Stefan Radu, “the Boss”, is the player who has more appearances for Lazio than any other in the history of the club: 427.
Born in Bucharest on October 22 1986, he began to play football in the youth teams of Dinamo Bucharest. He worked his way up the ladder and made his professional debut at just 17. He became a regular first choice player for the team and helped them win a Romanian Cup, a Romanian Super Cup and a championship.
His long adventure with Lazio started in January 2008 and he was immediately thrown in the deep end in a game against Fiorentina in Coppa Italia.
The numbers for Stefan Radu speak for themselves: 427 appearances (349 in Serie A, 25 in Coppa Italia, 3 in Champions League, 46 in Europa League and four Super Coppa Finals), 8 goals (5 in Serie A, 2 in Coppa Italia and one in Europa League) and six trophies (Coppa Italia 2008-09, 2012-13 and 2018-19, Super Coppa 2009, 2017 and 2019).
Even though he prefers playing as a central defender, for Lazio he has been used mainly as left back. He can cross the ball very well, has a good header and a great shot (which he should try more often). His only fault, and that is probably why he has not played as central defender, is that he does lack those eyes in the back of the head that many good defenders have. He has become one of the more Laziali, the first player newcomers have to go to when they arrive at the club. He is the one that explains what Lazio is all about and that is why he is called the Boss.
He is rather shy and does not speak to the media much, but he is certainly not shy on the pitch or in the changing rooms.
He has played 14 times for his country, not a lot considering how important he could have been for the national team, but he had a number of disagreements with the selectors and in 2013 he decided he would be no longer available to play for Romania. Over the years there have been many attempts to try to get him back, but they have always failed to convince him.
In the last home game of the 2022-23 season, Radu retired. At the end of the match, Lazio’s 2013 players and the current squad stood in the centre of the pitch and Radu said goodbye to the fans.
“Lazio fans, thank you all for being present on this very important day for me. I have spent more than 15 years at your side. I say "by your side" because on the pitch, when I entered, I had the same soul as you: the soul of the Lazio fan. With this shirt I lived my life as a footballer, in this stadium I experienced unique moments, difficult days and immense joys, like all of you. Lazio are a family and this pitch is like home for me. I thank you because in victory but also in defeat, I never felt alone. On this journey we have always walked together. I am sure that my attachment to the Biancocelesti colours will never end. It will give me the strength to carry on in life with the same determination I've always had on the pitch. I sincerely thank President Lotito and the club because they allowed me to make this great dream come true: being able to say goodbye to football wearing this jersey. You took me in when I was little more than a boy. Here I grew up as a man and as a footballer. I thank my wife Alexandra and my sons Edoardo and Alessia, because I have never felt the absence of their support and their love. Thanks to all my teammates and technical staff over the years who allowed me to have an important role on the pitch and in the changing room. And this for me represents a great honour, even before being a great responsibility. When I wore the Biancoceleste jersey I did it with all my heart and passion. Now I know what it's like to be one of you. I know what it means to belong to the great Lazio family. And bonded with it forever. You can stop playing football but you can't stop being a Lazio fan! Thank you all, your Boss loves you”.
Thank you Stefan.
Lazio career
Season | Toal played (goals) | Serie A | Coppa Italia | Champions League | Europa League | Super Coppa |
Jan Jun 2008 | 13 | 11 | 2 | - | - | - |
2008-09 | 19 | 19 | - | - | - | - |
2009-10 | 36 | 28 | 2 | - | 6 | - |
2010-11 | 27 | 26 | 1 | - | - | - |
2011-12 | 26 | 21 | - | - | 5 | - |
2012-13 | 36 (3) | 23 (1) | 4 (1) | - | 9 (1) | - |
2013-14 | 32 (1) | 25 (1) | 1 | - | 5 | 1 |
2014-15 | 29 (1) | 24 | 5 (1) | - | - | - |
2015-16 | 25 | 13 | 2 | 1 | 8 | 1 |
2016-17 | 31 (2) | 29 (2) | 2 | - | - | - |
2017-18 | 41 | 31 | 3 | - | 6 | 1 |
2018-19 | 33 | 28 | 2 | - | 3 | - |
2019-20 | 31 (1) | 29 (1) | 1 | - | - | 1 |
2020-21 | 33 | 31 | - | 2 | - | - |
2021-22 | 12 | 10 | - | - | 2 | - |
2022-23 | 3 | 1 | - | - | 2 | - |
Total | 427 (8) | 349 (5) | 25 (2) | 3 | 46 (1) | 4 |
Source