FRF technical director outlines Gică Hagi strategy to rejuvenate Romania national team

Mihai Stoichiță, the technical director of the Romanian Football Federation, confirmed that national team coach Gică Hagi intends to select approximately 25 players for the upcoming squad. Stoichiță stated that the primary strategy focuses on rejuvenating the team and building a competitive group for the next one to two years.

Hagi began his second term as national team coach with friendly matches that ended in a 1-1 draw against Georgia and a 2-1 home victory over Wales. The team then competed in the Nations League, where Romania suffered four consecutive defeats. The campaign included a 2-1 loss to Sweden on September 25, a 4-2 home defeat against Bosnia on September 28, a 6-0 loss in Poland on October 2, and a 1-0 home loss to Sweden on October 5.

Stoichiță explained that Hagi wants to leave these past performances behind and aim for maximum results in the last two remaining matches. The technical director noted that Hagi frequently discusses former coach Mircea Lucescu, who gave Hagi his senior national team debut at 18 years and six months. Stoichiță claimed that Hagi now wants to apply a similar model by showing great trust in young players, including some who remain eligible for the under-21 team.

As part of this youth integration, Hagi called up 22-year-old center-back Tony Strata to the senior national team. Strata, who plays for Guimaraes, recently moved from the French second division to the Portuguese first division. He played 45 minutes in the friendly against Wales and nine minutes against Bosnia in the Nations League. Stoichiță also claimed that Strata has a clear offer from Sporting.

Stoichiță revealed that 23-year-old striker Ianis Stoica is in the extended group of players monitored by Hagi for future national team selections. Stoica has not yet received a senior call-up despite numerous youth appearances. Meanwhile, forward Louis Munteanu is absent from the preliminary squad for the November matches due to an injury.