Former great footballer Gheorghe Hagi stated, in a message posted on a social network after learning about the death of coach Emeric Ienei, that Romania has lost "a man of extraordinary value", a mentor and an exceptional technician.
"Today we lost a man of extraordinary value, a mentor, and an exceptional coach. Emeric Ienei meant a lot to me and to Romanian football. Thank you for everything, uncle Imi. You will always be in my heart. Condolences to the family!" Hagi wrote on his official Facebook page.
Emeric Ienei, one of the greatest coaches in the history of Romanian football, died on Wednesday at the age of 88.
Born on March 22, 1937, in Agrisu Mic (Arad County), Emeric Ienei played for Steaua Bucharest between 1954 and 1969 (254 matches, 7 goals), a team with which he won the European Champions Cup in 1986 as a coach. For this performance, he was decorated in March 2008 with the Order of "Sports Merit" 2nd Class with barrette. On May 8, 1998, retired Colonel Emeric Ienei from the Ministry of National Defence was promoted to the rank of brigadier general (with one star).
He also played for UTA Arad and Kayserispor.
As a coach, he led the Romanian national football team in two terms, as well as the Hungarian national team. Ienei was the coach who managed to bring Romania back to a World Cup after two decades, in Italy, in 1990. In 2000, he led the national team again to a final tournament, EURO 2000, where Romania achieved a historic victory over England, with a score of 3-2, this being the first Romanian success at a European Championship.
At club level, he coached the teams FC Bihor, CS Targoviste, MOL Fehervar, Panionios and FCU Craiova.
As a player, he has three championship titles and four Romanian Cups, and as a coach, six titles, four Romanian Cups and, the supreme trophy of the continent, the European Champions Cup, won in 1986.
Comentează