Balint takes up Moldova mantle
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
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The Football Association of Moldova has appointed Gavril Balint to lead the national team through UEFA EURO 2012 qualifying after the 47-year-old Romanian agreed to a two-year contract.
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Romanian Gavril Balint will lead Moldova through UEFA EURO 2012 qualifying after he was appointed as the national team coach on a two-year contract.
Testemitanu assistance
Balint replaces Igor Dobrovolskiy, who resigned in October at the end of Moldova's 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign in which they finished bottom of Group 2. The 47-year-old will be assisted by the recently retired central defender Ion Testemitanu, capped 56 times by Moldova. A former striker with FC Steaua Bucureşti, Balint has experience of working in Moldova having guided FC Sheriff to the league title and Commonwealth Cup in 2003.
Qualifying 'goal'
He has also been in charge at a number of Romanian clubs including FC Timişoara and had assistant coaching roles with Galatasaray AŞ and Romania. "In EURO 2012 qualification Moldova have to play better than in previous campaigns," said Balint, who becomes the 27th Romanian to coach a foreign national team. "The exact goal will be set after the draw."