Article by Alexandru Stanciu – published Wednesday, September 10, 2025, 00:35 / Updated Wednesday, September 10, 2025 00:36
At the age of 80, one month and 11 days, Mircea Lucescu became the oldest man who received a yellow card in an official match, in the draw with Cyprus from the World Championship preliminaries, score 2-2.
The “tricolors” were leading 2-0 in the 18th minute, after the “double” signed by Denis Drăguș, but the Cypriots quickly returned to the game when Loizos Loizou reduced the difference in the 29th minute. Charalampos Charalampous restored equality in the 76th minute, and the national national of Romania miraculos a historical failure.
Mircea Lucescu, directly in the Book of Records
Mircea Lucescu is currently the oldest coach in activity. “Il Luce” took over the national team in August 2024, with the mission to bring Romania back to a world championship, the last presence dating from 1998.
After a European Championship in 2024 far beyond expectations, the “tricolors” hoped to make a beautiful figure in the world championship preliminaries and to reach the groups of the most important competition after they were absent at the last 6 editions.
In an accessible group, with aspirations to at least 2nd place, Romania seems to have ended any hope in this preliminary campaign. The “tricolors” led with a score of 2-0 in Cyprus, but the hosts returned to the table and were even close to the victory.
Mircea Lucescu was a car of nerves after the equalizing emptiness of the Cypriots, and the tension became even higher in the extension minutes, when the hosts even had the opportunity to win the game.
The “tricolors” hardly returned to the opponent in the 90+3 minute, but David Miculescu was penalized for a foul on Traas Shikkis.
From the edge of the land, Lucescu vehemently protested as a result of the decision to grant the referee Matej Jug, and the “central” immediately directed to the technical bank and show the yellow card of the Romanian coach.
Thus, Mircea Lucescu became the oldest man who receives a card in an official match.
The record was previously held by the former England coach Roy Hodgson. At the time when he was Crystal Palace's coach, Hodgson received a yellow card from Andrew Madley, in a failure on his own ground with Liverpool, score 1-2.
The “vultures” then driving with a score of 1-0, but Mohamed Salah restored equality in the 76th minute. After protesting vehement around the technical bank, Hodgson saw the yellow card, then becoming the oldest man who is warned in an official match, at the age of 76 and 4 months.
Liverpool would win that match, after a goal signed by Harvey Elliott, in the 90+1 minute.
