Article by Alexandru Barbu, Răzvan Stamatiu – published on Friday, September 12, 2025 19:33 / Updated on Friday, September 12, 2025 7:33
Invited to the GSP podcast “2 to 1”Florentin Petre, 49, spoke about the experience from Terek Grozny, where he played for two years, between 2008 and 2010.
The former international remembers with love of the time in Chechnya and has words of praise about Ramzan Kadîrov, the leader of the Republic and the leader of Terek. Otherwise, a controversial character. Near Vladimir Putin, Kadîrov is with Russia in the war triggered in Ukraine, sent troops to support the invasion.
Video | How Florentin Petre arrived in Russia: “The coach called me, I didn't even know where I'm going”
Terek Grozny transferred Florentin Petre in 2008, from CSKA Sofia, for the amount of 300,000 euros.
“The experience in Russia was very beautiful. The first time I didn't even know where I was going. I was playing in Bulgaria at that time, I had a contract year with Cska Sofia. I was just coming from the European Championship, it was quiet. My phone rang, someone with a Russian accent, but in the Bulgarian dialect.
He said to me: «I am the coach of Terek Grozny. I want you to come to us, to make a team. I am friends with Giovanni Becali, your manager. Are you interested? ». “Yes, of course I am,” I replied. I was tired of Bulgaria, I had won the title anyway, ready, it arrives.
I put him in touch with Giovanni and we understood. This is how I took Daniel Pancu and Andrei Mărgăritescu. It was a very beautiful experience, even if the world was talking and wondering why we were going there, where there are wars, ”said Florentin Petre.
5 goalsand 12 decisive passes Petre at Terek, in 39 official appearances
Florentin Petre: “Kadîrov took each one in his arms, kissed us, loved us a lot”
Florentin Petre did not scare Chechen. He claims he had a good relationship with Ramzam Kadîrov, he did not feel in danger.
“When Ramzan Kadîrov came to our locker room, he took each one in his arms, we kiss us and thanked us for everything we do. I was never afraid of him, because I had no reason, he always came with a smile on his lips. Maybe others were afraid, because there was talk of kidnappings and other things there. But we were very well protected and not even through thought it would happen that something bad would happen there. The rest are just stories.
After the victories of “home”, Ramzan Kadîrov put his eyes on a player who thought he played sensationally and gave him a car. It was a Toyota Land Cruiser New Noua, which cost about $ 100,000. The Russian players gave the car, and the foreigners gave them the money. Giovanni warned us: “You see that this man has these appeals.” “To give God to catch us too!” “Petre continued, at the GSP podcast” 2 to 1 “.
Kadîrov called me “my flower”! He loved me, Mărgăritescu and Pancu very much. Take us each in the arms
– Florentin Petre, at Podcastul GSP “2 to 1”
Florentin Petre, in Terek's shirt, photo: Gettyimages
What Florentin Petre did with $ 100,000 premium
When he put his hand on the gigant bonus, Petre divided the money with the other two Romanians in the lot, Pancu and Mărgăritescu.
“I defeated Lokomotiv Moscow on my own ground, a match in which I scored. Kadîrov said:” Give Florentin's car. “
And look at me with $ 100,000 on the table! I was sitting and looking at them, I didn't know what to do, to put them in a bag on the base road to the hotel … The luck was that I had a wide white t-shirt, and I stuck my body money, under the shirt, not to be seen, “said Petre.
We had spoken with Giovanni that when the first one takes this money, we would divide them among the three. I gave Pancu to Pancu and I gave 33,000, and I left 34,000.
They also started playing sensational, Pancu gave two goals. We were playing well, they probably thought we were giving us, the Romanians, all the money. Anyway there was my biggest contract, I won the most
– Florentin Petre, at Podcastul GSP “2 to 1”
Ramzan Kadîrov, accused of assassinations, kidnappings, torture
Over the years, Kadîrov has been accused of several international organizations of abductions, political assassinations, torture and flagrant violations of human rights. Among the measures implemented on the territory of the Chechen Republic are the limitation of women's rights and campaigns against LGBTQ.
Video integral | Florentin Petre, invited to Podcastul GSP “2 to 1”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hxgnftdyzzu
About Florentin Petre:
- In Romania he played in Dinamo, UTA and Victoria Brănești;
- Outside he evolved at Cska Sofia (Bulgaria) and Terek Grozny (Russia);
- a symbol of Dinamo, where the team in which he won 3 titles, 5 cups and a supercurs;
- 46 goals in 278 Liga 1 parties;
- 53 national teams, together with which he participated in Euro 2000 and Euro 2008;
- In Bulgaria he conquered a title and supercap;
- Now a second coach at Dinamo, former technician/”second” at Unirea Ungheni, Ceahlăul, Dacia Unirea Brăila, Foresta Suceava, Luceafărul Oradea, FC Brașov, Dinamo 2.
