Editing Gheorghe Hagi (section)

===Galatasaray===
{{Quote box|
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|quote="Hagi is like wine, the older it gets, the better it is."
|source=–[[Luis Fernández]], former French international<ref name="Romania and Gala’s commander and king"/>}}
In 1996, 31-year-old Hagi signed for Turkish club [[Galatasaray S.K. (football)|Galatasaray]] who paid 3.5 million$ to Barcelona for his transfer, during this spell reuniting with [[Gheorghe Popescu|Popescu]], Romanians [[Adrian Ilie]] and [[Iulian Filipescu]] also being at the club.<ref name="Romania and Gala’s commander and king"/><ref name=sport/><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.gsp.ro/international/stranieri/25-de-ani-cu-romani-la-galatasaray-655872.html| title=Care e bilanțul celor 25 de ani cu jucători români la Galatasaray? Doi "regi", doi buni și 10 eșecuri!| publisher=Gsp.ro| language=ro |trans-title=What is the balance of the 25 years with Romanian players at Galatasaray? Two "kings", two good ones and 10 failures | date=25 February 2022| access-date=11 February 2025}}<br>{{cite web | url=https://www.gds.ro/Sport/2003-12-01/Trei-fotbalisti-romani-au-fost-titulari-la-Galatasaray/| title=Trei fotbalisti romani au fost titulari la Galatasaray| publisher=Gds.ro| language=ro |trans-title=Three Romanian footballers were starters at Galatasaray | date=1 December 2003| access-date=11 February 2025}}<br>{{cite web | url=https://www.primasport.ro/hagi-adi-ilie-si-mai-cine-13-romani-au-jucat-la-galatasaray-19271039| title=Hagi, Adi Ilie şi mai cine? 13 români au jucat la Galatasaray| publisher=Primasport.ro| language=ro |trans-title=Hagi, Adi Ilie and who else? 13 Romanians played at Galatasaray | date=12 February 2020| access-date=11 February 2025}}</ref> He had been the subject of a competing transfer offer from [[São Paulo FC|São Paulo]].<ref name=fanatik3/><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www1.folha.uol.com.br/fsp/1996/3/20/esporte/16.html| title=Time faz proposta pelo meia romeno Hagi| publisher=Folha.uol.com.br| language=ro |trans-title=Team makes offer for Romanian midfielder Hagi| date=20 March 1996| access-date=11 February 2025}}</ref> He made his [[Süper Lig|Turkish league]] debut on 9 August under coach [[Fatih Terim]], scoring a brace in a 4–0 with [[Vanspor]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.sport.ro/stranieri/10-08-1996-ziua-cand-gica-hagi-marca-doua-goluri-la-debutul-pentru-galatasaray-restul-e-istorie.html| title=10.08.1996, ziua când Gică Hagi marca două goluri la debutul pentru Galatasaray! Restul e istorie | publisher=Sport.ro| language=ro |trans-title=10.08.1996, the day when Gică Hagi scored two goals on his debut for Galatasaray! The rest is history| date=10 August 2022| access-date=11 February 2025}}<br>{{cite web|publisher=WorldFootball|url=https://www.worldfootball.net/report/sueperlig-1996-1997-vanspor-as-galatasaray/|title=Vanspor AS - Galatasaray 1:2|access-date=11 February 2025}}</ref> Although in the twilight of his career, at Galatasaray, he was extremely successful and became highly popular among the Turkish supporters, due to his excellent performances for the club as in his first four seasons, domestically he won four league titles, two [[Turkish Cup]]s and two [[Turkish Super Cup]]s.<ref name="Romania and Gala’s commander and king"/><ref name=RS/> His highest success was when at age 35 he [[Captain (association football)|captained]] the club to win the [[1999–2000 UEFA Cup]], scoring two goals in the campaign against [[Borussia Dortmund]] and in the semi-finals with [[Leeds United F.C.|Leeds United]], defeating [[Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal]] on penalties in the [[2000 UEFA Cup Final|final]], following a 0–0 draw and during the match, Hagi was sent off in [[Overtime (sports)|extra time]] for punching Arsenal captain [[Tony Adams]].