Article by Romeo Ene – Published on Sunday, 31 May 2026, 13:46 / Updated on Sunday, 31 May 2026 13:46
Rapid has already started preparing for the next season, having only one goal: the return of the European Cups, a target missed in the recently concluded season. After breaking up with Constantin Gâlcă, the management named Daniel Pancu “principal”.. He does not waste time and outlines a technical staff, and his first target is another name from the modern history of Giulești.
His choice for the post of second coach is Nicholas Grigore (42 years old), the current technician of Gloria Bistrita, League 2 team.
Nicolae Grigore has not yet refused Pancu: “Open discussions”
The former midfielder from Giulesti confirmed the negotiations of the last few days, but revealed that he has not yet given a final answer.
Grigore is facing a crossroads in his career as a technician and is carefully weighing whether it is time to step back from the role of “principal”.
“Regarding Pancu and Rapid, I also told him. In the media it was circulated that Grigore refused Rapid or refused Pancu. First of all, there are open discussions.
We also talked after the match (no – UEFAfantastical event)we played together, we left there together. I am faced with this dilemma: to continue as the head coach or to return to the second position.
But even if I choose to stay in Bistrita, it is only a choice for my future. I do not consider this to be a refusal. A refusal would be if I then went second to someone else.
I talk to Pancu two or three times a week. He knows me very well, he knows how I see football, and I know what his requirements are. We stayed together for a year and a half during his first term at RapidNicolae Grigore declared for sptfm.ro.
Nicolae Grigore, at Gloria's training // photo: Facebook @ Gloria Bistrița
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Grigore has been at Bistrita since August 2025 and saved the team from relegation in 2025-2026.
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Previously, the former Rapid midfielder was the head coach of the U17 and U16 national teams of Romania, at Metaloglobus, and worked as Laurentiu Reghecampf's assistant at Neftchi Baku.
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Grigore was also the main player at Rapid, in 2020-2021, but only for 5 matches. In Giulești he was also second coach, in 2018-2019, even with Pancu as coach.
