Stan the new man at Steaua as Levy departs

Roni Levy has stepped down as coach of FC Steaua Bucureşti after less than four months in charge following the 1-1 draw at AEK Larnaca FC with Ilie Stan named as his replacement.

Steaua sit ninth in the league having lost the Romanian Super Cup in July, while the draw in Cyprus left them third in UEFA Europa League Group J with two points from as many games. "I am terribly disappointed," said Levy. "But the reality is that during the summer the team lost plenty of players and even more came, but most of them did not train with us during the summer. Steaua does not have a home stadium, a home training ground or fitness hall. We had to play each match in another city. The players got tired."

The 43-year-old former Steaua midfielder Stan – a former assistant coach of the Romanian national team – gained promotions in two successive seasons in charge of FC Victoria Brăneşti to take them into the top flight before stepping down in April 2011. Stan's first European game at the helm will be away to Maccabi Haifa FC on 20 October.