Article by Eduard Apostol – Published Tuesday, 03 February 2026 22:49 / Updated Tuesday, 03 February 2026 22:49
Sinan Serhatioglu is a soul friend of Mircea Lucescu. You can see this detail when you watch the dialogues in French between the two, even through the WhatsApp video call. The Turk who divides his time between Istanbul and Sofia was Il Luce's translator during the golden period at Beşiktaş, but also at the Turkish national team.
He spent four years with the Romanian. Sinan was the good man in everything for Mircea Lucescu. He is also worried about the health of the 80-year-old coach, but believes that Il Luce will come back stronger.
He does not see Lucescu outside of football. It is believed that the technician is preparing the match at the BJK Stadium, a venue dear to both of them, even from his hospital bed. Today's news from the University Hospital says that Il Luce's medical situation is serious, and the doctors are skeptical that he can stay on the bench!
Sinan Serhatioglu rejects the idea that Mircea Lucescu will no longer sit on the bench: “He is a general”
– Mister Sinan, I'm glad I found you! In the summer I was doing an interview about your relationship with Mircea Lucescu, before your 80th birthday, now we will be opponents. Turkey – Romania on March 26 at Beşiktaş's stadium. What would be the first impression about this duel and about the latest news concerning Mircea Lucescu?
– The match against Romania is not an easy one for us, for Turkey. And I think it would not be an easy duel for any other national team. Why? Because Romania's coach is Mircea (Lucescu). And, believe me, these are the opinions of fans who really understand football.
– Mircea Lucescu is going through a delicate period from a medical point of view, for several weeks. At the moment there is conflicting information and it is not known if he will be on the bench for the game for over two months.
– Mircea is a general. He will be on the battlefield until the end. He will surely recover, we all wish him that. I think I will see him there, in the “eagles” arena, on March 26.
– Excluded from being the favorite Turkey?
– I don't think, concretely speaking, that the Turkish national team is the favorite. And we, the Turks, have another idea: those who think they are favorites in important matches will either suffer for a victory or lose! Excluded to think that we are already qualified further.
Sinan Serhatioglu, reverence in front of Mircea Lucescu: “He can do miracles. He proved it to us so many times”
– Is there an advantage to playing in Istanbul, especially in Beşiktaş's stadium? I mean the atmosphere created on the new Inonu.
– This is an advantage, yes. Because the supporters can make a lot of noise as the stadium is specially created for the fans to put maximum pressure on the opponents.
– Would you personally have preferred another opponent outside of Romania?
– Of course, we know that Mircea can work miracles. (laughs) He proved it to us so many times. I still see him as the coach of Romania. And he never had easy missions, but complicated ones. So yes, I preferred another team, not Romania, an easier one. As I always say, it made a good salad, dripping with quality dressing!
– How do the Turks analyze Mircea Lucescu?
– We know him very well and we respect him very much. And he is an important name in football, and respected, not only in Turkey, but all over the world. His knowledge in the sports phenomenon is the best. Again, these details are for people who really know football.
Sinan Serhatioglu revealed the impact Mircea Lucescu had on football in Turkey
– Mircea Lucescu was also the selector of the Turkish national team in the period 2017-2019. Did the first representative help?
– Yes, yes. I told you before, it will be a very difficult match with Romania and no one can say that one of the teams is the favorite. Mircea did a great favor to football in Turkey, he made results for history, which also helped the country's national team. Remember he gave credit to a lot of young players who have proven their worth. And let me tell you something else that adds to his personal aura.
– What exactly?
– Many of his students, throughout his career, wanted to be like him, they had him as a model. He won the title with Galatasaray not with such great players, but he was not valued there as much as he should have been. Especially since he also won the European Supercup against a “galactic” Real. We thank Allah that after that he came to Beşiktaş and won the title in the centenary year. We all learned good things from him. (laughs) I also thank him that thanks to him I became part of the history of Beşiktaş, my soul club.
