“12 years I came with money from home. Lucky I sold houses”

Employed at FRF after the coming of Răzvan Burleanu to lead the federation, the former striker claims that, for more than a decade, the salary he received was so low that he had to constantly top it up from his own resources to cover his expenses.

Jean Vlădoiu, about the time spent at FRF: “I think I had the lowest salary”

The former international said that the move from Pitesti to Bucharest and the additional costs generated by his activity at the federation made the financial situation difficult.

“I got a period when I was coming with money from home. I think I had the lowest salary. Luckily I sold houses, landwith the money I received from the FRF I paid the expenses, especially since I was living with rent.

I had sold the house in Corbeana and moved to Pitesti with my whole family. I had everything in Pitesti and I had to rent a house from that salary, it wasn't easy, but I didn't stay for money. I stayed because I liked it.

Financially, for 12 years I think I came home with money, I had the lowest salary of all. But the love and everything I met there, Belo, the fact that I was with them, I was in our environment… nothing mattered anymore, only that. I wanted and it was a pleasure to be there”, said Jean Vlădoiu, according to iamsport.ro.

Among the few who played for Steaua, Dinamo and Rapid

Jean Vlădoiu is one of the important strikers of Romanian football from the 90s and one of the members of the Golden Generation.

The former striker was present in the Romanian team at the 1994 World Championship and at the 1996 European Championship, collecting a total of 28 selections and two goals for the national team.

Throughout his career, Vlădoiu played for several important clubs in Romania, being one of the few footballers who wore the shirts of the three big rivals from Bucharest: Steaua, Dinamo and Rapid.

At Steaua he played 122 matches and scored 60 goals, helping to win three championship titles. At Dinamo he had one of the most effective seasons of his career, scoring 26 goals in just 36 games.

He also surpassed the milestone of 100 matches in the shirt of FC Argeș, the club where he formed.

Experience in the Bundesliga as well

In the period 1996-1998, Vlădoiu played in Germany, at FC Koln, where he scored 51 matches and 10 goals in the Bundesliga. Later he also played for Kickers Offenbach, before returning to Romanian football.

Vladoiu, in Koln's shirt // PHOTO Imago Images

For his contribution to the performances of the national team from 1990-2000, Jean Vlădoiu was decorated in 2008 with the Order of “Sporting Merit” class III.