barbu was born on 2 March 1908 in Arad, Austria-Hungary (now Romania).{{RomanianSoccer|171/stefan-barbu-ii.htm}}{{cite web | url=https://www.independentaromana.ro/stefan-barbu-primul-fotbalist-aradean-golgheter-al-romaniei/| title=Ștefan Barbu primul fotbalist arădean, golgheter al României| publisher=Independentaromana.ro| language=Romanian |trans-title=Ștefan Barbu, the first footballer from Arad, top scorer of Romania| date=23 March 2024 | access-date=22 April 2025}} He started playing junior level football at local club, Olimpia in 1921, moving afterwards at neighboring club, Gloria. He started his senior career in 1927 at Gloria, moving a few years later back to Olimpia. In 1932, he made a comeback to Gloria where on 11 September he made his Divizia A debut in a 2–1 away victory against România Cluj.

In 1933, Barbu went at Rapid București where he won the first trophy of his career, the 1934–35 Cupa României, managing to score the victory goal in the 6–5 win in extra time against Ripensia Timișoara from the final.{{cite web | url=https://www.glsa.ro/de-pe-stadionul-care-si-traieste-ultimele-clipe-au-plecat-niste-titani-ai-unor-vremuri-apuse-amintirea-olimpiei-micalaca-partea-ii/ | title=De pe stadionul care-și trăiește ultimele clipe au plecat niște titani ai unor vremuri apuse! În amintirea Olimpiei Micălaca – partea a II-a| publisher=Glsa.ro| language=Romanian |trans-title=Some titans of bygone times have left the stadium that is living its last moments! In memory of Olimpia Micălaca - part II| date=7 January 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210917195241/https://www.glsa.ro/de-pe-stadionul-care-si-traieste-ultimele-clipe-au-plecat-niste-titani-ai-unor-vremuri-apuse-amintirea-olimpiei-micalaca-partea-ii/| access-date=22 April 2025| archive-date=17 September 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://www.romaniansoccer.ro/romanian_cup/1934_1935.shtml|title=1934–35 Cupa României |publisher=RomanianSoccer|access-date=22 April 2025}} In the following season he became the top-scorer of the league, netting 23 goals in 20 games.{{cite web |url=http://www.romaniansoccer.ro/menu_items/topscorers.shtml |title=Top Scorers |publisher=Romaniansoccer.ro |access-date=22 April 2025 |language=Romanian}}
{{cite web |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesr/roemtops.html |title=Romania - List of Topscorers |publisher=RSSSF |access-date=22 April 2025 |language=Romanian}} In the next two seasons he would win two more Cupa României with The Railwaymen but played in only one of the finals, the 5–1 over Ripensia from 1937.{{cite web|url=https://www.romaniansoccer.ro/romanian_cup/1936_1937.shtml|title=1936–37 Cupa României |publisher=RomanianSoccer|access-date=22 April 2025}}
{{cite web|url=https://www.romaniansoccer.ro/romanian_cup/1937_1938.shtml|title=1937–38 Cupa României |publisher=RomanianSoccer|access-date=22 April 2025}}

In 1938, he returned to Arad, firstly at Olimpia, then he went at Gloria where on 16 April 1939 he made his last Divizia A appearance in a 3–1 away loss to Unirea Tricolor București, having a total of 77 matches with 47 goals netted in the competition. Barbu ended his career after playing for Crișana Arad in the 1940–41 Divizia B season.

International career

Barbu played seven games for Romania, making his debut at age 19 on 19 June 1927 under coach Teofil Morariu in a friendly that ended with a 3–3 draw against Poland.{{cite web |url=https://eu-football.info/_player.php?id=1264 |title=Ștefan Barbu |publisher=EU Football.info |access-date=22 April 2025}}{{cite web|url=https://eu-football.info/_match.php?id=5214|title=Romania 3-3 Poland|publisher=EU Football.info|access-date=22 April 2025}} He was selected by coach Constantin Rădulescu to be part of the team's 1930 World Cup squad in which he played in both of Romania's games at the tournament, the 3–1 victory against Peru and the 4–0 loss against eventual tournament winners Uruguay.{{cite web | url=https://www.gsp.ro/international/cm-2010/romania-la-cm-1930-si-noi-am-fost-pe-conte-verde-192586.html | title=România la CM 1930 "Și noi am fost pe Conte Verde"| publisher=Gsp.ro| language=Romanian |trans-title=Romania at the World Cup 1930 "We were on Conte Verde too"| date=1 June 2010 | access-date=22 April 2025}} Barbu's last appearance for The Tricolours took part on 12 October 1930 in a 5–3 away loss to Bulgaria at the successful 1929–31 Balkan Cup in which he previously played in a 8–1 win over Greece.{{cite web|url=https://eu-football.info/_tournament.php?id=BlC-1|title=Balkan Cup 1929–31 |publisher=EU Football.info|access-date=22 April 2025}}

After retirement

After he ended his playing career, Barbu worked as a coach for a while at Gloria Arad and CA Pecica. Afterwards he was a referee for 15 years, arbitrating including in Romania's top-league, Divizia A.{{cite web|url=https://www.labtof.ro/profil/barbu-stefan-5532/|title=Ștefan Barbu referee profile|publisher=Labtof.ro|access-date=22 April 2025}} In his later life he worked as president of CFR Arad.