A football fanatic from a young age, the ball had for Gheorghe Hagi a magical quality. It was evident from early on that he was a huge talent, and he proceeded to represent Romania at Under-16, U-17 and U-18 level. After a spell with FC Farul Constanta, the 18-year-old Hagi moved in 1983 to Bucharest side CF Sportul Studentesc. During his three years with the club he scored 58 goals in 108 appearances.

The coach of the Romania at the time was Mircea Lucescu, and in August 1983 he awarded Hagi the first of 125 senior caps in a friendly against Norway. Although the match ended in a 0-0 draw, it was the start of a glorious international career which would span 17 years, leave him as Romania’s most capped player and, with 35 goals to his credit, their leading scorer. He led his country on 65 occasions. Hagi played in three World Cups and three European Championships for his country. With FC Steaua Bucuresti he won three Romanian titles, two Romanian Cups, a European Champion Clubs’ Cup and a UEFA Super Cup, before spending the remaining eleven years of his playing career abroad.