Article by Marius Mărgărit – published Tuesday, May 13, 2025 19:47 / Updated Tuesday, May 13, 2025 22:40
It appeared from nowhere to us. First, as a footballer, at FC Vaslui, where he came from the second German league, from FC Karlsruher, in 2012-2013. Then, even more surprising, 10 years later, as a coach, at FCSB. Uau, at FCSB, that is, not anywhere, even though Gigi Becali's team had been struggling for years to become a champion. Many were already pitying him, with crocodile tears, that “he does not know where he arrived!”, “No to last 6 months!”, “Gigi eats it!”
And in that play-off that the red-blue had started from three, he climbed a position, ending only after the lighthouse. However, the end was for disaster, a 1-5 with Rapid in the last round, when there was no stake. It seemed to be right “crocodiles”.
And yet, he resisted, causing many to change the sheet. There has been a lot on his account, that it is just a ficus who knows how to fold and bend at all possible angles, just to please the owner. Which, in turn, made his team, and changes. That, in fact, he would be Pintilii's second, the basic and reliable man from Berceni, and that he is just there to take a good salary, but does not do much. That is just a “training coach”.
Even the journalists complained that at meetings with him or the flash-interviews he was exaggerated by calm, too skillful to say a lot without saying anything, not to upset anyone. That he is too linear, too sober, too serious. The perfect “yes-man” had been classified, the most convenient solution, including financially, a man that the boss could have put anywhere on the chessboard at the palace, and the Cypriot would not have grown.
Elias Charalambous did not respond, did not react, swallowed all this avalanche of an adjective-invective, without being victimized, even when things did not go. No one blames anyone, he did not offend anyone, he did not look for alibi. And he saw himself quietly, even though he never had the advantage of tactical surprise. Because whatever he did or thought, he was always publicly detached from Big Brother.
And the peak (or not!), With him on the bench, FCSB regained its status as one in Romania, after many years of blindness from the palace or from Pipera. Moreover, the red-blue also regained their color in the cheeks through European storms, proof of the exceptional course in the Europa League, after the first won championship.
Adrian Porumboiu, the one who met the first, when he had a player in Vaslui, simply describes Elias: “A professional, a very good player, a very balanced guy who has never done problems. It was a pleasure collaboration with him and I am glad for what he did. And as a man, I would put him at the level with Adailton, that is the above.
Gigi makes the team, a, but there is nothing special! I said before, I personally saw how Berlusconi made Ancelotti's changes. And what big coach is the Italian! Gigi does not prepare the team, he does not train the boys to make that pressure up, aggressive, he does not make schemes, the game routes! That's what Elias does, along with his staff. For me, it's really an example! ”.
Elias Charalambous has won a new title at FCSB
You know that the former FIFA badge does not end, that is, to give with the whip, if necessary. As for Charalambous is not.
The two have remained friends, the technician really wants to return to Vaslui, to show the family the place where he met with Romania, who became like a second house.
It was not simple this season. Elias once again passed all over everything, even though at the beginning of the team he seemed polished or too focused on the continental challenges.
Now is the second champion of Romania for the second time. He had not won any trophy as a coach, until he came here. As a player, he has three titles and three cups, with Omonia, in Cyprus, for whose national he ticked 69 presence.
Here he came as an anonymous, and now he was crowned for the second time in a row. He stays at the cantonment, he did not start to make his children, he has no arrogances. It has not changed, even if it laughs or frowns now. He is still able after a match with sparks to extend the first hand and hold it even after his colleagues who seem to forget him, hurrying to the locker rooms. Fuck it for professional courtesy, give it a common sense!
I mean, beyond all, a gentleman remained. And that does more than all financial titles and rewards. It's an example that is really worth following. Thank you, Mr. Charalambous!
