Former international footballer Gheorghe Hagi on Wednesday said that sports are part of a social phenomenon and that investments are needed in society for sports to bring Romania the greatest results.

'Sports are a part of a social phenomenon in Romania and we must invest in our society in order to have very great performances and athletes. At first, everything is about the social environment until the age of 18, the social environment where you help develop, educate, grow, discover the one who will represent Romania in the future. All the clubs, all of us who work for Romania, in fact, because discovering the best who fights with the best and getting results is very hard work, it is not an easy work, and everything starts from the social environment, we must know how to do this in schools until the age of 18 and, after that, from the age of 19, when you are mature, you start fighting with the older ones, with the best. You must learn. Everything you learn, you learn forever,' emphasised Gheorghe Hagi, at the Cotroceni Palace, after being decorated with the National Order 'Star of Romania'.

He thanked everyone for the distinction he received. 'It's a special day. A special moment for me, which you saw how I lived it. The emotions are there. (...) I'm proud, I'm honoured, I'm happy, I'm fulfilled, I feel good,' said Hagi.

The former great footballer recalled that his first gift was a ball that he received at the age of three.

'It listened to me because I loved it, and we did beautiful things, together with the team, of course, because, don't forget, I had behind me and next to me wherever I've been - club teams, the national team - we were a group, a team. For us, team spirit matters a lot, which helped us in bringing back results that made Romanians happy,' he said.

Gheorghe Hagi mentioned that this day when he is being decorated will remain the top one in his memories. AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Florentina Peia, EN - writing by: Cristina Zaharia)