Lacatus goes back to his roots

Marius Lacatus, the former Romanian international winger, has been appointed coach of FC Brasov, 19 years after he left his home-town club as a player.

Coaching career
Lacatus, who went on to play for FC Steaua Bucuresti as well as AC Fiorentina in Italy and Real Oviedo in Spain during a career that saw him win 84 caps for Romania, began his coaching career in August 2000 at FC National Burcuresti.

Strong performance
The 38-year-old, who was born in Brasov, was also briefly assistant coach to the Panama national team before returning to Romania with CS Otelul Galati in January this year. In his six months there he presided over a team that lost just twice as they finished a strong fifth in Divizia A.

Best-placed team
Otelul were the best-placed team outside of Bucharest finishing behind champions FC Dinamo Bucuresti, National, FC Rapid Bucuresti and Steaua.

Brasov struggle
Brasov's season was in marked contrast, the club going through three coaches - Ilie Dumitrescu, Gabi Stan and, latterly, the assistant trainer, Ferenc Bajko - before finishing 11th after struggling to avoid relegation.

'Favourite son'
Lacatus, who has signed a one-year contract, was described by Brasov's principal sponsor, Ioan Nicolae, as "the town's favourite son" and a very good trainer. "Lacatus raised his head as a coach in Romania with Otelul Galati," said Nicolae. "Now I want him to raise his entire body with FC Brasov."