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Gheorghe
Hagi
(Romania)
Born
in Sacele, Gheorge Hagi's, outstanding talent was
discovered quickly and after playing for Farul
Constanza and Sportul Bucharest for a short period of
time, he was transferred to Steaua Bucharest in 1987.
In Romania’s premier club, he won the league and cup
double three years in a row. Hagi was a very skillful
and creative player and very often did unpredictable
things with the ball.
Gheorghe played in his
first World Cup in Italy in 1990. Although he
displayed a few flashes of brilliance in some games,
that year was not going to be his best. Romania bowed
out in the second round after losing to Ireland on
penalties. Hagi was at the peak of his career by the
time of the World Cup four years later in America, and
he showed the world what he was capable of doing. He
was the best player of the tournament alongside the
likes of Romario and Roberto Baggio. He also found the
net three times in that World Cup with one of them
being a wonderful 40 yard lob against Colombia.
However, once again penalties stood between Romania
and further advancement as Sweden won in the
quarterfinal.
Hagi played for Real
Madrid, Barcelona and Brescia with variable success
and never quite unleased his true potential at
clublevel abroad. He struggled with disciplinary
problems on the field and was suspended several times.
When Romania qualified for the World Cup in 1998, he
said it would be his last tournament. Romania reached
the second round and lost 1-0 with the goal
scored...yes, from a penalty. He made a come-back
prior to Euro 2000 and got sent off in his 125th and
last match for Romania in the quarterfinal against
Italy. Hagi is currently playing in the Turkish league
for Galatasaray where he has had success winning the
UEFA Cup and played some of his best soccer at
clublevel ever.
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