Article by Cezar Titor – Published on Tuesday, 07 April 2026 23:24 / Updated on Tuesday, 07 April 2026 23:40
International reactions flow, after the disappearance of Mircea Lucescuthe most titled Romanian coach and one of the world's greatest technicians. Even FIFA reacted after the death of “Il Luce”, with a press release entitled “A giant of Romania, Mircea Lucescu, died”.
In those sent by FIFA, you can also find those sent by the FRF through the official release. And Gianni Infantino, the president of the international forum since 2016, reacted, through a post on social networks.
FIFA statement: “Among the most important achievements are two mandates at the Romanian national team and a very successful period at Shakhtior”
The former player and coach of Romania, Mircea Lucescu, died at the age of 80. His death was confirmed by the Romanian Football Federation (FRF).
Lucescu was in his second term as Romania's national coach before he fell ill last Thursday during a training session. Three days before, he had been on the sidelines of the match Romania lost to Turkey, in the European playoffs for the FIFA World Cup 2026.
“We lost a man who was more than a coach – a man who taught us that football is not just a sport, but a way of living with dignity”, FRF said in a statement. “Mircea Lucescu was a model for dozens of generations, a man who loved football more than himself.
We are left with the memories, the life lessons and the unmistakable elegance with which he stepped into every stadium in the world. We are sure of one thing: if there is a football field where you are now, you will definitely find it.
Thank you for everything, Mr. Lucescu! Rest in peace!”
Before becoming a coach, Lucescu captained Romania at the 1970 FIFA World Cup, where he played in all three matches against Brazil, Czechoslovakia and England.
Among the most important achievements as a coach are two mandates with the Romanian national team and a very successful period at Shakhtior, which he led to win the UEFA Cup in the 2008/2009 season.
– FIFA press release
Gianni Infantino: “Leaves behind a real legacy”
“It's a very sad day for football when we say goodbye to a legend of our game, Mircea Lucescu was an extraordinary man and I had the privilege of spending time with him on several occasions in recent years.
He leaves behind a real legacy, having captained Romania at the 1970 FIFA World Cup and then having such a prestigious coaching career, everyone who had the pleasure of knowing him and the privilege of working with him knows how much he lived and breathed football.
My heart, and the thoughts of the entire global football community, go out to his family, friends and all who knew him. Rest in peace,” Infantino also sent via social media.
Mircea Lucescu, memorable images:
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Mircea Lucescu took his first steps in football at Dinamo Bucharest, the team with which he has spent most of his career. He also performed at Știința Bucharest and Corvinul Hunedoara.
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As a player, he won 6 championship titles and a Romanian Cup, all with Dinamo.
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Throughout his coaching career, he trained Corvinul, the Romanian national team, Dinamo, Pisca, Brescia, Reggiana, Rapid, Inter, Galatasaray, Beşiktaş, Shakhtior, Zenit, the Turkish national team and Dinamo Kiev.
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He won 36 trophies in his career as a technician: 9 times the championship of Ukraine, 8 times the Ukrainian Cup, 7 times the Ukrainian Supercup, 3 times the Romanian Cup, 2 times the Romanian championship, 2 times the Turkish championship, as well as the UEFA Cup, the European Super Cup, the Russian Super Cup and the Anglo-Italian Cup.
