Article by Ionuţ Iordache, Maria Olteanu – Published Friday, April 24, 2026, 8:20 p.m. / Updated Friday, April 24, 2026, 8:22 p.m.
Lucian Filip (35 years old) will lead FCSB from the bench tonight, at the duel with Petrolul, which will start at 20:30, counting for round number 6 of the Superleague play-out. This is the main coach of the red-blues, for the moment, after the untimely departure of Mirel Rădoi.
Lucian Filip took over the team on the fly, as an emergency solution, until the FCSB board appoints a new technician. Discussions are ongoing, with Mihai Stoica being the one in charge of finding Radoi's successor at the helm of the red-blues. Until then, Filip will provide the interim.
An interesting detail was noticed by the GSP.ro photojournalist present at the National Arena, at the match with Petrolul. Lucian Filip went out with the players on the pitch, during the warm-up, something that head coaches usually don't do. Such a movement, with the trainer in the warm-up, is rather the task of the “seconds”.
Last thoughts of Lucian Filip, before FCSB – Petrolul
Just a few minutes before the start, Lucian Filip gave a short reaction, in which he talked about how he found the team, but also about the change between the clubs.
In the first match after Mirel Rădoi's departure, Matei Popa, Becali's favorite player, whom Rădoi had sent to the bench, returns in goal to bring Târnovanu back into the first 11. Now, Popa has been chosen as the starter by Lucian Filip, after two matches in which he remained a reserve, while the number 1 of the red-blues' goals was moved to the reserves.
“We managed to do as much as time allowed, it was a short period, but we focused on recovery and that's what matters now, at the end of the championship.
We had two training sessions with the players before today's game. We had individual and group discussions. The players don't have to think about the coach, but about the game. We have to win today, we need points.
They are a good team, they have 7 points out of a possible 9 and could easily have 9. They are a consistent team who played very well.
Matei is a promising young man. We know that the U21 rule will not change soon, we can use it next season as well. It's good that we can rely on him. In general, footballers, when they are not playing or when they are not in the first 11, do not feel well. He needs to mature and get over these moments.
It's not my debut, it was the same once before, in 2023, an almost similar situation. I wish that the one who will come, a foreign coach, from what I read, will have the same results as Elias”, said Lucian Filip, before the start of the match, on “Digi Sport Special”.
The starting team chosen by Lucian Filip for the match FCSB – Petrolul:
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Matei Popa – Crețu, Dawa, M. Popescu, Radunovic – Fl. Tănase, Joao Paulo – Oct. Popescu, D. Olaru, Cisotti – Miculescu
Reserves: Târnovanu, L. Zima, A. Duarte, Graovac, Arad, Lixandru, Toma, Pantea, Alhassan, Stoian, Toma, D. Popa
