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The polarization of presidents, managers and coaches is part of football. There are also several examples of this in Germany. Probably the craziest club boss of all lives in Romania.
When Gigi Becali doesn’t drive expensive cars in Bucharest, he occasionally leads a flock of sheep through the Romanian capital. He’s a billionaire, a club owner and, yes, you read that right, Schäfer. “He comes from a family of shepherds, he was too. He still owns a few sheep, they live near his house”, reveals Emanuel Rosu, a Romanian journalist, in an interview with t-online.
Becali’s house is a palace. Sumptuously furnished, high ceilings, gilded armchairs and ornate doors. Here he has his office and also holds his press conferences.
A press conference at the Becalis property: not a classic venue for such a meeting. (Source: Alex Nicodim images / imago)
Because if he doesn’t like something about his club, FCSB, he says so. The first division club and the reigning cups in Romania hear Becali speak. They don’t care what other people think. Like a godfather, he puts pressure on the coach, decides the formations and sales of the players. Becali polarizes. “Some hate him, others love him – even in his own club,” explains reporter Rosu, adding: “It’s not easy to deal with him. Today he’s your friend, tomorrow he attacks you. His noisy mouth is probably his worst. quality. “
Go around the number 10
He has been rooted in the Bucharest club since 2003. At first as a major sponsor and president, now as an owner without an official position. He was more powerful and his influence greater, but many fans still listen to him today. “People like to hear him talk. Even the media let him talk because he makes news and high ratings,” says Rosu.
Becali doesn’t mince words and speaks vigorously: “He was very provocative, especially in the past. He spoke ill of the opposing players, he said he could buy them if he wanted to. He also liked to criticize his own players.”
An example: in 2009 he bought Rafal Grzelak from Poland for the club that was then still called Steaua Bucharest. Grzelak was assigned number 10. After a few appearances with Steaua, Becali took the number from him. “Becali said she has never seen a number 10 player who was bald, so she didn’t want that to happen to her club anymore,” Rosu said. Unsurprisingly, Grzelak left the club after a year.
Gigi Becali didn’t like Rafal Grzelak’s (missing) hairstyle at all. (Source: Newspix / imago images)
Two years in prison
Becali achieved his wealth after the fall of Communism in 1989. “Many people sold their land to him. Over time, this land became more precious and Becali became richer,” Rosu recalls. The now 62-year-old has made a fortune in real estate. In 2008 the business magazine “Capital” named him the richest Romanian.
With € 2.5 billion, Becali pushed tennis legend Ion Tiriac (€ 2.4 billion) to second place. He did not hide his wealth, he loves to show what he has. In an interview with the football magazine “11 Freunde”, the former football player Marcel Raducanu reported another strange experience: “A few years ago Steaua played the Uefa Cup in Heerenveen, the team won 3-1 and Becali he was in a good mood. I felt good all around too, I had seen a great match and was still standing in the stands. Suddenly Becali and two bodyguards were walking towards the Steaua fans curve, then his coat opened and threw some banknotes in the audience “.
Becali likes to talk about how he went from pastor to multimillionaire. But the fairy tale has several cracks. Because Becali was already in jail for a rough deal. “He traded the land with the military. Investigators learned of the trade because Becali’s new land was much more valuable than what he gave to the military.” The result: he had to go to prison in 2013 and was paroled after two years.
Gigi Becali in his first match with FCSB in April 2015 after his time in prison. (Source: ZUMA Wire images / imago)
The scratched image
After his return to freedom, Becali was not a person burned in public. Because despite everything, the multibillionaire has the image of a benefactor for many people. Because Becali supports many churches with financial means, reconstructed villages that have been destroyed by the floods. And he built a hospital that treats cancer patients for free. What is normal in the German healthcare system is special in Romania and for Becali the opportunity to improve her image.
Because not only the crude trade deals brought him a lot of criticism, but the homophobic and sexist statements also caused indignation. He wanted to lock homosexuals in “special neighborhoods” and ban events like the “GayFest”. In 2018, she described women’s football as “implementing Satan’s ideas” and “against human nature”. He has already banned shopping for gay footballers.
This does not go well with some Romanians and FSCB fans. They finally want peace and quiet and a “normal” club leader. But precisely because of the Corona crisis and financial losses for the club, Becali’s addiction has increased again. The end of the controversial pastor period in the club is not in sight.
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