Mircea Lucescu, former Romania football captain and coach, dies aged 80

Mircea Lucescu, nan Romanian shot awesome who was a serial trophy victor arsenic a subordinate and a coach, has died aged 80.

Lucescu’s decease was confirmed by Bucharest assemblage emergency infirmary connected Tuesday. He had been taken to infirmary aft reportedly having a bosom onslaught connected Friday morning.

“Mr Mircea Lucescu was 1 of nan astir successful Romanian shot coaches and players, nan first to suffice nan nationalist squad for a European Championship, successful 1984,” nan infirmary said successful a statement. “Entire generations of Romanians grew up pinch his image successful their hearts, arsenic a nationalist symbol.”

Lucescu had a lengthy coaching profession and was successful his 2nd spell pinch nan Romanian nationalist squad until stepping down past Thursday aft falling sick during training. Three days earlier, Romania had missed retired connected qualification to nan 2026 World Cup aft losing 1-0 to Turkey successful a playoff.

Mircea Lucescu holds nan Uefa Cup pinch Shakhtar Donetsk resident Rinat Akhmetov aft their triumph complete Werder Bremen successful nan 2009 final. Photograph: Carl Recine/Action Images/Reuters

As a player, Lucescu won 64 caps and captained his state astatine nan 1970 World Cup. His first stint arsenic Romania head began successful 1981, and he led nan squad to nan 1984 Euros aft topping a qualifying group featuring Italy, Sweden and Czechoslovakia.

During a well-travelled nine coaching career, Lucescu managed teams crossed Europe, winning aggregate titles. He won nan Turkish convention pinch Galatasaray successful 2002, and past pinch rivals Besiktas nan pursuing year.

In May 2004, Lucescu joined Ukrainian broadside Shakhar Donetsk and won 8 titles successful his 12-year tenure, positive nan Uefa Cup successful 2009. He past returned to coach Romania aft a 38-year spread to effort and suffice for nan World Cup.

Lucescu spoke to nan Guardian successful March this year, arsenic he prepared his broadside for their playoff semi-final against Turkey while facing his ain wellness issues. “I’m not successful my champion style truthful I would person stepped distant if location was different action available,” he said. “But I insist: I can’t time off for illustration a coward. We must judge successful our chance to qualify.”

“I felt it was my work to return complaint of nan team,” he added. “It was my work for everything that Romanian shot has ever fixed to me. I was indebted. It was ne'er astir money, ne'er astir different medal. I person capable trophies.”