Octavian Popescu

Octavian Popescu (born 25 April 1938) is a Romanian former footballer and coach known in Germany and Turkey as Popi or Pope.

Popescu acquired his coaching license at the German Sport University of Cologne and also worked as a coach instructor for the DFB Academy in Germany. He is one of the founders of the IFTA International Footballtennis Association.

Career Born in Bucharest, Popescu started playing football for FC Rapid București. He joined Ştiinţa Cluj before moving to FC Dinamo București, where he won the league title twice with the club. He also played for CS Jiul Petroşani before returning to FC Rapid București in 1968.

Popescu next moved to Turkey to join Mersin İdmanyurdu SK.

Following the end of his playing career, Popescu managed several clubs in Romania and Turkey including Eskişehirspor, and the Romania Olympic team before he moved to West Germany, where he studied at the Sports Academy of Cologne which is now called the Hennes Weisweiler Academy. He was appointed manager of TSV 1860 München, Malatyaspor, and Offenburger FV in 1991.

In 2014, Popescu was among the candidates for the Romanian FA presidency.

Honours Player Dinamo București Divizia A (2): 1963–64, 1964–65 Cupa României: 1963–64