Edward Iordănescu marked his return to club management with a successful debut as Legia Warsaw edged FC Aktobe 1-0 in the first qualifying round of the 2025-26 UEFA Europa League. This was his first official match in nearly a year, having left the Romanian national team after Euro 2024[1][4][5]. The decisive goal came from Armenien midfielder Vahan Bichakhchyan, who scored a stunning long-range strike from 25 meters, beating Romanian goalkeeper Andrei Vlad, who plays for Aktobe[1]. Legia’s win sets a positive tone for Iordănescu, who is also overseeing significant squad investments, including record signings to strengthen the Polish giants amid earlier financial concerns[3].
The narrow victory places Legia in a favorable position ahead of the second leg in Kazakhstan on July 17, which will be critical for progressing further into European competition.