Not admitting Rapid Bucharest has a profoundly shitty performance on the field, it would be an absolute no brainer. The good thing here still is the fact that all Romanian football is shaped from the same material, and then a poor behavior on the pitch is not something that ultimately can go as single blame on Rapid Bucharest’s virtual shoulders. In any case, not in 2025, a year in which the team produced strong feelings among supporters, and reshaped some winning hopes, even if these seem to fade at every major turning point.
Rapid Bucharest, in the Romanian Cup semifinals, after 13 years, under Sumudica
Going back to the first half of the year, thanks to a decent path in Romanian Cup, Rapid Bucharest, under Marius Sumudica, reached the semifinal of the competition, with only Hermannstadt in the way of a memorable final with CFR Cluj. Even if the hopes were so elevated, Rapid Bucharest removed itself from all its supporter’s dreams, by losing shameful, 1-2, at Sibiu and put a premature end to the desire of a new major final, after 13 years of pause. Marius Sumudica, naturally, left the squad, and didn’t got another contract until the end of the year, at least, and a bold decision was made by the board, and Costel Galca was appointed as head coach. It was a major surprise, considering the past of the man, but it looked a major shift from the style of training and expressing, imposed previously by Sumudica.
Costel Galca, decent, but not too smart…
I liked the move, and sensed it as a positive one. Even if, at the beginning, Galca made some incredible bloopers naming Rapid supporters “much more educated than in the past“, or “tanned”. Even if he wanted these to be peaceful statements, and somehow jokes, they proved one thing I was sure about: the guy doesn’t have too much brain. When it comes to football, though, this is not something that comes up as a huge surprise. I did appreciate Galca’s will to adapt, and to impose a type of decency. His experiences from Denmark, or Poland made me think that, in the end, he can’t be an absolute moron. And he is not.
Modest transfer list for Rapid Bucharest
The biggest surprise, of the beginning of the season, was that Rapid didn’t make too many transfers. Actually, the three major signatories, were Hazrollaj, Kramer, and Baroan, because Kader Keita was just bought, since he already played half a year for Rapid Bucharest on loan, and then, a bit later, Leo Bolgado was brought in until 2026 summer. Apart from Kramer, though, not any single one of them provided for the club, because of several reasons. Most notable, being Baroan, the striker, who did offered a vital 2-1 victory against Botosani, with a brace, but who didn’t raise to a single expectation after this sole match. On top of this, because of indolence, Costel Galca excluded him from the squad.
Rapid Bucharest, (almost) same squad went on dominating the league
Considering the quality of Kramer is also quite modest, and it reflects why he relegated with Aalborg, we can say that Rapid Bucharest of Costel Galca, from a squad componence perspective, is virtually the same as of the team coached by Marius Sumudica. OK, he might say with a better cohesion. Maybe, I have my doubts, as this is not necessary too easy to account for. What I do know is that the results are different. In a very good way! Rapid started of the season at full speed and refused, for nine game weeks. In the end, a shocking 1-2 at home against same Hermannstadt, in a match in which everything went sideways, stopped the undefeated streak. But then Rapid Bucharest won 16 points out of 18, with a robbery at Craiova forbidding six out of six. And so first place was just a natural thing to come to fruition.
When momentum starts to fall apart
Without a wonderful game, Rapid looked solid enough to challenge the steps followed by the team from 2002-2003, which won the last league title. After 16 weeks, Rapid became the major challenger for the title, and even after the hick-up from Cluj-Napoca, against CFR, a 0-3 came out of nowhere, from a wracked team, Rapid got together and went strong with another 4-1 win against Miercurea Ciuc. Then a derby against second place Botosani ended 0-0. Not bad, even if Rapid Bucharest had incredible goal chances to win other three points. This was, then, a turning point. So two defeats followed, mainly because of referee decisions. In 21 game weeks, even having the second best attack, Rapid conceded only one single penalty kick, when it didn’t count too much, and was denied at least eight.
