Article by Eduard Apostol – Published Monday, 09 February 2026, 16:28 / Updated on Monday, 09 February 2026 16:28
Filipe Coelho, 45, stayed in Craiova to continue the title fight and lost the opportunity in January 2026 to go to Pafos, the Cypriot team that left a positive impression in the XXL group of the Champions League. Here are the details!
Craiova University is aiming for the title in this championship, and the patron Mihai Rotaru does not intend to lose this opportunity. The Portuguese Filipe Coelho, 45 years old, took over the management of the team after the separation from Mirel Rădoi.
At the beginning of 2026, the Lusitanian was in the attention of Pafos, the 3rd place in Cyprus, a team that impressed in his first season spent at the “table of the rich” in the Champions League group.
Mario Felgueiras joked with Filipe Coelho when Pafos' interest came up: “I asked him if he wanted to buy a house there”
In interviews with the prestigious A Bola, sports director Mario Felgueiras and coach Filipe Coelho spoke about the discussions with the team officials from the Land of Aphrodite and why the “transfer” did not materialize.
“The first thing I asked (the coach) was if he wanted to go to Cyprus just to buy a house because it's in a good area to have houses. Now, joking aside for a moment, of course it's always good for both our coach and our players to become interested in clubs that are currently in top competitions, because in this case Pafos is in the Champions League.
However, the coach was very clear in saying that he will leave here only if it is at the request of the management,” Mario Felgueiras explained to the quoted source.
Filipe Coelho on Craiova and Pafos: “There are only two ways I can leave the University”
For his part, the Lusitanian technician explained his situation at Craiova University and how he reacted to the interest shown by Pafos.
“There are only two ways I can leave here, from Craiova: one is to finish my contract, the other is for my employer to decide that I should leave. That's my way of being in football. I like to be like this, I like to accomplish the things I set out to do. And therefore, obviously, that commitment, and the people here know it, will be from me, from me, until the end of my contract, always.
As for the approaches, or the news, or what I say about other clubs that might happen… For me, honestly, it's not very important. My focus is entirely here on where our road will be and on these next four months,” Filipe Coelho also commented.
Above all, we wanted a coach, Felipe Coelho, who would come to Craiova understanding that it is a club with a very good infrastructure, to work with and who would come with solutions, not problems
Mario Felgueiras, sports director, University of Craiova
