Article by Eduard Apostol – Published Wednesday, December 10, 2025 9:27 p.m. / Updated Wednesday, December 10, 2025 9:27 p.m.
Mircea Lucescu (80 years old) has special memories related to “İnönü” and Beşiktaş, a special place in his soul, as he told Gazeta Sporturilor. He scored for the national team on the coquettish arena, won the championship in BJK's centenary year and gave up his salary on a one-year contract to contribute to the modernization of the Bosphorus stadium
The Turkey-Romania match, on March 26, 2026 (19:00), in the semi-final for the play-off that could take us to the World Championship overseas, will be played in Istanbul at Beşiktaş's arena. On Tupraș Stadyumu, the impressive arena that took the place of the legendary “İnönü” arena. Where Mircea Lucescu lived extraordinary moments, as he told GSP.ro yesterday.
It's a part of my soul there! Beşiktaş was the only team among the big ones from Istanbul to win the championship in the centenary year. It is an exceptional stadium, after it has been restored. It's something incredible, with great sound
Mircea Lucescu, Romania selector
The new and the old “İnönü”: world record for decibels, an impressive arena, near the Bosphorus and Dolmabahçe
“İnönü” stadium was the home of Beşiktaş from 1947 to 2013. With extensive modernization works in 1950 and 2004. Then the old stadium was demolished and Tupraş Stadyumu (as the commercial name of the new “eagles” arena) was built on the same location.
Still, many black and white supporters call him “İnönü” or “the new İnönü”. After three years of construction and 110 million euros invested, Beşiktaş Park opened its doors. It has 42,590 seats. The old stadium had 32,145 seats.
The arena where we will try to take the first step towards the World Cup is one of the most modern on the continent, in fact in the world. Provided with lodges, restaurants, shops, club museum, screens of all kinds, near the shore of the Bosphorus, in a special neighborhood, not far from the impressive Dolmabahçe Palace.
On “Inonu”, as Daniel Pancu stated yesterday on GSP.ro (details here), the “vultures” fans set a world record for noise, 141 decibels. The new stadium was acoustically designed to amplify the sound!
27of direct matches were between Romania and Turkey: we have 14 victories, they beat us 5 times, other 8 matches ended in a draw
Mircea Lucescu scored against “İnönü”. He then coached and won the championship in BJK's centenary year
Mircea Lucescu, former midfielder and right winger, collected 64 selections and 9 goals for the first representative team of Romania. He also scored, half a century ago, at the “İnönü” stadium!
In a friendly match, score 1-1, when he restored the tie with a goal in the 7th minute. As a coach, Il Luce made history for Beşiktaş. After winning the European Supercup and the championship with Galatasaray, the former president of the black and whites, Serdar Bilgili, brought him to the “eagles” and won the championship in the club's centenary year, in 2003.
There were also memorable moments in the European cups, including the Champions League groups. Like the victory at Stamford Bridge, 2-0 against Chelsea in October 2003, after Sergen Yalcin's double, with Daniel Pancu for the Turks and Adrian Mutu for Claudio Ranieri's team.
89of matches collected by Lucescu in charge of Beşiktaș, having 2 average points obtained with the Turks.
Mircea Lucescu waived his salary for a one-year contract for the “modernization of the stadium”
Lucescu was the coach of BJK between July 1, 2002 and May 1, 2004. After a troubled period at the club, a few days after the resignation of the president Serdar Bilgili, the one who brought Il Luce to the team, the Romanian technician was also sacrificed.
As the coach later reported, he gave up the salary he was due for one more season of commitment. After the general uproar that followed a lost derby with Fenerbahce, Mircea Lucescu was urged to give up the contract with the band from Istanbul.
“Mr. Lucescu gave up the money from his salary that he could have taken for one more year, while he still had a contract with Beşiktaș. He was told that the money would be for the modernization of the Inonu stadium,” the Turks who worked with Il Luce at that time also said.
It would be over half a million euros, according to some unofficial estimates. In 2004, Inonu was involved in an extensive modernization process.
As coach of Romania, Mircea Lucescu defeated Turkey 3 times, and once it ended in a draw
The current Romanian national team coach was also the coach of the Turkish national team between August 2017 and February 2019. 17 matches. In March, he will be the opponent of the country where he has known success in various stages of his career.
As a selector of the tricolors, in his first mandate – November 1, 1981 – October 2, 1986 -, Lucescu is undefeated with Turkey! One draw and three wins, goal difference 10-3.
A 1-1 draw against the old Ali Sami Yen in a friendly in 1983. Also in the same year, 3-1 with Turkey in Romania in another test match. Then two wins, 3-0 and 3-1 (Izmir) in the 1986 World Cup qualifier double.
