The end of the match with Holland, from the eighth round of Euro 2024, meant not only the end of Romania’s representation at the final tournament, but also the end of Edi Iordănescu’s mandate on the national team bench. Although he stated on several occasions that he would like to continue his contract with FRF, the coach did not extend his contract, in fact, he made it clear that he would prefer to retire.
Edi Iordănescu is the FRF’s first option for the national bank. Sportpictures photo
The European Championship means not only increasing the quota of players, but also of coaches. Thus, Edi Iordănescu has fabulous financial offers from Arab football, the sheikhs enticing him with 5 million euros per year, while the national team is among the lowest paid coaches at the Euros. So the selector is in a big dilemma: to accept the money of the Arabs or to continue on the bench of the national team, where he has created a united group, capable of performing. Until a decision is made, Iordănescu jr conveyed that he needs rest, claiming that the family needs him. A detail seen as a trick by some to kill time.
The family needs him more
“I am proud of everything that has been achieved here, I believe that everything can continue to grow. I need rest, then there will be a discussion with the FRF management and the president, but also with my family. I don’t know what it will be. Now I think so my family needs me more like the national team. It’s been two and a half hard years, with attacks in some moments, with a lack of confidence, we’ll see what we decide”, declared Edi Iordănescu at the end of the match with Holland (0-3), 2 and a half years since he was appointed coach of the national team. He also has a big one, namely that his seconds are paid very small amounts of 2,000 euros per month, given that they all brought 12.5 million euros to the federation’s coffers by qualifying for the 2024 Euro 2024 round of 16.
Edi Iordănescu earned 25,000 euros per month at the national team. From the Arabs, he has offers of over 400,000 euros per month
Urged by his father, Anghel Iordănescu, to extend his agreement with FRF, Edi is also asked by the players to stay by their side. Captain Nicolae Stanciu said: “He knows what we want, and we know he wants to continue. It’s not up to us. It’s not our business, the players, what will happen, that’s why we have a president of the federation. We hope they can sort things out asap, it’s July already. In September, we will start the League of Nations, we need peace, continuity”declared the leader of the locker room in the mixed area after the match with the Batavis.
Adrian Mutu, favorite to take over the post
If Edi Iordănescu does not reach a consensus with the FRF, Răzvan Burleanu has the option of Adrian Mutu at hand. The 45-year-old coach is the favorite to take over the job, with the mission of following Romania into the second tier of the Nations League and qualifying Romania for the 2026 World Championship in the USA, Mexico and Canada.
The former international is free of contract after parting ways with CFR Cluj at the beginning of April and has a very good relationship with the federation, especially since he coached Romania’s U21 national under-21 team. Apart from Mutu, there are also several options, some fanciful: Cristi Chivu, Loti Boloni, Marius Șumudică, Laurențiu Reghecampf and Mircea Lucescu, all free of contract. For the FRF, it would be an image blow to convince the legendary coach to change his mind, after he has stated countless times that the national team of Romania is a closed subject for him.
Euro 2024, the results from the eighth
June 29 (Berlin): Switzerland – Italy 2-0
June 29 (Dortmund): Germany – Denmark 2-0
June 30 (Gelsenkirchen): England – Slovakia 1-1 (2-1 after extra time)
June 30 (Koln): Spain – Georgia 4-1
July 1 (Düsseldorf): France – Belgium 1-0
July 1 (Frankfurt): Portugal – Slovenia 0-0 (3-0 on penalties)
July 2 (Munich): Romania – Netherlands 0-3
July 2 (Leipzig): Austria – Turkey 1-2
Euro 2024 quarters schedule
July 5 (Stuttgart, 7 p.m.): Spain – Germany
July 5 (Hamburg, 22.00): Portugal – Franceâ
July 6 (Düsseldorf, 19.00): England – Switzerland
July 6 (Berlin, 10 p.m.): Netherlands – Turkey
