Răzvan Burleanu addresses Romanian football challenges

Răzvan Burleanu, president of the Romanian Football Federation (FRF), has addressed several critical issues facing the nation's football landscape following recent setbacks for the national teams.

Regarding the senior national team, Burleanu expressed total and unconditional support for head coach Gheorghe Hagi despite four consecutive losses in the Nations League. He emphasized the need for stability and continuity to achieve the goal of qualifying for EURO 2028.

Addressing the U21 national team, Burleanu announced that a new head coach will be appointed by the end of the year following the team's failure to qualify for the EURO U21 2027. While Adrian Mutu has been mentioned in reports, Burleanu stated no formal discussions have taken place with the technical commission.

Burleanu also criticized Liga 1 clubs for a perceived lack of investment in youth development and academies. He argued that clubs must prioritize junior players to unlock the country's economic potential through player transfers. This criticism was met with pushback from FCSB president Mihai Stoica, who argued that Romanian football lacks the financial infrastructure and stability seen in nations like Poland or the Czech Republic.