On 19.05.2025, among thousands of tears, Cristian Săpunaru played his last game on Giulești, for Rapid Bucharest. A bitter evening, in a 1-4 loss against a lamentable CFR Cluj team. A shame that Săpunaru’s colleagues didn’t fought at least this time, for the meaning of the event. But what is really the meaning of the event? Cristi, a man with a career filled with many “what if”s ended, at 41, his playing career, from a strong position. In spite of the disgraceful result I was mentioning. The retirement moment was the main reason for which I’ve attended the game. Because, at 37 years old, I realize more and more that this is what football, sports, is about: moments, feelings, emotions.
Cristian Săpunaru’s final emotions
To see Cristian Săpunaru retiring is a strong sensation, because it is very hard to imagine another player of such a magnitude playing for Rapid Bucharest anytime soon. I’ve witnessed the retirement of Daniel Niculae, of Daniel Pancu, now Săpunaru. These are privileges. The results don’t mater anymore to me. Because, to see Rapid in any league is equally the same. No pressure, no expectation. Just living in the present. At 0-3, Cristian Săpunaru left the pitch in tears. Many, many minutes he celebrated the moment with the fans. He climbed fences to sing along the ones from the middle of whom he came, more than 30 years ago. He locked fists, applause the chants, wept again and again. Nobody was that interested in the match anymore. For a moment, all the of us where dreaming again, as child.
Captain for the 100th anniversary and for the new stadium inauguration
Cristian Săpunaru lived that dream. The tiny kid, who supported Rapid Bucharest from his very first years, who debuted on 1st of December 2002 in the first league, at 18 years of age, arrived in Giulești in the summer of 2006. After two years, he left at FC Porto, won an European trophy, and then went to Spain. After a short spell at Rapid, in 2010, under a loan, he came back in 2015, to try and save the team from relegation. He couldn’t, but he did his best. After he left for Turkey, where he played several years. In 2021, he came back home. At 37 years. Now, for good. Three full seasons, two in the play-off. He captained the team while celebrating the centenary in 2023, while inaugurating the new stadium, in 2022. Events more important than any trophy he couldn’t win even in 2025, when Rapid was put out from the Cup’s semifinals.
The national team, a debatable chapter for Cristian Săpunaru
In the last season, Cristian Săpunaru, already 40 years of age, could not keep it up. His shape was deteriorating, time passing doesn’t forgive anybody… Only eight matches played at the beginning of the season, and the ninth and, most likely, the final one, for the man who captained the national football team. A football team for which he played only 36 games, because his strong character forbid him to reach at least 100 games, even if he deserved that. Săpunaru didn’t play a single game between 2011 and 2015. After 2019 he left the team again. This time definitive. At 35 years of age, Cristi could have played at least two-three more years. It would have been complicated.
19.05.2025, the date to remember
With the emblem of Rapid Bucharest on his right arm, while playing for FC Porto, Cristian Săpunaru left the pitch for the last time on 19.05.2025, from the stadium he dreamt at when he had a few years old. After 643 senior games and 45 goals, the little boy passed the exam of his footballing life. His career is fulfilled, and he regrets nothing. Should he regret anything, maybe? Seems not, because he stated so. For me, this evening will remain one to remember, thru its shape and meaning. The result doesn’t mater. The story of the boy from Cotroceni, who could live his dream will remain a charming story forever, at world football level.
Photo: fanatik.ro