Newsletters
Romanian coach Mircea Lucescu, one of the most influential foreign managers in Turkish football, has died at the age of 80 after a period of intensive care treatment in Bucharest.
He had been taken to Bucharest University Hospital at the end of March with a heart rhythm disorder, a condition involving an irregular heartbeat, and had remained in intensive care.
According to the information provided, he did not respond to medical intervention and was later declared brain dead.
Lucescu was most recently in charge of the Romania national team.
He was on the sidelines for the World Cup qualification playoff against Türkiye on March 26, 2026, before falling ill shortly afterward and being hospitalized.
His departure from the national team was confirmed on April 2, when the Romanian Football Federation announced that he had stepped down because of health problems.
That final spell in charge brought to a close a long managerial career that had stretched across club and international football.
Lucescu built a lasting place in Turkish football through his work with both major clubs and the national team.
After taking over Galatasaray following Fatih Terim, he helped the Istanbul side win the UEFA Super Cup in 2000 and then led the club to the Turkish league title in the 2001-02 season.
He then moved on to Besiktas, where he took charge during the club's 100th anniversary year. There, he guided the team to the league title and also took them to the quarterfinals of the UEFA Cup, the former name of what is now known as the UEFA Europa League.
Years later, Lucescu returned to Turkish football at the international level when he was appointed head coach of the Türkiye national team in 2017.
During a tenure of about one and a half years, he played a role in the side's rebuilding process.
Beyond Türkiye, Lucescu was also known for winning many trophies across his career, including a UEFA Cup title with Shakhtar Donetsk. Widely recognized by the nickname "Luce," he was seen as a football strategist whose influence reached beyond the teams he directly managed.
Following news of his death, many sports clubs in Türkiye, Romania and elsewhere around the world shared messages of condolence.
Set as preferred source
Set as preferred source
2 min read
