View source for Mircea Lucescu

{{Short description|Romanian footballer and manager}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2020}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Mircea Lucescu
| image = Mircea Lucescu 2017.jpg
| caption = Lucescu in 2017
| fullname = Mircea Lucescu<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.tff.org/Default.aspx?pageID=527&antID=8083 |title=Mircea Lucescu |publisher=Turkish Football Federation |access-date=20 December 2020}}</ref>
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1945|7|29|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Bucharest]], Romania
| height = 1.77 m
| position = [[Midfielder#Winger|Winger]]
| currentclub = [[Romania national football team|Romania]] (head coach) 
| youthyears1 = 1961–1963
| youthclubs1 = Școala Sportivă 2 București
| years1 = 1963–1977
| clubs1 = [[FC Dinamo București|Dinamo București]]
| caps1 = 250
| goals1 = 57
| years2 = 1965–1967
| clubs2 = → [[FC Sportul Studențesc București|Știința București]] (loan)
| caps2 = 39
| goals2 = 12
| years3 = 1977–1982
| clubs3 = [[FC Corvinul Hunedoara|Corvinul Hunedoara]]{{efn|name="COR"|The statistics for the [[1966–67 Divizia B]] season are unavailable.<ref name=RS/>}}
| caps3 = 111
| goals3 = 21
| years4 = 1990
| clubs4 = [[FC Dinamo București|Dinamo București]]
| caps4 = 1
| goals4 = 0
| totalcaps = 401
| totalgoals = 90
| nationalyears1 = 1966–1979
| nationalteam1 = [[Romania national football team|Romania]]{{efn|name="ROM"|Including 6 appearances for Romania's Olympic team.<ref name=EU>{{cite web|url=https://eu-football.info/_player.php?id=12486|title=Mircea Lucescu|publisher=European Football|access-date=27 January 2021}}</ref><ref>{{NFT|17628}}</ref>}}
| nationalcaps1 = 70
| nationalgoals1 = 9
| manageryears1 = 1979–1982
| managerclubs1 = [[FC Corvinul Hunedoara|Corvinul Hunedoara]] (player/coach)
| manageryears2 = 1981–1986
| managerclubs2 = [[Romania national football team|Romania]]
| manageryears3 = 1985–1990
| managerclubs3 = [[FC Dinamo București|Dinamo București]]
| manageryears4 = 1990–1991
| managerclubs4 = [[A.C. Pisa 1909|Pisa]]
| manageryears5 = 1991–1995
| managerclubs5 = [[Brescia Calcio|Brescia]]
| manageryears6 = 1995–1996
| managerclubs6 = [[Brescia Calcio|Brescia]]
| manageryears7 = 1996
| managerclubs7 = [[A.C. Reggiana 1919|Reggiana]]
| manageryears8 = 1997–1998
| managerclubs8 = [[FC Rapid București|Rapid București]]
| manageryears9 = 1998–1999
| managerclubs9 = [[Inter Milan]]
| manageryears10 = 1999–2000
| managerclubs10 = [[FC Rapid București|Rapid București]]
| manageryears11 = 2000–2002
| managerclubs11 = [[Galatasaray S.K. (football)|Galatasaray]]
| manageryears12 = 2002–2004
| managerclubs12 = [[Beşiktaş J.K.|Beşiktaş]]
| manageryears13 = 2004–2016
| managerclubs13 = [[FC Shakhtar Donetsk|Shakhtar Donetsk]]
| manageryears14 = 2016–2017
| managerclubs14 = [[FC Zenit Saint Petersburg|Zenit Saint Petersburg]]
| manageryears15 = 2017–2019
| managerclubs15 = [[Turkey national football team|Turkey]]
| manageryears16 = 2020–2023
| managerclubs16 = [[FC Dynamo Kyiv|Dynamo Kyiv]]
| manageryears17 = 2024–
| managerclubs17 = [[Romania national football team|Romania]]
}}

'''Mircea Lucescu''' ({{IPA|ro|ˈmirtʃe̯a luˈtʃesku}}; born 29 July 1945) is a Romanian professional [[Association football|football]] [[Manager (association football)|manager]] and former player, currently the head coach of the [[Romania national football team|Romania national team]]. He is one of the most decorated managers of all time.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.marca.com/en/football/international-football/2019/05/23/5ce5c24eca4741c7638b4567.html|title=Guardiola on his way to becoming the most successful coach of all time|work=Marca|location=Spain|last1=Rubio|first1=Alberto|last2=Clancy|first2=Conor|date=23 May 2019}}</ref>

