Intro
Gheorghe Hagi appointed Romania coach again following Mircea Lucescu’s passing
Bucharest
Romania football legend Gheorghe Hagi has been appointed national team coach for a second spell, stepping in after the death of Mircea Lucescu, who passed away two weeks ago at the age of 80, marking a significant emotional and sporting transition for Romanian football.
The 61-year-old Hagi, widely regarded as the greatest player in Romania’s history, returns to international management nearly 25 years after his brief first stint in 2001, when he lasted only three months following an unsuccessful World Cup qualification campaign.
Hagi famously led Romania to the 1994 FIFA World Cup quarterfinals and enjoyed a stellar playing career featuring spells at top European clubs including Barcelona and Real Madrid, where he was known for his creative vision and technical brilliance.
Since retiring as a player, Hagi has built a respected coaching career at club level, managing teams in Romania and Turkey, including Galatasaray and Steaua Bucharest, earning recognition for his commitment to developing young talent.
Romania currently sit 56th in the FIFA rankings and have already missed out on qualification for the upcoming World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico after losing a playoff tie against Turkey.
Following that defeat, former coach Lucescu stepped down due to health issues before his passing earlier this month, leaving the national team in a period of transition and uncertainty.
In his official statement, Hagi described his return as both an honour and a major responsibility, emphasising his emotional connection to representing Romania at international level once again.
He expressed optimism about the team’s future, stating his belief that strong performances and unity could help Romania rebuild competitiveness on the international stage.
Hagi also said he hopes to translate his success as a player into coaching achievements, signalling ambition to elevate Romania’s standing in world football despite recent setbacks.
The Romanian Football Federation has backed his appointment, viewing him as a symbolic and strategic choice to inspire a new generation of players while restoring belief within the national setup.
With preparations beginning for upcoming international fixtures, Hagi’s immediate focus will be on squad rebuilding, tactical stability and restoring confidence after a difficult qualification cycle and a period of emotional upheaval for Romanian football moving forward into the new competitive cycle ahead.
