Hagi turns 48: “I have everything a man wants”

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Gheorghe Hagi, the national football team’s former captain and coach, considered “the King” of Romanian football, turned 48 yesterday. “I look behind and I am pleased with my achievements, with the dreams that have come true. I started out small and reached the point that any smart football player can reach. I am happy, glad and I can honestly say that I have everything a man wants,” Hagi stated in an interview for libertatea.ro. Born on February 5, 1965, in Sacele, Constanta County, he first played for Farul Constanta in April 1975. Hagi also played for two Primera Division power houses: Real Madrid (1990-1992, 19 goals in 64 games) and FC Barcelona (1994-1996, 7 goals in 36 games). Between his stints for Madrid and Barcelona, Hagi played for Brescia (1992-1994). He was Romania’s hero at the World Cup 1994 in the US, where the team reached the quarterfinals. Gica Hagi played 167 games and scored 78 goals for Galatasaray (1996-2001). Hagi won four Turkish titles, two Turkish Cups, a UEFA Cup and a European Supercup. Galatasaray was the last club Hagi played for, retiring in 2001. Nevertheless, he did not have notable results as a coach. He became owner of Viitorul Constanta in 2011.