FC Botoșani owner Valeriu Iftime targets foreign sports director to professionalize club

Valeriu Iftime, the owner of FC Botoșani, announced the imminent appointment of a sports director to professionalize the club's operations. The 66-year-old businessman stated that he has entered football almost a decade and a half ago and now seeks to implement a more structured management approach.

Iftime revealed that he has identified two Portuguese candidates and one Spanish candidate for the role. He emphasized that he has no Romanian candidates on his list because he has not found any suitable local options. The owner expressed a preference for a foreign consultant with proper education to manage the club for a few months.

The search for a sports director comes as Iftime aims to stabilize the club's competitive standing. He stated that he wants the team to compete for play-off spots every year. To support this ambition, Iftime noted that he spent approximately 15 million euros in the previous season and another 3-4 million euros so far in the current campaign.

Despite the incoming management change, Iftime confirmed that he does not want to change the coach or the president of FC Botoșani. The focus remains on adding a specialized layer of management rather than replacing existing leadership figures.

Portuguese figures are well-regarded in Romanian football, with names such as Filipe Coelho, Mario Felgueiras, Nuno Campos, and Ricardo Sousa often cited as appreciated professionals in the region. Iftime's shortlist reflects this trend, though he has not publicly named the specific individuals under consideration.