Poenaru started his professional career at
Steaua București, but he did not appear in an official game for the club. Poenaru made his
Liga I debut on 19 February 2002, for
Politehnica Timișoara, in a 1–3 defeat against
Farul Constanța. In his career Ilie played mostly for Politehnica Timișoara and
Argeș Pitești with short periods spent at Metalul Plopeni,
FC Gloria Buzău and
Concordia Chiajna. ==Managerial career==