Article by Daniel Grigore – Published Tuesday, October 28, 2025, 3:02 p.m. / Updated Tuesday, October 28, 2025, 3:03 p.m.
Released from his contract in the summer, when his commitment with FRF came to an end, Daniel Pancu (48 years old) is in pole position to replace Andrea Mandorlini on the CFR bench.
The parties are in full negotiations, going to sit down at the negotiating table to work out the last details. If everything goes well, Pancu could appear on the CFR bench on Friday, during the championship match with Dinamo.
Two of the analysts Pancu teamed up with at DigiSport, Ionel Dănciulescu and Ionuț Badea, commented on the move.
Daniel Pancu's colleague on the set called the “first thing” he has to do at CFR Cluj
Ionut Badea48, called the “first thing” Pancu has to do in Gruia: rally the players around a common goal.
“The first time we have to specify that in CFR there is nothing to build, only to manage. The first thing to do is to gather the team. This is not a goal, but a need, because there are many nationalities in the team. OK, they have been playing together for some time, but the energy is dissipated in many areas. It was seen at CFR that the players have quality, but they don't play together, they don't have a common goal.
This once, the need to reform the group, to restore the strength it had. You can do this with a very large dose of affectivity, but also anchoring in reality. They have to accept the position they are in, a young coach…
Pancu is very good at affectivity, he transmits [emoții] and has the energy [necesară]. The management thought of a suitable profile, from this point of view.
I think there may be a solution at this point. It is important how he will manage the relationship with the important players, because there are poles of power“, commented Badea.
Ionel Dănciulescu: “A huge opportunity for “Pancone”, he must not miss it”
Instead, Danciulescu, 48, listed Pancu's strengths, which he nevertheless puts on guard regarding the mission that awaits him.
“I don't see why the fact that Pancone is a young coach would be a problem. The message he will send to the experienced players is very important. Pancone, at the moment, has a huge opportunity, which he must not miss. He was in the U21 and now he wants to coach a team with ambitions, which aims to do great things, but it is not easy.
He comes in the middle of the championship, he doesn't know the team very well, the level of preparation, but he has enthusiasm, he is an effervescent coach. He is up to date with everything modern, attacking football means, we know he wants an attacking team.
We have to admit that CFR does not have a weak team, but some interesting players. Their problem is that they do not have a consistent expression as a team”, commented “Danciu-gol”.
Pancu takes over a team in an extremely complicated situation. CFR has accumulated only 13 points in the first 14 stages, currently occupying a playoff spot! There are six points between Transylvania and the first team in the play-off zone, Oțelul Galati.
