On November 5, 2025, Romania lost not only a legendary coach but also a symbol of elegance and dignity in sport: Emeric Ienei. He was 88 years old and had lived a life that could be told like a movie, one about performance, passion, sacrifice, and above all, love. Beyond trophies, matches, and glory, Ienei experienced a romantic story that captivated everyone around him, a love that defined his youth and quietly accompanied him throughout his life: his relationship with the actress Vasilica Tastaman.

The love of a champion and the charm of an actress

He was a young athlete with a promising career, a player for Steaua București, the embodiment of balance and discipline. She — a radiant presence, an actress of theater and film, with an irresistible smile and magnetic talent. When they met in the early 1960s, it seemed as though the world paused for them. They were young, beautiful, and admired — two personalities from different worlds who found a strong and passionate connection in each other.

In 1963, they married, becoming one of Romania’s most admired couples. In 1964, their son Călin was born, the bridge between them in later years when their paths would diverge. Vasilica Tastaman and Emeric Ienei spent two decades together in a love story that intertwined the world of art with sports, the brilliance of the stage with the effort of the stadium.

Vasilica Tastaman, the actress who captivated with charm and authenticity

Vasilica Tastaman was already an iconic figure in Romanian theater when she met Emeric Ienei. Born for the stage, she possessed natural charm and a personality that could fill any theater. Audiences adored her, and critics considered her one of the most promising actresses of her generation. Master Radu Beligan once said of her: “If there is talent, it is called Vasilica Tastaman.”

In interviews, Vasilica described herself as passionate, courageous, and always eager to live intensely. In a 1972 interview with Teatrul magazine, she spoke about her life with her husband: 

“I am married to a well-known athlete, the footballer Emeric Ienei, coach at Steaua club, and we have a son, Călin. Besides theater, I love motorsports and puppet theater. If I hadn’t pursued theater, I would have become a mother of many children — seven, eight perhaps.”

She shared about a unique period in their lives when she accompanied Ienei to Turkey, where he coached a local team:
 “The journey to Turkey brought me travel satisfaction, but it deprived me of two generous roles. Still, I do not regret it. It was an experience that fulfilled me personally.”

She was sincere, luminous, but also vulnerable. In her roles and in life, Vasilica Tastaman poured her soul into everything she did, living each emotion to the fullest. Behind her captivating smile was a complex woman, who loved deeply and endured in silence.

Love, career, and separate paths

The years they spent together were full of passion, but also of challenges. Ienei was building an exceptional career, while Vasilica was solidifying her status as a major actress. Their professional paths, although both brilliant, often led them in different directions.

After nearly two decades of marriage, in 1981, fate would separate them. Vasilica Tastaman decided to move to Sweden with their son Călin. There, she continued her artistic career, yet far from the Romanian stage that had made her famous. In exile, she found peace but also longing. Though her career continued, the glory of her early performances remained tied to the theaters of Bucharest.

Their son, Călin, remained the link between them. Emeric Ienei, dedicated to coaching, continued to rise professionally, becoming one of Eastern Europe’s most respected managers. In 1986, he reached the pinnacle of his career by leading Steaua București to the European Champions Cup — a historic moment for Romanian football.

A new life, a mature love

After parting ways with Vasilica Tastaman, Emeric Ienei found stability with another remarkable woman, Ileana Gyulai, a former Olympic fencing champion. They met through sports and built a relationship based on respect, balance, and shared passions.

“She is my support every day. We understand each other without words because we’ve both experienced the rigors of high performance,” Ienei said in an interview about his wife. 

Unlike his previous marriage, his relationship with Ileana Gyulai was discreet yet solid. Together, they faced challenges and celebrated successes, with Ileana supporting him until the end of his life.

The tragic destiny of an actress

Vasilica Tastaman returned to Romania after two decades abroad. It was the early 2000s, and the public welcomed her with emotion, remembering her unforgettable performances. Sadly, her joy was short-lived. In 2003, at only 68, she passed away due to a severe liver condition. She was buried in Oradea, where her son Călin lived.

Her life was a combination of brilliance and melancholy, success and solitude. She loved passionately and lived intensely, without half measures. She left behind not only memorable roles but also the lasting memory of a strong, sensitive, and vibrant woman.

A love that endured beyond time

Emeric Ienei rarely spoke publicly about his past love life. He was reserved, discreet, and elegant. Yet those who knew him say that deep down, he always cherished tender memories of Vasilica — his first great love, the woman with whom he experienced youth and the beginnings of his glory.

Their story, though ended long ago, remains one of the most beautiful in Romanian cultural and sporting history. It is a tale of two people from different worlds who met halfway, united by the same desire to excel and to love.

When Vasilica Tastaman passed away, Ienei chose silence over words. He preferred to grieve quietly, with the same dignity that characterized his entire life.

The legacy of a love and a life lived with dignity

When Emeric Ienei passed away in November 2025, Romania lost a lord of football, but also a man who knew how to live beautifully. Behind his sporting achievements lay a special sensitivity, a balance between reason and emotion, between the rigor of sport and the delicacy of love.

His story with Vasilica Tastaman remains a unique chapter of his life — an intense, fleeting love that shaped his destiny. She was the muse of his youth, the woman who gave him the joy of loving and being loved, while he, for her, was the man who offered stability and devotion in a world of fleeting applause and smiles.

Although they never reunited in life, their shared memory endures, in a corner of history where the theater stage intertwines with the football field, and two great hearts continue to beat in the memory of those who loved them.

We als recommend: Cinema București, the history of the former interwar Trianon cinema where Romania’s first sound film was screened