Gheorghe Hagi, at launch of his autobiography 'My Path' - The book shows how to build success

Former captain and national football team coach Gheorghe Hagi said on Wednesday evening at the launch event of his autobiography titled 'My Path' at the Bucharest University of Economic Studies that the book describes his journey in life and shows how to build success.
'I think these words that have been said about me are a bit much. Because I tried to be the best, I don't know if I succeeded. The book is called 'My Path, a path that began in Sacele with a child who loved the ball. I loved it, I trained, I worked... and I was lucky to have the best teachers who trained me and made me better. Not to mention all the teammates I had, because they all helped me to be better. Because I practiced team sports, not individual sports. So there were many people in my corner who helped me. Because the team wins trophies, the player just makes a difference once in a while. It is my path from a little boy to growing up and growing old. I left Constanta and came back to Constanta where now I have built an academy. It was my duty, because football made me known in the world. What's in this book is good. Here you can read how to build success. That's what the book shows, how to build a big success. Football was my first love,' Hagi said.
He explained that he generally made good decisions in his career that helped him and that he retired when he could no longer train.
'I chose the name of the book because it's a journey, we all have our lives. It's a journey where you have many opportunities and you make decisions. You don't always make good decisions, the important thing is that in the end there are more good decisions. And I think I've made more good decisions than bad. If I didn't make good decisions in some moments I wouldn't be where I am and I couldn't achieve those performances and reach the top 100 in the world of all time. But I learned from criticism, from defeats, they all made me stronger. My quality was that I was ambitious and I wanted to be better than others. I always liked the ball and I always liked to win. That made me play until I was 36 and a half, and I don't know how many people played at that age. And I'll tell you why I retired, I retired because I couldn't train anymore. The hardest thing in football and other jobs is to train. It's a pleasure during a match, but at the match you play how you train. There's no way you don't love training and then be on the field at the match. There's no such thing. It's something I wrote in the book, the hardest thing in football is training... it's repetition, repetition, repetition,' Hagi said.
'The first thing I loved was the ball. After that, when I grew up, came family, wife, kids. I thank God that he gave me a wife who understands me and two good and serious children. I'm proud and fulfilled, I can go to bed in peace because I've done my best. The most beautiful thing I experienced was when I was three years old when I told my parents to get me a ball. There couldn't be a better moment. And when I first saw the ball, I fell in love with it. And I tried to control it so it wouldn't bite. I was no. 10, but when I was younger I was more selfish. That's why I was Romania's top scorer twice. But after 23-24 years I tried to pass more, that's why no. 9 who played in the team with me scored a lot of goals,' Hagi added.
Questioned by Aurel Ticleanu, present at the launch, Gheorghe Hagi admitted that he would have liked to play for Universitatea Craiova.
The former national team coach has not forgotten two of the national team coaches who appointed him captain.
'What would I say to Gica Hagi when he was 17? Mircea Lucescu has to answer this question, I don't know what he saw in me. He took me to the national team when I was 17. He came to see me at a game Steaua - Farul, in the second half I did what I wanted on the field and I also scored a goal from 30 meters directly into the corner. And then again Nea [Uncle, editor's note] Mircea should say what he saw in me to make me captain of the national team at 20. I was made captain of the national team by two Dinamo players. The first was Nea Mircea, and the second Cornel Dinu. Two Dinamo players gave me the armband at the national team. What did they see in me?,' said Hagi laughingly.
The launch of the autobiographical book 'Hagi - My Path', held in the Aula Magna Hall of the Bucharest University of Economic Studies, was attended by former colleagues, opponents and coaches of Gheorghe Hagi such as Mircea Lucescu, Gheorghe Popescu, Florin Raducioiu, Marius Lacatus, Stefan Iovan, Adrian Bumbescu, Ilie Dumitrescu, Bogdan Stelea, Ionel Ganea, Dorin Mateut, Jean Vlădoiu, Emil Sandoi or Iosif Rotariu.
The coach of the Romanian national team, Mircea Lucescu, acknowledged, at the event, that his entire career has been influenced by Gheorghe Hagi, just as the career of the former coach of the first national team was influenced by his presence.
