Article by Alexandru Tomuțiu – published on Sunday, October 12, 2025, 20:09 / Updated Sunday, October 12, 2025:12
Selector Mircea Lucescu (80 years old) appointed Ianis Hagi (26, offensive midfielder) captain for the match Romania – Austria from the preliminaries of the World Championship.
As in the friendly match with Moldova, score 2-1, in which he scored the second goal of “tricolors”, Ianis Hagi will start from the first minute against the Austrians. The son of Gică Hagi keeps the captain's band and the captain.
Photo gallery. Images from the Romanian locker room, two hours before the match with Austria
As Nicolae Stanciu, the traditional captain of “tricolors”, is not in the lot because of an injury, Mircea Lucescu decided to give him the banner of Ianis Hagi, as he did with Moldova.
Until the official match with Austria, Hagi Junior had been the captain of the first representative in two lines, but in friendly meetings. He did it with Moldova and in the shameful draw made by Romania against the Liechtenstein national, score 0-0, on the Steaua stadium, just before Euro 2024. Then, the Romanian coach was Edward Iordănescu.
Ianis Hagi will check against Austria the match with the number 49 in the national shirt. It has succeeded so far 7 goals and 7 decisive passes.
Ianis Hagi, captain -marcator in Romania – Moldova // Photo: Ionuț Iordache (GSP)
Ianis Hagi is at a yellow of suspension, and if he is warned he will miss the match in Bosnia, which can be decisive for the second place in the group. In the same situation are Tanase, Șut and Burcă.
I am upset by the lack of preparation of those in our championship. The level is very low. I'm not just talking about the outside, but also those in the internal championship. I think of Corvin, Dinamo, Steaua, Craiova what level they had. I want to return to that level.
– Mircea Lucescu, before the match