Lucescu is also one of the most successful players of the [[Liga I|Romanian league championship]], having won all seven of his titles with [[FC Dinamo București|Dinamo București]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Best of the best! Dan Petrescu, la un titlu de recordul absolut + doi jucători-simbol de la CFR Cluj, lângă Lăcătuș, Lucescu sau Tudorel Stoica|url=https://www.gsp.ro/fotbal/liga-1/cfr-cluj-titluri-deac-arlauskis-petrescu-663711.html|publisher=gsp.ro|language=ro|date=May 15, 2022|access-date=May 15, 2022}}</ref> He also had spells at [[FC Sportul Studențesc București|Știința București]] and [[FC Corvinul Hunedoara|Corvinul Hunedoara]], and made 70 appearances for the [[Romania national football team|Romania national team]], which he [[Captain (association football)|captained]] in the [[1970 FIFA World Cup]].<ref name='merry'>{{cite news|url=http://www.fourfourtwo.com/us/features/lucescus-band-brazilians-aim-bring-down-man-united|title=Lucescu's band of Brazilians aim to bring down Man United|work=FourFourTwo|date=2 October 2013}}</ref>

Lucescu has coached various sides in Romania, Italy, Turkey, Ukraine and Russia. He is well known for his twelve-year stint in charge of [[FC Shakhtar Donetsk|Shakhtar Donetsk]], where he became the most successful coach in the team's history by winning eight Ukrainian Premier League titles, six [[Ukrainian Cup]]s, seven [[Ukrainian Super Cup]]s and the [[2008–09 UEFA Cup]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.uefa.com/memberassociations/news/newsid=2367219.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160524124555/http://www.uefa.com/memberassociations/news/newsid=2367219.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=24 May 2016|title=How Mircea Lucescu put Shakhtar on the map|publisher=UEFA|date=23 May 2016}}</ref> He also won trophies in Ukraine with Shakhtar's [[Klasychne derby|rival]] Dynamo Kyiv, as well as Divizia A titles with Dinamo București and [[FC Rapid București|Rapid București]], and [[Turkish Süper Lig]] titles with [[Galatasaray S.K. (football)|Galatasaray]] and [[Beşiktaş J.K.|Beşiktaş]].<ref name='merry'/>

Lucescu was named [[Romania Coach of the Year]] in 2004, 2010, 2012, 2014 and 2021, and Ukraine Coach of the Year in 2006 and between 2008 and 2014.<ref name=stats>{{cite web |url=http://shakhtar.com/en/news/37745|title=Shakhtar and Mircea Lucescu: 12 years together|publisher=shakhtar.com|access-date=18 May 2016|date=16 May 2016}}</ref> In 2013, he was awarded the Manager of the Decade award in Romania,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ua-football.com/ukrainian/high/1387484337-luchesku-byl-priznan-trenerom-desyatiletiya-v-rumynii.html|title=Луческу был признан тренером десятилетия в Румынии|first=Внешние|last=источники|date=19 December 2013|website=ua-football.com}}</ref> and in 2015 became the fifth person to coach in 100 [[UEFA Champions League]] matches, joining [[Alex Ferguson]], [[Carlo Ancelotti]], [[Arsène Wenger]] and [[José Mourinho]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/0226-0e922d551c04-afb9c4b42c5f-1000--lucescu-becomes-fifth-coaching-centurion/|title=Lucescu becomes fifth coaching centurion|date=21 October 2015|publisher=UEFA}}</ref> He is also ranked third in terms of official trophies won, with 38.

