“It's unique” » The Shakhtar dynasty and one of the greatest legacies left by Mircea Lucescu: the UEFA Cup
Article by Cezar Titor – Published on Wednesday, 08 April 2026, 18:34 / Updated on Wednesday, 08 April 2026 18:35
In May 2004, Bernd Schuster was sacked from Shakhtar Donetsk's bench, just weeks before the Ukrainian Cup final. Rinat Akhmetov, an ambitious and proud owner, had a clear objective: to move the center of football power in Ukraine from Kiev to Donetsk. Despite all the massive investments made in almost eight years, the results were below expectations, only one championship title and three Cups of Ukraine.
In the same period, Mircea Lucescu resigned from Beşiktaș. Ahmetov moved quickly and entered into negotiations with the Romanian technician, managing to convince him to take over the team. On May 18, the contract is signed, and on May 30, the first test follows: the final of the Ukrainian Cup against Dnipro.
There were already four Romanians in the group, Răzvan Raț, Daniel Florea, Flavius Stoican and Ciprian Marica. The arrival of “Il Luce” brings a new breath, and Shakhtar wins the final 2-0, the first trophy in an impressive array.
How Mircea Lucescu revolutionized the idea of football in Donetsk
The summer of that year marks the beginning of real reconstruction. Lucescu transforms the philosophy of the club, bringing many Brazilians, who will become the signature of his style. We remember Fernandinho, Luiz Adriano, Willian, Fred, Douglas Costa or Elano.
In the first season, Shakhtior wins the title and qualifies in the groups of the Champions Leagueonly for the second time in history, only the beginning of a dynasty that will dominate Ukrainian football under the command of Mircea Lucescu.
12 seasonsMircea Lucescu spent on the “miners” bench, the longest period spent at any club team in his career
And who better to tell this story than Darijo Srna? The Croatian who dominated the right flank of the defense is the player most often used by Mircea Lucescu throughout his career: 463 appearances. In an interview given to Gazeta Sporturilor, the former captain of Shakhtior during the “Lucescu regime” provides details from the dressing room.
He describes the Romanian coach as a serial winner, a consummate worker and a genuine leader who pushed his players to their limits. The relationship between the two remained one of friendship and deep respect, and Srna considers Lucescu an irreplaceable man in the world of football.
It didn't matter who we were playing against. We were practicing our football. We didn't know how to defend ourselves, we always tried to attack. Lucescu was a winner, a strong and extremely hardworking man.
– Darijo Srna
And the record speaks for itself: eight championship titles, six Ukrainian Cups, seven Super Cups and, as the “jewel in the crown”, the UEFA Cup in 2009, the last edition of the competition before it was rebranded as the Europa League.
In the 2008-2009 season, Shakhtar Donetsk started their European journey in the Champions League, but finished in third place in a difficult group, alongside Barcelona, Sporting Lisbon and Basel. The ranking allowed him to continue in the UEFA Cup, where he began a remarkable career.
One by one, Mircea Lucescu's team eliminated Tottenham, CSKA Moscow, Marseille and the great rival Dynamo Kiev, in a tense duel between the giants of Ukraine. The final was played in Istanbul, at the “Şukru Saracoglu” stadium, where the goals scored by Luiz Adriano and Jadson they brought the most important trophy of “Il Luce's” career at club level: the UEFA Cup.
I was always by his side. Without football, it is impossible for him to live. I'm proud of him and everyone should be. It is unique.
– Darijo Srna
