Romania: Gheorghe Hagi returns to take charge

Europe 20 April 2026 at 10:13

Nouya M'toama

News Editor

An emotional and symbolic comeback. The Romanian Football Federation has officially announced Gheorghe Hagi as the new head coach of the national team. The legendary figure of Romanian football embarks on a second spell, more than twenty years after his brief first stint in 2001.

Gheorghe Hagi is the new coach of Romania. The 61-year-old tactician succeeds Mircea Lucescu, who recently passed away at the age of 80. Lucescu's passing deeply impacted Romanian football, especially since he was the one who launched Hagi's international career and made him an iconic captain.

Hagi, a legend now in charge

Nicknamed the "Maradona of the Carpathians," Gheorghe Hagi remains one of the greatest players in the country’s history. Having played for prestigious clubs such as Real Madrid and FC Barcelona, he notably led Romania to the quarter-finals of the 1994 World Cup.

Drawing on this experience, he returns today with a new status and a fresh vision:

"I was young and impatient in 2001. Today, I am more experienced, a more complete coach," he revealed.

Ambitious goals

The new head coach hasn’t hidden his ambitions. On a four-year contract, he’s aiming high: to win every match, shine in the Nations League, and secure qualification for Euro 2028.

A statement true to his competitive nature.

"I was born to win, not just to exist."

Absent from the World Cup since 1998, Romania is looking to reclaim its place on the international stage. The mission entrusted to Hagi is therefore a tough one: to rebuild a competitive team and restore hope to an entire nation.