Răducanu Necula

Who is Răducanu Necula?

Răducanu Necula, widely known as Rică Răducanu, is a retired Romanian football goalkeeper.

He was born in Vlădeni and debuted in Divizia A with Rapid Bucureşti in 1966. He remained with Rapid for ten seasons, winning the league title in 1967 and the cup title in 1972. This Rapid team starred players like Neagu, Lupescu, Dumitru and Coe. His style of goalkeeping, although effective, was extravagant and he was the first Romanian goalkeeper to score in an official match and the first to be caught offside. After his period in Rapid he won the Romanian Cup in 1979 with Steaua Bucureşti. Finally he finished his career playing for Autobuzul and Spartac in the lower leagues. After finishing his sporting career he went into business, running grocery shops under the trade name 'Merci Rica'.

Răducanu got 61 caps for the Romanian national team between 1967 and 1978. He represented his country at the 1970 FIFA World Cup, where he became the first goalkeeper to come in as a substitute on a World Cup match, replacing Stere Adamache against Brazil.