==Club career==
[[File:Dinamo București (fotbal) 1965.jpg|thumb|left|260px|{{center|Lucescu (bottom row, fourth from right) with Dinamo București in the 1964–65 season}}]]
Lucescu was born on 29 July 1945 in [[Bucharest]], Romania and started playing football as a junior at Școala Sportivă 2 București.<ref name=RS>{{RomanianSoccer|1085/mircea-lucescu}}</ref><ref name=agerpres>{{cite web | url=https://www.agerpres.ro/documentare/2019/11/14/romani-celebri-fostul-fotbalist-si-antrenor-mircea-lucescu--402755 | title=ROMÂNI CELEBRI: Fostul fotbalist şi antrenor Mircea Lucescu| publisher=Agerpres.ro| language=Romanian |trans-title=FAMOUS ROMANIANS: Former footballer and coach Mircea Lucescu| date=14 November 2019 | access-date=5 August 2022}}</ref><ref name=gandul>{{cite web | url=https://www.gandul.ro/sport/mircea-lucescu-77-ani-cum-arata-prima-legitimatie-de-fotbalist-o-fotografie-veche-de-mai-bine-de-sase-decenii-19819732 | title=Mircea Lucescu, 77 ani! Cum arată prima legitimație de fotbalist, o fotografie veche de mai bine de șase decenii| publisher=Gandul.ro| language=Romanian |trans-title=Mircea Lucescu, 77 years old! What the first footballer's ID card looks like, a photo more than six decades old| date=29 July 2022 | access-date=5 August 2022}}</ref> He was brought to  [[FC Dinamo București|Dinamo București]] by coach [[Traian Ionescu]], where he made his [[Liga I|Divizia A]] debut on 21 June 1964 in a 5–2 victory against [[FC Rapid București|Rapid București]].<ref name=RS/><ref name=agerpres/><ref name=gandul/><ref name=qmagazine>{{cite web | url=https://www.qmagazine.ro/mircea-lucescu-la-70-de-ani-povestea-celui-mai-titrat-tehnician-roman/ | title=Mircea Lucescu, la 70 de ani. Povestea celui mai titrat tehnician român| publisher=Qmagazine.ro| language=Romanian |trans-title=Mircea Lucescu, at 70 years old. The story of the most titled Romanian technician| date=29 July 2015 | access-date=5 August 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://adevarul.ro/news/sport/i-a-inventat-dinu-lucescu-dumitrache-1_50ad1d757c42d5a6638eed14/index.html | title=I-a "inventat" pe Dinu, Lucescu şi Dumitrache| publisher=Adevarul.ro| language=Romanian |trans-title=He "invented" Dinu, Lucescu and Dumitrache| date=18 September 2011 | access-date=5 August 2022}}</ref> In his first two seasons at Dinamo, Lucescu won the championship in both of them, playing a total of three Divizia A games, being loaned for the following two seasons at [[Liga II|Divizia B]] club, [[FC Sportul Studențesc București|Știința București]].<ref name=RS/><ref name=agerpres/><ref name=gandul/><ref name=qmagazine/> After the loan ended, he returned to play for ''[[FC Dinamo București|The Red Dogs]]'', winning the [[1967–68 Cupa României]], scoring a double in the 3–1 victory from the [[1968 Cupa României final|final]] against [[FC Rapid București|Rapid București]] after coach [[Bazil Marian]] sent him on the field in the 77th minute in order to replace [[Nicolae Nagy]].<ref name=RS/><ref>{{cite web | url=https://welovesport.ro/stiri/fotbal-vintage-povestea-unei-fabuloase-finale-de-cupa-27058 | title=Povestea unei fabuloase finale de Cupă| publisher=Welovesport.ro| language=Romanian |trans-title=The story of a fabulous cup final| date=16 June 2023 | access-date=16 June 2023}}<br>{{cite web|url=https://www.romaniansoccer.ro/romanian_cup/1967_1968.shtml|title=Romanian Cup – Season 1967–1968|publisher=RomanianSoccer|access-date=5 August 2022}}</ref> In the following three editions of the [[Cupa României]], the club would reach the final in each of them, Lucescu scoring a brace in the one from [[1971 Cupa României final|1971]] but all of them were lost in favor of [[Eternal derby (Romania)|rivals]] [[FC Steaua București|Steaua București]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.romaniansoccer.ro/romanian_cup/1968_1969.shtml|title=Romanian Cup – Season 1968–1969|publisher=RomanianSoccer|access-date=1 October 2024}}<br>{{cite web|url=https://www.romaniansoccer.ro/romanian_cup/1969_1970.shtml|title=Romanian Cup – Season 