Ex-Chelsea forward Mutu, caught using cocaine, takes charge of Romanian club

Controversial Romanian forward Adrian Mutu, who retired as a player in 2016 to pursue a coaching career, has returned to the dugout after a 10-month absence, continuing his work in his homeland.

Details: The 45-year-old has been appointed head coach of Romanian side Petrolul Ploiești, signing a contract until the end of the 2025/2026 season. Mutu will officially begin his role on January 3, the day the team departs for a training camp in Antalya, Turkey.

Reminder: Alongside his stint as a player for Petrolul in 2014, Mutu has coached Voluntari, Universitatea, Rapid Bucharest, CFR Cluj, Azerbaijan’s Neftçi, and Saudi Arabia’s Al-Wahda.

In September 2004, while playing for Chelsea, Mutu was embroiled in a doping scandal, similar to current footballer Mykhailo Mudryk. However, the key difference was that Mutu tested positive for cocaine, resulting in a seven-month suspension.