Career
He played as a striker. His last contract was with Liga II team UTA Arad. On 2001 Jiul bought Badea for €1,000 from Rulmentul Alexandria.
Prior to 2006, when Badea joined Steaua Bucureşti, he also played for Rulmentul Alexandria, Jiul Petroşani and Football Club Vaslui.
He was discovered by Ioan Sdrobiş while he was playing for Rulmentul Alexandria in Romania"s third division and where Badea was the team"s top goalscorer. Sdrobiş then brought him to Jiul Petroşani, and then to Football Club Vaslui where he was the coach.
In 2006 Steaua paid €1,000,000 for Badea. On 23 August 2006 he has scored two goals in the match against Standard Liège, in the third qualifying round of Union of European Football Associations Champions League, goals which sent Steaua Bucureşti in to the group stage after ten years of absence.
On 20 December 2009, he was released from Football Club Universitatea Craiova.
On 24 February 2010, he signed with First Rate (at Lloyd's) Ain.
