Edward Iordănescu

Edward "Edi" Marius Iordănescu (born 16 June 1978), sometimes known as Iordănescu Jr., is a Romanian professional football manager and former player, who is currently the head coach of the Romania national team.

A midfielder, Iordănescu represented nine teams during a rather uneventful playing career, including stints abroad with Panionios and Alki Larnaca. He started both his playing and coaching career at Steaua București, emulating his father Anghel.

Following his retirement as a player, Iordănescu emerged as a notable figure in the Romanian managerial sphere, earning praise for his meticulous approach to match preparation. He guided CFR Cluj to three domestic trophies during his two stints, and in 2022 was appointed at the helm of the Romania national team, subsequently leading them to qualification for the UEFA Euro 2024.

Playing career
Iordănescu's link with Steaua București began in early 1984, aged six, when his father Anghel, who was an assistant coach at the time, would take him along to attend games at the Ghencea Stadium. He frequently sat alongside Alin Stoica, also the son of a club legend, and began playing together during warm-ups and halftime breaks. After progressing through Steaua's youth ranks, Iordănescu made his debut for the first team in 1996, alongside Stoica.

In 1997, after failing to impose himself at the Roș-albaștrii, Iordănescu left for Sportul Studențesc. Throughout his career, he played for various clubs in Romania—Unirea Focșani, Rapid București, Rocar București, Petrolul Ploiești, and Vaslui. He also had spells abroad in Greece and Cyprus with Panionios and Alki Larnaca, respectively.

Managerial career
Iordănescu ended his playing career in 2004 to pursue managerial studies, undertaking courses in Italy, Spain, and England. In 2010, following Ilie Dumitrescu's resignation as manager of Steaua București, he assumed the role of interim coach. Iordănescu served in minor assistant or caretaker roles at Steaua and Vaslui, before securing his first contract as a head coach at Fortuna Brazi in 2013.

On 20 June 2013, Iordănescu signed a contract with second division team ASA Târgu Mureș, with the explicit objective of promoting to the Liga I; he resigned from the position in October 2013. In December 2014, he was named the head coach of top flight club Pandurii Târgu Jiu. Under his guidance, the team reached the final of the 2014–15 Cupa Ligii. On 24 August 2016, Iordănescu was announced as the new head coach of Bulgarian side CSKA Sofia, after also attracting the interest of Lech Poznań. On 27 November 2016, after a 1–1 home draw against Vereya, he resigned from his position.

On 8 June 2017, Iordănescu signed a deal with Liga I club Astra Giurgiu. On 2 April 2018, his contract with the club was terminated through a mutual agreement. On 13 June 2018, Iordănescu signed a three-year contract with CFR Cluj, taking over from Dan Petrescu, who left for Guizhou Hengfeng. He won his first managerial trophy on July 15 that year, as his new side defeated Universitatea Craiova 1–0 in the 2018 Supercupa României. He departed CFR Cluj in less than two months, following disagreements with owner Ioan Varga, who attempted to interfere in managerial decisions during matches.

Between January 2019 and June 2020, Iordănescu had a stint at Gaz Metan Mediaș, before making a return to CFR Cluj in December 2020. He guided the latter to another Supercupa României and the 2020–21 Liga I title, but refused to stay beyond the expiration of his contract at the end of the campaign. In August 2021, he made a comeback to Steaua București—now known as FCSB—but this time as a head coach for the first time. On 12 September, his team thrashed Dinamo București 6–0 in the league, representing the largest goal difference in the eternal derby. Iordănescu departed in November 2021 after falling out with owner Gigi Becali.

On 25 January 2022, Iordănescu was appointed as the manager of the Romania national team, which his father Anghel had also coached during three stints. On 18 November 2023, after a 2–1 win against Israel, his country secured qualification for the UEFA Euro 2024. For this achievement, the Gazeta Sporturilor sports website named him the 2023 Romania Coach of the Year.

Personal life
Iordănescu dated Romanian singer-songwriter Delia Matache from 2005 to 2006. He is now married to a woman with whom he has three children.

His father also managed the Romanian national team (over three spells); Anghel Iordănescu.

Player
Steaua București
 * Divizia A: 1995–96
 * Cupa României: 1995–96

Petrolul Ploiești
 * Divizia B: 2002–03

Manager
Pandurii Târgu Jiu
 * Cupa Ligii runner-up: 2014–15

CFR Cluj
 * Liga I: 2020–21
 * Supercupa României: 2018, 2020

Individual
 * Gazeta Sporturilor Romania Coach of the Year: 2023
 * Gala Fotbalului Românesc Romanian Coach of the Year: 2021
 * Gazeta Sporturilor Romania Coach of the Month: November 2023