Quick Facts
Biography
Gabriel Cânu (born 18 January 1981) is a Romanian footballer who plays for Poli Timișoara. He is best known for his impressive height, powerful header and aerial game effective both defensively and in attack. He is also regarded for his leadership qualities, becoming captain for Timișoara, Vaslui and Ceahlăul Piatra Neamț.
Career
Born in Bucharest, Cânu came through the youth ranks of local Național București, going on to finish his sporting formation with the Divizia B teams Cimentul Fieni and FC Baia Mare.
Național
Aged 18, he made his debut in Național's first team on 2 June 1999, coming as a substitute in a 2-0 win against Petrolul Ploiești. It was his only appearance that season. After one season, with no matches, he was loaned two years in a row to Divizia B sides Cimentul Fieni and FC Baia Mare, to build up his first team experience. After he returned, he failed to establish himself in the first team squad.
Cânu made one appearance in the Romanian first league in 1997/1998, while at FC Național. In the 2000/2001 and 2001/2002 seasons he played in the Romanian second league, for Cimentul Fieni and FC Baia Mare respectively. He then returned to FC Național, playing 16 times in the Divizia A during the 2003/2004 season. Cânu joined Poli in the winter break of the 2004/2005 season, together with Național coach Cosmin Olăroiu and team mates Gabriel Caramarin, Gigel Coman and Marius Popa.
Statistics
| Club | Season | League | Cup | Europe | Total | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Progresul București | 2003–04 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 0 |
| 2004–05 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | |
| Total | 22 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 0 | |
| Politehnica Timișoara | 2004–05 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 0 |
| 2005–06 | 20 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 21 | 0 | |
| 2006–07 | 17 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 21 | 3 | |
| 2007–08 | 21 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 23 | 3 | |
| Total | 73 | 6 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 80 | 6 | |
| Vaslui | 2008–09 | 21 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 28 | 3 |
| 2009–10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
| 2010–11 | 23 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 24 | 4 | |
| 2011–12 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
| 2012–13 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
| Total | 46 | 6 | 5 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 58 | 7 | |
| Ceahlăul | 2013–14 | 26 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 26 | 2 |
| Total | 26 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 26 | 2 | |
| Poli Timișoara | 2014–15 | 20 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 21 | 3 |
| 2015–16 | 22 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 24 | 1 | |
| Total | 42 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 45 | 4 | |
| Career total | 209 | 17 | 15 | 1 | 7 | 1 | 231 | 19 | |
Statistics accurate as of match played 25 May 2016
Career honours
SC Vaslui
- UEFA Intertoto Cup
- Winner: 2008
| Sporting positions | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Sorin Frunză | FC Vaslui captain 2008–2009 | Succeeded by Bogdan Buhuș |