Sabau hangs up his boots

Illustrious career
Having won his third Romanian title as a player last weekend, the 35-year-old - renowned in Romanian football for his commitment to fair play - has decided to bring the curtain down on an illustrious career which has seen him play in Italy and the Netherlands as well as Romania.

'A beginning and an end'
"My career ends here," he wrote in a press release. "I have had a lot of satisfaction, but also disappointments. I learned the traditions and cultures of other countries. There were 20 years full of activity, with a lot of ups and downs. But for everything there is a beginning and an end."

First title
Having started his career at FC Universitatea Cluj in 1985, Sabau moved on to FC Dinamo Bucuresti in 1988, winning the first of his three Romanian titles in a two-year spell at the club. He then spent two years in the Netherlands with Feyenoord, winning back-to-back Dutch Cups.

Italian career
His Dutch form saw him move on to Italy where he represented Brescia Calcio between 1992 and 1998, although he spent the 1996/97 Serie A season with Reggiana AC. He returned to Rapid in 1998, winning his second Romanian title in his first year back in his home country.

Coaching post
A reliable performer for Rapid, he helped lead his first club, Universitatea Cluj to promotion from the second division as coach in the 2001/02 season during a year out from his Rapid playing career, and looks likely to complete his Romanian career with 171 league appearances and 17 goals.

International pedigree
Sabau was also a regular in the Romanian national side for much of his career, playing at the finals of the 1990 FIFA World Cup and EURO 96™ and winning 55 caps and scoring eight goals in the process, but injury denied him a place in the 1994 and 1998 World Cups and EURO 2000™.

Career plans
The midfield player is now considering offers from Rapid to become their general manager or technical director, but his dream is to become a coach. "That means I can stay out of an office and on the grass," he said. "And I hope to spend more time with my family."

'I tried not to disappoint anyone'
Sabau, who is hoping to earn a UEFA PRO training licence which will be awarded this year, added: "A great thanks to everybody. I tried not to disappoint anyone, either as a player or as a human being. But if I disappointed anyone, I hope that I will be forgiven."

Maldarasanu returns
Meanwhile, Rapid midfield player Marius Maldarasanu will return to the club in the summer after failing to impress coach Mircea Lucescu during a loan spell in Turkey with Besiktas JK. He made just four first-team appearances after joining the club in the winter in a spell marred by injury.