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.