<ref name=RS/><ref name=GSP2/><ref name="Galatasaray win historic UEFA Cup">{{cite web |url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/news/0221-0e90c1e2d4d0-6b6135fa4c69-1000--snap-shot-galatasaray-win-historic-uefa-cup/ |title=Snap shot: Galatasaray win historic UEFA Cup |publisher=[[UEFA]] |last1=Tozar |first1=Türker |date=17 May 2015 |access-date=5 November 2019 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sport/football/752751.stm|title=BBC News – FOOTBALL – Penalty heartbreak for Arsenal|website=news.bbc.co.uk}}<br>{{cite web|publisher=WorldFootball|url=https://www.worldfootball.net/player_summary/gheorghe-hagi/uefa-cup-1999-2000/galatasaray/3/|title=Gheorghe Hagi. UEFA Cup 1999/2000 |access-date=11 February 2025}}</ref> Consequently, Galatasaray became the first Turkish club to win a [[UEFA club competitions|UEFA club competition]] title.<ref name="Galatasaray win historic UEFA Cup"/> 

In June 2000, Romanian [[Mircea Lucescu]] replaced Fatih Terim at the ''[[Galatasaray S.K. (football team)|Cim Bom Bom]]'' side, together winning the [[2000 UEFA Super Cup]], after a 2–1 victory against [[Real Madrid C.F.|Real Madrid]].<ref name=GSP2/><ref name=DIGI>{{cite web | url=https://www.digisport.ro/fotbal/champions-league/deja-vu-galata-cu-hagi-si-popescu-a-invins-de-doua-ori-realul-42505| title=Deja-vu: Galata, cu Hagi şi Popescu, a învins de două ori Realul| publisher=Digisport.ro| language=ro |trans-title=Deja-vu: Galata, with Hagi and Popescu, defeated Real twice| date=15 March 2013| access-date=11 February 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.playsport.ro/inspiratia-lui-gica-hagi-a-adus-supercupa-europei-la-istanbul-mircea-lucescu-n-a-avut-de-ales-hagi-mi-a-zis-sa-intru-21638| title=Inspirația lui Gică Hagi a adus Supercupa Europei la Istanbul! Mircea Lucescu n-a avut de ales: "Hagi mi-a zis să intru"| publisher=Playsport.ro| language=ro |trans-title=Gică Hagi's inspiration brought the European Supercup to Istanbul! Mircea Lucescu had no choice: "Hagi told me to enter"| date=28 March 2021| access-date=11 February 2025}}</ref> They also reached the quarter-finals of the [[UEFA Champions League|Champions League]] during the [[2000–01 UEFA Champions League|2000–01 season]] where in the [[2000–01 UEFA Champions League first group stage|first group stage]], Hagi netted a goal with a spectacular long-distance shot in a win over [[AS Monaco FC|AS Monaco]], then in the [[2000–01 UEFA Champions League second group stage|second group stage]] he scored his last goal in an European competition following a deep launch from [[Capone (footballer)|Capone]], then succeeding a [[Chip (association football)|lob]] over goalkeeper [[Dida (footballer, born 1973)|Dida]] in a 2–0 with [[AC Milan]].<ref name=sport/><ref name=sport2>{{cite web | url=https://www.sport.ro/fotbal-intern/golul-din-champions-league-care-il-reprezinta-pe-gica-hagi-si-azi-regele-reusita-recunoscuta-dupa-un-sfert-de-secol.html| title=Golul din Champions League care îl reprezintă pe Gică Hagi și azi! "Regele", reușită recunoscută după un sfert de secol| publisher=Sport.ro| language=ro |trans-title=The Champions League goal that represents Gică Hagi even today! "The King", recognized success after a quarter of a century| date=5 February 2025| access-date=11 February 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.fanatik.ro/motivul-pentru-care-gica-hagi-a-vrut-in-mod-special-tricoul-unui-fotbalist-de-la-stelele-lumii-la-meciul-de-adio-al-generatiei-de-aur-20704077| title=Motivul pentru care Gică Hagi a vrut, în mod special, tricoul unui fotbalist de la Stelele Lumii, la meciul de adio al Generației de Aur| publisher=Fanatik.ro| language=ro |trans-title=The reason why Gică Hagi specifically wanted the jersey of a football player from Stelele Lumii, at the farewell match of the Golden Generation| date=28 May 2024| access-date=11 February 2025}}</ref> In the quarter-finals they earned a 3–2 victory in the first leg against Real Madrid but lost with 3–0 in the second one.