37 Facts About Gheorghe Hagi

Fans of Turkish club Galatasaray, with whom Gheorghe Hagi ended his career, called him, while he was known as to Romanian supporters.

Gheorghe Hagi is one of the few footballers to have played for both Spanish rival clubs Real Madrid and Barcelona.

At international level, Gheorghe Hagi played for the Romania national team in three FIFA World Cups, in 1990,1994 and 1998; as well as in three UEFA European Championships, in 1984,1996 and 2000.

Gheorghe Hagi won a total of 124 caps for Romania between 1983 and 2000, making him the second-most capped Romanian player of all time, behind only Dorinel Munteanu; he is the joint all-time leading goalscorer of the Romania national side with 35 goals.

Gheorghe Hagi is considered a hero both in his homeland and in Turkey.

Gheorghe Hagi was named Romanian Footballer of the Year a record seven times, and is regarded as one of the best football players of his generation.

Gheorghe Hagi was nominated six times for the Ballon d'Or, his best performance being a 4th place in 1994.

In November 2003, to celebrate UEFA's Jubilee, Gheorghe Hagi was selected as the Golden Player of Romania by the Romanian Football Federation as their most outstanding player of the past 50 years.

Gheorghe Hagi established his namesake football academy, one of the largest in Southeastern Europe.

Gheorghe Hagi was born to Iancu and Chirata Gheorghe Hagi on 5 February 1965.

Gheorghe Hagi's grandfather was one of 40,000 ethnic Aromanians who fled Greece to Romania.

Gheorghe Hagi's mother was born in Mesolakkia Serron and her original surname was Mega.

Gheorghe Hagi set up home in the village of Sacele, near Constanta on the Black Sea coast.

Gheorghe Hagi has fond memories of his grandfather who, like many Aromanians, was a shepherd.

Gheorghe Hagi started his career playing for the youth teams of FC Constanta under the guidance of coach Iosif Bukossy in 1978.

Gheorghe Hagi was selected by the Romanian Football Federation to join the squad of Luceafarul Bucuresti in 1980, where he remained for two years.

Gheorghe Hagi was originally directed to Universitatea Craiova, but chose Sportul Studentesc of Bucharest instead where he would form a successful offensive couple with Marcel Coras.

In late 1986, Gheorghe Hagi transferred to Steaua Bucuresti as the team prepared for the European Super Cup final against Dynamo Kyiv.

However, after winning the final, in which Gheorghe Hagi scored the only goal of the match from a free kick, Steaua did not want to release him back to Sportul Studentesc and retained him.

In 1996,31-year-old Gheorghe Hagi signed for Turkish club Galatasaray who paid 3.5 million$ to Barcelona for his transfer, during this spell reuniting with Popescu, Romanians Adrian Ilie and Iulian Filipescu being at the club.

Gheorghe Hagi had been the subject of a competing transfer offer from Sao Paulo.

Gheorghe Hagi drew praise from the Galatasaray supporters for his performances during his time with the club, who adopted the chant "I Love You Gheorghe Hagi" in his honour.

Gheorghe Hagi was selected by Lucescu to be part of the squad that went at Euro 1984 as the team needed a replacement for injured Ilie Balaci.

Gheorghe Hagi was named in the Team of the Tournament for his performances.

Gheorghe Hagi was used as captain by Iordanescu in all four games at the final tournament as in the group stage they earned victories in the first two rounds with Colombia and England, thus mathematically being qualified before the last group match with Tunisia where in order to celebrate, they all dyed their hair blonde and presented themselves like that at the game.

Gheorghe Hagi retired from professional football in 2001, at the age of 36 and that year he was given a send-off in a testimonial game on 24 April, called "Gala Gheorghe Hagi," featuring a team of Romanian All-Stars against a team of international All-Stars.

In 2013 he was Decorated at the Romanian Royal House with the "Nihil Sine Deo" medal by Margareta of Romania, Gheorghe Hagi saying at the event:"It's an important moment for me, I'm happy, I'm glad because all the sacrifices I've made in life were worth it, and right now I feel even more honored and responsible and I have more ambition to keep going, to keep working and giving my best for football, for children".

On 12 March 2025, Gheorghe Hagi was decorated by President Ilie Bolojan with the Order of the Star of Romania in the rank of Knight, the highest distinction of the Romanian state.

In 2001, Gheorghe Hagi was named the head coach of Romania, replacing Ladislau Boloni, who left the squad to coach Sporting Lisbon.

In July 2003, Gheorghe Hagi took over as coach of Turkish Super Lig side Bursaspor, transferring Romanian players Ionel Ganea, Bogdan Vintila, Iulian Miu and Cornel Frasineanu to the club.

Gheorghe Hagi then became manager of Galatasaray in March 2004, replacing Fatih Terim, having fellow Romanian players Florin Bratu and Ovidiu Petre in the squad, finishing the season on the sixth place.

Gheorghe Hagi brought to the team Bogdan Stancu, Emmanuel Culio and Robinson Zapata from the Romanian league.

In 2009, Gheorghe Hagi created a football academy in Constanta which he named after himself and a senior football club named Viitorul Constanta which he registered in the third league, being its president.

Gheorghe Hagi was renowned in particular for his first touch and speed on the ball, as well as his timing, interpretation of space, bursts of acceleration and dribbling skills, which enabled him to get past defenders; he was highly regarded for his vision and precise passing, although he was capable of both scoring and assisting goals, and was an accurate finisher and set-piece taker, who had a penchant for scoring goals from powerful, bending long range strikes.

On 5 February 2025, with the occasion of his 60th birthday, Gheorghe Hagi published his autobiography:.

Gheorghe Hagi is currently married to Marilena Gheorghe Hagi, with whom he has two children.

Gheorghe Hagi is the brother-in-law of fellow Romanian international Gheorghe Popescu who married Hagi's wife's sister.