“You can't treat everyone like that! You have 500-600 matches and someone comes and tells you…”
Article by Andrei Crăiţoiu – Published Wednesday, November 12, 2025 23:29 / Updated Wednesday, November 12, 2025 23:30
Cristi Săpunaru (41 years old) officially retired from his career as a professional player at the end of last season, and is currently attending the Coaching School in the Republic of Moldova, as well as sports director courses in Romania. Invited to “Friends of Ovidiu”, Săpunaru does not like the head of the Coaching School in Romania, Lucian Burchel, whom he accuses of approaching football people with superiority. In contrast, he congratulates the Moldovan officials for the way they behave with the Romanians who come to the courses.
After a life as a footballer in Romania, Spain and Turkey, Cristi Săpunaru has hung up his boots and is now looking to change his role in football. The former defender finished the courses for the B and A Licenses in the Republic of Moldova, and will start the Pro module. At the same time, he is attending the sports director's course at the Romanian Football Federation.
With the completion of these studies, Săpunaru, a player with 11 trophies in his CV, including the UEFA Cup with FC Porto, will announce the path he will take in his career. It is clear that he will never accept offers from FCSB, Steaua and Dinamo and he admits that, through career decisions, “I closed many doors”.
Cristi Săpunaru: “It's hard to part with football”
– Cristi, after 30 years, you found yourself with nothing to do?
– You have something to do at home too, but it seems to be nicer at football. At home you help clean. It's harder at home. But if that's what I've done all my life, football, it's hard for me to part with sports. Many former footballers I met, who had already left for a few years, told me: “The hardest thing will be when you leave, because you won't have the locker room anymore.” There you go into the locker room, make another joke, pass the time, laugh more, tell more stories.
– But wasn't it getting harder and harder for you?
– Strange, but no! I understood things faster than I understood them in my youth. And it was much easier for me to control. I wanted to go to training, I wanted to go to the gym.
– And now?
– I stopped the hall. For six months I was told to take a break. I also play foot tennis, court tennis. After the show I go to tennis, we play.
– Are you now doing the sports director courses? And the coach?
– Sports director. I finished the coaching ones, I got the A License. We have another module in November.
– What tempts you?
– I like them both, because they are close to football. As a sports director you have to be in the dressing room life, with the players. Same as coach. I would not see myself as secretary general.
“If you keep me 7 years with the licenses…”
– So, at the moment, you haven't decided.
– I said I will make a decision after I finish them.
– Is the coaching license taken in Chisinau?
– I was able to register there. In Romania, with Mr. Burchel, it is more difficult.
Lucian Burchel, director of the Federal Coaching School. Photo: sportpictures.eu
– Why?
– That's what he does, I don't know. In Moldova we worked with all the people there and they considered us colleagues. They helped us enormously. There were many who did their bachelor's degrees in Moldova. This is how athletes are treated.
– So that's why you all go there.
– In Romania, they keep inventing coach cards, licenses… There are all kinds of people who want to be coaches… God forgive me, but it doesn't mean that if I'm a player, I have to become a coach. However, we qualify ourselves at work by what we do. When you go to undergrad, you should have someone help you, learn stuff, to become a coach.
– But…
– Plus you have 500-600 matches and someone comes to tell you: “Well, you're not qualified! Come let me qualify you a little more”. God forgive me, I have nothing against this man, but you can't treat everyone like that! I'm not saying that footballers are the most beautiful, the best, the smartest. But, taking into account that I've been playing football, sports for so many years, I'm good at this stuff. Then help me get started faster too. Or teach me some stuff, but in a shorter time! If you keep me seven years with the degrees…
Cristi Săpunaru
“I haven't had two teams in my career and I won't ever have them”
– Then you have to retire.
– Yes! When you become a coach, you coach for three more years and then you give up.
– So that's the idea.
– I was allowed to go and play there when I was a footballer. I went and got my degree. The first license, I did the B, I stayed for a year, I did the A and now I have to stay so that I can go to the Pro.
– Who else was there?
– Me, Herea, Pintilii, Balașa. And there are others who went to get their license, to learn. Those people are really teaching and supporting you in what you are doing there!
– Is he behaving nicer?
– Ask those who went to do their bachelor's degree in Romania.
– If Dinamo comes and offers you the position of sports director, will you go?
– No! Ha, ha, ha!
– Well, you're getting the diploma for Rapid?
– Not for Rapid. I have a problem… I was not a professional footballer, so to speak. I have not had two teams in my career and I will never have them.
“By admitting I'm a speedster, I've closed a lot of doors”
– Dinamo and FCSB.
– And the Star! That they split in two is none of my business. That's how I was raised! I would go to any other team. I'm not saying it now that I need awards or anything… I, by doing this thing, closed doors for myself.
– You can also go to another club.
– One hundred percent I will go to another club. So to the two, no! Not that I have anything personal, but I can't.
– Even if it's a high salary?
– No!
