Article by Remus Dinu – Published on Monday, 04 May 2026, 16:59 / Updated on Monday, 04 May 2026 17:06
Fresh champion with Inter in Serie Afor the first time as a coach, Cristi Chivu did not neglect the educational component in the early years of his career. In parallel with his rise in international football, the Romanian attended and graduated from the Faculty of Physical Education and Sport at the Western University in Timișoara. Gazeta spoke today with the rector of the higher education institution that Cristi Chivu attended, who provided less known information about the academic career of the resident of Resisi.
On everyone's lips after “suffocating” his competition since his first season at Inter, Cristi Chivu made a commensurate impression among the staff at the Western University of Timișoarawhich he graduated from 15 years ago, when he had not yet finished his playing career.
The Rector of UVT, Marilen Pirtea, met Chivu and reported exclusively for the readers of Gazeta Sporturilor the efforts made by the young Chivu to reach the exams and complete his studies, although he was periodically away from Romania, and time was obviously a problem.
Chivu student: “He was serious, he always was. He didn't forget his origins”
“He enrolled in 2006 at the Faculty of Physical Education and Sports from UVT, and in 2011 he completed his studies. In 2012, he passed his bachelor's degree.
He also had “frozen” years, that he could not come to Romania, but he took his exams in the normal sessions. He was serious, he always was. When he couldn't do it, he interrupted the activity, he didn't skip it. He continued, according to the law, when he could.
There are exceptional session situations for students, especially those of the Faculty of Physical Education and Sport, we have had all kinds of Olympic and world champions in various events. Many gymnasts graduated from UVT, Gina Gogean, Simona Amânar, Maria Olaru, Andreea Răducan, Lavinia Miloșovici. During the competitive periods, extraordinary sessions were obviously made to be able to participate. There is a certain type of controlled flexibility.
Cristi always had a dose of modesty, without forgetting his origins and where he came from. We have an older relationship. We talked before, at one point I went to see him in Milan, when he was on the last hundred meters of his playing career. We also met at other events.
Such people must be brought before the students, they are role models”, said Pirtea, who is also a PNL deputy.
Cristi Chivu and Marilen-Gabriel Pirtea, rector of the University of West Timișoara / Photo source: Facebook
“You don't even know how happy Cristi is to have graduated!”
The Rector of UVT continued:
“One more important thing, speaking of his character and style. After he went to college, got his license and got his teaching degree, his mother told me at one point: «You don't even know how happy Cristi is to have graduated! With this he legitimizes where he goes in Italy, because he is a physical education and sports teacher».
For him, it matters a lot among others. He's a teacher, he's not just a player with I don't know how many classes. Somehow, he cared a lot about this matter, it meant a lot to him, for the world to address him like that”, said rector Marilen Pirtea, in a dialogue with GSP.ro.
Fantastic records ticked by Mister Cristi Chivu in Serie A
With the title won with Inter, Cristi Chivu comes into possession of several records in Italian football. The Romanian sets a rare performance for the last half century, the only one who surpasses him is Fabio Capello, champion in the 1991-1992 edition with only five matches as a coach in Serie A!
Cristi needed 48 (13 at Parma, 35 at Inter), while his first technician as a player in Serie A (at AS Roma) 37 (all in Milan) were enough for his first title (taken two stages before the end of the season).
Only three other managers have managed to triumph in their debut season with less experience: Carlo Bigatto with Juventus in 1935, Nino Resegotti with Inter (1920) and Giovanni Invernizzi with Inter (1971). With the difference that none of them was on the technical bench from the start of the championship, but was appointed during the season. Another great achievement for Chivu!
Chivu is the first coach in the last century (more precisely since the interwar period) of the Nerazzurro club who wins the title as a player and as a coach.
Moving on, Chivu is the coach of Inter who ticked off the double title with the Primavera team (U19) and the Nerazzurri seniors in the shortest time: in 2023-2024 he became the “youth” champion, after which he left, and now he is number one in Serie A. HERE, all the relevant statistics about Chivu summarized by GSP journalists Daniel Scorpie and George Nistor.
