Nicușor Stanciu

Primarily an offensive-minded midfielder, Stanciu can also be deployed as a winger on both sides of the field, due to his ambidexterity. He is known for his playmaking skills, being described as having "good technique, a great shot, and vision of play." In the months following his national team debut, Romanian press drew comparisons between Stanciu and former internationals Gheorghe Hagi and Adrian Mutu, both of which were highly regarded by him.

Stanciu was selected in Romania's squad for the 2011 UEFA European Under-19 Championship. In the tournament opener, he featured the full 90 minutes against the Czech Republic, scoring in a 3–1 loss in an eventual group stage exit. Stanciu earned his first cap for the full side on 23 March 2016, playing the second half of a friendly with Lithuania and netting the game's only goal at the Stadionul Marin Anastasovici. On 17 May, he was picked by manager Anghel Iordănescu for his preliminary 28-man UEFA Euro 2016 squad, and eventually made it to the final list after scoring four goals in only five friendly games. He was awarded the number 10 shirt at the tournament in France, and started in the opener against the hosts, gaining a second-half penalty that was converted by Bogdan Stancu in an eventual 2–1 loss; his other appearance was against Albania (90 minutes), the 0–1 defeat leading to group phase elimination. On 4 September 2016, Stanciu assisted Adrian Popa as Romania scored their first goal of the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, in a 1–1 home draw to Montenegro where he also missed a late penalty. He made nine appearances and netted once, as the country finished fourth in the group phase. In June 2021, Stanciu was one of two Romanian players who refused to take the knee before a friendly match away to England. He said he was protesting against a ten-match ban given to his Slavia Prague teammate Ondřej Kúdela, who reportedly racially insulted Rangers' Glen Kamara; Stanciu…

Unirea Alba Iulia

Stanciu joined Unirea Alba Iulia's youth system at the age of 11. On 25 May 2008, aged just 15 years and 18 days, he made his senior debut for the team by coming off the bench in a 4–1 victory over Corvinul Hunedoara in the Liga II championship. He spent the vast majority of the 2008–09 season on the sidelines, after suffering a long-term injury. On 1 May 2010, 17-year-old Stanciu made his Liga I debut under manager Blaž Slišković, playing 20 minutes in a 2–1 home win over Steaua București. In June, he was on trial with German side VfB Stuttgart, but the economic discrepancies between the two clubs made the transaction collapse. On 20 March 2011, Stanciu scored his first goal for Unirea in a 3–0 success over Petrolul Ploiești, and he also wore the captain's armband in the closing stages of the match following Adrian Câmpeanu's substitution. His last goal came on 20 August with the side again in the second division, in the campaign opener against CSM Râmnicu Vâlcea. During his spell, other than VfB Stuttgart, he was tracked by various European clubs including Brescia, Celtic, and 1899 Hoffenheim.

Vaslui

On 9 September 2011, Liga I team Vaslui paid Stanciu's €200,000 release clause. Due to a transfer ban, "the Yellow-Greens" were initially unable to register the player and fellow league teams Dinamo București and Astra Ploiești tried to sign him. On 4 March 2012, on his competitive debut for Vaslui, Stanciu scored the 2–1 winner at Petrolul…

Stanciu was born in the village of Craiva from Cricău, Alba County. He was raised mainly by his grandmother, who died in 2007 when he was only 14 years old. He dedicated his first senior national team goal to her.