Lucian Bute was the best paid Romanian athlete in 2011

Lucian Bute and Cristi Chivu were the best paid Romanian athletes in 2011. Admired, criticized, cheered, or cursed at, athletes are some of the most envied people on the planet for two reasons: their fame and their income. Even if we are in full economic recession, wages remain high in professional sports.

Even though most people usually think that football players are the highest earners, the top spot in the ranking of the best paid Romanian athletes in 2011 is held by a boxer. World champion Lucian Bute, who this year successfully defended his diamond belt, earned no less than 5 million Euros. The second spot is held by a football player, who is also aged more than 30, the former captain of the national team, Cristi Chivu, currently playing for Inter Milan, who this year got 3.7 million Euros richer. The third spot is held by the former football player of Steaua, Mirel Rădoi, with 2.7 million Euros, who for the most part has sacrificed his athletic career to ensure his financial future by playing in the Persian Gulf area. Răzvan Raţ, of Shakhtar Donetsk, managed to get paid 2.2 million Euros this year. Adrian Mutu only comes fifth, with 1.8 million Euros, as he got transferred from Fiorentina to Cesena. Ciprian Marica, Radu Ştefan and Cristi Săpunaru also earned over 1 million Euros in the last year.

Trainers are also very well paid, especially those in football. The famous Mircea Lucescu (Shakhtar Donetsk - Ukraine) made history with his club, and his earnings followed suit. In 2011, Lucescu earned 3 million Euros for his performance. Cosmin Olăroiu(Al Ain/United Arab Emirates), who followed a similar path to that of Rădoi, comes in second. Paid 2.1 million Euros per season, Olăroiu is the most appreciated Romanian trainer in the area. Dan Petrescu (Kuban Krasnodar/Russia) earned no less than 2 million Euros in the last 12 months and has received huge offers from several Russian clubs. Unemployed at the moment, Mircea Rednic (formerly with Kazar Lankaran /Azerbaijan) can nevertheless still say he had a good year, having earned 800,000 Euros. Ladislau Boloni (PAOK Salonic /Greece) makes 480,000 a year, but this is understandably so, as his results have also exceeded the expectations of his employers. Victor Piţurcă (420,000 Euros), is the best paid domestic trainer. In the First League, the highest paid trainer is that of Rapid, Răzvan Lucescu, with 240,000 Euros a year.