“There was a gentleman, in his bank, who didn't know how to say don't even move on. A serious loss for Romania!”
Article by Daniel Scorpie – Published on Wednesday, 05 November 2025, 14:21 / Updated on Wednesday, 05 November 2025 14:24
The very sad news of the disappearance of Emeric Ienai quickly reached Spain. Gică Craioveanu did not hide his pain and, even if he interacted quite a bit with the former winner of the European Champions Cup from Seville 1986, against Barcelona, in the penalty shootout, he paid tribute to nea Imi as it should be. Who died today aged 88 after a concussion.
“I knew him less, I didn't cross paths with you too many times. I was, and I think it was the last time I saw him, at that old-boys friendly from Cluj with the Golden Generation, so to speak, between Romania and the Netherlands, that 5-5”, recalled Gică Craioveanu, strongly marked by the passing of the former selector.
The former striker of great impact in Spain continued the discussion with Gazeta Sporturilor: “He seemed to me a gentle, quiet man, in his bench and very respectful. A gentleman who didn't even know how to say “Go ahead!”. And the performances he achieved speak for themselves.”
Craioveanu: “Sad news, terrible news for all Romanian football and for Romania in general”
The personality and character of nea Imi particularly impressed Gică Craioveanu: “I saw that he was a very loved, highly appreciated man. That's all I could notice, although I didn't have much contact with him.
Emeric Ienei influenced the careers of many famous Romanian footballers, including Belodedici
But anyway, it's sad news, terrible news for all Romanian football and for Romania in general”.
Ienei went straight into the legend of the king of sports here and everywhere. A person of unparalleled elegance in behavior and speech, Ienei dedicated his whole life to the sport of the round ball, being a player, international, club coach and the national teams of Romania and Hungary.
He has the greatest performance in Romanian football, as a coach, being the one who led Steaua Bucharest to the conquest of the most important European trophy at club level. The first and only!
