Rest in peace, Mister. Thank you for everything
Tuesday, April 7, 2026
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FC Shakhtar president Rinat Akhmetov expressed his condolences following the death of Mircea Lucescu
“Today, the football world has suffered an irreparable loss – one of the most respected and most decorated coaches in the history of the sport, Mircea Lucescu, has passed away.
A man for whom football was not just a passion and a profession, but a true calling and the work of a lifetime. Mircea was absolutely and unreservedly devoted to the game, dedicating all his time and energy to it, putting his heart and soul into what he loved. And football repaid him in full – with victories, trophies, recognition and the love of millions of fans around the world. Lucescu’s authority in the football world cannot be measured by the number of awards or titles – he was a teacher and an example for coaches, a mentor and a second father to many generations of players. He discovered a vast number of talents and left behind a great legacy.
A special place in Mircea Lucescu’s great biography belongs to Shakhtar Donetsk – the club where he spent 12 brilliant and successful years, the club for which he is a legend. It was under Mircea Lucescu that Shakhtar became a dominant force in Ukrainian football, a team known and respected across Europe. Each of the 22 trophies that Mister won with Shakhtar carries special value for the club, for the fans and for me personally. I always warmly recall all the moments we shared – we went through the most difficult challenges side by side, and together we celebrated the team’s beautiful victories and triumphs. I will always be grateful to Mircea Lucescu for everything he did for Shakhtar and for Ukrainian football. For me, he will always remain a Great Coach and a person with a great football heart.
Today I mourn together with Mircea Lucescu’s family and the entire football world. I would like to express my deepest condolences to his wife Neli, his son Răzvan, his grandchildren, relatives and friends, and all who knew and loved Mircea. In this difficult and tragic moment, my thoughts and heart are with you.
Thank you for everything, dear Mister!”
A man for whom football was not just a passion and a profession, but a true calling and the work of a lifetime. Mircea was absolutely and unreservedly devoted to the game, dedicating all his time and energy to it, putting his heart and soul into what he loved. And football repaid him in full – with victories, trophies, recognition and the love of millions of fans around the world. Lucescu’s authority in the football world cannot be measured by the number of awards or titles – he was a teacher and an example for coaches, a mentor and a second father to many generations of players. He discovered a vast number of talents and left behind a great legacy.
A special place in Mircea Lucescu’s great biography belongs to Shakhtar Donetsk – the club where he spent 12 brilliant and successful years, the club for which he is a legend. It was under Mircea Lucescu that Shakhtar became a dominant force in Ukrainian football, a team known and respected across Europe. Each of the 22 trophies that Mister won with Shakhtar carries special value for the club, for the fans and for me personally. I always warmly recall all the moments we shared – we went through the most difficult challenges side by side, and together we celebrated the team’s beautiful victories and triumphs. I will always be grateful to Mircea Lucescu for everything he did for Shakhtar and for Ukrainian football. For me, he will always remain a Great Coach and a person with a great football heart.
Today I mourn together with Mircea Lucescu’s family and the entire football world. I would like to express my deepest condolences to his wife Neli, his son Răzvan, his grandchildren, relatives and friends, and all who knew and loved Mircea. In this difficult and tragic moment, my thoughts and heart are with you.
Thank you for everything, dear Mister!”