Vote for “Player of the Month” and “Coach of the Month” HERE! » Here are the nominees for February 2026!

In February, all the “bullets” were fired for a place in the top six, and every stage felt like a final. The fight for the play-offs became a race against time, where paper calculations were overturned by hubris, ambition and moments of individual inspiration.

Dramatic matches, extra-time goals, controversial refereeing decisions that heated spirits and influenced the standings. Beyond the controversies, however, the football and the show were top notch!

So, the time has come to open the online voting procedures for “February Player of the Month” and “February Coach of the Month”, where GSP.ro readers can choose their favorites!

February 2026 Player of the Month – nominations

For the “February Player of the Month” trophy, Gazeta nominated 5 footballers:

• Lorenzo Biliboc (CFR Cluj). The kid-prodigy from Gruia was a real one-man-show in February, becoming the savior of Daniel Pancu's team. He scored two decisive goals in the games with Hermannstadt and Petrolul, plus a goal in the Cluj derby with Universitatea. At just 19 years of age, the young footballer has shown his talent and contributed significantly to the team's development shortly after his transfer from Juventus' youth ranks.
• Issouf Macalou (U Cluj). The main mouth of fire of Cluj, Macalou gave the exact time for the University in the last month. He managed a “double” with FC Argeș, scored with Csikszereda and Oțelul and provided two other decisive assists in the success with FC Botoșani. With five wins from six matches for the “red caps”, Macalou has been one of the decisive men, his developments contributing fully to the consolidation of the play-off place.
• Assad Al Hamlawi (U Craiova). The people of Olten dream of the first championship title after three decades and put all their hope in the Palestinian who conquered Banie. Craiova is in first place in the Superliga, and in February Assad was decisive in the matches with Dinamo and FCSB, the most important rivals from Bucharest. In addition, in the match with Farul, he left his mark with the decisive pass for the goal scored by Etim.
• Mouhamadou Drammeh (U Cluj). The pleasant surprise of Berdodi's batch, Drammeh has been on the ramp in the last month with excellent developments. The Gambian midfielder managed a “double” in the match with Csikszereda and also scored against CFR Cluj, Botoșani and Oțelul. In addition to the five goals, the 26-year-old footballer also provided two decisive assists, with FC Argeș and Oțelul, important contributions that took U Cluj to the play-offs.
• Raul Opruț (Dinamo). The “Dogs” ended the month with three wins, a draw and a defeat, and in four of the five games Opruț had decisive interventions. In February he scored three times, with Hermannstadt, Slobozia and Rapid, and provided an assist in the game with Craiova. A starter and integral player in all Super League games, the 28-year-old defender confirms his consistency and excellent form.

Denis Alibec (Farul), Meriton Korenica (CFR Cluj), Adel Bettaieb (FC Argeș) and Daniel Bîrligea (FCSB) were also on the preliminary list.

Coach of the month February 2026 – nominations

For the “Coach of the month of February” trophy, Gazeta nominated 3 technicians:

• Daniel Pancu (CFR Cluj). Colossal performance and hard to match for the CFR led by Pancu! The team qualified for the play-offs when no one expected, after a sensational run. Five wins out of five and for the second consecutive month, CFR Cluj ends the period without any defeat! Wins on the line with UTA Arad, U Cluj, Hermannstadt, Petrolul and Farul. The team ensured its presence in the semi-finals of the Cup after the draw with Rapid.
• Filipe Coelho (U Craiova). Olteni ends the month in the first position, and Bănia puts all its hopes in the Portuguese Coelho, hoping that he can bring them a title after 35 years. Even though they lost with Farul and drew with Dinamo, Craiova achieved four important victories with Oțelul, FCSB, Slobozia and Metaloglobus, thus maintaining themselves at the top of the ranking. At the same time, the tie in the Cup, also with FCSB, ensured their qualification in the quarters.
• Cristiano Bergodi (U Cluj). It would have been a perfect month for U Cluj if they hadn't lost the derby with CFR! The team recorded five wins out of six and mathematically secured qualification for the Super League play-offs. Bergodi managed to transform the formation, and the successes against those from FC Argeș, Csikszereda, FC Botoșani and the “double” with Oțelul (championship and Cup) turned the team into a force difficult to defeat.

How to choose “Player of the Month” and “Coach of the Month”

Very briefly, about the algorithm used for tie-breaking to determine the winners. The GSP editors make the nominations, based on statistics and clear performance figures, then they will vote for 3 categories:

• GSP.ro readers
• journalists in the newsroom
• 5 specialists (former footballers or coaches)