1969–1970|publisher=RomanianSoccer|access-date=1 October 2024}}<br>{{cite web|url=https://www.romaniansoccer.ro/romanian_cup/1970_1971.shtml|title=Romanian Cup – Season 1970–1971|publisher=RomanianSoccer|access-date=1 October 2024}}</ref> He would also win another four league titles, in the first he worked with coaches [[Nicolae Dumitru (footballer)|Nicolae Dumitru]] and Ionescu who gave him 23 appearances in which he scored three goals, in the following one [[Ion Nunweiller]] used him in 28 matches in which he netted a personal record of 12 goals, in the third he scored four times in 31 games as he worked with Dumitru and in the last one he played 19 games, netting seven goals under the guidance of Nunweiller.<ref name=RS/><ref name=agerpres/><ref name=gandul/><ref name=qmagazine/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.romaniansoccer.ro/menu_items/champions.shtml|title=Romania National Champions |publisher=RomanianSoccer|access-date=30 September 2024}}</ref> Lucescu has a total of 12 seasons spent at Dinamo, in which he appeared in 250 Divizia A games and scored 57 goals, including nine in the [[Eternal derby (Romania)|derby]] against Steaua.<ref name=RS/><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.prosport.ro/fotbal-intern/liga-1/cele-mai-tari-derby-uri-steaua-dinamo-cei-mai-buni-marcatori-jucatorii-emblematici-7487289 | title=Cele mai tari derby-uri Steaua-Dinamo, cei mai buni marcatori, jucătorii emblematici!| publisher=Prosport.ro| language=Romanian |trans-title=The hottest Steaua-Dinamo derbies, the best scorers, the emblematic players!| date=25 April 2011 | access-date=5 August 2022}}<br>{{cite web | url=https://click.ro/sport/fotbal-intern/danciulescu-omul-derby-310171.html | title=Dănciulescu, omul-derby|publisher=Click.ro| language=Romanian |trans-title=Dănciulescu, the derby man| date=3 November 2012 | access-date=5 August 2022}}</ref> During these years he also played 15 games in which he scored three goals in European competitions (including three appearances in the [[Inter-Cities Fairs Cup]]), managing to score against each of the [[Madrid]] giants [[Real Madrid CF|Real]] and [[Atlético Madrid|Atlético]] in the [[UEFA Champions League|European Cup]], however on both occasions Dinamo did not succeed to get past the Spaniards further in the competition.<ref name=RS/><ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.gsp.ro/international/europa-league/au-fost-hamburg-crusaders-real-madrid-inter-10-victorii-de-legenda-pentru-dinamo-in-europa-la-revenirea-cainilor-in-cupele-continentale-dupa-o-pauza-de-5-ani-516824.html| title=Au fost Hamburg, Crusaders, Real Madrid, Inter. 10 victorii de legendă pentru Dinamo în Europa la revenirea "câinilor" în cupele continentale după o pauză de 5 ani| publisher=Gsp.ro| language=Romanian |trans-title=There were Hamburg, Crusaders, Real Madrid, Inter. 10 legendary victories for Dinamo in Europe when the "dogs" returned to the continental cups after a 5-year break| date=26 July 2017| access-date=1 October 2024}}<br>{{cite web|publisher=WorldFootball|url=https://www.worldfootball.net/player_summary/mircea-lucescu/champions-league-1973-1974/dinamo-bucuresti/3/|title=Mircea Lucescu. Champions League 1973/1974|date=28 July 2022 |access-date=30 September 2024}}<br>{{cite web|publisher=WorldFootball|url=https://www.worldfootball.net/player_summary/mircea-lucescu/champions-league-1975-1976/dinamo-bucuresti/3/|title=Mircea Lucescu. Champions League 1975/1976|date=28 July 2022 |access-date=30 September 2024}}</ref> For the way he played in 1971, Lucescu was placed fourth in the ranking for the [[Romanian Footballer of the Year (Gazeta Sporturilor)|Romanian Footballer of the Year]] award.<ref name=rsssf>{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/roempoy.html|title=Romania - Player of the Year Awards|publisher=Rsssf.org|language=en|access-date=30 September 2024}}</ref>
[[File:Mircea Lucescu against Steaua.jpg|right|thumb|240px|Lucescu (foreground, in white) in a [[Eternal derby (Romania)|derby match]] against cross-town rivals [[FCSB|Steaua București]].]]
