1. Early life and youth career
Răzvan Marin was born in Bucharest, Romania. He began playing football at the age of six with the local club Pro Luceafărul București. Seven years later, in 2009, he joined the academy of Viitorul Constanța, which is also known as the Gheorghe Hagi Football Academy. He was promoted to the top senior team in 2013, marking the start of his professional career.
2. Club career
Marin's professional club career began in his home country before moving to Belgium, the Netherlands, and eventually Italy, where he has played for multiple Serie A clubs.
2.1. Viitorul Constanța
Marin made his professional debut for Viitorul Constanța on 18 October 2013, in a Liga I away loss of 0-4 against Steaua București. His first league goal came on 15 March 2015, in a 2-1 away victory over CFR Cluj. By December 2016, at only 20 years old, the daily newspaper Gazeta Sporturilor announced that he finished third in the voting for the 2016 Romanian Footballer of the Year award, a testament to his rapid emergence as a talent in Romanian football. During his tenure at Viitorul Constanța, Marin accumulated a total of 85 competitive appearances, scoring ten goals.
2.2. Standard Liège
On 20 January 2017, Marin signed a four-and-a-half-year contract with Belgian club Standard Liège. Romanian press initially reported the transfer value at 2.40 M EUR, with Viitorul retaining an undisclosed interest in the capital gain of a potential future transfer. Just two days later, on 22 January, he made his first Belgian First Division A appearance, coming on as an 80th-minute substitute in a 0-3 loss to Club Brugge at the Stade Maurice Dufrasne.

Marin scored his first goal for Les Rouches on 8 April 2017, in a 2-2 league draw with Sint-Truiden. On 20 September, he scored once and also provided an assist in a 4-0 victory over Heist in the Belgian Cup. In December of the same year, he scored in league fixtures against Waasland-Beveren, Sint-Truiden, and Kortrijk. On 3 February 2018, Marin netted the final goal of a 3-0 success over Lokeren, only two minutes after replacing Gojko Cimirot. One month later, he assisted all of his team's goals in a 3-2 home win against Mechelen, a game where he also missed a late penalty. On 17 March, he started in the Belgian Cup Final, which Standard Liège won 1-0 against Genk.
Standard Liège faced league winner Club Brugge in the Belgian Super Cup on 22 July 2018, with Marin starting the match, but his team lost 1-2. He made his first European appearance for Standard Liège in the UEFA Champions League's third qualifying round 2-2 home draw with Dutch side Ajax on 7 August. Marin subsequently played all six matches in the group stage of the UEFA Europa League, where his team finished third behind Sevilla and FC Krasnodar. Marin's strong performances throughout 2018 earned him the Romanian Footballer of the Year award at the 2018 Gala Fotbalului Românesc on 3 December. On 21 December of that year, he finished second for the same trophy awarded by the Gazeta Sporturilor newspaper. Marin scored his first goal of 2019 on 3 February, in an eventual 2-1 victory against rivals Anderlecht.
2.3. Ajax
On 4 April 2019, it was announced that Ajax signed Marin on a five-year deal for a reported transfer fee of 12.50 M EUR, with the player scheduled to join the squad in the summer. At the time, this sum represented the third-highest transfer fee ever paid by the Dutch club. However, Marin faced challenges imposing himself during his time at Ajax.
2.4. Cagliari
On 31 August 2020, Marin joined Italian Serie A club Cagliari on loan with an obligation to buy. On 1 July 2021, the deal was made permanent, and Marin signed a contract that would keep him at the team until 2024. Cagliari paid 10.00 M EUR for the full transfer. In the first game of the 2021-22 season, he opened the scoring in an eventual 3-1 win in the Coppa Italia against Pisa on 15 August 2021.
2.5. Empoli
On 5 July 2022, Marin joined Empoli on a season-long loan with an option to buy. His contract was subsequently redeemed by Empoli on 29 June 2023 for 5.00 M EUR, making his transfer to the club permanent.
3. International career
Răzvan Marin has represented Romania at various youth levels before making his senior international debut. He played for the Romania U-17 team in 2013, earning 3 caps and scoring 1 goal. In 2014, he played for the U-19 squad, making 4 appearances and scoring 1 goal. From 2015 to 2017, he represented the U-21 team in 7 matches. He also appeared for the U-23 team from 2016 to 2017, earning 5 caps and scoring 1 goal.
In September 2016, at the age of 20, Marin was selected for the Romania senior squad for a 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Montenegro. On 8 October of the same year, he earned his first senior cap and scored a goal in a decisive 5-0 away victory over Armenia.
On 7 June 2024, Marin was named in Romania's squad for the UEFA Euro 2024. Ten days later, he scored a goal in a 3-0 win over Ukraine in the opening group match, contributing to his country's first victory in the competition in 24 years. On 26 June, Marin converted a penalty in a 1-1 draw with Slovakia, a result that secured Romania first place in its group. He started in all four of Romania's matches at the tournament, with the team eventually losing 0-3 to the Netherlands in the round of 16.
4. Style of play
Răzvan Marin is primarily deployed as either a central midfielder or a defensive midfielder. He also possesses the versatility and attributes to play in a more advanced position as an attacking midfielder. His characteristic playing style often involves strong defensive contributions, sharp passing, and the ability to contribute to offensive plays from deep positions.
