“My physical condition is much lower than my age today!”

Gică Popescu turns 57 today, and the former international great recognizes for ProSport that he feels in top form. “I feel better than I’ve ever felt,” admitted the former great defender.

However, the leader of the Lighthouse excludes the option of playing in another match of the “Golden Generation”, so that the memorable match at the National Arena, in May, will go down in history.

Gică Popescu, in top form at 57 years old: “I feel better than I have ever felt!”

October 9 is a special day for Romanian football. And that’s because we’re celebrating Gică Popescu, one of the most valuable players in Romania’s history. An important member of the “Golden Generation”, Popescu was part of the extraordinary group that took the national team one step away from a historic semi-final at the 1994 World Championship.

Having reached the age of 57, the former great defender of Barcelona emphasized that he is in excellent physical condition, even if his daily schedule is extremely busy.

“I feel better than I have ever felt! My physical condition is clearly inferior to the age I am today. However, on May 25th, when the retirement match of the “Golden Generation” took place, it was the last time we played together. So, there is no question of another match in which the Golden Generation will play”, said Gică Popescu, for ProSport.

“No matter how busy my daily schedule is, and I don’t mean only the activities at the Lighthouse, I also have many other things that I do, at the Government, businesses, I always found time to hang out with my friends , with the family, when I reached a certain age. This is what I will do now, I will find time this very evening to spend with my loved ones, with those close to me”, stressed “Baciul”.

Gică Popescu, unforgettable memories from the day she turned 50: “It was something extraordinary and it took me by surprise!”

Seven years ago, Gică Popescu admitted that she experienced unforgettable moments, when he celebrated his 50th birthday.

“For me, every anniversary was special. I tried to spend that day with my family, with those close to me. There are certain anniversaries that meant something special. And that happens when we hit round ages like 40, 50.

I remember with pleasure when I turned 50 and I had a wonderful surprise. All the friends, family came, I didn’t expect it to be such a surprise and I have to admit that it took me by surprise. It was something extraordinary”, recalled the one who was chosen the Romanian footballer of the year in 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1995 and 1996.

After 3-4 hours of talking about football with Gică (nee Hagi), you go out with a big head, you need Diazepam to recover” – Gică Popescu, in 2016, when he turned 49

Gică Popescu hasn’t been on vacation for a year and a half: “I’ve been very, very busy!”

The former Barcelona captain admitted he was unable to go on holiday this summer but hopes to get revenge on those close to him as soon as possible.

“The last time I went on vacation was a year and a half ago. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to go on vacation with my family this summer because I was very, very busy.

I hope to get my revenge next summer or even winter. It is not the work at the Lighthouse that occupies my time every day. I have many other activities that I don’t want to make public,” Gică Popescu testified.

Popescu was born a leader. There are footballers who can dominate the dressing room from the first moment. Gica was like this. He didn’t take the Cup and the championship with us in 1991 because he had gone to Eindhoven, but those performances are also due to him. He kept the team together and his success motivated the others” – Sorin Cîrțu, in 2008, for ProSport

What the TOP 20 players Gică Popescu played with look like: “We had three Ballon d’Ors there!”

Five years ago, at ProSport LiveGică Popescu created an unprecedented top of the players with whom he evolved in his career.

The former star of the Romanian national team included no less than 20 players, led by Gică Hagi, Miodrag Belodedici and Marius Lăcătuș. During an impressive career, Gică Popescu was a colleague of huge names in world football, such as Pep Guardiola, Luis Figo, or Jurgen Klinsmann.

Goalkeepers: Hans van Breukelen and Bogdan Stelea

Defenders: Dan Petrescu, Eric Gerets, Laurent Blanc, Sol Campbell, Miodrag Belodedici, Miguel Angel Nadal (Rafael Nadal’s uncle), Jan Heintze and Sergi Barjuan

Midfielders: Gica Hagi, Luis Figo, Pep Guardiola, Hristo Stoicikov and Luis Enrique

Forwards: Romario, Marius Lăcătus, Ronaldo, Jurgen Klinsmann and Teddy Sheringham

Coach: Johan Cruyff

If you were Guardiola and you grew up there, you had four league wins, you looked strange, rightly so. Every coach has his own way of seeing the dressing room, he wants a player to coordinate the dressing room. It was a difficult locker room, very difficult. In my second year when I was captain we had 17 internationals. We had three ‘Golden Ballons’ there: Ronaldo, Figo and Stoichkov” – Gică Popescu

I never felt inferior, but never! On the contrary! I remember that before I left for Barcelona I was with some friends at Poiana Brașov and in the evening at the table one of them asked me: «Are you going to Barcelona tomorrow, aren’t your legs shaking? However, you are going to Barcelona!”. “Me, me? When they get there, they take the most important ones to shreds!”. And so I did. That’s what I did! Yes, they caught my eye and in six months I became team captain” – Gică Popescu, for ProSport