Dumitrescu in charge at Steaua
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
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Ilie Dumitrescu has been appointed to coach his former club FC Steaua Bucureşti after the departure of Victor Piţurcă a week before the first leg of their play-off with Grasshopper-Club.
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Former Romanian international Ilie Dumitrescu will coach FC Steaua Bucureşti in their UEFA Europa League bid after being appointed to succeed Victor Piţurcă.
Dumitrescu, 41, has nearly a decade's coaching experience in Romania, Cyprus and Greece and takes over at the club where he began and ended his distinguished playing career. He replaces Piţurcă, who has stepped down after only 59 days, and will be accompanied by new executive president Helmuth Duckadam, famed for saving four penalties in the shoot-out that won Steaua the 1986 European Champion Clubs' Cup.
"For me and for Steaua only first place exists," said Dumitrescu, vowing to end the club's wait for a title since 2006. "Nothing else matters." Steaua face Grasshopper-Club in the UEFA Europa League play-offs on 19 and 26 August.