Gheorghe Hagi (61) has succeeded the recently deceased Mircea Lucescu as the new Romanian national team coach. The 124-time international had been without a club since 2025.
The coaching position for the Romanian national team has been vacant since the end of March. Mircea Lucescu (80), who was officially in office until March 31, died on April 7 at the age of 80 as a result of a heart attack. On Monday, the Romanian Football Federation (FRF) announced that Gheorghe Hagi would succeed Lucescu and take over as national coach with immediate effect. Hagi’s contract is valid until 2030.
“Gheorghe Hagi, a symbol of excellence, has signed a contract for the next two qualifying rounds and has the task of leading the national team back into the elite of world soccer,” the association’s statement reads. For the 124-time Romania international, who played for Real Madrid, Barcelona and Galatasaray among others during his career, it is a return to the country’s coaching bench.
Return after a brief intermezzo
In September 2001, shortly after his career ended at the age of 36, Hagi took over as coach of the national team. After just five months and failing to qualify for the 2002 World Cup, he resigned.
Hagi experienced a lot in his coaching career, working for Bursaspor as well as his former club Galatasaray twice (2004 to 2005 and 2010 to 2011). Hagi also coached FCSB Bucharest, Politehnica Timisoara and, most recently, Farul Constanta for over ten years. Hagi, who also owned the club, dismissed himself as coach in 2025. Since then, he has been without a club.
“After numerous attempts over the years to have Gheorghe Hagi at the helm of the national team, we are delighted to confirm today that he is returning to the national team,” said association president Razvan Burleanu at a press conference. “We are looking forward with confidence to this path, which we are taking together with the best players currently at national level, so that we can achieve our next goals,” Burleanu continued.
Debut against Georgia
For Hagi himself, “it is an honor and a great responsibility to represent Romania again, as I did as a player. I hope I can do the same as a coach, because all that matters is to perform and be successful. That’s why I joined the national team, I’m convinced that we can achieve great things.”
After missing out on qualification for the World Cup this year, the next big goal for the Romanian national team is to take part in Euro 2028. Hagi will make his first appearance as coach on June 1, when Romania play in a friendly match in Georgia.