World Cup News

Romania great Gheorghe Hagi has been hired as national team coach for the second time. He was appointed to replace Mircea Lucescu, who died two weeks ago.

Romania great Gheorghe Hagi returns to coach national team espn.in

Romania last played at the World Cup in 1998. It reached the round of 16 at the European Championship in 2024, losing to the Netherlands.

The 61-year-old replaces Mircea Lucescu, who passed away earlier this month aged 80, less than two weeks after a World Cup playoff defeat.

Hagi takes national job for second time, 25 years later ‘I was born to win, not just to exist,’ says 61-year-old Gheorghe Hagi has taken over as manager of the Romanian national team for a second time, with the former Barcelona star announcing ambitious targets for his new charges. “Our goal is to win every game. Our goal is to win the Nations League. Our goal is to qualify for the European Championship [in 2028],” Hagi said at a press conference in Bucharest. “I was born to win, not just to exist. Don’t you know my motto?” added the 61-year-old, nicknamed the “Maradona of the Carpathians”.

Gheorghe Hagi has been appointed Romania manager 25 years after last doing the job.

April 20 - Romania have appointed former great Gheorghe Hagi as head coach of the national team, the national football federation said on Monday, with the 61-year-old returning to the bench where he began his managerial career 25 years ago.

Gheorghe Hagi torna a casa. Il più grande calciatore romeno di sempre, già ct per pochi mesi nel 2001, torna alla guida della Romania, al posto di Mircea Lucescu, scomparso qualche giorno fa. Queste le sue dichiarazioni di presentazione: "Non sono più il giovane di 25 anni fa, sono migliorato, soprattutto a livello di esperienza. E' una grande sfida, sono qui per portare la Romania dove desidera: io sono nato per vincere". "Se vinciamo sarà più semplice per entrambi e anche voi starete zitti. Gli faccio i complimenti. Sta ottenendo risultati a livello top, top, top. È facile parlare, più difficile riuscirci".