Gheorghe Hagi turns down Steaua post

Former Romanian international Gheorghe Hagi has turned down the chance to coach Steaua Bucharest, who have a vacancy after Sunday’s resignation by Victor Piturca.

“I was contacted over the past few days by several people but my response was firm – I am not moving. I want to pursue my project to put in place a football acadeny,” Hagi, 45, told a press conference.

“Coaching Steaua is a challenge for anyone and I would like to go back there some day,” said Hagi, who previously held the post for several months in mid-2007 before stepping down amid a disagreement with club overlord Gigi Becali.

“I couldn’t continue then – I had some very tough times. Every time we lost I got the blame. And when we won it was thanks to him (Becali),” Hagi said at the time.

Piturca also blasted Becali when he stepped down, saying the latter had publicly undermined him.

Becali, who has seen 11 coaches come and go in seven years, responded by alleging that Piturca had asked for land worth a reported 10 million euros as the price for not speaking out.