Article by Eduard Apostol – published on Sunday, April 20, 2025, 13:02 / Updated Sunday, April 20, 2025 13:02
Portuguese Mario Felgueiras, 38, returned to Romania, in our football. After one of the most appreciated foreigners in Liga 1, in the shirt of FC Brașov and CFR Cluj, the Lusitan returned as a sports manager of the University of Craiova.
During an interview in extenso given to the Sports Gazette, Mario has reported, with overflowing sincerity, what he likes in Romania and Romanians, but also what disappoints him. Sometimes, like all of us.
Mario Feluguiiras adapted to the life of Bănie: “I also used to the Romanian Oltenilor”
“I did not need any adaptation, I lived for years in Romania. I also know the language. I knew a few people from the club (in Craiova). I didn't have enough time to have fun, to go out. When I was a player, it was something else.
Craiova seems ok, a quiet city, I have everything I need. I have nothing to reproach. Brașov and Cluj are another type of city, with another vibe, but we came for performance, to do something together, not tourism.
(laughs) I got used to the Romanian language spoken by Olteni, I know a few words, as you speak: “understanding” and so on, I am no longer tricked by the dialect here. It was simpler, because I understand almost in Romanian, “Mario Felgueiiras said in an interview for GSP.ro.
10Teams gathered Felgueiras in his career: Espinho, Portimonense, Braga, Victoria Setubal, Rio Ave, FC Brașov, CFR Cluj, Konyaspor, Pacos Ferreira and Anorthosis, withdrawing in 2019
Mario Felgueiras, courtesy reaction for our country: “Half Portuguese, half Romanian”
“(What do you like most about Romanians?) Romania has something special. At first, all the foreigners who come here complain about the organization, all that are missing (in football), but then they all want to stay and, if they leave, return to Romania.
I, in particular, do not know what always pulls me to return to Romania. And when I was an agent of players, I would come very often to Romania. I say what's about me. Yes, he helped me a lot what I lived in Brasov and Cluj, to have a special emotional relationship. I always said that Romania was my two house and, let's say, I feel half Portuguese, half Romanian.
My heart was hurt when I saw that the country does not develop as it should and maybe from this point of view I want to help develop more, on the sports side, “commented Lusitan.
The Romanians, being Latinos, have this thing to stay at the table, to discuss, to speak with pleasure, to interact. It is similar to what we have in Portugal. I like to communicate, learn from others. And that helps me because there are many countries in western Europe where people don't stay in social
Mario Felgueiras, Sports Manager University Craiova
Mario Feluguiiras about the other face of Romania: “I see in traffic or queue … the rules and laws must be respected”
“(What do you do not like Romanians?) EEE … I do not say that it is lacking in respect, but I do not like when people do not respect the laws, the rules. I know that this sometimes helps us to be smarter, with bureaucracy, with … to solve some things. But I see in traffic or in a tail when we have to wait.
And if you “sleep”, it comes very quickly and takes your place (laughs). I have already got used to it and I am more careful with this thing. We must respect each other with each other, so that everything becomes easier, more beautiful. And it would be easier to grow, to develop, “concluded the official of Craiova University.
I fell in love with Brasov at first sight, my favorite place in Romania remains. I lived there some very beautiful moments, in that city, with the people there. It surprised me very positively. I don't even understand now that Brasov has no team in Liga 1. In Brasov I was very happy, I want to take my child to see how it is there
Mario Felgueiras, Sports Manager University Craiova
