By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Photo Credit: Romanian Football Federation.
Mircea Lucescu, legendary Romanian coach and former Shakhtar Donetsk manager, has died at 80 following a heart attack in Bucharest.
Lucescu’s death was confirmed by Bucharest University Emergency Hospital on Tuesday.
“Mr. Mircea Lucescu was one of the most successful Romanian football coaches and players, the first to qualify the Romanian national team for a European Championship, in 1984,” the hospital said in a statement.
“Entire generations of Romanians grew up with his image in their hearts, as a national symbol.”
Lucescu had a lengthy coaching career and was in his second spell with the Romanian national team until stepping down last Thursday after falling ill during training.
“The Romanian Football Federation expresses its boundless regret following the death of the one who was, is and will remain an absolute legend: Mircea Lucescu,” the country’s federation said in a statement.
“Our football loses not only a brilliant tactician, but a mentor, a visionary, and a national symbol who carried the tricolour to the highest peaks of global success.”
He managed Romania between 1981 and 1986 before returning for a second spell in charge in 2024.
His last game in charge was a 1-0 play-off defeat by Turkey on 26 March that meant Romania missed out on qualification for the 2026 World Cup.
Lucescu also took charge of Inter Milan, Galatasaray, Besiktas, Shakhtar Donetsk, Zenit St Petersburg, Dynamo Kyiv and Turkey in a long and varied managerial career that began 47 years ago at Corvinul Hunedoara.
With inputs from Associated Press.