George Copos, interview: “Mircea Lucescu was determined to return to Rapid, but that was the hindrance” + “Samsung” stores for referees and the big mistake made in Giulești: “I apologize!”

George Copos sold the Rapid in 2013 and then carried out almost 400 days of imprisonment following the convictions in the “Lottery” and “Transfers” files, being released in April 2015.

And from then until today, over a decade, Media's appearances have been extremely rare, to zero.

He preferred to retire to a discreet area, dealing only with the business of the “Ana” holding holding, who soon prepares a special event in Brasov: restart the cable car to Tâmpa and the “panoramic” restaurant. Meanwhile, at the beginning of 2023, he obtained the court and the judicial rehabilitation.

Now, in his flirting office near the “Crowne Plaza” hotel, Copos reopens his box with memories. When expansive, when it comes to detail, the former patron from Giulești scans sequences from his tumultuous Giulesti adventure.

To his right, a photo with Pope John Paul II, and on the left-a collection of paintings painted by his young daughter, Daria (14 years), an aspirant at the Olympic Games for riding. So let's re-aze the man who, with good and bad, has marked an era in Giulești! And a mention: the secrets of collaboration with Mircea Lucescu, detailed in a spectacular future episode!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z3savt7ho7Q

George Copos: “I spent over 28 million euros to Rapid. I'm not sorry about any money!”

– Mr. Copos, you took the Rapid three to four years after the Revolution. Do you remember the context in which you started on that road?
– I initially had an association contract in participation with FC Rapid. I remember they had no money to cross the street. They came to us, at the “Ana Electronic” headquarters on “Dorobanți”, who was at that time exclusively Samsung in Romania. I think I first offered about $ 50,000, a generous amount at that time. After another week, they asked for another sponsorship. That was the moment when we decided that, wanting to know how the money is spent, it is better to make that contract. “Ana” owned 51%, and the Rapid – 49%. Subsequently, in time, through capital increases, I held 99%, until I left football in 2013.

– With what amount did you start on the road when you became owner? The first significant investment?
– somewhere up to a million dollars. But, during the course, I spent over 28 million euros, on documents. But I'm not sorry about anything. And I don't regret any euros! There were beautiful moments, which you can not find elsewhere.

– But what money did you run at Rapid in the 21 years of marriage?
– Well, the annual budget was around 12-14 million euros! Sponsorships from group companies, internal TV rights and those from international parties, tickets. But I repeat: I was even discussing the last days with someone and I told him that I was not sorry about anything lived at Rapid, because I went through so many beautiful moments, joy!

“George Copos the crunch? I had to fit in a budget!”

– The Rapid gathered 11 trophies in “Era Copos”: two titles, four cups, four superchers and once the League Cup. Which of these is your dear?
– The two championships, of course! 1999 – With Mircea Lucescu, 2003 – with Mircea Rednic and Răzvan Lucescu vice -president! In fact, Răzvan was doing them all then: general director, and administrative director, and vice. He had an as big contribution to the 2003 title!

– Do you find yourself in the famous public characterization “George Copos the crunch”?
– In the middle was a budget in which we had to fit. It's hard to keep a budget under control. And it is hard to make a budget in football, because the ambitions and motivation are great, but you have to stay within the limits you allow. That's why I was so demanding! Unfortunately, the Rapid did not have been part of very valuable people at the administrative level, as Daniel Niculae, Pancu. If I had such people, I would not negotiate. But we were forced to make it to make sure we can fit in the budget, but we also access the performance.

– Was Lupu the most capricious player you worked with?
– The most talented! And he loved football! He loved him! He liked it! And he had certain attitudes because he knew his value. Phenomenal player! I remember a match with FC National at the end of the 1998-1999 season. He had a broken toe, I took him to different treatments, entered the field and had a penalty through the 70th minute. I impeccable! That was the void that assured us, practically, the title!

