BUCHAREST, Romania — Gheorghe Hagi, a legend of Romanian soccer, has been appointed as the national team coach for a second time. He takes over following the passing of Mircea Lucescu two weeks ago.
The 61-year-old Hagi, often hailed as Romania’s greatest soccer player, led the national squad to the World Cup quarterfinals in 1994. He is also known for his tenure at clubs like Barcelona and Real Madrid, excelling as a creative attacking midfielder.
Hagi’s first term as coach began in 2001 and lasted just three months, finishing without qualification for the 2002 World Cup playoffs.
Since then, Hagi has managed various clubs in Romania and Turkey, including notable teams like Galatasaray and Steaua Bucharest, but now returns to lead the No. 56-ranked national team, which unfortunately will not compete in the upcoming World Cup hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Following a defeat to Türkiye in the UEFA playoffs, Lucescu’s health declined, leading to his resignation. Lucescu passed away on April 7 at the age of 80.
“It is an honor and a significant responsibility to represent Romania once more, just as I did as a player,” Hagi stated in a release from Romania’s soccer federation.
He further expressed, “I am confident that we can achieve great things. I hope to replicate the successes I had as a player in my role as coach. I believe we can become one of the top teams.”
Romania last appeared in the World Cup in 1998, and in the 2024 European Championship, they reached the round of 16 but were eliminated by the Netherlands.
Hagi’s first matches in charge will be friendly encounters against Georgia and Wales in June. In September, Romania will compete in the Nations League alongside Sweden, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Poland.
He has signed a contract that extends through to the 2030 World Cup, with a mission to restore the national team to the elite of international soccer, according to the federation.
Federation president Răzvan Burleanu noted that they have made “several attempts over time” to bring Hagi back as coach.