In July 1977, he went to play for [[FC Corvinul Hunedoara|Corvinul Hunedoara]], where in January 1979 he became the team's coach, while still being an active player, but the team relegated at the end of the season to [[Liga II|Divizia B]] but Lucescu stayed with the club, promoting back to the first division after one year.<ref name=RS/><ref name=agerpres/><ref name=vocea>{{cite web | url=https://vocea-hunedoarei.ro/fotbal-centenar-corvinul/ | title=Fotbal- Centenar Corvinul| publisher=Vocea-hunedoarei.ro| language=Romanian |trans-title=Football- Centenary Corvinul| date=22 February 2021 | access-date=5 August 2022}}</ref><ref name=primaria>{{cite web | url=http://www.primariahunedoara.ro/ziar/2021/03/fotbal-centenar-corvinul-corvinul-lucescu-nationala/ | title=FOTBAL CENTENAR CORVINUL – Corvinul – Lucescu – Naționala…| publisher=Vocea-hunedoarei.ro| language=Romanian |trans-title=CORVINUL CENTENARY FOOTBALL – Corvinul – Lucescu – The national team…| date=12 March 2021 | access-date=5 August 2022}}</ref><ref name=GSP>{{cite web | url=https://www.gsp.ro/fotbal/liga-1/debut-antrenor-mircea-lucescu-ion-ion-corvinul-steaua-rapid-656107.html | title=43 de ani de la debutul antrenorului Mircea Lucescu. A fost învins de o divizionară B, iar MVP a fost un stelist care a făcut carieră și la Rapid: ""Botezul" meu i-a prins bine"| publisher=Gsp.ro| language=Romanian |trans-title=43 years since the debut of coach Mircea Lucescu. He was defeated by a B divisional team, and the MVP was a star player who also made a career at Rapid: "My "baptizing" caught him well"| date=28 February 2022 | access-date=5 August 2022}}</ref> He helped the club finish third in the [[1981–82 Divizia A]] season, retiring from his playing career after that season.<ref name=RS/><ref name=agerpres/><ref name=vocea/><ref name=primaria/><ref name=GSP/> He came out of retirement when he was coach at [[FC Dinamo București|Dinamo București]] because many of the team's players were called at a [[Romania national football team|Romania's national team]] cantonment in order to prepare for the [[1990 World Cup]], so he registered himself as a player and on 16 May 1990 he entered the field in the 76th minute in order to replace [[Ionel Fulga]] in a 1–1 against [[FC Sportul Studențesc București|Sportul Studențesc București]], thus becoming champion as a player and a coach in that season and at 44 years, 9 months and 17 days he is the oldest player that appeared in a Divizia A match, a competition in which he has a total of 362 matches and 78 goals scored.<ref name=RS/><ref name=gandul/><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.prosport.ro/sport-life/special/vezi-povestea-unui-meci-special-al-lui-mircea-lucescu-fugi-nea-mircea-fugi-6065509 | title=Vezi povestea unui meci special al lui Mircea Lucescu: "Fugi, nea Mircea, fugi!"| publisher=Prosport.ro| language=Romanian |trans-title=See the story of a special match of Mircea Lucescu: "Run, nea Mircea, run!"| date=27 April 2010 | access-date=5 August 2022}}<br>{{cite web | url=https://www.playsport.ro/la-multi-ani-il-luce-meciul-in-care-mircea-lucescu-a-devenit-cel-mai-batran-jucator-din-istoria-campionatului-la-44-de-ani-170545 | title=La mulți ani, "Il Luce"! Meciul în care Mircea Lucescu a devenit cel mai bătrân jucător din istoria campionatului, la 44 de ani|publisher=Playsport.ro| language=Romanian |trans-title=Happy birthday, "Il Luce"! The match in which Mircea Lucescu became the oldest player in the history of the championship, at 44 years old| date=29 July 2022 | access-date=5 August 2022}}</ref>

==International career==
Lucescu has a total of 64 appearances of which in 23 he was captain and nine goals scored for [[Romania national football team|Romania]], making his debut under coach [[Ilie Oană]] while being a player in the [[Liga II|second league]] at [[FC Sportul Studențesc București|Știința București]] on 2 November 1966 in a 4–2 victory against [[Switzerland national football team|Switzerland]] at the [[UEFA Euro 1968 qualifying Group 6|Euro 1968 qualifiers]] in which he gained a total of six appearances and two goals scored in the both legs against [[Cyprus national football team|Cyprus]].