<ref name=DIGI/><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.digisport.ro/special/video-amintiri-dupa-12-ani-hagi-si-lucescu-s-au-certat-in-vestiar-dar-am-castigat-44902| title=Amintiri după 12 ani! "Hagi și Lucescu s-au certat în vestiar, dar am câștigat"| publisher=Digisport.ro| language=ro |trans-title=Memories after 12 years! "Hagi and Lucescu argued in the dressing room, but we won"| date=29 March 2013| access-date=11 February 2025}}</ref> In 2014, [[UEFA]] placed his goal with Monaco in a top 60 all-time best goals scored in European club and national teams competitions, while in 2020, the journalists of ''[[France Football]]'' ranked it on the 19th place of most beautiful goals scored in the Champions League.<ref name=sport/><ref name=sport2/><ref>{{cite news |title=Watch and rate 60 of the best goals of all time |url=https://www.uefa.com/60-years/ |access-date=11 February 2025 |publisher=[[UEFA]] |language=en |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140715214829/https://www.uefa.com/60-years/ |archive-date=15 July 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/0217-0e8b4e259ebe-5518e64fb5f8-1000--hagi-leads-way-in-vote-for-greatest-goal/| title=Hagi leads way in vote for greatest goal| publisher=[[UEFA]]| language=en| date=11 February 2025| access-date=25 September 2024}}<br>{{cite web | url=https://www.prosport.ro/diverse/video-de-colectie-hagi-si-eric-intr-un-top-al-uefa-cu-cele-mai-tari-goluri-din-ultimii-60-de-ani-12774543| title=Hagi și Eric, într-un top al UEFA cu cele mai tari goluri din ultimii 60 de ani| publisher=Prosport.ro| language=ro |trans-title=Hagi and Eric, in a UEFA top with the best goals of the last 60 years| date=18 June 2014| access-date=11 February 2025}}<br>{{cite web | url=https://www.gsp.ro/international/liga-campionilor/supergolul-lui-gica-hagi-inclus-de-france-football-in-topul-celor-mai-frumoase-reusite-din-champions-league-597579.html| title=Supergolul lui Gică Hagi, inclus de France Football în topul celor mai frumoase reușite din Champions League!| publisher=Gsp.ro| language=ro |trans-title=Gică Hagi's super goal, included by France Football in the top of the most beautiful achievements in the Champions League!| date=2 May 2020| access-date=11 February 2025}}<br>{{cite web | url=https://www.sport.ro/fotbal-intern/golul-din-champions-league-care-il-reprezinta-pe-gica-hagi-si-azi-regele-reusita-recunoscuta-dupa-un-sfert-de-secol.html| title=Golul din Champions League care îl reprezintă pe Gică Hagi și azi! "Regele", reușită recunoscută după un sfert de secol| publisher=Sport.ro| language=ro |trans-title=The Champions League goal that represents Gică Hagi even today! "The King", recognized success after a quarter of a century| date=5 February 2025| access-date=11 February 2025}}</ref>

On 26 May 2001, Hagi played his last game as a professional footballer, managing to score a brace and provide an assist in Galatasaray's 4–0 win over [[Trabzonspor]] in the Turkish league.<ref name=golazo>{{cite web | url=https://golazo.ro/gheorghe-hagi-aniversare-60-de-ani-galatasaray-turcia-125334| title=Hagi, tatuat în inima Turciei| publisher=Golazo.ro| language=ro |trans-title=Hagi, tatooed in the heart of Turkey| date=5 February 2025| access-date=11 February 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.digisport.ro/fotbal/20-de-ani-de-la-ultimul-meci-oficial-jucat-de-gica-hagi-cu-o-dubla-a-regelui-imagini-spectaculoase-postate-de-galatasaray-1117597| title=20 de ani de la ultimul meci oficial jucat de Gică Hagi, cu o "dublă" a "Regelui". Imagini spectaculoase postate de Galatasaray| publisher=Digisport.ro| language=ro |trans-title=20 years since the last official match played by Gică Hagi, with a "double" for the "King". Spectacular images posted by Galatasaray| date=26 May 2021| access-date=11 February 2025}}</ref> Hagi drew praise from the Galatasaray supporters for his performances during his time with the club, who adopted the chant "I Love You Hagi" in his honour.<ref name=golazo/><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.gsp.ro/gsp-special/special/bornele-prin-care-gica-hagi-a-uluit-mapamondul-ca-jucator-775748.html| title="Dumnezeu mi le-a dat pe toate" Bornele prin care Gică Hagi a uluit mapamondul ca jucător| publisher=Gsp.ro| language=ro |trans-title="God gave me everything" The milestones through which Gică Hagi stunned the world map as a player| date=5 February 2025| access-date=11 February 2025}}</ref>