Mircea Lucescu, a prominent figure in Romanian football, has died at the age of 80, as reported by sports journalist Emanuel Roșu. Lucescu’s passing occurred at approximately 8:30 PM at the University Clinic in Bucharest.
Roșu shared the news on social media, stating, “Tragic news. Mircea Lucescu passed away 15 minutes ago. He leaves behind an entire universe. May God rest his soul.” Just two weeks prior, Lucescu had managed Romania’s match against Turkey in the World Cup playoffs, despite facing serious health challenges.
In his final media interview, conducted less than three weeks ago, Lucescu requested that his struggle with illness not be mentioned, as he wished to focus on his mission to qualify Romania for the World Cup.
Over a coaching career spanning 48 years, Lucescu led teams in Romania, Italy, Turkey, Russia, and Ukraine, and served as head coach of the Romanian national team on two occasions. His most notable achievements in the 21st century were with FC Shakhtar Donetsk, which he managed from 2004 to 2016. Under his leadership, the club rose to prominence not only in Ukraine but also across Europe.
In 2009, Lucescu guided Shakhtar to victory in the UEFA Cup, defeating German side Werder Bremen in the final. This win marked the last edition of the tournament before it was rebranded as the UEFA Europa League. Throughout his tenure with Shakhtar, Lucescu secured a total of 22 trophies.
Most recently, Lucescu served as the head coach of FC Dynamo Kyiv from 2020 until 2023. He was also slated to coach the Romanian national team from 2024 to 2026.
Mircea Lucescu, a legendary Romanian football coach, has died at 80, leaving a significant legacy in football history. His career included notable successes with FC Shakhtar Donetsk and the Romanian national team.