Ioan Varga, the financier of CFR Cluj, has announced the appointment of Hendrik Klein as the club’s new president. Klein, a German entrepreneur based in Switzerland, has arrived in Cluj and is set to take an active role in the club’s management.
Klein’s arrival marks the beginning of significant changes at the ownership level. He is in Cluj to assess the club’s financial situation and initiate a reorganization process.
On Thursday, CFR Cluj is also awaiting a decision regarding its request for insolvency at the Cluj Tribunal.
Hendrik Klein: “My Short-Term Plan is to Stabilize the Situation”
Initially, Klein aims to help reduce the club’s debts and subsequently facilitate the transfer of the majority shareholding from Ioan Varga.
A consortium led by Swiss investors is expected to take over the club within the next year. In the immediate future, the new management will need to find solutions to cover a significant portion of the debts, estimated at around €15 million.
Klein explained that the primary goal is to bring the club to a break-even point ahead of a long-term project.
“My short-term plan is to stabilize the situation and reach the break-even point. My long-term vision is that CFR Cluj is an attractive football club for young players who want to be noticed and play in European competitions, benefiting from relatively low living costs compared to other areas of Europe, in a safe and clean city with numerous festivals, top universities, and a rich culture.”
Further details on his plans will be provided in the coming days as he begins his work in Cluj,” Klein stated, according to reports.
Who is Hendrik Klein?
Klein is an entrepreneur from Zurich with previous involvement in Swiss football at FC Locarno, where he was responsible for marketing and financial management. In July 2026, following a dispute with FC Locarno’s management, Klein and his associate, Samuel Grigo, sued the club to recover 100,000 Swiss francs.
