Why Chivu has such a strong bond with Inter as player and coach | OneFootball

Cristian Chivu is all set to become the new Inter coach, but while he has only 13 senior management games under his belt, his career is steeped in Nerazzurri lore.

The first choice to replace Simone Inzaghi had been Cesc Fabregas, until Como refused to let him even speak to them, while Patrick Vieira was another candidate at Genoa.

PARMA, ITALY – FEBRUARY 22: Cristian Chivu, Head Coach of Parma Calcio, gestures during the Serie A match between Parma and Bologna at Stadio Ennio Tardini on February 22, 2025 in Parma, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)

Multiple sources now point towards an agreement with Chivu, who in turn has rejected the offer of a new deal at Parma.

He only took over in February 2025 and oversaw three Serie A victories, seven draws and three defeats.

That was Chivu’s first and so far only job as a senior coach at the age of 44.

Most of Chivu’s experience has been at Inter

MILAN, ITALY – OCTOBER 20: Coutinho, Cristian Chivu and Wesley Sneijder of Inter Milan celebrates after the first goal during the UEFA Champions League group A match between FC Internazionale Milano and Tottenham Hotspur at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on October 20, 2010 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Claudio Villa/Getty Images)

However, the Romanian is chosen because of his very strong bond with Inter that goes back to his playing days.

He was a rock in their defence from 2007 to his retirement in 2014, part of the squad that won the legendary Treble under Jose Mourinho in 2010.

There were 169 matches played in the Inter jersey, in which he won the Champions League, Club World Cup, three Serie A titles, two Coppa Italia editions and two Italian Super Cups.

Inter Milan coach Jose Mourinho lifts the trophy in front of his team after winning the UEFA Champions League final between Bayern Munich and Inter Milan at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, Spain, 22 May 2010. EPA/EMILIO NARANJO NO MOBILE DEVICES

After that, he became a UEFA match analyst before embarking on his coaching career at Inter in the youth academy from 2018.

He went up through various levels of the academy, culminating in the Primavera youth team from 2021 to 2024.

It was under Chivu that Inter won the Primavera Scudetto in the 2021-22 campaign, the highlight of his 133 games in charge.