Stoichita succeeds Stan as Steaua coach
Reuters - Tuesday 27 March 2012, 13:34
Ilie Stan has stepped down
as coach of Steaua Bucharest and has been replaced by the
much-travelled Mihai Stoichita, the Romanian club said on
Tuesday, a day after their home goalless draw against Gaz Metan
Medias left them fourth.
"Mihai Stoichita is the new coach of Steaua," flamboyant
Steaua owner Gigi Becali told local media, adding the
57-year-old signed a contract until the end of the season.
Stoichita, who became Steaua's third coach this season after
Stan (pictured) and Israeli Roni Levy, has returned for a third stint in
the hotseat and could earn a contract extension if he wins the
Romanian league title.
Steaua, 1986 European champions, are eight points behind
leaders CFR Cluj.
"We can still win the title as there's a lot of quality
players in the team," said Stoichita, who won the league title
and the domestic Super Cup with Steaua in 1998.
Under Stan, who took over in October, Steaua recorded nine
wins, four draws and suffered two defeats in the league as they
also reached the Europa League round of 32.
Stoichita previously coached more than a dozen clubs in
Romania, Bulgaria, Moldova, Armenia, Turkey, Cyprus and Kuwait
as well as being at the helm of the national teams of Panama,
Armenia and Kuwait.
He will make his debut on Saturday when Steaua visit
seventh-placed Pandurii Targu-Jiu.