<ref name=EU/><ref name=agerpres/><ref name=qmagazine/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://eu-football.info/_match.php?id=13804|title=Romania 4-2 Switzerland|publisher=European Football|access-date=5 August 2022}}</ref> He played six games at the successful [[1970 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group 1|1970 World Cup qualifiers]], also being used by coach [[Angelo Niculescu]] in all three group matches as captain at the [[1970 FIFA World Cup|final tournament]] as Romania did not advance to the next stage and at the last game against [[Brazil national football team|Brazil]] which ended with a 3–2 loss, Lucescu bought the team's blue equipment for that game from his own money, because the [[Romanian Football Federation]] provided just one set of equipment which was yellow, same as the ones of the Brazilians.<ref name=EU/><ref name=agerpres/><ref>{{cite web | url=https://adevarul.ro/cultura/istorie/documentar-mondialul-mexic-70--tricolorii-jucat-de-maravilla-1_5eff67885163ec42719a74b3/index.html | title=Mondialul din Mexic 70: când Tricolorii au jucat "de maravilla"| publisher=Prosport.ro| language=Romanian |trans-title=World Cup in Mexico 70: when the Tricolors played "amazingly"| date=4 July 2020| access-date=5 August 2022}}</ref> He played seven matches and scored two goals at the [[UEFA Euro 1972 qualifying Group 1|1972 Euro qualifiers]], managing to reach the [[UEFA Euro 1972 quarter-finals|quarter-finals]] where [[Romania national football team|Romania]] was defeated by [[Hungary national football team|Hungary]], who advanced to the [[UEFA Euro 1972|final tournament]].<ref name=EU/> Mircea Lucescu also played two games at the [[1974 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group 4|1974 World Cup qualifiers]], three games in which he scored a goal in a 3–1 victory against [[Greece national football team|Greece]] at the [[1973–76 Balkan Cup]], six games in which he scored a goal in a 6–1 victory against [[Denmark national football team|Denmark]] at the [[UEFA Euro 1976 qualifying Group 4|Euro 1976 qualifiers]], making his last appearance for the national team on 4 April 1979 in a 2–2 against [[Spain national football team|Spain]] at the [[UEFA Euro 1980 qualifying Group 3|Euro 1980 qualifiers]].<ref name=EU/>

For representing his country at the [[1970 FIFA World Cup|1970 World Cup]], Lucescu was decorated by [[President of Romania]] [[Traian Băsescu]] on 25 March 2008 with the Ordinul "Meritul Sportiv" – (The Medal "The Sportive Merit") class III.<ref name=agerpres/><ref name=monitor>{{cite web |url=https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/93/Monitorul_Oficial_al_Rom%C3%A2niei._Partea_I_2008-03-28%2C_nr._241.pdf |title=DECRET privind conferirea Ordinului și Medaliei Meritul Sportiv |publisher=Monitorul Oficial al României Nr. 241 |date=28 March 2008 |page=3 |access-date= 5 August 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://old.presidency.ro/index.php?_RID=det&tb=date_arhiva&id=10313&_PRID=arh |title=Decorarea unor personalități ale fotbalului românesc |publisher=Administrația Prezidențială |date= 25 March 2008 |access-date= 5 August 2022}}</ref>

==Managerial career==
{{Quote box|
 width=20%
|align=right
|quote="Mircea Lucescu is the best coach in the world. He had results everywhere he went, he knows how to adapt to all situations. He is a man of infinite culture and he is a very simple person."
|source=–[[Luciano Spalletti]], Italian coach<ref name=qmagazine/>}}

===Corvinul Hunedoara===
Lucescu was taught and learned many things about coaching from [[Viorel Mateianu]], being very impressed by his working methods, coming to study his training sessions at [[CS Minaur Baia Mare (football)|FC Baia Mare]], sometimes asking Mateianu to extend his training sessions so he can see more of his methods, also he went to his home where they would talk all night about football and draw tactical game schemes together.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://premium.gsp.ro/gsp-special/poveste/exclusiv-povestea-lui-viorel-mateianu-antrenorul-revolutionar-indragostit-de-fotbal-si-obsedat-de-experimentele-lui-care-il-fascinau-pe-mircea-lucescu-517963.html | title=EXCLUSIV Povestea lui Viorel Mateianu, antrenorul-revoluționar îndrăgostit de fotbal și obsedat de experimentele lui, care îl fascinau pe Mircea Lucescu!| publisher=Gsp.ro| language=Romanian |trans-title=EXCLUSIVE The story of Viorel Mateianu, the revolutionary coach in love with football and obsessed with his experiments, which fascinated Mircea Lucescu!