Nicușor Dan, message after the death of Emeric Ienei: “We have lost one of the legendary figures of football”
Nicușor Dan Foto Raa/NurPhoto / Shutterstock Editorial / Profimedia
President Nicușor Dan sent a message after the death of the coach who won the European Champions Cup with Steaua Bucharest in 1986, “a unique moment, of great prestige for Romania internationally”.
“Thank you, Emeric Iena, for all the joy you brought us and for making us so many times proud of Romanian football! Today, we lost one of the legendary figures of football, but his memory will always remain alive in our hearts”, wrote the head of state, on Wednesday evening, on Facebook.
He recalled Emeric Ienei's “remarkable” performances.
“Throughout an exceptional career, Emeric Ienei contributed decisively to the writing of some glorious pages of domestic sport. He was part of one of the most beautiful generations of athletes, and under his leadership, the Steaua Bucharest team won the European Champions Cup, a unique moment of great prestige for Romania on the international level. It was Emeric Ienei who, in 1990, managed to qualify the Romanian team, after 20 years, to a The World Football Championship”, continued Nicușor Dan.
The president says that “Emeric Ienei has always been a model of balance, elegance and nobility of soul, a personality who inspired generations through modesty, professionalism and deep respect for the values of sport”.
“I send my condolences to the bereaved family, colleagues and all those who knew, admired and cherished him”, concluded Nicușor Dan.
Emeric Ienei died at 88 years old
Ienei died on Wednesday, at the age of 88. In 1986, as coach of Stella, he achieved what is still today the greatest achievement in the history of club football in Romania, winning the European Champions Cup, the predecessor competition to the Champions League.
As a player, he played for the UTA Arad, Steaua Bucureşti and Kayserispor teams.
As a coach, Ienei worked at Steaua Bucharest, Crişul Oradea, Chindia Târgovişte, Videoton, Panionios and Craiova University and was a selector of the national teams of Romania and Hungary.
On March 9, 2017, Emeric Ienei was decorated by presidential decree by Klaus Iohannis with the National Order of the Star of Romania in the rank of Knight.
He also received the Order of Sports Merit awarded in 2008 by President Traian Băsescu.
