Famous Romanian football player Hagi opens themed pub, plans franchise chain

Famous Romanian football player Gheorghe Hagi, together with four other investors, recently opened a sports lounge in Constanta, under the name H10 Sport Lounge, following a EUR 400,000 investment. This is the first of a series of football themed pubs, which will be dedicated to the life of the former footballer. The name comes from his initial and the number 10, his T-shirt number.

Nine other pubs will be opened by 2014, most likely under franchise, and they will be decorated with objects and photographs from Hagi's career, and some will incorporate fan clubs. The first pub was opened in Constanta, which is Hagi's home town. The shareholders, Hagi, Mihai Neguţ, Petre Brumă, Vlad Creţu and Răzvan Neguţ are also thinking about expansion abroad with this concept. The former footballer, now 48, also owns the four start hotel Iaki in seaside resort Mamaia.

Hagi, nicknamed the Maradona of the Carpathians, is seen as the greatest Romanian football player of all time. He was the first Romanian to play for top European clubs such as Real Madrid, Barcelona and Galatasaray. Through his outstanding dribbling, vision, execution of passes and shots from distance, he managed to impose himself as one of the world’s best players alongside the likes of Maradona or Pelé.

At the 1994 World Cup, Hagi led the Romanian team to its best international performance, bringing them to the quarterfinals. He made highlights by scoring vital goals for Romania, including a 35-meter lob against Colombia. In 2002, the goal was voted the fifth best in World Cup history, in a poll hosted on FIFAworldcup.com. Hagi, also a former captain for Romania's national team, is known for his famous left foot goals, many of which were scored from distance. editor@romania-insider.com (photo source: H10 Lounge on Facebook)