Dan Alexa (46 years old), the coach of Poli Timișoara, ran to Brașov, where he participated in the “Tournament of the Stars”. Everything about the plans and wishes for 2026, but also the current situation in Romanian football, in an exclusive interview with “The Surgeon”.
Dan Alexa is still performing at 46 years old. He's a tank defensively, but he's not the star of the team like he was at Asia Express. On the floor of the hall in Brașov, Mugurel “Pele” Buga shows his class as a great striker.
Alexa, friend of Buga and Nicoliță: “There was always respect”
“At this tournament I see my old friends, my former colleagues, people with whom I also collaborated here in Brașov, quality people. I always return to Brașov with great love. This move is welcome, even if it is a bit difficult. I have to come back,” says Alexa.
The former central midfielder speaks superlatively about Buga: “He's special! He's Pele from Giulești! We're very good friends. I'm also very good friends with Bănel Nicoliță. We were once opponents, but there was always respect between us.”
I can't tackle like I used to. But, look, at Asia Express, I really find it hard to believe that I can still do what I did there. It was really crazy, but it's easier in the gym. When you can't anymore, you stop, you have fun. There is a counter-time
Dan Alexa, coach Poli Timisoara
“Timișoara is the most important project of my career”
Even though he came to Brasov to have fun, Dan Alexa is also thinking about the project at Poli Timișoara, a city with a team in League 3, which is waiting for a brand new stadium.
“There is a large-scale project in Timișoara. Everyone wants Poli to return to the elite, that is, they are talking about League 1. Indeed, next year, the Lego stadium will be ready. Somewhere at 10,000 seats. It is a very big emulation in Timișoara, in Timiș county, because the world is eager for football”, says Alexa for GSP.ro.
New stadium in Timisoara
He elaborates and says it is “the most important project of my career, because I'm at home. The world has very high hopes, and somehow I'm bound to succeed. I have pressure, but I'm 100 percent focused on it.”
“Craiova is the favorite for the title this year”
Alexa also spoke about the end of the year in Romanian football. And even if he played for Dinamo or Rapid, another team is favorite for the title in Alexa's view.
University of Craiova – Csikszereda, stage #21 / photo: UCV
“Until I saw Craiova in Athens, I thought they weren't fighting for the title. But I liked how they played there, even if they lost. They played with a lot of courage in a decisive match. I think that Craiova, this year, is the favorite for the title. But I also think that FCSB will enter the play-offs. Then, together with Craiova, they are the main favourites. Dinamo plays very good football, but I don't think they will win this yearAlexa stated.
Alexa admits that “I want Rapidul to win the title, but they need reinforcements. They need good players, because I think their squad is below that of the competitors”.
FCSB has the best squad, the most talented footballers. I don't know what happened in this start of the championship, because they started the season very badly. I think FCSB, if they enter a niche of victories, it will be difficult to stop, because they have the most talented footballers
Dan Alexa, coach Poli Timisoara
“Louis Munteanu would have had a very difficult life at Rapid”
Dan Alexa did not avoid talking about the topic of the moment in Romanian football: the appearance of Louis Munteanu, the CFR striker, at a match between friends, dressed in the FCSB shirt.
Louis Munteanu was photographed in the jersey of FCSB // photo: Facebook ASC Ivacec Vaslui
“It's a sensitive subject. Football players have to understand that when they are in a team, they have certain responsibilities. Not just to score goals, not just to play football… You have to be very careful. Louis Munteanu must be explained what can happen to him… I think that if he had been to Rapid and the picture with Stela's shirt, he would have had a very difficult life there”, Alexa explained.
“Turkey is the favorite! They are showing great strength”
At the end of the discussion with GSP, Poli's coach also talked about the first play-off match in March, the one against Turkey, which can lead us to the World Championship.
“Anything can happen, but Turkey is the favorite! Turkey shows a special strength, they play in an extraordinary tumult. I trust Mircea Lucescu, I think he has experience for such games. I would like, normally, like any Romanian, to qualify, but Turkey is the favorite”the former international scored.
