Mircea Lucescu, a legend of European football, has passed away

The football world has suffered a great loss. Renowned Romanian coach Mircea Lucescu has died at the age of 81. The news was reported by journalist Emanuel Roșu.

Lucescu was one of the most prominent figures in European football. Throughout his long career, he became known not only as a successful coach but also as a mentor who paved the way for many talented players, especially from Brazil. A special place in his biography is his time with Shakhtar Donetsk, which he managed from 2004 to 2016. Under his leadership, the club achieved significant success on the international stage.

It was at Shakhtar that former Armenia national team captain Henrikh Mkhitaryan played for many years, with his career largely shaped by the Romanian coach’s trust and support.

Lucescu also made history as the oldest coach in the UEFA Champions League, continuing to work at the highest level even at an advanced age.

His last job was with the Romania national team. In 2026, the team came close to qualifying for the World Cup but lost to Turkey in the playoffs. This result mirrored a failure from 40 years ago: third place in the group and a playoff defeat.

Shortly before his death, the coach stepped down due to serious health issues. Ahead of a friendly match against Slovakia, Lucescu fell ill and lost consciousness. Doctors diagnosed heart problems. Earlier this year, he had already been hospitalized but, despite recommendations, did not want to end his career.

Mircea Lucescu leaves behind a rich legacy and has forever written his name into the history of world football.