Hagi resigns as Romania coach

Romanian coach Gheorghe Hagi resigned today after failing to lead the team to next year's World Cup finals.

Romanian coach Gheorghe Hagi resigned today after failing to lead the team to next year's World Cup finals.

Hagi's agent Ioan Becali announced the move and said Hagi, who was formerly Romania's star player, had telephoned his decision to the president of the Romanian Football Federation (FRF), Mircea Sandu.

"We will discuss the details of this resignation when the president of the FRF returns home (from a visit to South Korea)," Becali explained.

"Hagi took this decision because the FRF did not give him the assurances he needed to carry on his activity," said Becali.

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Only last week Sandu said the federation had decided to stick with Hagi and would try to ensure he steered them through to qualification for the 2004 European Championships.

Hagi had already indicated he was ready to step down after Romania lost their World Cup play-off to Slovenia two weeks ago.

AFP