Article by Andrei Crăiţoiu – Published on Tuesday, 07 April 2026, 21:23 / Updated on Tuesday, 07 April 2026 21:29
Florin Răducioiu, the only Romanian footballer who played in the five strongest championships in the world, started to cry on the phone when he talked about Mircea Lucescu in the past. The 80-year-old coach died on the hospital bed.
Mircea Lucescu died this evening, at the age of 80. But he leaves behind hundreds of stories and memories that no one will be able to forget. Florin Răducioiu has also collected a lot of stories over time.
Florin Răducioiu: “I can't believe it… I'm finished”
“I can't believe it… I'm finished! My soul is broken in half!”were the first words that Răducioiu could barely convey, crying.
“Without Mircea, I don't know if I was who I was. He was a man in the truest sense of the word, he was like a father who helped me throughout my career and to whom I will thank all my life. It seems unreal to me that I have to talk about nea Mircea in the past tense“, Răducioiu continued.
At the age of 15, nea Mircea brought me to the first team and then I entered the entourage of the big team. I also debuted with Poli Timișoara, when I was very weak, very scared… I was terribly afraid! I played, I think, 15 minutes and that was my debut at Dinamo. Thanks to this extraordinary man and coach, Mircea Lucescu!
Florin Răducioiu, former international
“I'm done and please understand that I'm devastated. He was the coach who had the most important role in my career. The most important man in my life! Without him I wouldn't have become a good level footballer and I really owe him a lot in every way”, the former important player of Romania also pointed out.
Nea Mircea had an important role in my transfer from Verona to Brescia, when I had a disastrous season. Despite the doubt and criticism that the supporters had towards me, but also the owner Gino Corioni, who did not want me, Lucescu managed to take me there after a disastrous season
Florin Răducioiu, former international
