GHEORGHE HAGI
FourFourTwo UK|Summer 2023
"Tottenham made a good offer, but it wasn't about money - when Johan Cruyff calls and asks you to join Barcelona, it's hard to say no"
Emanuel Rosu
GHEORGHE HAGI

Twenty-two years after retiring as a player, Gheorghe Hagi still lives and breathes football.

Romania's greatest-ever footballer enchanted the globe with his skills during a 19-year career, representing both Real Madrid and Barcelona, as well as helping his country to the quarter-finals of the 1994 World Cup. His retirement coincided with Romania's descent back into the shadows of international football; now, he's on a mission to give his country a better future in the game.

After returning to his home city on the Black Sea coast in 2009 to found his own club, Viitorul Constanta, with an emphasis on producing young talent, he became their manager and guided them to the Romanian league title in 2017. A merger with city neighbours Farul Constanta followed in 2021, and in the 2022-23 campaign he took Farul to the domestic title, too.

FourFourTwo headed to Constanta to meet Hagi in the latter stages of that title race, sitting down to chat after he had held an analysis meeting with his staff, as he looked for every last detail in their quest for glory. "I was born to win, not just to exist," he says with a smile.

Fortunately, the 58-year-old has done plenty of winning during his life in the game - and he's ready to answer your questions about all of it...

Did playing barefoot when you were young help your technique later on?

Emi Banciu, via Facebook I grew up like every kid: we played in the street a lot and spent more time outdoors than indoors. Football was a big part of my life ever since I can remember, and everything we did had an impact on who we became. Johan Cruyff was my idol. When I opened my eyes as a football fan, I fell in love with the Dutch team of the '70s. I loved Ajax, too. I loved everything Cruyff did.

When you were only 14, you were prevented from playing for a full year - what was that like?

Bu hikaye FourFourTwo UK dergisinin Summer 2023 sayısından alınmıştır.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

Bu hikaye FourFourTwo UK dergisinin Summer 2023 sayısından alınmıştır.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

FOURFOURTWO UK DERGISINDEN DAHA FAZLA HIKAYETümünü görüntüle
Over the Top with Brian Clough - The legendary former Derby and Nottingham Forest manager was a columnist for FourFourTwo from 2001 until his death in 2004 at the age of 69 - not all of his forecasts came true, though he was never short of an opinion...
FourFourTwo UK

Over the Top with Brian Clough - The legendary former Derby and Nottingham Forest manager was a columnist for FourFourTwo from 2001 until his death in 2004 at the age of 69 - not all of his forecasts came true, though he was never short of an opinion...

The legendary former Derby and Nottingham Forest manager was a columnist for FourFourTwo from 2001 until his death in 2004 at the age of 69 - not all of his forecasts came true, though he was never short of an opinion...

time-read
5 dak  |
November 2024
"THE PLAYERS DIDN'T SEE KEVIN KEEGAN'S 'MELTDOWN' AS ANYTHING NEGATIVE. WE LOVED HIM FOR HIS PASSION"
FourFourTwo UK

"THE PLAYERS DIDN'T SEE KEVIN KEEGAN'S 'MELTDOWN' AS ANYTHING NEGATIVE. WE LOVED HIM FOR HIS PASSION"

The Geordie recalls King Kev's rant, shares his love for Ossie Ardiles and reveals what it's like to cross the Tyne-Wear divide

time-read
5 dak  |
November 2024
"HODDLE HAD BEEN PLAYING FOR MONACO UNDER WENGER, SO WE COULDN'T BELIEVE IT WHEN HE JOINED SWINDON HE WAS LIGHT-YEARS AHEAD!"
FourFourTwo UK

"HODDLE HAD BEEN PLAYING FOR MONACO UNDER WENGER, SO WE COULDN'T BELIEVE IT WHEN HE JOINED SWINDON HE WAS LIGHT-YEARS AHEAD!"

The tireless winger opens up on playing in his dad's shadow and making the wrong kind of headlines at Sunderland...

time-read
5 dak  |
November 2024
"I'M PROUD TO BE THE FIRST AFRICAN IN THE PREMIER LEAGUE - BUT LOOK WHO CAME LATER"
FourFourTwo UK

"I'M PROUD TO BE THE FIRST AFRICAN IN THE PREMIER LEAGUE - BUT LOOK WHO CAME LATER"

FFT chats to the three Boy's A Bit Special stars of Issue 1: first, a humble hotshot on rejecting Arsenal and being 'Nuddy'

time-read
4 dak  |
November 2024
AROUND THE GROUNDS
FourFourTwo UK

AROUND THE GROUNDS

Rangers' in-form keeper tells FFT he has his sights set on a Three Lions recall

time-read
5 dak  |
November 2024
WHY MESSI'S ARGENTINA HAD TO GET 'WORSE' TO CONQUER WORLD
FourFourTwo UK

WHY MESSI'S ARGENTINA HAD TO GET 'WORSE' TO CONQUER WORLD

The Albiceleste didn't have their most talented squad in 2022, and their star wasn't at his absolute peak - but 4-4-2 helped them to win anyway...

time-read
3 dak  |
November 2024
WHY 1999 WAS THE FINEST MOMENT FOR 4-4-2... AND SIR ALEX FERGUSON
FourFourTwo UK

WHY 1999 WAS THE FINEST MOMENT FOR 4-4-2... AND SIR ALEX FERGUSON

Manchester United swept to a famous Treble thanks to the management skills of their legendary boss - and a formation that suited them perfectly

time-read
3 dak  |
November 2024
HOW THE 4-4-2 BECAME BRITISH FOOTBALL'S MOST ICONIC FORMATION
FourFourTwo UK

HOW THE 4-4-2 BECAME BRITISH FOOTBALL'S MOST ICONIC FORMATION

A system of playing inspired the name for this very magazine - on these shores, for numerous reasons, it's football heritage

time-read
3 dak  |
November 2024
FINDING DIEGO
FourFourTwo UK

FINDING DIEGO

A little over a year before his untimely death at the age of 60, Diego Maradona was managing Mexican second-tier side Dorados de Sinaloa - FourFourTwo went deep into drug cartel country to track him down

time-read
10+ dak  |
November 2024
RESPECT
FourFourTwo UK

RESPECT

That's what women's football demands more than anything. Its status has grown exponentially during FourFourTwo's lifetime, but finally the long and arduous battle for recognition is starting to pay dividends

time-read
10 dak  |
November 2024