Football clubs Inter Milan and Pisa have expressed their condolences after the passing of their former head coach, Mircea Lucescu, at the age of 80.
Lucescu, a veteran manager whose career impressively spanned six decades, passed away at 80. He was admitted to the hospital on March 29 due to a heart arrhythmia, suffered a cardiac arrest on April 3, and his death was confirmed by the Bucharest University Hospital in a press release on Tuesday.
Just days before his death, Lucescu had resigned as head coach of the Romanian national team on April 2, following his hospitalization.
His extensive managerial journey began in 1979 as a player-coach for Cornivul Hunedoara. He subsequently led the Romanian national team from 1981 to 1986, followed by a five-year stint with Dinamo Bucuresti before transitioning to Italian football.
In Italy, Lucescu managed Pisa for a year (1990-1991) and then Brescia in two periods between 1991 and 1996. His Italian coaching career also included spells with Reggiana and Inter Milan during the 1998-99 season.
His illustrious career continued with significant roles at clubs like Rapid Bucuresti, Galatasaray, Besiktas, Shakhtar Donetsk, Zenit Saint Petersburg, and Dynamo Kyiv. He also had another tenure with the Romanian national team and managed the Turkish national team.
A testament to his longevity and success, Lucescu is one of only nine head coaches to have managed 100 or more UEFA Champions League matches, with a total of 115. This exclusive group includes football legends such as Jurgen Klopp (100), Massimiliano Allegri (100), Diego Simeone (124), Jose Mourinho (154), Arsene Wenger (178), Pep Guardiola (189), Sir Alex Ferguson (190), and Carlo Ancelotti (218).
Inter Milan and Pisa Lead Tributes to Lucescu
In a statement released on Tuesday evening, FC Internazionale Milano conveyed their grief: “FC Internazionale Milano and the entire Inter family mourn the passing of Mircea Lucescu and extend heartfelt condolences to his loved ones.”
Pisa SC also issued a statement, saying: “Pisa SC expresses its deepest condolences following the death of Mircea Lucescu. The Romanian coach, in his long and glorious career, led Pisa in the 1990-91 Serie A championship. A short, but intense journey, remembered above all for an incredible start to the season that had the Nerazzurri at the top of the standings. President Giuseppe Corrado, on behalf of the whole club, sends his condolences to the Lucescu family in this moment of great sorrow. Goodbye Mircea.”
