Bogdan Bucur (55 years old) is the first footballer who played for Steaua after wearing Dinamo's shirt, after the Revolution. What does the former central defender do now and what does he say about Romanian football, in an interview for GSP.RO.
The “tournament of the stars” from Brașov also brought Bogdan Bucur to the gym. A former central defender, he “disappeared” from the foreground of Romanian football, being involved in other businesses.
“I moved to Brasov 16 years ago and I feel very good here. I'm glad that I came to the tournament and to remind us how football used to be. I, in Brasov, have real estate and tourism businesses. Everything is OK! It was not my principle to stay in football, because I am not made to be in football, I preferred to do something else”, says Bucur.
“I have always considered that the FCSB is still the Star!”
Bogdan Bucur played for Dinamo in the period 1986-1989. How does he see the current situation? “I saw a few games and I really liked how they play. A pretty close-knit team. I hope they make a good figure in the play-offs as well,” declares the former defender.
Who, after the Dinamo period and a stop at Sibiu, arrived at Steaua, being the first player after the Revolution to change rivals.
“I have always considered that the FCSB is still the Star! Because they had the results they had after, say, the logo was left by the ministry and I think it would be Steaua as well. It seems strange to me that it should be another Steaua… If it was decided that way, we cannot oppose it”, explained Bogdan Bucur.
13 matchesBogdan Bucur played in the Champions League groups between 1994-1997, all in the Stella shirt
“Mircea Lucescu is the best coach that Romania has had”
Asked who occupies a bigger place in his heart, Bucur directly says: “both”. And detail the answer.
Bogdan Bucur (second from the right), with his colleagues from Dinamo during the junior year
“I started my junior year at Dinamo and there I started under the guidance of Mircea Lucescu, after which I went to Steaua, where we had some extraordinary results: the Champions League, the Cup Winners' Cup. Three superb years of the Champions League, against extraordinary teams; even in two years we played against teams that won the Champions League, namely Juventus and Borussia Dortmund“, he says.
In my opinion, Mircea Lucescu is the best coach that Romania has had, an experienced coach. We have a chance in the tie with Turkey, but it is very difficult, because at the present time, Romanian football is not what it used to be. Mircea Lucescu is trying, with what he has, to make a competitive team
Bogdan Bucur, former defender
I generally watch the matches, but Romanian football has declined a lot compared to what it used to be and it's very difficult to make a competitive national team when you don't have players who play for valuable teams abroad
Bogdan Bucur, former defender
CV Bogdan Bucur
- Date of birth: 21.04.1970, Bucharest
- Position: central defender
- He played at Dinamo ('86-'89, '91), Inter Sibiu ('89-'90), Steaua ('91-'97), Farul ('97), Wuppertal (Germany, L2, '97-'98), Bnei Yehuda (Israel, '98-'00)
- Matches/goals L1: 172/3
- European cup matches/goals: 26/0
- Achievements: 5 national titles, Romanian Cup, Romanian Supercup – all with Steaua
