Levy hopes for the best as Steaua coach

Israeli coach Roni Levy has been named as the new boss of Romanian Cup winners FC Steaua Bucureşti, who will start their 2011/12 UEFA Europa League campaign in the play-off round.

The 44-year-old previously worked in Romania as coach of FC Unirea Urziceni, leading them to a runners-up finish in the 2009/10 campaign. "Steaua's future will be the same as its history – full of success," he said. "I think I will be able to do a good job here and I know Romania's top division. Steaua's aim is always the title and that's what I hope to achieve."

Steaua were fifth in the Romanian First Division last season and parted company with coach Sorin Cârţu in May, with caretaker Cosmin Olăroiu overseeing their 2-1 cup final success against FC Dinamo Bucureşti.

Originally a defensive midfielder, Levy was capped 16 times by Israel and won national titles as a player with Bnei Yehuda Tel-Aviv FC and Maccabi Haifa FC, before moving into coaching with the latter. He later guided the Haifa club to three championships between 2003 and 2008. More recently he has been in charge of Maccabi Petach-Tikva FC and Beitar Jerusalem FC.