Dan Șucu, the owner of Rapid and Genoa, recently revealed in an interview with Gazzetta dello Sport that he attempted to bring Cristi Chivu, a former Romanian international, to Rapid as head coach. This happened in 2024, during a time when Chivu was coaching Inter’s U19 team but had not yet gained experience at the senior level.
Chivu’s career took a remarkable turn following that period. By February 2025, he had taken charge of Parma, successfully steering the team away from relegation. In the subsequent season, he became the head coach of Inter, where he achieved a significant event by winning a prestigious title.
Dan Șucu: “I Called Chivu Before He Joined Parma”
Šucu expressed his admiration for the Romanian coach, emphasizing that he tried to convince Chivu to join Rapid prior to accepting the position at Parma. “Yes, it’s true that I tried to bring Chivu to Rapid as a coach. I have great respect for him and consider him a deep person. I called Cristian just before he joined Parma, at a time when he had only coached at the junior level,” he stated.
He added that Chivu is serious and well-prepared, stating, “I am confident he would have had a successful career here in Bucharest. Now, it’s a bit late…” This comment reflects the reality that Chivu’s current achievements in Italy have made a move to Rapid impractical.
Chivu Declined Rapid’s Offer: “If You Don’t Trust Me Completely, We Have Nothing to Discuss”
Reports indicated that Rapid officials met with Cristi Chivu following the failure of the Neil Lennon project at the start of the 2024/2025 season; however, the conversation was brief. Rapid extended a concrete offer, but it included a clause allowing the club to terminate the coach if results did not meet expectations, which Chivu found unacceptable.
Chivu conveyed to Rapid that, “If you don’t trust me completely, we have nothing to discuss. No matter how big the club is.” His refusal was soon followed by his successful venture into coaching in Italy, where he quickly established himself at the senior level.
