Article by Alexandru Barbu – Published Wednesday, October 29, 2025, 10:30 p.m. / Updated Wednesday, October 29, 2025, 10:30 p.m.
Total agreement between CFR Cluj and Daniel Pancu (48 years old). The former U21 selector will sign the coach contract of the Gruia team on Thursday!
With the CFR bench vacant after the dismissal of Andrea Mandorlini, the new president, Iuliu Mureșan, turned to Daniel Pancu.
The former striker has limited experience at club level, coaching only at Poli Iași in the first league, plus Rapid in the second echelon, but he impressed in his mandate as the national youth coach, which he qualified for this summer's European Championship. The results there were not the desired ones: straight defeats against Italy, Spain and Slovakia.
Total agreement between Daniel Pancu and CFR Cluj!
Today the decisive discussion took place between Daniel Pancu and the leadership of the CFR. The parties have reached a consensus, they have worked out all the details, and the contract is ready to be signed on Thursday itself!
This means that Pancu could sit on the new team's bench even on Friday, when the Transylvanians will play in Bucharest, against Dinamo.
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.
In the most recent matches of the Cherries, 4-0 with CSM Slatina in the Cup, 0-2 with Farul in the championship, the team was prepared and led by the couple of seconds remaining at the club, Ovidiu Hoban – Laurentiu Rus.
