Article by Cosmin Nistor – Published Wednesday, December 10, 2025, 4:21 p.m. / Updated Wednesday, December 10, 2025, 4:21 p.m.
University of Craiova continues the structural reorganization started in the summer and officially announced the appointment of a new head of the scouting department: Hugo Pina, a Portuguese with experience in the area of talent identification.
The decision comes just a week after parting ways with former chief-scout, Fabio Torres, who left the club half a year after being installed.
Hugo Pina, 5 years in Estoril before coming to Banie
The new head of scouting has been active for the last 5 years at GD Estoril Praia, a club that is in 12th place in the first echelon in Portugal. Craiova reports that Pina has already signed the contract and started the activity:
Welcome to the family of Science, Hugo Pina!
The Universitatea Craiova club announces the appointment of the Portuguese Hugo Pina as scouting director. He worked for 5 years as a scout for the Portuguese team Estoril Praia. We wish him much success in his new mission and as many successes as possible with the white-blue family!– it is stated in the press release issued by the University of Craiova
The Portuguese branch, getting stronger at the University of Craiova
After the arrival of Mario Felgueiras, the former goalkeeper from Gruia, who became Olten's sports director, the club strengthened the technical area almost exclusively on the Portuguese axis:
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Filipe Coelho – head coach
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Bruno Romao – second coach Fabio Torres – former chief scout
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Hugo Pina – the new head of the scouting department
Also in the summer, a Spanish technician was brought to the Academy, with recent experience at Celta Vigo.
Who is Hugo Pina?
Before moving to the technical area, Pina had a long career of almost 30 years (1993-2020), playing as a defensive midfielder at numerous clubs, including:
Belenenses, Sporting Lisbon B, Olivais Moscavide, Cordoba, Guadalajara, Ribeirao, Lousada, Oriental, Torreense, Atletico, Mafra, Uniao Leiria, Sintrense, Dezembro, Casa Pia and Sintrense again.
