Romania have made a bold move by officially appointing a Barcelona legend as their new national team coach.
The Romanian Football Federation (FRF) announced the appointment during a press conference in Bucharest, describing it as both an honour and a turning point for the country’s footballing ambitions.
The move comes after a turbulent spell that ended with Mircea Lucescu’s passing and the team’s failure to progress through the 2026 World Cup qualification playoffs, leaving a void that the authorities wanted to fill with a pedigree name.
The man in charge is Gheorghe Hagi, the former Barcelona and Real Madrid attacking midfielder known as “The King” in his homeland, as per the official statement.
Hagi, 61, returns to the Romanian dugout for a second spell, having first managed the national team in 2001, albeit briefly.
This time, he has signed a four‑year contract, with the explicit aim of qualifying for Euro 2028 and pushing Romania into the UEFA Nations League final tournament, targets he outlined in his first remarks as coach.
Famous for his left foot, playmaking brilliance and a career spent at the highest level in Spain and Turkey, Hagi is now expected to instil a more attractive, proactive style in the national side.
Hagi’s return is being framed as a symbolic and sporting renaissance for Romanian football, with the federation banking on his charisma, experience and winning mentality to reconnect a disenchanted fanbase.
His immediate focus will be on the upcoming Nations League games and the Euro 2028 qualifying cycle, but he has also stressed that players must be among the best in the domestic league or at least boast solid international experience to earn a call‑up.
If Hagi delivers results, his legacy could extend beyond medals: he may rekindle belief in Romanian football, turning his late‑career stint into a project that bridges the country’s golden past with a more ambitious, modern future.
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