I have never felt offended by the scandals in Giulești. I made mistakes too, and the audience of the Rapid is a very demanding one
– George Copos, a former quick owner, for gsp.ro

Copos, Lucescu and Rapid players celebrate the 1999 title

“I shouldn't have kicked Hizo before the 1995 Cup final. I took some” advisers “”

– You talked earlier about the fact that you were the exclusively Samsung distributor in Romania. It is the period when some of the elite referees had Samsung stores in their own cities, including Ion Crăciunescu in Vâlcea. Do you now consider it a mistake?
– A correct thing! You know what the Romanian is about: Teach the man to fish to catch fish! Give it the wave, not the fish! I think I had about three or four such representations in the country, in a network of almost 170 stores. And Crăciunescu was one of the distributors, yes! But a very correct guy. Buy, he sold. If they were good administrators, they would be profit. If not, no!

– Do you remember the famous final of the Romanian Cup with Oil, with a huge scandal, empty to the Rapid from a huge offender? Crăciunescu Referee!
– Was he assistant? Not! I replied!

George Copos and Ion Crăciunescu were business partners with “Samsung” stores in the 1990s. Photo: GSP archive

– The biggest mistake you made at Rapid?
– When I kicked Viorel Hizo before the 1995 Cup final, at the pressure of “advisers”! And I lost that match! Now and here, I apologize to Viorel Hizo! He was a great coach. Think that, in 2001, having him on the bench, I did 0-0 in Paris with PSG, who had Ronaldinho! I made a fantastic match then.

– However, you lost the return to Bucharest at the “Green Mass”, after the memorable episode with the extinguishing of the night, in extensions, at 0-1! Hizo suspects you over the years that you have directed the event, because you should have paid for a wagon to the players if they qualified!
– That's crazy! Actually, then the current fell in half Bucharest, including at the Cotroceni Palace. Look what happened recently in Spain and Portugal, with that total Blackout! What could I have done?!

What matters now for me is that the “Ana” group makes investments of over 30 million euros annually. That's all that matters. We are strong!
– George Copos, fast patron, for gsp.ro

Memorable interview offered by Viorel Hizo for GSP in 2015, when he directly accused Copos of setting out the night on the return with PSG since 2001

“I have no advice to give Dan Șucu. It's a superdeștept guy.”

– When were you the last time at a Rapid match?
– Many years ago. I think in 2013, when I left the club.

– Do you no longer push your soul to return to the stands or are you afraid of a potential adverse reaction from the public?
– At all! Rapids are excellent people. Special! And I love the club with sincerity. Probably many have no joy than to come to Giulești a match. And then they should be understood in this key.

– Do you believe in the version that Rapid should attack the title next season?
– They will succeed. They will succeed! They have everything now: stadium, superinvestitor, stability. I do not know what the situation is with the preparation base. At the time, Mircea Lucescu had insisted on the cantonment, because it is an important detail for the great performance.

– What advice would you give Dan Șucu today?
– I don't want to give advice. Football is a difficult field. And Dan Șucu is a superdeștept, balanced, wise, determined to do good things. It would be good to take care of him!

I was not surprised at all Dan Șucu's gesture to buy Genoa. If you want to play at a high level, that's what you need to do
– George Copos, a former quick owner, for gsp.ro

“I went twice with Dan Șucu in Greece, in Răzvan”

– Do you not think that Dan Șucu committed an error when he found the necessary buttons to bring Mircea Lucescu back on the bench of Rapid?
– Mircea really wanted to come, but everything depended on the owners' decision. I do not suggest that they did not do well what they did, but I think they had already signed the contract with Neil Lennon. I went twice with Dan to Greece, to Răzvan. And Mircea was determined to come. And he could come! To stay for three to four years, he is healthy, he was a team. He then left Răzvan. It would have been phenomenal, a continuity. That's how I saw the plan.

– Șumudică – failure in Giulești. Many episodes of circus, epic rates, tensions, very challenged. How did you see all this mandate of it?
– Șumudică the player and the coach – both good. Let's not forget where the team took this season! So much!

Before taking over the national team, Mircea Lucescu was very close to a spectacular Come-Back at Rapid

– Are you surprised by Mircea Lucescu's choice to return to the national team?
– How many coaches do they still have the courage to work at a nation at 80? He's the only one in the world! And you will see that he will be able to qualify the national team. He's a man who plans things very well. After all, this is the value of Romanian football. You have seen at what level they are playing in the upper phases of the Champions League! And what investments and budgets take place in Europe! We are at ten million euros, the others revolve at 200 million euros, 600 million euros. Can we compare ourselves to what's there?