Gheorghe Hagi's long and distinguished international career is set to be honoured by a statue in Bucharest's main square.

Mayor of Bucharest Trialan Bacescu revealed the plans after Hagi's Euro 2000 ended with a red card in the quarter-final defeat by Italy.

Bacescu said: 'Hagi has been more important to Romania than all our politicians, ministers and even the president of the country in the 17 years he has played for the national team.

'Because he and his team-mates have done so much to boost the image of Romania abroad, now is the time to show just how much he is loved by the Romanian people.'