'My career was influenced by Gica Hagi. And his career was influenced by my presence. He started with me when he was 17, and when he was 24-25 we met again... he dropped everything and came with me. It was a difficult time for him and for me. He left everything, left Real Madrid and came to Brescia with me, where he had two extraordinary years. Hagi was remembered by everyone at Brescia. Baggio and Guardiola were there, but everyone talks about Hagi, because that was the most beautiful football ever played. It was Brescia Romena, and Hagi was number 1. Then he came to me and said Barcelona was calling him and to let him go. I said no problem, even though I had built the whole team around him. Then we met once more at Galatasaray, where 70-80 percent of the five titles in Turkey are owed to him,' said Mircea Lucescu.
Mircea Lucescu mentioned that Hagi was an example for everyone and that he never disappointed anyone in his career.
'Gica started with a great temperament and talent. On these two things he built his career. Through that temperament he became a strong character. I incorporated in him the desires of all the people around him who put their hopes in him. And he never let anyone down. He became, in time, a player of great personality and later a leader. He was not only what he says he was, he was also really headstrong, but also a big-hearted man. He was an example to absolutely everyone. He has an incredible career behind him that we should all applaud. And those who, from time to time, try to question something, should be ashamed, because Gica Hagi is the best,' Lucescu further said.
Former footballer Ilie Dumitrescu also said on Wednesday evening, that if he and the other members of the 'Golden Generation' would have helped Gheorghe Hagi a little more at the 1994 World Cup, he could have been named the best player of that edition.
'I recommend this book to all football lovers. It is fascinating what I saw in this book, it is the journey of the most important player in the history of Romanian football. We helped Gica very little. If we had helped Hagi in '94, he could have won the title of the best player at the World Cup,' Ilie Dumitrescu said.
'It is very hard for a phenomenon, a genius like Gica Hagi to be born again. Players like Gica Popescu, Ilie Dumitrescu or Sabau will come along... but like Gica Hagi, very difficult. All of us who were his colleagues are proud and honored that we had the opportunity to play alongside genius like Gica Hagi. He is by far the best player in Romanian football. I don't want to do an injustice to Dobrin or Balaci, but for me Hagi is the best,' added Ilie Dumitrescu.
Former footballer Marius Lacatus also present on Wednesday evening at the launch of Gheorghe Hagi's autobiography book, declared that the latter's path in football is one to follow and voiced his hope that in the future another Romanian player will be able to achieve the same performances.
'Not many Romanian football players manage to play for Real Madrid and Barcelona, two of the biggest teams in Europe and in the world. What Gica has achieved is extraordinary. Nor should we forget the performances he has achieved with the national team. And yes, Gica Hagi's path is a path to follow. I would like, as I am sure he also wishes, for someone else to come along, someone who will follow the same path and obtain the results he has obtained,' said former deep lying striker Marius Lacatus. AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Marius Tone; EN - writing by: Simona Iacob)
The content of the www.agerpres.ro website has the exclusive purpose of public informing.
All the information published on this website by AGERPRES is protected by relevant legal dispositions.
It is forbidden to copy, reproduce, recompile, decompile, distribute, publish, display, modify, create derived components or products or full services, as well as any exploitation of the site's content.
Details in the section Terms of Use. If you are interested in picking up AGERPRES news items, please contact the Marketing Department – [email protected].
The use of the Comments section entails your obligation to respect the AGERPRES terms and conditions in regards to the publishing of comments on the www.agerpres.ro.
