Key Takeaways
- Gheorghe Hagi, 61, has signed a four-year deal to lead Romania for the second time.
- He vows to win every match, take the Nations League title and reach Euro 2028.
- Hagi replaces Mircea Lucescu, who passed away earlier this month.
Bucharest, Tuesday – Romanian icon Gheorghe Hagi has accepted the nation’s top coaching job, 25 years after his first short spell in charge.
Speaking at a packed press hall, the former midfield star said his only mindset is victory. “We will fight to win each game, lift the Nations League and qualify for the 2028 European Championship,” Hagi declared. “I was born to win, not merely to take part.”
The 61-year-old, often called the “Maradona of the Carpathians”, has penned a contract that runs until 2028. He described the role as “a proud duty and a massive test”, promising to give supporters fresh hope.
Hagi first led Romania in 2001 for less than three months. “I was young and impatient then. Today I bring calm and years of lessons from the touchline,” he explained.
He succeeds Mircea Lucescu, the veteran coach who gave Hagi his debut at 18 and later made him captain. Lucescu died of a heart attack at 80. “He always wanted me to coach the team one day,” Hagi added.
Romania have missed the last six World Cups and were knocked out by Turkey in the recent playoff semi-final. Hagi knows the road is tough, yet he welcomes the climb. “Dreams must be big. I love trophies and we start chasing them now,” he said.
