Iordanescu and Hagi in Romania, 30 years later

Romania has equaled its historical records in the Euro Cup. In the five previous participations they had only achieved one victory in 16 games. It was in the 2000 edition, against England (3-2). He has already obtained the second with 3-0 over Ukraine, much more resounding, which has placed it on the threshold of access to the playoffs. Needs another boost this Wednesday against Slovakia, in Frankfurt to get into the round of 16.

Romania’s return to the continental tournament harkens back to the good old days of the yellow team. The link is two surnames, Iordanescu and Hagi, which are repeated 30 years later.

Iordanescu speaks with Nicusor Bancu in the match against Belgium. / Ronald Wittek / Efe

Honor Restored

They are in Germany Edward Iordanescu and Ioanis Hagi, brothers of the mythic Angel Iordanescu and Gheorghe Hagi, protagonists of Romania’s best football era when they led the team, one as coach and the other as captain, to the quarterfinals of the 1994 World Cup after having been first in the qualifying phase and in the league. They succumbed to penalties against Sweden.

“We have returned honor to Romania, but we still have a lot to do,” said Edward Iordanescu about the team’s return to the European Championship. For now, The legacy of the parents weighs more. Anghel Iordanescu, 74 years old, now a politician, He won several titles in Romania as a player and coach; He was champion of the 1986 European Cup with Steaua Busquest and a finalist in 1989, and a coach in three different stages.

Anghel Iordanescu, in an interview in his last stage as coach. / EP

The Hagi Myth

Gheorghe Hagi, 59 years old, He has been the greatest footballer of all time in his country. He played in three World Cups (1990, 1994 and 1998) and three European Championships (1984, 1986 and 2000), played for Real Madrid (1990-92) and Barcelona (1994-96) and culminated a career with 13 titles and 293 goals in 703 matches. Record of international caps with Romania, he has been the youngest in a European Championship and a coach twice. He has finally dedicated his efforts to the football school he created in Constanta, his hometown.

Where did it emerge from? Ianis, who was born in Istanbul, in Gica’s stage in Turkish football. At 25 years old, he has gone from here to there until stopping at the Alavés last campaign. Loaned by Glasgow Rangers to recover from a serious knee injury, he has played 22 games but only started 8. With the national team he is not a fixture in the starting eleven either.

The greatest similarity between father and son is summarized in that Gica scored the final goal of qualification for the 94 World Cup and Ianis, the goal of access to Germany 2024. They both wear the 10 on their backs.

Gheorghe Hagi jumps over Zinedine Zidane in Romania-France in the Euro-96. / EP

The greatest similarity between the Hagi is that Gica scored the goal to qualify for the 94 World Cup and Ianis scored the goal to qualify for Germany24. And they both wear the 10 on their backs.

Retired at 26

“We missed Ianis a lot during the injury, he is a player with special qualities,” says Iordanescu son, Edward, coach like his father and coach of the second Hagi. “I wanted to be a soccer player.” and succeed as a player at a high level, but things did not go as planned and all my energy and ambition, in addition to what I learned at home, from my father, gave me the drive to dedicate myself to training,” he explained in an interview with UEFA.

Iordanescu left football at the age of 26 and tried to carve out a better career on the bench. With Cluj he won four titles between 2018 and 2021, and obtained the necessary credit to be the Romanian coach. He was appointed in January 2022.

Ianis Hagi protects the ball from Zinchenko’s harassment in Romania-Ukraine. / Matthias Schrader / AP

On June 16 he turned 46, the eve of the first victory over Ukraine. His father didn’t win a game of the six (he tied one and lost five) that he directed in the 1996 and 2016 editions. He already has it. And he caresses the pass to the second round.

“We hope to play a good game and make history. We’re worth a draw”, he recalled this Monday about the situation of the group, which leads by goal difference since the other three components (Slovakia, its rival, Belgium and Ukraine) have three points.

More famous children

The surnames Iordanescu and Hagi are not the only ones that evoke their notable parents. There are others that are also familiar to the general public. Denmark’s goalkeeper Casper Schmeichel, extends the tradition of his father, Peter, surprise champion of the 1992 edition. Today he is a commentator on a television network. He played in four European Championships, and Kasper has played in three. He is already 38 years old.

In Italy it is visible the surname Chiesa. Federico is the son and he participated on Monday in the Azzurra’s miraculous qualification in the last minute against Croatia. He has not yet scored in this edition, he did in 2020, when Italy won at Wembley. His father Enrico scored a goal in England-96.

The surname is not so visible in Portugal Conceicao. Francisco, That’s the name of the shirt, he experienced the night of glory by scoring the victory over the Czech Republic in added time. Sergio, the father, Opotro’s coach in recent campaigns, scored three against Germany in the 2000 edition. Portugal succumbed in the semifinal against France.

Liliam Thuram was the right back of the Gauls. He was in four Euro Cups, champion in 2000 and world champion in 1998. His son Marcus plays in the other corner of the field: he is a left winger. He does not have any international titles. He has been champion of Serie A with Inter.

Danny Blind, The Girona center back and a key player in the historic classification of the red and white team, has not made his debut in Germany although he regularly participated in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. His father, Daley, started for the Netherlands in the two European Championships in which he played.

2024-06-25 14:00:35
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