Rapid Bucharest went strong, in spite many issues
Starting to spiral, Rapid finished 2025 in a limit second place, but with very poor perspectives comparing to the ones from the end of game week 18, or maybe even 19. In my opinion, Rapid had the capacity to finish the year with at least a six – seven points gap from second spot. Now the boys are at… -1. Of course, not bad at all in principle. Not bad considering the squad has only one real striker, Koljic, but a guy who is better fitted as a substitute… Also, Rapid Bucharest couldn’t rely on its rising star left-back, Borza, who missed three months, after being badly injured by a… ball guy or something like that when he was called up for the Romanian national team.
Who must leave in 2026
Bottom line, 2025 was a years with far more hopes, and even far more good results for Rapid Bucharest comparing to an average season, especially comparing everything against the last decade, but for me since the disappointment is getting narrower and narrower, so is the enthusiasm, especially when I saw the theft against Otelul and fcsb. Of course it is not only that, Costel Galca is right, the team is limited in terms of quality, and reinforcements are urgently required. Do I agree? 100% My clear forecast is that Rapid Bucharest won’t be able to have a 2026 as good as 2025, at least, if it doesn’t make any changes. First, to get rid of some players, who are just useless at the club: Stolz, Micovschi, Grameni, Gojkovic, Baroan, Jambor. I would add Burmaz here, but for the sake of not having yet a second striker, I would still keep him.
I would take in a decent goalkeeper and at least one good striker
These guys have nothing to do with a team that fights for a top three finish. Said it in the past, will say it again. And, I am afraid, it won’t be needed for me to say a third time at the end of the season, because if Rapid will finish fourth and fifth, all these guys will be released for sure anyway… What to bring? This is up to Galca, Pederzoli (by the way, has this guy done something at all from the moment he joined Rapid???) and the scouting staff. But I would push for Dugandzic & / Rrahmani to be brought in for a few months, because they know the club, and they can be the best short term solution for a better offensive outcome. Rapid also needs a solid goalkeeper. As said, Aioani can be an excelent substitute goalkeeper for a team which wants to win the league title in Romania, especially if this is intended after 23 years!
Offensive midfielder for Rapid Bucharest? Not that easy!
It is too bad, that in the summer Rapid didn’t sign Florin Nita, it would have been a perfect fit. Now, I see it as useless, too late. Would be Horatiu Moldovan a loaning option, like the strikers above? I would say yes and no… Mostly no… But if we won’t get a better option, it could do. Rapid Bucharest doesn’t have good chances to finish top with Aioani between the posts. I would like to state otherwise, but I am watching football for 27 years, and even if there aren’t better goalkeepers in Liga 1, this doesn’t mean you can settle for Aioani, just for this reason. It doesn’t work this way. Some think an offensive midfielder could be key. In theory, yes, but in practice, where can you get better midfielder than Christensen, Keita or even Hromada. These guys are not perfect, but nor is Liga 1 a championship where you can bring that easy players to coordinate play like Kroos. 🙂
Rapid Bucharest – Metaloglobus, the best possible start for 2026!
In short, my strong opinion is that with a Siegrist – type goalkeeper and with Dugandzic and Rrahmani, and with hopefully a better version of Burmaz, Rapid might have all the ingredients to press the envelope in 2026. Brining in players in quantity is not a solution, and so does Costel Galca know very well. Rumors of him leaving the club are not good, and I hope to not come to fruition, but it is absolutely clear that from 3-12 of January, Rapid needs to pick up momentum, and that can be entertained by an increase in the squad quality. Otherwise, I am afraid 2026 won’t be even at the level of 2025, as said. And, in the end, 2025 brought only hope and some vibes, no clear significant results. The game would be on against Metaloglobus on Giulesti, on 17th of January. Can’t ask for more to start another year with a victory. Let’s not waste another good opportunity!
Photo source: fcrapid.ro