---
title: "Moldova’s futsal record-holder turns to youth coaching "
url: https://radiomoldova.md/p/88295/moldova-s-futsal-record-holder-turns-to-youth-coaching
published: 2026-10-27T09:00:00Z
language: en
author: "Radu Galbur"
section: "Sport"
source: radiomoldova.md
---

# Moldova’s futsal record-holder turns to youth coaching 

> Cristian Obadă, Moldova’s all-time leading futsal scorer with 88 goals, is turning to youth coaching after retiring from the national team, focusing on a football school he founded in Telenești.

![](https://storage.radiomoldova.md/images/940c2738-9f82-4188-a3f7-8c1a987fbf7a.jpg)

Cristian Obadă, Moldova’s all-time leading futsal scorer with 88 goals, is turning to youth coaching after retiring from the national team, focusing on a football school he founded in Telenești.

**From the national team to the training ground**

After years representing Moldova in futsal, Obadă has decided to make room for a younger generation. His retirement from the national team marks a new chapter in his sporting career, as he devotes more time to developing young players.

*“I feel I still have more to give, but, as they say, you need to know when it is time to step aside. Young players need to play,”* Cristian Obadă said. *“Now I want to get involved in my academy, where we have some promising children I want to develop gradually. We give it everything we have. This will be our focus over the coming years.”*

Obadă founded his football school five years ago, starting from scratch. Around 100 children across different age groups now train at the club, where he shares his experience and helps them develop their skills.

**More time for football and family**

Coaching has long required a significant commitment from the former international, particularly at weekends. Retiring from the national team will allow him to spend more time at the club and with his family.

*“It takes up a lot of my time. Every weekend is busy! Now I’ll be home instead of travelling abroad. I’ll be able to devote more time to the club and my family,”* Obadă said.

For the children, he is more than a former national-team player. He is the coach who demonstrates techniques, offers advice and encourages them during training.

One young player said Obadă sometimes scolds them when necessary, but also helps them improve. The child recalled his final national-team match against France, which Moldova lost 6-0, and said Obadă would continue playing for Clic-Media while coaching the children.

*“He’s good. He always shows us how to do things. If he didn’t show us, we wouldn’t know what to do,”* another young player said.

Others highlighted his advice, one-on-one drills and lessons on scoring goals and getting past opponents. They also said they had learned new skills, including juggling, through his training sessions.

**Aiming to develop future internationals**

Obadă’s ambitions now extend beyond his own playing career. He wants to see the children he coaches progress to the national teams, whether in futsal or conventional football.

*“My personal goal is for one or two children, perhaps even more, to make it to the national team, either in futsal or in football. It doesn’t matter which,”* he said. *“My dream is to sit in the stands and watch national-team players who came through my club.”*

He also plans to build a full-sized football pitch, although the project will depend partly on the country’s financial situation. He remains committed to developing the club in Telenești, where he was born and raised.

At 34, Obadă has won multiple titles in Moldova and Romania. He leaves the national futsal team as its all-time leading scorer, with 88 goals to his name.

Translation by **Iurie Tataru**

[Video: https://trm.blob.core.windows.net/photos/aea3f241-3047-41bd-baf6-522df13cf79a.jpg](https://original.trm.md/video/definst/MP4:2026/10/26/OBADARETELE.mp4/playlist.m3u8)

**RELATED COVERAGE**

* [Moldova vs Poland: A pivotal futsal match in 2026 qualifiers](https://moldova1.md/p/45145)
* [UEFA U19 Futsal: Moldova suffer heavy 7-0 defeat to Ukraine in opener](https://moldova1.md/p/58306)
* [Clic-Media Chișinău secures crucial 3-2 win in UEFA futsal clash](https://moldova1.md/p/34241)
* [Portugal beat Spain 3-2 to win Under-19 Futsal Euro](https://moldova1.md/p/58936)
* [Clic Media a cucerit Cupa Moldovei la futsal](https://moldova1.md/p/76617)