Article by Alexandru Tomuțiu – Published Tuesday, April 28, 2026 8:46 p.m. / Updated Tuesday, April 28, 2026 9:01 p.m.
Gigi Becali (67 years old), the owner of FCSB, was live on TV and narrated one of the discussions he had with Valeriu Iftime (65), the counterpart from FC Botoșani.
Several years ago, Gigi Becali joked about his team's name, saying that “FCSB” stood for “Do What Becali Says.” He said that in a dialogue with Valeriu Iftime, he asked the Moldovan how he chose Marius Croitoru, the team's current technician.
He replied that his team borrowed Becali's tactics, and Botoșani could be called “FCSI”, i.e. “Do What Iftime Says”.
Gigi Becali: “Valeriu Iftime told me that now he is also FCSI”
“Let me tell you one out loud, to make you laugh: I asked Iftime: “Guys, but how did you choose Croitoru?”. He says, as he speaks, in Moldovan: “Mr. Becali, I am also FCSI now, do what Iftime says”. I said: “Do you know football to do this?”“
Then he continued and talked about the appointment of the future coach: “You know what's the matter? I wanted to convince myself of some things, to make the decisions myself. To convince myself of some players, to be one hundred percent sure. I said that we don't even need a coach for two more weeks, there's no way we'll lose the 1st place in the play-out. I started to convince myself.
The first coach option is Elias Charalambous. It is not necessarily mandatory, but the first option I consider is Orthodoxy. I don't exclude other religions, I have everything, Muslims, but if I have to choose, I choose Orthodox. I have to say some things from a theological point of view and you will start laughing,” said Gigi Becali, of the show “Fotbal Club”, from Digi Sport.
FCSB and FC Botoșani, great chances to meet in the play-off for Europe
FCSB and Botoșani are the teams that have the best chances to play the first play-off for the last place in the Conference League. Becali's team is in 7th place, with 36 points. Botoșani is 9th, with 31. Between them is UTA Arad, which does not have the right to participate in European cups.
We still don't have an answer from Charalambous, he was supposed to come today, but we'll see. He will give an answer in these two weeks. He said he wants it from the summer. I passed this on to him, he was at the table with his wife at Teia Sponte. I told him that it is not possible since the summer. From the summer anyway we hire a coach, this is the regulation.
– Gigi Becali, FCSB patron
