After starting out at his hometown side
Gaz Metan Mediaș, for which he amassed over 100 appearances in the Romanian top flight, Olaru transferred to FCSB in 2020. He immediately went on to win the
Cupa României in
his first season at the club, and claimed a national title in the
2023–24 campaign.
Olaru made his senior debut for
Gaz Metan Mediaș on 29 August 2015, appearing in a 2–1 away win over
UTA Arad in the
second division.[2] He amassed twelve games and scored two goals during the
campaign, as his hometown club returned to the
Liga I after only one year of absence.[3]
Olaru recorded his debut in the latter competition on 19 September 2016, in a 2–0 victory against defending champions
Astra Giurgiu. On 23 May 2017, he scored his first league goal from the
penalty spot in a 3–0 defeat of
Concordia Chiajna.[4]
FCSB
In early 2018, Olaru signed a
precontract with fellow Liga I side
FCSB, but the move initially fell through after a transfer fee could not be agreed upon.[5] In May the following year, the
capital-based reinstated its interest and signed him for an undisclosed sum, with the deal seeing him join up with the squad at the start of 2020.[6][7] FCSB reportedly outbid
CFR Cluj for the transfer of Olaru, where he was highly regarded by manager
Dan Petrescu.[8]
Olaru was officially unveiled as a FCSB player on 7 January 2020, and was assigned the
number 27 jersey.[9] He made his first appearance for the Roș-albaștrii in a 0–1 loss to CFR Cluj on 2 February, and four days later scored the opener in a 2–1 win over
Voluntari.[10] Following the conclusion of
his first full season at the club, during which he played 30 matches and netted seven times in the league, Olaru was named to the 2020–21 Liga I Team of the Season by the
Liga Profesionistă de Fotbal.[11]
In the
2023–24 campaign, Olaru aided with a career-best 15 goals in 36 league games, as FCSB won its first national title in nine years.[12]
Olaru's age also made him eligible for the
2021 edition of the competition, with head coach
Adrian Mutu choosing him in the starting eleven in all three
group fixtures of the final tournament. Romania finished with the same number of points as the
Netherlands and Germany, but could not progress to the knockout stage.[16]
Senior
Following Olaru's good display throughout the 2020–21 season, Mirel Rădoi—who was in the meantime promoted to the
senior national team—handed him his full debut on 2 June 2021, in a 1–2 friendly loss to
Georgia.[17] Olaru amassed six games in the
Euro 2024 qualifiers, entering mostly as a substitute as Romania finished its group in first place.[18]
Style of play
After being deployed as an offensive-minded
midfielder or a
winger in his beginnings, Olaru developed more into a
box-to-box midfielder following his transfer to FCSB.[19] Romanian manager
Ioan Sabău characterised him as "a player who is physically and mentally involved [in his team], both defends and attacks, also has
physical strength and appears earnest".[20] Naturally right-footed, Olaru is able to score goals with either foot due to his
ambidexterity.[21]
Personal life
Olaru's parents left Romania in order to work abroad and got
divorced at some point during his childhood, leaving him mainly in the care of his grandparents. He stated that he was an ardent supporter of
Dinamo București growing up.[22]
^"FCSB, campioana Superligii României!" [FCSB, champion of the Romanian Superliga!] (in Romanian). Liga Profesionistă de Fotbal. 28 April 2024. Retrieved 30 April 2023.