Article by Cosmin Nistor – Published on Thursday, 09 April 2026, 16:24 / Updated on Thursday, 09 April 2026 16:36
Rinat Ahmetov, the owner of the Shakhtior Donetsk team and the richest man in Ukraine, with a fortune of 8 billion dollars, landed in Romania to attend the funeral of the most famous Romanian coach, Mircea Lucescu, who died on Tuesday, April 7, at the age of 80.
Ahmetov left everything behind and came to Bucharest on the very day his team plays an important match in the Conference League. The match between Shakhtar and AZ Alkmaar, in the quarter-finals of the Conference League, takes place today, from 22:00.
Mircea Lucescu managed Shakhtar Donetsk from 2004 to 2016. During this period, “Il Luce” won the UEFA Cup, 8 Ukrainian Championship titles, 6 Cups and 7 Super Cups, consolidating his legend at the Donetsk club.
Rinat Ahmetov, superb speech about Mircea Lucescu: “I want you to be proud of such a man”
The boss of the Donetsk team came to say goodbye to his friend and former technician of his team.
“I came to say goodbye to my friend. It's a big tragedy for everyone. Together we won the UEFA Cup, 6 Cups and 7 Super Cups. He was my friend, and I am proud of our friendship. I wish and wish you to be proud of such a man.
He was a great coach and a great man, who lived a happy life. He could not sit without working, he always fought. I came here to say goodbye to him and to show my gratitude to him as a great coach and a great man.
My condolences to Mrs. Neli and Răzvan. They are a beautiful, good family,” Ahmetov told Liga Digi Sport.
Mircea Lucescu, unparalleled career in football
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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 7 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, Pisa, 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.
