BUCHAREST, Romania — Mircea Lucescu, the Romanian soccer great who was a serial trophy winner as a participant and a coach, has died. He was 80.
Lucescu’s dying was confirmed by Bucharest University Emergency Hospital on Tuesday. He had been hospitalized after reportedly struggling a coronary heart assault on Friday morning.
“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,” the hospital stated in a press release.
“Entire generations of Romanians grew up with his image in their hearts, as a national symbol.”
Lucescu had a prolonged teaching profession and was in his second spell with the Romanian nationwide crew till stepping down final Thursday after falling sick throughout coaching. Three days earlier, Romania had missed out on qualification to the World Cup after dropping to Türkiye in a playoff.
As a participant, Lucescu captained his nation at the 1970 World Cup. During a well-traveled teaching profession, he led Romania to the European Championship and managed groups throughout Europe, profitable a number of titles.
He returned to teach Romania after a 38-year hole to attempt to qualify for the World Cup.