Other news in category
Pope Francis funeral/Medal of Pope's 2019 visit to Romania placed in his coffin
The medal of Pope Francis' 2019 visit to Romania was placed beside him during the coffin-closing and sealing ceremony held on Friday evening. The ceremony included the impressive ritual of the covering of Francis' face with a white silk cloth. A bag containing coins and medals minted during his pontificate was placed in the coffin, including the medal
Groundbreaking ceremony for Prut River 'Flower Bridge', with Romanian and Moldovan authorities attending
Romanian and Moldovan officials are to attend on Saturday the groundbreaking ceremony for the first motorway road bridge across the Prut River in the last 60 years - the Ungheni Bridge, an event symbolically called the Flower Bridge Festival. The new bridge will connect the commune of Zagarancea in the Republic of Moldova's Ungheni District with the Golaes
Pope Francis funeral/National mourning day for the late pontiff, Romanian flag flown at half-mast
Romania observes on Saturday a day of mourning in honor of Pope Francis, following a government decision to this effect. 'We approve a day of national mourning in Romania in memory of His Holiness Pope Francis, to be observed on Saturday, April 26, the very day of his funeral at the Vatican. It is a decision that shows our deep respect for his complete ope
EU on high alert over Russia's hybrid offensive on Europe's democracies (enr)
Hybrid threats, in particular from Russia, have flooded Europe in the wake of its invasion of Ukraine. EU officials and intelligence reports warn of a surge in attacks designed to destabilise European democracies - with national elections, infrastructure, and public trust in the crosshairs. The European Union has become increasingly concerned about Russian int
Romania to remember Pope Francis on April 26, day of national mourning
The Romanian government on April 24, 2025, approved declaring April 26, 2025, a day of mourning in Romania in memory of Pope Francis, on the very day of the pope's funeral at the Vatican. 'A spiritual and moral leader, Pope Francis stood out for his active involvement in the life of contemporary society, a profound personality, also appreciated by the
President Bolojan: Marking 20 years since signing of EU Accession Treaty, opportunity to focus on consolidating European path
Interim President Ilie Bolojan conveyed a message on Friday, on the 20th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Accession of Romania to the European Union. 'We are marking today 20 years since the signing of the Treaty of Accession of Romania to the European Union on April 25, 2005, a key moment that paved the way for our integration, which was finali
'Cindrelul - Junii Sibiului' folk ensemble to represent Romania at EuropaFest in Germany
According to a decision adopted on Thursday by the Sibiu County Council, the professional folk ensemble 'Cindrelul - Junii Sibiului' will represent Romania at the EuropaFest cultural festival running May 17 - 20 in the German city of Landshut. 'The artists will present folk dances representative of Romania's major ethnographic areas and of Sibi
Romania and Moldova to launch construction of first road bridge over Prut in last six decades
The Republic of Moldova and Romania will jointly mark, on Saturday, the launch of the construction of the first motorway bridge over the Prut River in the last six decades - the Ungheni Bridge, through a symbolic event generically called the 'Flower Bridge' Festival. The bridge will connect the Zagarancea locality in Ungheni district (the Republic of M
Cohesion and common agricultural policies, of major interest, says PM Ciolacu at meeting with Commissioner Serafin
Romania will play an active and constructive role in the consultations for the post 2027 Multiannual Financial Framework so that it results in a balanced proposal, able to respond to the objectives of the European Union and to the political, economic and security changes, said Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu, at the meeting with the delegation led by the European Commissioner
Gov't approves day of national mourning in Romania in memory of Pope Francis
Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu has announced that Saturday April 26 will be a day of national mourning in Romania in memory of Pope Francis, saying that this is a 'decision that shows deep respect for the total openness and warmth permanently shown to Romanians.' 'We approve a day of national mourning in Romania in memory of Pope Francis, on Saturda
Public invited to see election technology at Cotroceni Presidential Palace on weekend
The gates to the Cotroceni Presidential Palace will open to the public again, and this time it is the turn of the Special Telecommunications Service (STS) to delight visitors of all ages. From Friday to Sunday, 10:00hrs-18:00hrs, STS will conduct interactive activities for children and adults alike, an exhibition of special vehicles and special telecommunicati
PM Ciolacu signs condolence book at Apostolic Nunciature to Romania
Bucharest, April 24 /Agerpres/ - Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu wrote a message on Thursday morning in a condolence book opened at the Apostolic Nunciature to Romania in memory of the Pope Francis. He spent a few minutes in the embassy headquarters. A condolence book for officials is open inside the diplomatic mission, and all those who wish to c
Commemorative march in footsteps of Romanian heroes fallen on the Western Front arrives in Oarba de Mures
The commemorative march titled 'In the footsteps of the Romanian heroes fallen on the Western Front - Hungary, Slovakia, Czech Republic', organized by the Ministry of National Defence, through the National Office for the Cult of Heroes, on the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, arrived on Wednesday at the Heroes Cemetery in Oarba de Mures, where several tho
Romania reaches podium at the 2025 FIRST Championship robotics competition
Romanian teams climbed the podium at the 2025 FIRST Championship robotics competition, intended for high school students, which took place between April 16 and 19 in Houston, USA, informs the Ministry of Education and Research. Remarkable results were achieved by the CSH Timisoara & Eastern Foxes Ploiesti team - an exceptional alliance, which ranked 3rd gl
Over 1 million Romanians celebrate their name day on St. George
Over 1 million Romanians celebrate their name day of on Saint George the Martyr [Sf. Gheorghe in Romanian - editor's note] on Wednesday, April 23. According to the General Directorate of Personal Records, the most common male names are: Gheorghe (402,099); George (159,761); Georgian (29,408); Gheorghita (21,434); Georgel (12,285); Gigi (8,659); Gigel (5,82