Bölöni replaces Ienei as Romanian coach

Romania have appointed former international midfielder Ladislau Bölöni as national team coach, replacing Emerich Ienei. The Romanian football federation (FRF) said the 47-year-old Bölöni had signed a two-year contract, with an option to extend it for another two years. Bölöni, the 32nd Romanian national team coach, will take over as national team coach on 1 August.

World Cup ambitions
He has been entrusted with guiding Romanian to the 2002 FIFA World Cup finals in Japan and South Korea.
"Bölöni has a brief to qualify Romania for the next World Cup finals," FRF deputy general secretary Cristian Bivolaru stated.
Bölöni scored 28 goals and won 108 caps for Romania. He was also a member of the Steaua Bucuresti side which won the 1985/86 European Champion Clubs' Cup. After spells playing in Belgium and France, he began coaching French club AS Nancy-Lorraine in 1992 before leaving this year.

No clean sweep
Bölöni has promised to work closely with his predecessor Emerich Ienei.
"I haven't come to give a clean sweep. Ienei will be one of my nearest collaborators," he said. "I am very aware that I have a great responsibility. I don't fear work or difficulties. I anticipate doing a good job with the technical team that is in place. Regarding my assistant, I know that the Romanian press have written about Tudorel Stoica of Anderlecht. I know him very well and would be delighted to bring him in, but nothing has been established yet."
Ienei's assistant Gavril Balint has since moved onto Galatasaray SK in Turkey.

Ienei to remain loyal
Ienei, 63, who coached Bölöni at Steaua in the 1980s, will now take over as technical manager to Romania's junior, under-21, and senior squads after leading the senior team to the EURO 2000™ quarter-finals.
"I know Bölöni very well, he is a top professional," Ienei said. "He will be a good coach for Romania, even if he is returning to local soccer after a long time abroad. I have no reason to explain why the change took place. It is a question of co-operation. I proposed Ladislau for the job as in my opinion he is the best man to continue the technical development of the team. My co-operation will be a loyal one as we want to improve the Romanian national team."

Popescu rules himself out
Bölöni will have to contend without the services of star defender Gheorghe Popescu, who has re-iterated his decision to retire as national team coach.
"For me it is now a closed chapter. I wanted to fund something in Romania, but the state caused me problems," the veteran defender stated.