Find out what coach missed Steaua after the interfering of the president Băsescu!

The award for the entire career goes to...". Is neither the script of a ceremony, nor an attempt of an encomiastic article. This reply wants to be just a smart intro before an interesting dialogue. Mircea Rădulescu is the man with the explanations. He gets the introducers of talk-shows out of a scrape when he accepts the invitations made in the last moment and he assures the fluent dialogue. The collocation of president of the Coaches School almost became his name and he wants a life shared with the lawn.

"When you enter in the Federation, at the first floor, on the right side". The dilemma of the location does not exist anymore. "I want difficult questions, the most difficult!", this way sounds the only claim which the man in front of you issues. Comfortable.

- Mr. Rădulescu, you trained 4 national teams.
- Yes, and I felt good all over. I can say I regret that I didn’t continue to coach in the Arabian countries. I was respected, no one interfered in my work, and there weren’t any problems with the players regarding the extra-sports life. I found there very talented players, but adapted to the conditions in their countries. 

- How do you say "pressure" in Arabian?
- Well, there is a different thinking, and the way in which people retrospect to you is different. I had the opportunity to work with important names even abroad, people who were real idols for their fans. I like to believe that I left my mark everywhere, both at the club teams and at the representatives I trained.

"Dear, Gică, have we ever argued?"

- You have also coached the national team of Romania for two years. Mircea Sandu revealed recently that he intervened at you for Hagi.
- What did he refer to? People keep asking me and I have no idea what is all about! Wait a minute, we can call him now and we’ll see!

He takes the phone and calls the president of FRF. He does not answer. "I would rather call Gică and ask him about this. I didn’t remember to having had a conflict with him, we have always had an excellent relationship!". "How are you Gică? Have we ever had any problem? I’ve heard that the president ...". The replies are colloquial, Gică amuses on this subject and he puts a "Mr. Mircea" in the end of the final phrase. "I spoke to Gică, there was nothing, he really joked, he does not remember of having ever argued".

He continues the subject related to the national team: "We had an extraordinary generation, if we have to talk about the first representative. Hagi, Popescu, Sabău, Dan Petrescu, Lupescu and all the others meant very much to Romania. Because you asked me about the Arabian countries, they have players who are good there, in their championships. In order to perform in Europe, they need a long period to adapt. The climate is different, the lifestyle, the rhythm of the play, all these do matter, if you are sensible, they may break you down. Our boys played at a high level, they made performance at the clubs where they played, but also at the national team".

Blocked by Băsescu during the negotiations with Steaua

- Returning to the club teams...
- I have a great regret about this: I missed Steaua! At the end of the edition 92-93, I managed to bring Rapid in the European Cups, although the conditions weren’t very good. The group was tired of life, some of my students had some affinities for the adversaries, it was a hard season, but which we concluded where no one would have ever expected. The president of Steaua from that time called me and proposed me to meet in one night on an alley from the Village Museum.

He presented me his proposal, we walked a little and we established that we would talk the next days. Just like I thought it was right, I called the president from Rapid, Mircea Pascu, to tell him. I had an agreement with the club from Giuleşti and it was correct to inform him, too. 

The information reached then at Traian Băsescu, the Minister of Transports at that time, who had an important word to say at the club. When he found out about Steaua, he called immediately the Minister of Defense and told him: "From all the coaches, you want to take ours?". The officials from Steaua were communicated later to give up the idea.

He makes a break, and then intervenes. "If you look carefully, I haven’t won any trophy, you didn’t ask me why!"

- Please!
- It was very difficult to impose against the military teams. You couldn’t do anything! I worked in many places, but it is normal to be the most attached to Sportul Studenţesc. I played more than 300 matches and then I coached there. In my first commission I replaced Angelo Niculescu, so you realize how hard must to come as a beginner after such a name.

- Talking of Angelo Niculescu, did he convince you about the temporization advantages?
- We, the Romanians, need play systems which to favor the possession. We need a dense middle line, which to support the game on its both phases. 4-4-2 or 4-2-3-1 are formulas closed to the characteristics which our style imposes.


The phone rings acute. "Is Mircea Sandu", comes quickly the explanation. "The press keep asking me about what you said related to Hagi. What was all about?". He listens, then "Oh, yeah... Anyway, nothing serious. Now I know, yeah". They discuss a few moments about the coaches training, then he concludes short: "Ok, here’s to you!". He prefers to forget again the subject, choosing to hide it between the years which passed from that moment.

The unapproachable Mutu
Known as close person to the surroundings of the national team, the president of the Federal School of Coaches says that he has never discuss face to face with the possessor of no. 10 from the national team, Adrian Mutu: "I have never discussed with him, it didn’t exist the circumstances for a discussion between us. Adi has real qualities for a top player, but these have always been shadowed by events whose substratum is not well enough known. It’s a pity that over his career hovers a permanent suspense!".

He missed the national team of Israel because of Gazeta’s correspondent in Israel
If he would borrow Piţurcă’s attitude towards the press, Mircea Rădulescu couldn’t be criticized by anyone. Why? He tells the story: "I had had a contact with the Federation from Israel, which called me at negotiations in order to take the national team. The only condition they imposed to me was not to say anything to the press because they made some plans, they didn’t want to make anything public until they knew something for sure.

I arrived at Tel Aviv, I lodged at the hotel, and after a few hours I receive a phone-call from Beno David. He asked me how I was, if I am ok and for how long I intended to stay there.

I tried to avoid him, I lied him that the reason of my visit was another one, but after the dinner I had with the Israeli officials, at the exit of the restaurant we were greeted by tenth of journalists. They transmitted me that we would keep in touch, but in the end the Federal Office chose another spotter. Who made me answer the phone?". Then, he continues smiling: "I am not upset on Beno, I have no resentment to anyone, fortunately to him".

"The pharaoh" Hossam Hassan
Immediately after he managed the qualification with Rapid in UEFA Cup, the coach received a proposal to train the national team of Egypt. "An agent called me and made me an interesting offer, which i accepted.

It was about a project of reforming their football, I went there with others coaches from Romania who had to train the young and junior teams. It was very difficult for us because we didn’t speak the language, we were lucky because the head office of the African Confederation was close and we could gather documentation. We asked Hossam Hassan, who was a deity there. In spite of the fact that people divinized him, he didn’t have the appearance of a star in the locker room. He helped me very much, he motivated extraordinary his colleagues and he knew to offer them an example which everybody tried to follow", remembers Mircea Rădulescu.

A word for:
Mircea Sandu - competent
Gheorghe Hagi - brilliant
Adrian Mutu - controversial
Victor Piţurcă - awkward (in the good meaning of the word)
Anghel Iordănescu - authoritarian
Emeric Ienei - diplomatic
Ladislau Boloni - arrogant
Cornel Dinu - wise
Mircea Lucescu – professional
Mircea Rădulescu - clever