Gheorghe Hagi Named Romania Head Coach After Death of Mircea Lucesc

Romania Appoints Hagi as national team manager

Legendary player Gheorghe Hagi returns as Romania boss 24 years after his first tenure, following the death of Mircea Lucescu. Hagi takes over Romania at a key moment, succeeding Lucescu who died April 7 after a 1-0 loss to Turkey ended World Cup hopes.

Two-time Liga I winner Hagi appointed Romania coach. He replaces Lucescu, who died April 7 after hospitalization on March 29...

 

Legendary former player Gheorghe Hagi is set to take over the Romanian national team at an important moment for football in the country.

It all happened at the Romanian Football Federation’s official press conference on Monday, which was also attended by Razvan Burleanu, president of the federation, together with Mihai Stoichita, the technical director.

Negotiations between the federation and Hagi have come to an end, with the former international great being the main option to fill the post left vacant after the death of Mircea Lucescu, who took over the national team in August 2024.

“A great honour, a great responsibility to once again represent Romania, as I did as a player, I hope to do it as a coach. All that matters is to perform, to be successful,” were Hagi's first words as coach.

In his address, Burleanu said, “After several attempts over the years to have Gica Hagi with us, today we can confirm that Gica Hagi is returning to the national team. We are very confident about this journey that we are starting together, with the best players we have at our disposal, to fulfil our objective. Our first objective is to win the next match.”

🇷🇴 Gheorghe Hagi est intronisé sélectionneur de la Roumanie pour la 2e fois !

Objectif Euro 2028 et surtout Coupe du monde 2030.

Un retour 25 ans après un passage éclair et non avenu. Le chantier est homérique. Il souhaite instaurer une identité de jeu. Le plus dur commence. pic.twitter.com/G3WoEAcmgl

— Foot Roumain 🇷🇴 (@FootRoumain) April 20, 2026

Hagi Set for Second Chance as National Team Boss

This is Hagi’s second spell in charge of the Romanian national team after his tenure from September 1 to November 27 in 2001.

Installed immediately after retiring as a player and in his first coaching experience, Hagi lasted only three months, ending his tenure immediately after missing out on qualification for the 2002 World Cup following a 1-2 and 1-1 playoff draw with Slovenia.

In his coaching career, Hagi has also managed Bursaspor, Galatasaray, Poli Timisoara, Steaua Bucuresti, FC Viitorul Constanta, and Farul Constanta. His record as a coach includes two titles with FC Viitorul and Farul, a Romanian Cup with FC Viitorul, a Romanian Super Cup with FC Viitorul, and a Turkish Cup with Galatasaray.

Hagi succeeds Mircea Lucescu, whose contract expired on April 2. Lucescu was urgently hospitalized on March 29 after falling ill during a technical session prior to a national team training session, having missed out on qualification for the 2026 World Cup after a 1-0 defeat to Turkey on March 26.

Later on April 7, Mircea Lucescu died at the age of 80 at the University Hospital in Bucharest.