Emerich Jenei

Emerich Jenei (March 22, 1937, Agriş, Arad County) is a Romanian football player and coach, considered one of Romania's best coaches, winner of the European Cup in 1986.


He made his debut playing for Flamura Roşie Arad, and in 1957, at age 20, he signed with Steaua Bucharest. He played for Steaua until 1969, when he left Romania to play in Turkey for Kayserispor Kulübü. In 1971, Jenei retired as player and became a coach. During his career as a footballer, he played 305 matches and he won 12 caps for Romania's National Team (between 1959 and 1964). Jenei won with Steaua 3 Romanian football championship titles in 1960, 1961 and 1968, as well hi participated with Romania's Olympic Team at the 1964 Summer Olympics in Japan, where the Romanians came on 5-th place.


As a coach, Jenei continued to enjoy success. He managed Steaua Bucharest (1975–1978, 1983–1986, 1990–1991, 1993–1994, 1998–2000), FC Bihor Oradea, CS Târgovişte, Universitatea Craiova, the National Team of Romania (1986–1990, 2000), the National Team of Hungary (1992–1993), FC Fehérvár (1993), Panionios F.C. (1995–1996).


Emerich Jenei won the championship title in 1976, 1978 and 1985 with Steaua. In the following season led Steaua Bucureşti to victory in the European Cup final against FC Barcelona in May 1986. He qualified Romania to World Cup 1990 and Euro 2000. After his retirement (2000), worked for the Romanian Football Federation. He is regularly consulted by the Romanian media for his opinion ahead of important football games for Romanian clubs, especially Steaua, or the Romanian National Team. On March 25, 2008, he was decorated by the president of Romania, with Ordinul "Meritul Sportiv" (The Order "The Sportive Merit") class II with one barret.