UEFA Champions League
Steaua's prayers answered
"This is the biggest challenge of my coaching career. An opportunity
like this cannot be missed. It's like when a train stops at a station
- if you don't get on the train it might never stop again", says
Marius Lăcătuș, new coach of FC Steaua Bucuresti
By
PAUL-DANIEL ZAHARIA
from Bucharest, ROMANIA
Story from www.uefa.com
Accepting the offer to become coach of Romania's most successful club
is not a decision taken lightly. Just ask Gheorghe Hagi. A national
hero as a player, even he was unprepared for the intensity of life
as coach of FC Steaua București. He resigned in September after three
months in charge complaining the pressure on him was like "torture".
Idol
No matter how brightly the warning signs might shine, though, coaching
the 1986 European Champion Clubs' Cup winners remains the job to aspire
to in Romanian football. Step forward Marius Lăcătuș. An idol in his
playing days, Lăcătuș is the latest Steaua legend to attempt to transfer
the success he enjoyed on the pitch to life on the bench. Nicknamed
the Beast for his ferocious commitment as a striker, Lăcătuș is used
to a scrap and not scared of a challenge, characteristics that will
be invaluable if he is to succeed where his illustrious predecessor
failed.
'Biggest challenge'
"This is the biggest challenge of my coaching career," he
said. "An opportunity like this cannot be missed. It's like when
a train stops at a station - if you don't get on the train it might
never stop again. This is my choice and also the choice of my family.
When you embark on a journey like this you know what the risks are."
Falling out with owner Gigi Becali will be top of that list. Romania's
richest man demands style and success in equal measure and as Hagi
found to his cost, he is not one to wait for his coaches to deliver.
Steaua fans, though, will be hoping for a little more patience this
time as finally their wish of having Lăcătuș as coach is fulfilled.
Steaua symbol
The 43-year-old's popularity cannot be overstated. He scored a hat-trick
on his Steaua debut 24 years ago at the age of 19 and never looked
back in a career that spanned 14 years over two spells with the club.
During that time he became the symbol of Steaua, his goals powering
the club to ten league titles and most famously of all the European
Cup in 1986 when he scored in the penalty shoot-out to defeat FC Barcelona.
Capped 84 times for Romania, no player has won more silverware with
Steaua.
Fan favourite
He retired from playing in 2000 and during times of crisis ever since
Steaua fans have clamoured for his return as coach. To keep Steaua
supporters onside Becali appointed Lăcătuș as executive president
in October 2005. It was an honourific role and not one that would
keep Lăcătuș happy for long. He said he never felt comfortable in
an office wearing a suit and tie, preferring instead "the green
grass of the pitch". In May 2006 he resigned, taking over as
coach of lowly FCM UTA Arad, the fifth top-flight club side of his
career following spells as coach of FC National București, FC Brasov,
FC Ceahlaul Piatra Neamt and FC Otelul Galati. He also worked as an
assistant for both the Panama and Romania national sides. Nothing,
though, Lăcătuș says, can compare with coaching "at the club
which meant, means and will always mean everything to me".
Confidence
Lăcătuș inherits a Steaua side already well off the pace in Liga 1
and still without a point in the UEFA Champions League. He is confident,
though, that if he can improve morale, results will follow. "We
can still become champions and even qualify for the last 16 of the
UEFA Champions League," he said. "It's a psychological issue.
The players have proved they are very good and skilful and have to
regain their self-confidence. That's the secret. They will also have
to understand they are now answering to a man who achieved great success
as a player and who wants to achieve the same as a coach."
'Opportunity'
How long Lăcătuș will be given to lead by example remains to be seen.
With the fans behind him, he will be hoping for more time than Hagi
at least. "The results are important, especially between now
and the end of this year, to give us some calm in the second half
of the season. I'm very happy I got this opportunity to coach Steaua,
but it depends only on me and on my staff how long we will stay here.
I have total confidence in Steaua's real fans and I express my gratitude
towards them for the support and love they have always showed. We
need them."
(Published: 09.11.2007.)
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