Romania sack Mircea Lucescu, target Gheorghe Hagi as successor
The Romanian Football Federation has dismissed national team manager Mircea Lucescu following the country's failure to qualify for the 2026 World Cup. According to a federation statement, the 80-year-old's contract has been terminated, ending a tenure that began in August 2024. Romanian sports media report that Gheorghe Hagi, a legendary figure in the country's football history, is the leading candidate to take over.
Lucescu's departure was triggered by a 2-1 playoff defeat to Turkey under manager Vincenzo Montella last week, which ended Romania's hopes of reaching the World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The federation's statement thanked Lucescu for his service and noted his record of eleven wins, one draw, and six losses during his second spell in charge. Days after the decisive loss, Lucescu was hospitalised due to a sudden illness but recovered in time to be on the bench for a subsequent friendly draw against Slovakia.
This marks the end of a long and storied association between Lucescu and the Romanian national team. He first managed the side in the 1980s, famously guiding them to their first-ever European Championship qualification in 1984. His return nearly four decades later was seen as an attempt to recapture that success, but the World Cup qualifying failure proved decisive. His initial contract was a two-year deal set to run through the 2026 tournament.
The focus now shifts to his potential successor. Multiple Romanian outlets indicate that Gheorghe Hagi is the federation's preferred choice. Hagi, now 61, is arguably Romania's greatest-ever player, earning the nickname "The Maradona of the Carpathians" during a glittering club career with Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Galatasaray. His managerial experience with the national team, however, is brief; he served as player-coach for a few months in 2001 shortly after retiring from playing.
Since then, Hagi has built a reputation as a developer of talent, founding the renowned FCV Farul Constanța academy and club, which he also manages. His appointment would represent a shift towards a long-term project focused on nurturing the next generation of Romanian players. The immediate task for the new manager will be preparing for the upcoming UEFA Nations League campaign, which begins this autumn, and building towards qualification for the 2028 European Championship.
The federation's move underscores the high expectations placed on the national team following a period of underachievement in major tournaments. While Lucescu's legacy from his first spell remains intact, the modern demands of international management have led to a swift change. Hagi's potential installation is viewed as a move to unite the country behind a national icon, aiming to inspire both the current squad and the footballing public ahead of a new cycle.
