Halagian's fifth spell fails
Wednesday, October 23, 2002
Article summary
FC Arges-Dacia Pitesti coach Florin Halagian has been sacked, ending his fifth stint at the club.
Article body
FC Arges-Dacia Pitesti coach Florin Halagian has been released because of his side’s poor start to the Romanian first division season.
Well-respected
Halagian, at 63, was the oldest coach in Divizia A and is well-respected in Romania. He was especially well thought of in the city of Pitesti - 100km north of Bucharest - as he led Arges to their only championships, in 1972 and 1979.
Surprising decision
The decision was surprising given Halagian’s status and because the team had shown some improvement over the last few weeks. At the weekend, Arges were unfortunate to lose 3-2 at home to FC Steaua Bucuresti and that came after two successive wins. The team does, however, after eight matches occupy 13th place which is in the relegation play-off zone.
Eight coach to leave
Halagian’s dismissal ends his fifth spell at the helm of Arges. His latest stint began at the end of the 2001/02 season when Arges finished tenth in the league, therefore the current position is seen as a backward step. Halagian is the eighth coach in the Romanian first division to have been dismissed or to have quit this season.
