Mircea Lucescu passed away on Tuesday evening at the University Emergency Hospital in Bucharest, according to an official statement from the medical institution. He had been hospitalized since March 29 after falling ill during a training session with the Romanian national team in Mogosoaia.
His condition worsened in recent days, and he was moved to intensive care after suffering an acute myocardial infarction.
Widely regarded as one of Romania’s greatest football figures, Lucescu made history by leading the national team to its first-ever qualification for the European Championship in 1984. Over a long and successful career, he won 35 trophies, ranking him among the most successful coaches in football history—behind only Alex Ferguson and Pep Guardiola.
His legacy spans decades of influence both as a player and a coach, leaving a lasting mark on Romanian and international football.