5. Personal life
Răzvan Marin's father, Petre Marin, was also a professional Romanian international footballer. A full-back, Petre Marin played for notable clubs such as Steaua București and Național București during his career.
6. Honours
Răzvan Marin has achieved several team trophies and individual awards throughout his career.
Viitorul Constanța
- Liga I: 2016-17
Standard Liège
- Belgian Cup: 2017-18
- Belgian Super Cup runner-up: 2018
Ajax
- Johan Cruyff Shield: 2019
Individual
- Gazeta Sporturilor Romanian Footballer of the Year runner-up: 2018; third place: 2016; fifth place: 2021
- Gala Fotbalului Românesc Romanian Footballer of the Year: 2018
7. Career statistics
Răzvan Marin's comprehensive statistical data, including appearances and goals, is presented below, detailing his professional football career at both club and international levels.
7.1. Club
| Club | Season | League | National cup | League cup | Continental | Other | Total | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |||
| Viitorul Constanța | 2013-14 | Liga I | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - | - | 10 | 0 | ||||
| 2014-15 | 17 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | - | - | 21 | 1 | |||||
| 2015-16 | 28 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | - | - | 32 | 4 | |||||
| 2016-17 | 20 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | - | 22 | 4 | ||||
| Total | 75 | 8 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | - | 85 | 9 | ||||
| Standard Liège | 2016-17 | Belgian First Division A | 18 | 2 | - | - | - | - | 18 | 2 | |||||
| 2017-18 | 33 | 4 | 6 | 2 | - | - | - | 39 | 6 | ||||||
| 2018-19 | 38 | 10 | 0 | 0 | - | 8 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 47 | 10 | ||||
| Total | 89 | 16 | 6 | 2 | - | 8 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 104 | 18 | ||||
| Ajax | 2019-20 | Eredivisie | 10 | 0 | 2 | 0 | - | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 17 | 0 | ||
| Cagliari (loan) | 2020-21 | Serie A | 37 | 3 | 2 | 0 | - | - | - | 39 | 3 | ||||
| Cagliari | 2021-22 | Serie A | 36 | 0 | 1 | 1 | - | - | - | 37 | 1 | ||||
| Total Cagliari | 73 | 3 | 3 | 1 | - | - | - | 76 | 4 | ||||||
| Empoli (loan) | 2022-23 | Serie A | 33 | 2 | 1 | 0 | - | - | - | 34 | 2 | ||||
| Empoli | 2023-24 | Serie A | 30 | 0 | 1 | 0 | - | - | - | 31 | 0 | ||||
| 2024-25 | 23 | 3 | 2 | 0 | - | - | - | 25 | 3 | ||||||
| Total Empoli | 86 | 5 | 4 | 0 | - | - | - | 90 | 5 | ||||||
| Career total | 333 | 32 | 20 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 372 | 36 | |||
7.2. International
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Romania | 2016 | 4 | 1 |
| 2017 | 5 | 0 | |
| 2018 | 5 | 0 | |
| 2019 | 7 | 0 | |
| 2020 | 4 | 1 | |
| 2021 | 11 | 0 | |
| 2022 | 8 | 0 | |
| 2023 | 8 | 1 | |
| 2024 | 13 | 8 | |
| Total | 65 | 11 | |
Scores and results list Romania's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Marin goal.
| No. | Date | Venue | Cap | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 8 October 2016 | Vazgen Sargsyan, Yerevan, Armenia | 1 | ARM | 3-0 | 5-0 | 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 2 | 11 November 2020 | Stadionul Ilie Oană, Ploiești, Romania | 24 | BLR | 2-0 | 5-3 | Friendly |
| 3 | 15 October 2023 | Arena Națională, Bucharest, Romania | 50 | AND | 3-0 | 4-0 | UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying |
| 4 | 17 June 2024 | Allianz Arena, Munich, Germany | 56 | UKR | 2-0 | 3-0 | UEFA Euro 2024 |
| 5 | 26 June 2024 | Waldstadion, Frankfurt, Germany | 58 | SVK | 1-1 | 1-1 | UEFA Euro 2024 |
| 6 | 6 September 2024 | Fadil Vokrri Stadium, Pristina, Kosovo | 60 | KOS | 2-0 | 3-0 | 2024-25 UEFA Nations League C |
| 7 | 9 September 2024 | Steaua Stadium, Bucharest, Romania | 61 | LTU | 2-1 | 3-1 | 2024-25 UEFA Nations League C |
| 8 | 12 October 2024 | AEK Arena - Georgios Karapatakis, Larnaca, Cyprus | 62 | CYP | 2-0 | 3-0 | 2024-25 UEFA Nations League C |
| 9 | 15 October 2024 | Darius and Girėnas Stadium, Kaunas, Lithuania | 63 | LTU | 1-1 | 2-1 | 2024-25 UEFA Nations League C |
| 10 | 18 November 2024 | Arena Națională, Bucharest, Romania | 65 | CYP | 2-0 | 4-1 | 2024-25 UEFA Nations League C |
| 11 | 3-1 | ||||||