Constantin Năsturescu

Constantin Năsturescu (2 October 1940 – 10 December 2021) was a Romanian professional footballer who played as a midfielder.

Constantin Năsturescu

Personal information
Date of birth	(1940-10-02)2 October 1940
Place of birth	Giurgiu, Romania
Date of death	10 December 2021(2021-12-10) (aged 81)
Height	1.67 m (5 ft 6 in)
Position(s)	Midfielder
Youth career
1952	Dunărea Giurgiu
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1960–1961	CFR Roșiori
1962–1974	Rapid București	288	(25)
1974–1975	Progresul Brăila
1975–1976	Unirea Focșani
International career
1964–1969	Romania^[a]	6	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Club career

Constantin Năsturescu, nicknamed Bebe was born on 2 October 1940 in Giurgiu, Romania and started to play junior level football in 1952 at local club Dunărea, starting his senior career in 1961 at CFR Roșiori in Divizia B.^{[3][4][5][6][7][8]} He was transferred at Rapid București where on 8 April 1962 he made his Divizia A debut under coach Ion Mihăilescu in a 3–1 away loss against Steagul Roșu Brașov.^{[3][4][5][6][9]} He spent 13 seasons at Rapid in which he helped the club win the 1966–67 Divizia A which was the first title in the club's history, being used by coach Valentin Stănescu in 25 matches in which he scored three goals.^{[3][4][5][6][7][8][10]} In the following season he played four games in the 1967–68 European Cup, helping The Railwaymen eliminate Trakia Plovdiv and advance to the following round where they were eliminated by Juventus.^[3][11] He also won the 1971–72 Cupa României, and two Balkans Cup in 1964 and 1966.^[3][4][12] Năsturescu played a total of 20 games and scored two goals in European competitions (including four games and two goals in the Inter-cities Fairs Cup), taking part in the 1971–72 UEFA Cup campaign, playing all six games as Rapid reached the eight-finals, eliminating Napoli and Legia Warsaw, being eliminated by the team who would eventually win the competition, Tottenham and took part in the 1972–73 European Cup Winners' Cup campaign, playing all six games, helping the team reach the quarter-finals, eliminating Landskrona BoIS against whom he scored a goal and Rapid Wien, being eliminated by Leeds United who reached the final.^{[3][13][14][15][16][17]} He made his last Divizia A appearance on 19 June 1974 in a 1–0 away loss against Politehnica Iași, having a total of 288 appearances and 25 goals scored in the competition, all for Rapid, retiring after playing two more seasons at Progresul Brăila and Unirea Focșani in Divizia B.^[3][4][5][6] Constantin Năsturescu died on 10 December 2021 at age 81.^{[3][4][5][6][7][8]}

International career

Constantin Năsturescu played three matches for Romania, making his debut under coach Bazil Marian on 4 January 1967 in a 1–1 friendly against Uruguay, which took place in Montevideo on Estadio Gran Parque Central.^[18][19] His following games were also friendlies, a 0–0 against Poland and a 1–0 loss against France.^[18] He also played three games for Romania's Olympic team.^[20]

Honours

Rapid București

• Divizia A: 1966–67^[2]
• Cupa României: 1971–72^[2]
• Balkans Cup: 1963–64, 1964–66^[4]

Notes

1. Including three appearances for Romania's Olympic team^[1][2]

References

1. "Constantin Năsturescu". European Football. Retrieved 26 January 2020.
2. Constantin Năsturescu at National-Football-Teams.com
3. Constantin Năsturescu at RomanianSoccer.ro (in Romanian)
4. "Rapidistul care a jucat cele mai multe derby-uri cu Dinamo: Supraviețuitorul!" [The Rapid player who played the most derbies with Dinamo: The survivor!] (in Romanian). Prosport.ro. 9 March 2011. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
5. "Veste tristă anunțată de Rapid: a murit Constantin "Bebe" Năsturescu" [Sad news announced by Rapid: Constantin "Bebe" Năsturescu died] (in Romanian). Gsp.ro. 11 December 2021. Retrieved 12 December 2021.
6. "Constantin Bebe Năsturescu a murit la 81 de ani. A fost unul dintre cei mai importanți jucători din istoria Rapidului" [Constantin Bebe Năsturescu died at the age of 81. He was one of the most important players in the history of Rapid] (in Romanian). Fanatik.ro. 11 December 2021. Retrieved 12 December 2021.
7. "Rapidiștii, loviți de o adevărată tragedie: "Victoria o dedicăm memoriei fostului nostru mare jucător!"" [Rapid, hit by a real tragedy: "We dedicate the victory to the memory of our former great player!"] (in Romanian). Prosport.ro. 11 December 2021. Retrieved 12 December 2021.
8. "Doliu în Giulești! A murit Constantin "Bebe" Năsturescu, membru în echipa care a adus primul campionat la Rapid" [Mourning in Giulesti! Constantin "Bebe" Năsturescu, a member of the team that brought the first championship to Rapid, died] (in Romanian). Digisport.ro. 11 December 2021. Retrieved 13 October 2022.
9. "Steagul Roșu Brașov vs. Rapid Bucuresti Liga1 1961–1962". Labtof. Retrieved 13 October 2022.
10. "Romania National Champions". RomanianSoccer. Retrieved 13 October 2022.
11. "Constantin Năsturescu Champions League 1967/1968". WorldFootball. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
12. "Romanian Cup – Season 1971–1972". RomanianSoccer. Retrieved 13 October 2022.
13. "49 de ani de când Rapid mătura pe jos cu Zoff și cu Altafini. Boc: "Așa ne-am câștigat dreptul să vedem un film aproape porno la Varșovia!"!" [49 years since Rapid swept on foot with Zoff and Altafini. Boc: "This is how we earned the right to see an almost pornographic film in Warsaw!"] (in Romanian). Gsp.ro. 30 September 2020. Retrieved 13 October 2022.
14. "Acum o jumătate de veac, Rapid elimina pe Napoli" [Half a century ago, Rapid eliminated Napoli]. Wesport.ro. 30 September 2021. Retrieved 13 October 2022.
15. "Leeds United – Rapid 5-0 (7 martie 1973 – sferturi Cupa Cupelor)" [Leeds United – Rapid 5-0 (March 7, 1973 – Cup Winners' Cup quarter-finals)]. Tikitaka.ro. Retrieved 13 October 2022.
16. "Constantin Năsturescu - Europa League 1971/1972". WorldFootball. Retrieved 13 October 2022.
17. "Constantin Năsturescu - Cup Winners Cup 1972/1973". WorldFootball. Retrieved 13 October 2022.
18. "Constantin Năsturescu". European Football. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
19. "Uruguay - Romania 1:1". European Football. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
20. "Constantin Năsturescu profile". 11v11. Retrieved 1 July 2021.