After a year marked by personal and professional challenges, former dynamovist Dan Alexa speaks honestly about the extreme experience of “Asia Express”, recent divorce and rediscovering the role of father.
Dan Alexa spoke about what he brought him so far 2025. PHOTO: Ștefan Ovidiu
Dan Alexa, a former player of Dinamo, went through an extreme test in the show “Asia Express”, where he competed with Gabi Tamas, but the real challenge was not in Asia, but at home, when he had to cope with a painful separation.
In an interview for OK! Dan Alexa confessed that his participation in “Asia Express” brought him an intense training, not only physical, but also mentally, and that he managed to cope with the biggest challenges on a personal level: the longing for his children – Casiana (19 years), Antonia (14 years) and Arkan (4 years) – and the news, and the news, and the news. The first road he made upon returning to the country was in court to divorce.
Now, after the second divorce, Dan Alexa shares his son’s custody and seems to be starting to stay for him. He was appointed a coach at Polytechnic Timișoara, after promoting with CS Tunari, and enjoys a new wave of sympathy from the public. Moreover, he managed to impress his daughters, who did not think he would cope with such an adventure.
Asia Express, a tough test
Dan Alexa, Dinamo’s former captain and currently a coach at Polytechnic Timișoara, accepted the challenge of the show “Asia Express” without knowing that what seemed to be a televised experience will turn into a mental resistance exercise. Together with the friend and former teammate Gabi Tamas, Dan Alexa traveled a competition in which the physical tests were doubled by emotional and psychological efforts.
“First of all, it was an experience of life, because it has completely removed us from the comfort zone, it challenged us to do things that we have never done before-such as washing the clothes of others, when I did not wash those of my children, to understand each other! The longing for the house, a lot of evidence, the fact that you get to live from the mercy of the people Conditions, I do not think I would have lived such a thing and I would not have left home with such lessons ”, the athlete told.
Dan Alexa confesses that, although physically, mental wear was harder to lead, but all this time he was motivated by the thought of children and the desire to prove that he is able to handle the worst conditions.
“After running 8-9 hours, you have to look for accommodation, you may not find it and then, the next morning, you take it from the end. I think Asia Express is not about physical endurance, but how much you can resist mentally and, very importantly, how compatible you are with the teammate. (…) I was a lot. That I want to prove to my children what I can ”, he said.
From reality show, to unexpected divorce
Upon returning to the country, Dan Alexa had to cope with a much more painful personal blow than any evidence in the show: the breakdown of marriage. He learned that he was betrayed during his absence, and the marriage ended with a divorce. Now he divides the custody of his son, Arkan, with his former partner and says they have found a balance, putting the child in the first place. With much lucidity, it avoids dramatizing the situation and prefers to look forward.
“This is, I have no more comment. (…) I think things happen because it has to happen. I do not judge anyone, life goes on. The most important for us is our son, the rest does not matter. Because life goes before what happens.” said the former dynamo.
“At 45, I live the feeling of parent otherwise”
Dan Alexa is the father of three children: Casiana (19 years), Antonia (14 years) and Arkan (4 years). If in the first years of his career he was rather absent, now he is trying to be present in their lives.
“I have a little absent from their lives, because I was a sportsman, then I trained, I was missing a lot of time. I try to recover this time, but I have some wonderful children. Dad. said Dan Alexa.
Arkan has already enrolled in football, at Poli Timișoara, and the fact that he can see him daily will load him emotionally: “He is a wonderful child. Cheerful, active and passionate about the ball. He fascinates me.”
With the daughters, the connection is a deep emotional one. The big one studies the pedagogy, and the little one practices handball.
One year of contrasts and changes
Despite personal problems, Alexa had an excellent professional year. He promoted with CS Tunari in the 2nd League and then signed with Polytechnic Timișoara, the soul club.
“2025 was a year of contrasts. One after the other, it was a very good year”,
says the athlete, to whom the participation in Asia Express also brought an unexpected wave of popularity.
Although he has gone through two failed marriages, Dan Alexa does not exclude a new chance in love.
“If I love, I’ll get married,” Dan Alexa replied when she was asked if she would marry the third time, given the experiences so far.
