Balint bails out at Sheriff

FC Sheriff Tiraspol coach Gabi Balint has decided to leave the club after winning the Moldovan title.

Third title
The 40-year-old Romanian coach, widely known as Pelé, has decided to leave the club in the summer despite leading his side to their third consecutive Divizia Nationala title with a massive 12-pont lead over second-placed FC Zimbru Chisinau.

Personal problems
"Personal as well as football problems are the reason for my decision," he said. "However, I do not want to go into details. Club president Victor Gusan understands me and will not try to keep me. On Monday I will go to Bucharest to pass an exam for my professional coaching licence and then go to Paris for a holiday."

Strange prospect
With rumours rife that Zimbru coach Gabi Stan will also leave his post soon, Moldovan fans face the strange prospect of the sides which finished in the top two places in the first division both being without coaches through the summer break.

Zimbru rumours
Reports from Romania suggest that Stan is set to be replaced by former Romanian international Marius Lacatus at Zimbru, possibly with his former international team-mate Dan Petrescu acting as his assistant.