World's first goalkeeper to be caught offside, world record set by Rica Raducanu

September 6, 2025
World's first goalkeeper to be caught offside, world record set by Rica Raducanu

Bucharest, Romania--Răducan Necula, widely known as Rică Răducanu, also nicknamed Tamango, a retired Romanian football goalkeeper, was known for his great saves, but also for his big mistakes and for his joy of entertaining the public with his juggling abilities; in a game against Farul Constanța, he was signaled by the linesman to be out of the game, thus setting the world record for being the World's first goalkeeper to be caught offside, according to the WORLD RECORD ACADEMY.

World's first goalkeeper to be caught offside, world record set by Rica Raducanu

"It would be best if when it comes to the charts we didn't trumpet our own, the Romanians', first. So let's remember with honor the record of Rica Raducanu, the first goalkeeper caught offside," the jurnalul.ro says.


"It's true, the Guinness Book doesn't mention him, probably out of spite!"

World's first goalkeeper to be caught offside, world record set by Rica Raducanu

"Răducan Necula (born 10 May 1946), widely known as Rică Răducanu, is a retired Romanian football goalkeeper. Răducanu, nicknamed Tamango after the character played by Alex Cressan from the 1958 movie, Tamango was born on 18 May 1946 in Vlădeni, Ialomița, but grew up in the Giulești neighborhood from Bucharest.


"He started to play football in 1958 in the offence at Victoria MIBC București, later moving to Divizia C club, Flacăra Roșie București where coach Sandu Frățilă started using him as a goalkeeper, giving him his senior debut in a 1–0 victory from the 1963–64 Cupa României against Divizia A club, Progresul București in which he saved a penalty from Nicolae Oaidă.


"Răducanu was a goalkeeper known for his great saves, but also for his big mistakes and for his joy of entertaining the public with his juggling abilities, having a total of 329 games played with three goals scored in Divizia A, also having a total of 26 matches in which he scored one goal in European competitions (including three games in the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup).


"Years later after he retired, Răducanu described his style of play:"As a coach, I wouldn't really like to have someone like Rică. But I was encouraged by the stands from behind to do all kinds of tricks! The 'offside' thing happened in 1974, in a match I played with Rapid against Farul, on "23 August". We were fighting to avoid relegation and I had to do everything possible in order to not lose the match". (Wikipedia)

World's first goalkeeper to be caught offside, world record set by Rica Raducanu

"For representing his country at the 1970 World Cup, Răducanu was decorated by President of Romania on 25 March 2008 with the Ordinul "Meritul Sportiv" – (The Medal "The Sportive Merit") class III. In May 2008, mayor of Bucharest awarded Răducanu the Honorary Citizen of Bucharest title.


"Răducanu was well known for his charisma, being invited in numerous Romanian TV shows, also being an occasional film actor playing in the 1978 Totul pentru fotbal (Everything for football) directed by Andrei Blaier and in the 2008 Legiunea străină (The foreign legion) directed by Mircea Daneliuc, both comedy films." (Wikipedia)

World's first goalkeeper to be caught offside, world record set by Rica Raducanu

"Rică Răducanu is known for his efficient and, at the same time, extravagant style. Although he was a goalkeeper, Nea Rică also liked the attacking phases, which is why he sometimes ended up in the finishing position. This is how he scored the 7 goals of his career, while playing for Rapid," the Eurosport reports.


"Thanks to his unusual style, Nea Rică became the first Romanian goalkeeper to score in an official match. He also marked two firsts in the world football book: he became the first goalkeeper caught offside, as well as the first goalkeeper to enter the field from a reserve position, at a World Cup. Because, let's not forget, Rică Răducanu was in the Romanian team that, 50 years ago, qualified for the World Cup in Mexico. Nea Rică entered the field in the last match of the group, against Brazil, replacing Stere Adamache."

World's first goalkeeper to be caught offside, world record set by Rica Raducanu

"The first goalkeeper known to be caught offside was Romanian goalkeeper Rica Răducanu in a game against Farul Constanța during the 1973–74 season. While he was known for his goal-scoring abilities from penalties, this incident was the first recorded instance of a goalkeeper being offside. (AI Overview "first goalkeeper in the world caught offside").


"This occurred in the 1970s, during a time when goalkeepers were beginning to play a more active role outside their penalty box, sometimes acting as a "sweeper-keeper"


"His being caught offside marked the first recorded instance of such an event for a goalkeeper, highlighting the evolving nature of the game and the goalkeeper's role in it."

World's first goalkeeper to be caught offside, world record set by Rica Raducanu

"We were playing with Farul Constanța at the "23 August" stadium and I came to the corner. I was next to the goalkeeper and I headed the goal, but the referee said it was offside,"said Rica Raducanu for Eurosport.


"He could have let it go, that way we would have avoided relegation. I don't even know if it was offside."

"Otherwise, when it comes to offside, our country also has a prominent representative," the radiounirea.ro says.



"The former goalkeeper from Giulesti was the first goalkeeper caught offside. Later, the same thing happened with the Colombian Rene Higuita."

"Rică also went down in history as the first goalkeeper caught offside. It happened on June 16, 1974, in the penultimate round of the season in which the Chernivtsi were relegated. Rapid – FC Constanța 1-1, after the “sailors” had equalized through Turcu, the hosts attacked with all lines," the Rador New Agency reports.


"Including the goalkeeper, who at one point was signaled by the linesman to be out of the game. “I scored, but the referee whistled a foul in attack”, declared “Tamango” at one point."

Photos: World's first goalkeeper to be caught offside, world record set by Rica Raducanu 

(1) Facebook/FC Rapid 1923

(2) Sport Total

(3) Facebook/FC Rapid 1923

(4) Radio Romania Resita

(5) Centrul Rezidential Izvorul Tamaduirii

(6) targulcartii.ro

(7) Răducanu (center, back row) with Rapid București in 1965 / Photo: Paul Romosan/Wikipedia

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