Mircea Lucescu, the Romanian football great who was a serial trophy winner as a player and a coach, has died aged 80.
Lucescu’s death was confirmed by Bucharest university emergency hospital on Tuesday. He had been taken to hospital after reportedly having a heart attack on Friday morning.
“Mr Mircea Lucescu was one of the most successful Romanian football coaches and players, the first to qualify the 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. Three days earlier, Romania had missed out on qualification to the 2026 World Cup after losing 1-0 to Turkey in a playoff.
As a player, Lucescu won 64 caps and captained his country at the 1970 World Cup. His first stint as Romania manager began in 1981, and he led the team to the 1984 Euros after topping a qualifying group featuring Italy, Sweden and Czechoslovakia.
During a well-travelled club coaching career, Lucescu managed teams across Europe, winning multiple titles. He won the Turkish league with Galatasaray in 2002, and then with rivals Besiktas the following year.
In May 2004, Lucescu joined Ukrainian side Shakhar Donetsk and won eight titles in his 12-year tenure, plus the Uefa Cup in 2009. He then returned to coach Romania after a 38-year gap to try and qualify for the World Cup.
Lucescu spoke to the Guardian in March this year, as he prepared his side for their playoff semi-final against Turkey while facing his own health issues. “I’m not in my best shape so I would have stepped away if there was another option available,” he said. “But I insist: I can’t leave like a coward. We must believe in our chance to qualify.”
“I felt it was my duty to take charge of the team,” he added. “It was my duty for everything that Romanian football has ever given to me. I was indebted. It was never about money, never about another medal. I have enough trophies.”