FC Internazionale Milano officially welcomes Cristian Chivu as the new head coach of the First Team. He has signed a contract with the Nerazzurri club until June 30, 2027.
Some lives are rich with stories, facing difficulties and emerging stronger. They find pillars to build upon, creating meaningful new experiences. Cristian Eugen Chivu`s journey is marked by immense challenges and events that shaped him as a man and professional, forging an unbreakable bond with the Nerazzurri colours. Today, he returns to represent Inter in his third capacity: head coach of the First Team.
Born on October 26, 1980, in Reșița, Romania, Chivu quickly learned the value of discipline in football. He grew up surrounded by the sport, following his father Mircea, a former player and Cristian`s first coach in the CSM Reșița youth teams. This deep connection with his father taught him the importance of sacrifice and ambition. Starting as a forward and occasional attacking midfielder, Chivu possessed good technique, making his senior debut at 17 in the stadium now named after his father. In 1998, he moved to Universitatea Craiova, then was scouted by Ajax, joining them in July 1999.
By this time, Cristian was a defender capable of playing left-back, but his transformation was completed in the Netherlands. At Ajax, he honed his technical skills and, crucially, developed his tactical intelligence – a true footballing education. In 2001, Chivu became the youngest captain in Ajax history, a role suited to his strong personality. He won a league title, a national cup, and a Super cup there. After 142 appearances over four years, he moved to Italy, joining Roma in 2003. The Romanian spent four seasons in the capital, winning one Coppa Italia, before making a decisive move to Inter in 2007, where his life changed forever.
Among his seven years wearing the Inter shirt, one episode encapsulates his bond with the club and its fans more than any trophy, more than his 169 appearances and 3 goals. On March 24, 2010, just 77 days after suffering a terrible skull fracture against Chievo in Verona, Chivu returned to the field, wearing a protective helmet. This marked a new beginning for Cristian, whose career, and potentially more, had been at risk just months prior. His first, harmless header was met with a standing ovation from the Nerazzurri faithful – an emotion Cristian found hard to describe. From that day, he played the rest of his career with the helmet, removing it only to celebrate victories and trophies. In total, he won three Scudetti, two Coppa Italia titles, two Italian Supercups, a FIFA Club World Cup, and the UEFA Champions League in 2009/10.
A pillar and captain for Romania, Chivu earned 75 caps, participating in the 2000 and 2008 European Championships. In 2014, he concluded his first spell at Inter and hung up his boots, ending his playing career. This marked the start of a new chapter in Cristian`s Nerazzurri life, taking his first steps as a coach in Inter`s youth sector in 2018.
Chivu began with the Under 14s, progressed to the Under 17s and 18s, and took charge of the Primavera (U19) team in the summer of 2021. This was an important and stimulating test for an ambitious individual like him. In his first season, he led the team to a superb Primavera Scudetto, the tenth in the youth team`s history. He left the Primavera coaching role at the end of the 2023/24 season.
In February 2025, he had the opportunity to manage a First Team. Cristian was called upon by Parma to secure a difficult Serie A survival in the 2024/25 season. Mission accomplished: in 13 matches, the team from Emilia-Romagna earned 16 points and successfully avoided relegation.
Now, Cristian Chivu embarks on a new experience with the Nerazzurri, the third phase of his career at the club. It is an experience he will approach, as always, guided by the values of dedication, sacrifice, and hard work.