Bogdan Lobont played for Ajax for six years and for AS Roma for eight years. When both teams were linked during the draw in the quarter finals of the Europa League, he was very disappointed. In an interview with the NOS let the former goalkeeper know that his heart was ‘torn in two’. “I had hoped that this never happened”, said the Romanian, who looks back on his time at Ajax and will never forget a lesson from his then trainer Co Adriaanse.
Lobont indicates that he actually cannot choose between Ajax and Roma. “And even if they had met each other in the final, I would have found it difficult. Rather not even ”, said the former goalkeeper, who was taken over by Ajax from Rapid Bucharest in 2000. After six years in Amsterdam, Lobont left, eventually arriving in Rome via Fiorentina and Dinamo București.
Lobont still has a clear picture of his time in Amsterdam. He will never forget the acquaintance with the then trainer Adriaanse. “We played against AA Gent, in the UEFA Cup. Before we hit the field for warm-up, a phone rang in the locker room. Everyone looked at me, but I denied. We played the game, won and it seemed nothing was wrong, ”said Lobont.
Adriaanse had not forgotten the moment and a day later asked whose phone rang in the dressing room. “I had to admit it was mine. That was not accepted. As a punishment, I had to report to the ticket office in the morning and answer phone calls from supporters. People laugh at this story. I just saw it as a good lesson. A lesson in responsibility. Strangely enough I am grateful to Adriaanse for this ”, says Lobont.
Lobont retired in 2018 and then worked as a trainer in Romania at FC Universitatea Cluj and later as an assistant coach with the national team. He is now back at Roma, where he works as a scout. Looking ahead to the double confrontation between Ajax and Roma, he thinks that the team from Amsterdam has the best chance of reaching the semi-finals. “If you have seen the matches of Ajax in Europe this season and in recent years, you have to conclude that Ajax is the favorite.”