Article by Cosmin Nistor – Published Thursday, January 15, 2026, 7:51 p.m. / Updated Thursday, January 15, 2026, 7:55 p.m.
Gică Popescu (58 years old), the president of the Constanța Lighthouse, commented the appointment of Ilie Dumitrescu within the FRFwith the former international taking up the position of Player Transition Manager. The Romanian Football Federation will establish a new department, Professional Club Services.
At the same time, Dumitrescu will also be an ambassador of the FRF project for the promotion of the Europa League final, a competition that the Federation wants to bring to Bucharest in 2028 or 2029.
Gică Popescu, interesting reply for Ilie Dumitrescu: “Let me finish”
The president of Constanta had a direct dialogue with Ilie Dumitrescu, who has just returned to the phenomenon after 16 years, his last experience being the head coach at FCSB, in 2010.
“In 2014, when I wanted to run for president of the FRF, one of the important chapters was the transition of juniors to seniors, so it is a problem. In 2014 there were 3,200 children who finished junior school and had nowhere to play. I wish success to Ilie, that these children who mature later or do not find a place in the senior teams of League 2, League 3, continue somewhere, not stop.
I'm afraid it will be very difficult for me like you, FRF representative…” At that moment, Ilie Dumitrescu tried to intervene, but Gică Popescu firmly interrupted him: “Let me finish!”
The former Barcelona captain criticized the pressure placed on clubs in terms of youth structures
“Ilia, if you want to be partners, stop strangling the clubs with so many junior teams. We have about 14 teams that we have to play at the end of the week. Where do you people support all this loading on clubs?
At some point, you will raise your hand and say «we can't do it anymore». The costs are huge and you will end up running out of money for coaches or trips. Our budget at the academy is 1.6 million euros per year.”
Ilie Dumitrescu replied: “I think the point of the Federation was to keep abreast of what was going on.”
Gică Popescu supports Dumitrescu: “Ilie will have our support if he comes with good ideas”
Despite the firm tone, Gică Popescu emphasized that the Lighthouse remains open to collaboration:
“Elijah will have our support if he comes up with good ideas, we receive them because we are not the holders of the absolute trutheven though we have the best academy in Romania.
I don't know exactly what his mission is there, we will probably meet and I wish him success in everything he will do”, said Gică Popescu, during the show “Footbal Club”, from Digi Sport.
Ilie Dumitrescu and Gică Popescu // photo: Imago Images
Gică Popescu also spoke about the situation of Ianis Zicu: “The coach is judged by the results”
When asked about the situation of the head coach, Ianis Zicu, but also about the chances for the title, the former defender of Stella stated:
“As long as the math allows us to dream of the play-offs, we hope. There are only 6 points left, we haven't had a consistently good evolution. We had 4 good games and 4 bad games. We had a meeting with the technical management to see what happened with this sports form oscillation. We hope to show in the remaining return what we showed in the good matches in the championship round.
I can't say if Zicu leaves or stays, if we miss the play-off. It also depends on how we finish, because if we finish on our knees, I have no idea. The coach is judged by results, not leadershipPopescu declared.
Ranking in the Superliga
Ianis Zicu's team ended 2025 in 10th place, with 27 points, 6 behind Oțelul Galati, the last play-off place holder. In the first match of 2026, Farul will receive a visit from Hermannstadt on January 17.
