Răzvan Lucescu, aged 57, is on the verge of signing a contract with Al-Sadd, a leading football club in Qatar. His new agreement is expected to be worth €5 million per season, exceeding his previous earnings of €3.5 million per year with Al-Hilal, where he notably won the AFC Champions League in 2019.
Official Announcement Expected Today
According to reports, all details have now been finalized, and Lucescu is expected to be officially presented by Al-Sadd today, June 30.
Lucescu’s Salary in the Wealthy Qatari Football Scene
Răzvan Lucescu is preparing to begin his tenure at Al-Sadd, Qatar’s most successful football club, which recently parted ways with Roberto Mancini. While Lucescu’s salary will not match Mancini’s €9 million per year, it will still be significantly higher than his previous contract with PAOK Salonika, where he earned €2 million annually. In his new role, he will also receive bonuses and the opportunity to bring his own coaching staff.
Greek media outlet Gazzetta.gr reports that negotiations have reached their final stages, with both parties having agreed on terms, leaving only formalities before the announcement of his appointment.
Several weeks prior, it was noted that Qatari interest in Lucescu was significant, although he had initially paused discussions to assess PAOK Salonika’s intentions regarding his future.
Lucescu has taken his time to consider the offer from Al-Sadd, and during this period, Al-Ittihad in Saudi Arabia also expressed interest in hiring him. Throughout his career, he notably won the AFC Champions League with Al-Hilal in 2019.
Al-Sadd: A Club Rich in Achievements
Al-Sadd is recognized as the most decorated club in Qatar, having won the league championship last season. They boast a record of 19 league titles, 9 Qatar Cups, 19 Emir’s Cups, and 2 AFC Champions League titles. The team’s star player, Brazilian Roberto Firmino, reportedly earns nearly €30 million a year in Qatar, while Al-Sadd is also close to signing Italian Alessio Romagnoli from Lazio for around €6 million per season.
Romanian Connection at Al-Sadd
Al-Sadd has previously seen Romanian coaches like Ilie Balaci and Cosmin Olăroiu in charge, and currently, Ovidiu Stângă, 57, has been working at the club’s academy for over five years. Stângă emphasized that Romanian coaches are well-regarded at Al-Sadd, citing the legacy left by Balaci and Olăroiu. He expressed confidence that Lucescu would adapt well to the club and the region, having prior experience in both Qatar and Saudi Arabia.
“I believe Răzvan Lucescu would adapt seamlessly to the Arab world. He is not new to the region, having previously worked in Saudi Arabia and Qatar. He is a Romanian we can be proud of, with a track record of success, and I see no reason why he wouldn’t excel,” Stângă stated.
Lucescu’s last significant achievement in Qatar was winning the Stars Cup in 2013 with El-Jaish.
