BBC journalists devoted a long story to Gheorghe Hagi, the British were impressed by the academy of the legend of Romanian football and the desire of “King” to “return Romania to its former glory.”

Gheorghe Hagi wants to return Romania to its former glory

“Romania has not qualified for the World Cup since 1998 and has only qualified for the European Championship twice since 2000, both times failing to make it past the group stage. The bid to qualify for Euro 2024 begins with matches against Andorra and Belarus this month.

Gheorghe Hagi, who led Romania to the quarter-finals of the 1994 World Cup and is regarded as Romania’s greatest player of all time, is on a mission to change the fortunes of the national team.

“Congratulations, President” was chanted by hundreds of thousands of people at home as Romania beat Colombia, hosts USA and Argentina en route to the quarter-finals of the 1994 World Cup. A penalty shoot-out loss to Sweden followed, but the outpouring of love was unprecedented for the national football hero and his momentum continued.

Two years later, even though Hagi did not run in the 1996 Romanian presidential election, the people voted for him anyway. They wrote his name by hand and the midfielder received several thousand votes, more than some of the official candidates.

During a 29-year professional career that ended at Galatasaray in 2001, Gheorghe Hagi played for Real Madrid and Barcelona and was capped 124 times for his country, scoring 35 goals. He was called “Maradona from the Carpathians”. In 1994, he took fourth place in the Ballon d’Or ranking, and Pele included him in the list of the 125 best players in the world in 2004, the BBC writes.

Hagi began coaching a few months after retiring from professional football. His first job? Romania national team.

For the “King”, as he is called in Romania, it was a difficult start. His team lost to Slovenia in the World Cup qualifying playoffs and failed to qualify for the tournament for the first time since 1986.

When he played, Hagi could decide everything by himself with an unexpected shot, a fantastic dribble or a decisive pass.

“I had character, I controlled the ball well and I was quick.” says Hagi. “I grew up in the Netherlands national team in the 1970s, in full football. Johan Cruyff was my idol. I wore number 10 most of the time and knew what it meant: create a goal or score. I wore the number 10 shirt for Real Madrid and Barcelona, ​​two of the best teams in the world. My ambition was always to be the best – that was my biggest motivation,” he says.

He found it more difficult in management. At first, they did not go so brilliantly – but now the situation is completely different, the English publication notes.

Now, at the age of 58, he is the patron and coach of Farul Constanta, the current leader of the Romanian Super League. After coaching Galatasaray, Bursaspor and Steaua Bucharest in 2009, he returned with bold ambitions to his hometown of Constanta on the Black Sea coast.

He created the academy from scratch, investing part of his own fortune and borrowing the rest to support the project. More than £10 million has been invested to fuel his dream: to create a generation that will put Romania in contention for World Cup glory.

Hagi still entertains during training sessions with his dribbling skills, sensational free kicks or great passes. He is the king of his castle, the faces of the young players light up as he passes them.

At the opening of the academy, more than 200 children from all over the country came. About 100 people were employed.

The academy took control of the third division club, Viitorul Constanţa, and quickly won back-to-back promotions. In 2017, what no one thought happened – Hagi’s team won the title of Romanian champion, and two years later, success followed in the Cup. In 2021, the club merged with Farul Constanta, where Hagi’s football career began at the age of 10.

Most of the money Hagi earned as a player is now invested in his club. “Farul” is one of the youngest teams in Europe, the club’s philosophy is youth development. Recently, Hagi gave a debut in the first league to a 14-year-old boy (No. Alexander Stoyan).

Over the years, young players who have made an impression have moved abroad to Ajax, Fiorentina, Brighton and Rangers. Almost half of those playing for the Romanian national team have joined Hagi’s team, and the percentages are even more impressive for the youth teams.

One of those who excelled at the academy is Hagi’s son, Janis. The 24-year-old currently plays for Glasgow Rangers after spells with Fiorentina and Genk.

“A good player can go and do his job anywhere.” says Hagi. “The league doesn’t matter. Janis won the Rangers Young Player of the Year award before his knee injury (in January 2022), so he has adapted quite well. Unlucky with his injury. But if I don’t play in England, maybe he will – why not? I had two opportunities to play in the Premier League and I regret that I missed them. This is a country that I love and respect. I’m sure the fans would love my style.”

Tottenham and Newcastle tried to sign Hagi in the 1990s. Cruyff and Barcelona stood in their way in 1994. Then Galatasaray tempted him with a major European project closer to home two years later.

“I loved Kevin Keegan as a kid – he was one of my idols – so I would love to play under him at Newcastle.” says Hagi. “But when Cruyff calls you personally and asks you to go with him to Barcelona, ​​it’s hard to resist. He said it was his favorite number 10. Then I decided on Galatasaray. They wanted to build a team that would achieve continental success. Besides, they were closer to Romania and I always had the idea of ​​going back home after football,” Hagi said.

“I wrote a book. I explain everything about my tactics, my philosophy, the way I see football. You should start with the basics, do simple things first and then move step by step to more complex ones. My motto is I was born to win, not just exist, so I try to apply that in everything I do and I want to inspire those I work with to do the same. Cruyff is my inspiration. The way he did things was just amazing. I learned so much from him, from his methods and ideas,” he added.

The Hagi Academy aims to promote at least two players to the first team each season. The manager does not care about the age of those he trains.

“I was lucky to have good teachers who accelerated my progress. This is what I also want to do,” he adds.

“This whole academy is my way of giving something back to football, because I’ve always felt in debt,” the “King” emphasizes.

The Academy is located near Constanta, a city of approximately 300,000 inhabitants located on the shores of the Black Sea. Before the Hagi project, the site was a field where local farmers grazed their cows and sheep.

The Hagi have promised that a new stadium will be built in Constanta, capable of hosting 20,000 spectators, four times the capacity of the arena the team currently uses at its academy. The Romanian government is investing almost £100 million in the new project, which should be ready by 2025.

“I returned to Constanta because I was born here. This is my place. The lighthouse made me great. I’m working on creating champions. I want to create world champions. I believe in it. I believe in the work they are doing and in the talent of the Romanian players. You have to set your biggest goals and keep believing. Otherwise, you won’t do much.” Hagi also saidthe BBC reports.