From the historic UEFA Cup to the loud scandal of his transfer to “Dynamo” – we remember the journey of the man who changed the DNA of Ukrainian football
The world of football was shaken by the news of the death of one of the most successful coaches in history – Mircea Lucescu. “Mr.” as he was respectfully called by players and fans, passed away, leaving behind a legacy that is impossible to overestimate.
RBC-Ukraine recalls the main achievements of the Romanian specialist, his historic victory in the UEFA Cup, the nurturing of world-class Brazilian stars, and the resonant decisions that forever changed the landscape of Ukrainian sports.
Also read: A benchmark for Turan. Top 5 most successful coaches in the history of “Shakhtar”
What is known about Lucescu’s death
Due to a deterioration in his condition, news of the death of the 80-year-old Romanian specialist emerged on April 6, 2026. This was reported by some local media citing sources in the Football Federation and close circles.
However, his death was officially confirmed on Tuesday, April 7, at 20:30, as reported by the Bucharest University Emergency Hospital.
The cause of death was the consequences of a prolonged heart illness that Lucescu had been battling for the last few years. His health condition worsened a few days ago. In his final days, “Mr.” was in Bucharest, undergoing intensive therapy.
As is known, Lucescu was hospitalized on March 29 after he lost consciousness during a training session with the Romanian national team. A defibrillator was installed in the hospital.
On Friday, April 3, he was supposed to be discharged from the hospital, but he suffered a heart attack. In the last days, his arrhythmia intensified and did not respond to treatment.
The coach was transferred to intensive care, where he was in a coma and connected to life support machines.
Biography of Mircea Lucescu: key milestones
Player career: Lucescu became a true icon of Romanian football even as a player. Playing as a forward, he won 7 national championship titles with Bucharest’s “Dynamo.” The pinnacle of his playing career was the 1970 World Cup, where Mircea captained the Romanian national team, notably in matches against Pelé and the legendary Brazil. He played a total of 70 matches for the national team and scored 9 goals.
Lucescu with Bucharest’s “Dynamo” (photo: Wikipedia)
First steps in coaching: His genius manifested early: at just 36 years old (in 1981), he took charge of the Romanian national team, leading them to Euro 1984.
Successes in Italy and Turkey: Besides the national team of his country, he also headed the Turkish national team (2017-2019). However, the lion’s share of his career was spent working with clubs.
In his homeland, Lucescu worked with “Corvinul,” Bucharest’s “Dynamo,” and “Rapid.” In Italy, he coached “Pisa,” “Brescia,” “Reggiana,” and “Inter.” In Turkey, he led “Galatasaray” and “Besiktas.” With “Dynamo” (Bucharest) and “Rapid,” he became the champion of Romania, and with “Besiktas” and “Galatasaray,” he won in Turkey. With the latter, he also triumphed in the UEFA Super Cup in 2000.
Era at “Shakhtar” (2004-2016): The most successful period of the coach’s career. Over 12 years, he transformed the Donetsk club into a European giant. Under his leadership, the “miners” won 22 trophies. The main jewel was the UEFA Cup in 2009 – the last European trophy in the history of Ukrainian clubs to date.
The coach won 22 trophies with “Shakhtar” (photo: FC “Shakhtar”)
Period at “Dynamo” (2020-2023): His return to Ukraine after a hiatus was a big surprise. Despite protests from some ultras, Lucescu won a “golden double” (championship and cup) with the Kyiv team in his first season, returning the team to the group stage of the Champions League.
World record holder: Mircea Lucescu has forever etched his name in the history of world football as one of the greatest record holders. He holds the status of the oldest coach in the history of the UEFA Champions League and national teams. With 35 trophies to his name, the Romanian specialist ranks third on the list of the most decorated coaches of all time, trailing only Alex Ferguson (49 titles) and Pep Guardiola (40).
What Lucescu is remembered for by Ukrainians
“Brazilian Shakhtar”: Lucescu created a unique football model of “buy cheap – sell dear.” Thanks to his ability to work with talents, the world learned about stars such as Fernandinho, Willian, Douglas Costa, Alex Teixeira, and others.
Character and charisma: He was impossible to imagine without emotions. His signature gesture of throwing his hat onto the snowy pitch during a match against “Dynamo” became a legendary meme. He constantly pressured referees and opponents in the media, playing “psychological games” long before it became mainstream.
Man of paradox: He became the only coach who managed to be a hero for both poles of Ukrainian football. He was respected in Donetsk and eventually recognized in Kyiv for his professionalism.
Youth development: “Mr.” gave a start to dozens of Ukrainian football stars. From Andriy Pyatov and Yaroslav Rakitskiy to Ilya Zabarnyi and Vitaliy Mykolenko, whom he spotted in the Dynamo reserve team and brought to the level of the English Premier League.
Lucescu won a “golden double” with the Kyiv team in his first season (photo: FC “Dynamo”)
What Lucescu said about Ukraine
Mircea Lucescu always referred to Ukraine as his second homeland. After the start of the full-scale invasion in 2022, he categorically refused to leave Kyiv immediately, staying with the team during the first, most difficult days.
“I worked here in Kyiv with “Dynamo” and saw with my own eyes all the horrors of the war that Russia brought. I did not leave the team; I prepared players under air raid alerts and helped evacuate their families. I felt all this myself,” the coach recalled.
He became the main lobbyist for the resumption of the Ukrainian championship, despite shelling and air raid alerts. Lucescu believed that football is not just a game, but an emotional release that a struggling nation needs.
His biggest unfulfilled dream was the return of big football to “Donbass Arena.” He always believed that one day he would again step onto the field of the stadium in Donetsk, which he called one of the most beautiful in the world.
Today, not only Romanian but also Ukrainian football has lost one of its legends. Thank you for everything, Mr.
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Mircea Lucescu (photo: Getty Images)
Earlier, we reported how much “Shakhtar” and “Dynamo” earned from the sales of their own graduates.
Sources used in the writing of this material include: Digi Sport, GSP.ro, Wikipedia.
Source: rbc.ua
