Mircea Rednic, 63 years old, former student of Mircea Lucescu, was present today at the vigil of the legendary coachso that later, through tears, he could convey some ideas and memories about the one who was like a father to him.
Rednic played under Lucescu both at Corvinul and at Dinamo. He came to the vigil today with Dorin Mateuț and Gică Hagi, and when he left he gave an emotional speech, in which it was difficult for him to hold back his tears.
Mircea Rednic, tearful speech at Mircea Lucescu's vigil: “He came and said to me: 'Crețulica'…”
“Nea Mircea's departure left a big void in my heart. You know very well my relationship with him.
Nea Mircea gave advice to everyone, she didn't take me personally. The one who understood the good things he told us ended up being a good footballer, or even a very good one, and a good coach”, said “Puriul”, who also remembered how Lucescu influenced his career as a footballer:
“The most beautiful moment was when my fate was decided, my career was decided. When I returned from the Luceafărul team, the people from Pitesti, who were in the first league – especially Mr. Halagian – wanted me at FC Argeș.
It was an exchange, with Speriatu to come, some money was given, and Halagian insisted on me. And I can't forget that he came and said to me: “Crețulica” – that's what he called me, not “Strâmbu” as you call me – he told me:
“Crețulica, don't leave, because here you have a chance to play for a good team and it would be good to stay”. I stayed and managed to perform both as a player and as a coach.
Mircea Lucescu: “The greatest coach I had, there will never be another like him”
“We've lost the greatest coach we've had and I don't think another one like him will be born. I'm realistic and I say that because of the performances he's done. To have 36 trophies both at home and abroad, that says a lot.
He returned to the country with the desire to succeed in qualifying the national team. He really believed in these guys until the end, even though the doctors suggested that he stop, he didn't want to.
You see how this football is, it was a moment of inattention, of neglecting tasks [la meciul cu Turcia]… I think that even now we were playing with the Turks and they couldn't beat us. It got lost and after that what happened happened. He really suffered. For as long as I've known him, for over 40 years since I've known him, I've never seen him sit on the bench.
He was always present in the game, not only in the game, he took care of everything: the grass to be cut, the menu to be good… He wanted to do it all and, with time, the body gives out. You couldn't change it. This is how he declared: that for him football is his life, he always wanted to perform”, added Rednic.
Who also admitted that he insisted to Mircea Lucescu, along with other close ones, that he not accept the position of selector:
“The last time I spoke to him…me too I kept telling him, we were pushing each other, those who worked with him. Andone, “tell him too”, I was also saying, I was trying… and Dinu Gheorghe, God rest him, was closer, to tell him not to accept the position of selector. But he didn't listen to us. We didn't listen to him all the time either, we were also committing crimes”.
Asked if he feels the loss of Lucescu like a parentRednic replied that “for me it is, yes. I think for the others he worked with as well. Bearing in mind that we were… I came from a poor family, I needed someone to guide me. He did it and he did it very well. I hope I didn't let him down, but now it doesn't matter.”
Mircea Lucescu, unparalleled career in football
- 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.
- As a player, he won 7 championship titles and a Romanian Cup, all with Dinamo.
- Throughout his coaching career, he trained Corvinul, the Romanian national team, Dinamo, Pisa, Brescia, Reggiana, Rapid, Inter, Galatasaray, Beşiktaş, Shakhtior, Zenit, the Turkish national team and Dinamo Kiev.
- 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.
GSP documentary: Il Luce. Master