| date=8 August 2017 | access-date=5 August 2022}}<br>{{cite web | url=https://www.gds.ro/Sport/2011-08-13/Morisca-lui-Mateianu-traieste/ | title="Morișca" lui Mateianu trăiește| publisher=Gds.ro| language=Romanian |trans-title=Mateianu's "hand-mill" lives| date=13 August 2011 | access-date=5 August 2022}}<br>{{cite web | url=https://www.independentaromana.ro/din-istoria-sportului-romanesc-viorel-mateianu-antrenorul-care-a-revolutionat-fotbalul/ | title=Din istoria sportului românesc. Viorel Mateianu, antrenorul care a revoluționat fotbalul| publisher=Independentaromana.ro| language=Romanian |trans-title=From the history of Romanian sport. Viorel Mateianu, the coach who revolutionized football| date=6 August 2019 | access-date=5 August 2022}}<br>{{cite web | url=https://www.prosport.ro/sport-life/special/crimele-comunismului-cazul-viorel-mateianu-6492718 | title=Crimele comunismului: cazul Viorel Mateianu| publisher=Prosport.ro| language=Romanian |trans-title=The crimes of communism: the Viorel Mateianu case| date=5 July 2010 | access-date=5 August 2022}}</ref> He started coaching while still being an active player at [[FC Corvinul Hunedoara|Corvinul Hunedoara]] in January 1979, when he replaced [[Ilie Savu]], his first match taking place on 28 February 1979 in the sixteenths-finals of the [[1978–79 Cupa României]], losing with 3–1 after extra time in favor of [[Liga II|Divizia B]] club, [[Faur București|Metalul București]].<ref name=agerpres/><ref name=vocea/><ref name=primaria/><ref name=GSP/> Three days later, he made his [[Liga I|Divizia A]] debut in a 2–0 victory against [[FC Politehnica Iași (1945)|Politehnica Iași]] in which he scored a goal, however the team relegated at the end of the season to [[Liga II|Divizia B]], but Lucescu stayed with the club, promoting back to the first division after one year.<ref name=agerpres/><ref name=vocea/><ref name=primaria/><ref name=GSP/> Then he helped the club finish third in the [[1981–82 Divizia A]], after which he left them in order to dedicate on his work at the [[Romania national football team|national team]], which he was coaching simultaneously since November 1981.<ref name=agerpres/><ref name=vocea/><ref name=primaria/><ref name=GSP/><ref name=sport>{{cite web | url=https://www.sport.ro/nationala/30-iunie-1982-ziua-in-care-ar-fi-trebuit-sa-inceapa-o-noua-era-acum-40-de-ani-mircea-lucescu-lasa-corvinul.html | title=30 iunie 1982, ziua în care ar fi trebuit să înceapă o nouă eră! Acum 40 de ani, Mircea Lucescu lăsa Corvinul pentru naționala României| publisher=Sport.ro| language=Romanian |trans-title=June 30, 1982, the day a new era was supposed to begin! 40 years ago, Mircea Lucescu left Corvin for the Romanian national team| date=30 June 2022| access-date=5 August 2022}}</ref> During his period spent at Corvinul, Lucescu showed his availability of discovering and promoting young players like [[Ioan Andone]], [[Mircea Rednic]], [[Michael Klein (footballer, born 1959)|Michael Klein]], [[Dorin Mateuț]] or [[Romulus Gabor]].<ref name=eurosport>{{cite web | url=https://www.eurosport.ro/fotbal/lucescu-implineste-75-de-ani-cei-mai-importanti-fotbalisti-lansati-in-cei-40-de-ani-de-antrenorat_sto7819234/story.shtml | title=Lucescu împlinește 75 de ani! Cei mai importanți fotbaliști lansați în cei 40 de ani de carieră| publisher=Eurosport.ro| language=Romanian |trans-title=Lucescu turns 75! The most important footballers launched in his 40-year career| date=28 July 2020| access-date=5 August 2022}}</ref>

===Romania===
Lucescu has a total of 58 matches managed as [[Romania national football team|Romania]]'s coach, making his debut on 11 November 1981 in a 0–0 against [[Switzerland national football team|Switzerland]] at the [[1982 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group 4|1982 World Cup qualifiers]].<ref name=agerpres/><ref name=GSP/><ref name=sport/><ref name=EU2>{{cite web|url=https://eu-football.info/_manager.php?id=346|title=Mircea Lucescu manager profile|publisher=European Football|access-date=4 August 2022}}</ref> He qualified the team at [[UEFA Euro 1984|Euro 1984]] by winning a [[UEFA Euro 1984 qualifying Group 5|qualification group]] composed of [[1982 FIFA World Cup|1982 World Cup]] winner, [[Italy national football team|Italy]] with whom he earned a 0–0 on their ground and a 1–0 home victory, [[Czechoslovakia national football team|Czechoslovakia]], [[Sweden men's national football team|Sweden]] and [[Cyprus national football team|Cyprus]].