Mircea Lucescu, the former head coach of the Romanian national football team and one of the most decorated managers in European football, has passed away at the age of 80 following a heart attack.
Operative Information Center-OMM reports that journalist Emanuel Roşu shared the news on the X social media platform. "Tragic news. Mircea Lucescu passed away 15 minutes ago," he wrote.
Lucescu had been facing serious health challenges recently, having been hospitalized on March 29 after his condition deteriorated during a technical meeting ahead of a flight to Slovakia. Following these health concerns, he officially stepped down from his position as head coach of the Romanian national team on April 2. His health issues reportedly intensified in late 2025, and in January, he was hospitalized for several days as a severe cold exacerbated existing heart complications.
With a coaching career spanning several decades, the Romanian specialist was a prominent figure in international football. He managed top-tier clubs including Italy's Inter Milan, Pisa, and Brescia, Turkey's Galatasaray and Besiktas, as well as Ukraine's Dynamo Kyiv and Shakhtar Donetsk. Lucescu, who took charge of the Romanian national team in 2024, is widely remembered for leading Shakhtar Donetsk to the UEFA Cup title in 2009 and winning numerous domestic championships across Europe.
