Mircea Lucescu, a towering figure in Romanian football who won numerous trophies as both a player and coach, has died at the age of 80. His death was confirmed by the Bucharest University Emergency Hospital, where he was admitted after reportedly suffering a heart attack on Friday morning. In a statement, the hospital said: "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. Entire generations of Romanians grew up with his image in their hearts, as a national symbol."

Lucescu was born on July 29, 1945, in Bucharest and became a central figure in Romanian football. His coaching career spanned almost half a century, up to the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. His final role was as head coach of the Romanian national team, which he left after a loss to Türkiye in a qualifying match just three days before his death. As a player, Lucescu captained his country at the 1970 World Cup.

Lucescu coached a range of clubs, including Pisa, Brescia, Reggiana, and Inter Milan in Italy. At Brescia, he formed a team dubbed "Brescia Romeno" by signing compatriots such as the legendary Gheorghe Hagi. His most successful period was with Ukrainian club Shakhtar Donetsk, where over 12 years he won 22 trophies, including the UEFA Cup in 2009. He later coached Russia's Zenit St Petersburg and Ukrainian rival Dynamo Kyiv.

Lucescu's death has prompted an outpouring of grief in Romania and the football world. Romanian President Nicusor Dan stated: "Mircea Lucescu made a decisive contribution to the rise of Romanian football, inspired generations of players and was a true ambassador for Romania in the world's biggest stadiums." UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin called him "one of the game's true originals – a man of rare football intellect, remarkable dignity and passion." Former clubs, including Shakhtar and Galatasaray, paid tribute, highlighting his achievements and legacy.

Source: www.aljazeera.com