What are your earliest memories of football? Your dad was also a professional foot-baller, how much of an influence was he in your football career?

The earliest memory would be from a really young age when my dad was dragging me to his training! For me, him being in a team, on the pitch, in a locker room was exceptional. I had a really good childhood. I have a photo at home from when I was two years old with a ball on the pitch, so it had a really big influence and impact. It helped me reach my goals. At that time in Romania, it was not so open and supportive and people wanted their kids to succeed. My dad told me that I wouldn’t become a football player, and that gave me the ambition to succeed.

You started your career in Romania, before going to Germany and France. Was it diffi-cult to adapt to the different styles of play between the three countries? What were the main differences you noticed?

Football culture wise, Germany suited me like a glove. I felt really good and I integrated really fast. By learning the language, it helped me a lot to get along with my colleagues. I cannot say the same thing about France. They play more physical football, and players that are really, really strong, you don’t get the spaces that you have in Germany. After three months on my loan in Auxerre, I went to Jean Fernandez, the coach at that time, and told him that they should not think about buying me from Wolfsburg, because France is not for me! It was still a really good experience because I saw a different type of culture and different types of players.

You retired from professional football in 2013. Looking back, do you have a favourite memory from your playing career?

My favourite memories are the people that I got to interact with. I miss the social life with my colleagues, the games and training camps. On the pitch, I think back to a game in Dortmund with more than 65,000 in the stands, and I scored two goals. But throughout my whole career, on and off the pitch, I think the people that I got to know are the best memories I have.

As an MIP alumni member from the most recent cohort, would you recommend the course to others?

I would recommend education to all former players or current players because you have to get to know yourself. I strongly recommend in the last years of your career to try to educate yourself and get a sense of direction. Stay in touch with the network you build because you never know when you click with somebody. You can learn from each other and maybe devel-op a project together. Even though the world is quite big, I believe that the football world is small.

Do you have any advice for people who are reaching the end of their playing career and are looking for a career off the pitch?

Firstly, you need to think about the transition. I think the first thing that I recommend is to take some time off, and to go try something. You have to go and do something because you’ll get to know yourself more. When I ended my career, I thought, okay, I have to jump in, but I didn’t know much. Right now, I know a lot more because I’ve done it. Discover yourself, educate yourself, be prepared, and have the proper mindset.

You are currently the Sporting Director of the Romanian Football Federation. What skills have you taken from your MIP course to help you?

I gained a sense of empowerment because at the same time as the education, we also built our first technical strategy. Then you put the technical strategy with the analysis, with the plan action plan, with the pillars and so on and so on. You get to monitor, to control, and reshape the strategy in some places. As well as this it’s a great network. You get to know amazing people like your mentors, the people who are running the programme, and speakers who have incredible insights in the football world. We are still friends, we are still talking to each other. I strongly recommend it. I recommended the MIP course to two people in the current cohort, and they said that it was the best decision that they have taken.

What responsibilities do you have as the Sporting Director?

I have different types of responsibilities! My main responsibilities are planning, budgeting, and everything that is related to the national teams. I am developing the clubs right now. We have equipped twenty-four academies, twenty-two second league clubs and eight women’s first league clubs with all of the equipment they need, so everyone can film and analyse their games, and send information through the same system.

What is your main purpose in the role?

I feel that I need to give back to my community, my ecosystem here in Romania. I want to stay on the administrative side of the federation, where you can have a bigger general impact. A huge part that I’m really involved with right now is in education. We are not as advanced as other Western countries yet, and people are now understanding that they need to be updated to the needs of the high-level performance of modern day football. We are delivering the first round of masterclasses for Sporting Directors, which was mandatory for all first league clubs.

Do you think it’s important for players to stay involved in the game after retirement?

Yes, because it’s something that you know and it’s something that you’re acquainted with. It’s something that you feel. The experience of a locker room builds you for the football world and it will help you be able to talk to players and coaches. However, you are nothing if you don’t put education on that past experience. You’re going to be a part of an evolving community with technology but at the same time a community that needs the human structure.

You have had a successful career on and off the pitch, do you have any other goals for your personal career?

Right now I am in the place where I was dreaming to be five years ago. If you ask me what I want to be in the future, I haven’t really set up a goal. I am focused on my sons and my family. Right now I am really happy with what I am doing here. You never know who or what comes up and I may have to rethink, but I 100% want to stay in a position where I can decide, I can help, where I can bring my knowledge and my experience and build.