<ref name=agerpres/><ref name=qmagazine/><ref name=GSP/><ref name=sport/><ref name=EU2/><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.prosport.ro/fotbal-intern/nationala/ziua-in-care-am-rapus-stapana-lumii-special-19637012 | title=Ziua în care am răpus stăpâna lumii!| publisher=Prosport.ro| language=Romanian |trans-title=The day we defeated the champions of the world!| date=16 April 2023 | access-date=16 April 2023}}<br>{{cite web | url=https://welovesport.ro/stiri/fotbal-vintage-cum-s-a-pacalit-bearzot-la-timisoara-26197 | title=Cum s-a păcălit Bearzot la Timișoara| publisher=Welovesport.ro| language=Romanian |trans-title=How Bearzot was fooled in Timișoara| date=16 April 2023 | access-date=16 April 2023}}</ref> At the [[UEFA Euro 1984|final tournament]], which was composed of eight teams, [[Romania national football team|Romania]] earned a point after a 1–1 against [[Spain national football team|Spain]], but lost the other two games, 2–1 with [[West Germany national football team|West Germany]] and 1–0 with [[Portugal national football team|Portugal]], leaving the competition without passing the group stage.<ref name=agerpres/><ref name=qmagazine/><ref name=GSP/><ref name=sport/><ref name=EU2/> He was close to winning qualification at the [[1986 FIFA World Cup|1986 World Cup]], finishing just one point below second place, [[Northern Ireland national football team|Northern Ireland]], the last game he managed took place on 10 September 1986 in a 4–0 victory against [[Austria national football team|Austria]] at the [[UEFA Euro 1988 qualifying Group 1|Euro 1988 qualifiers]].<ref name=qmagazine/><ref name=sport/><ref name=EU2/><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.gsp.ro/fotbal/nationala/retro-gsp-video-foto-34-de-ani-de-la-cea-mai-trista-zi-din-viata-lui-mircea-lucescu-un-meci-pe-care-n-ai-cum-sa-l-uiti-580152.html | title=34 de ani de la cea mai tristă zi din viața lui Mircea Lucescu: "Un meci pe care n-ai cum să-l uiți"| publisher=Gsp.ro| language=Romanian |trans-title=34 years since the saddest day in Mircea Lucescu's life: "A match you can't forget"| date=16 October 2019 | access-date=5 January 2022}}</ref> He is also the coach that gave [[Gheorghe Hagi]] his debut at the national team at age 18 in a friendly against [[Norway national football team|Norway]] which ended 0–0, also giving him the captain armband at the age of 20.<ref name=qmagazine/><ref name=eurosport/><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.fanatik.ro/gica-hagi-la-echipa-nationala-pe-10-august-1983-debuta-la-oslo-17313655 | title=Remember. 10 august 1983, ziua când Regele Hagi s-a încoronat| publisher=Fanatik.ro| language=Romanian |trans-title=Remember. August 10, 1983, the day King Hagi was crowned| date=10 August 2017 | access-date=5 January 2022}}</ref>

===Dinamo București===
[[File:Lucescu-Sabau.jpg|thumb|240px|upright|Lucescu (left) instructing [[Ioan Sabău]] during a Dinamo training session]]
Lucescu was named coach at [[FC Dinamo București|Dinamo București]] in November 1985, while still being coach at [[Romania national football team|Romania's national team]] and at the end of his first season spent at the club, he managed to win a [[Cupa României]] with a 1–0 victory in the [[1986 Cupa României final|final]] against rival and recently [[1985–86 European Cup|European Cup]] winner, [[FC Steaua București|Steaua București]].<ref name=agerpres/><ref name=qmagazine/><ref name=GSP/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.romaniansoccer.ro/stiri/68373/dinamo-bucuresti-in-1985-86.htm|title=Dinamo Bucuresti in 1985-86|publisher=RomanianSoccer|access-date=5 August 2022}}<br>{{cite web|url=https://www.romaniansoccer.ro/romanian_cup/1985_1986.shtml|title=Romanian Cup – Season 1985–1986|publisher=RomanianSoccer|access-date=5 August 2022}}<br>{{cite web | url=https://www.prosport.ro/cupa-romaniei/finale-de-nota-10-dinamo-steaua-1986-au-baut-dintr-o-cupa-gaurita-6117676 | title=Finale de nota 10 Dinamo – Steaua, 1986. Au băut dintr-o cupă găurită| publisher=Prosport.ro| language=Romanian |trans-title=Grade 10 Finals Dinamo – Steaua, 1986. They drank from a cup with holes| date=14 May 2010 | access-date=30 September 2024}}</ref> Over the course of almost five years, he created a team by promoting players from the club's youth center like [[Bogdan Stelea]], [[Ionuț Lupescu]] and [[Florin Răducioiu]], transferred young players like [[Dănuț Lupu]] and [[Ioan Sabău]], mixing them with players he coached at [[FC Corvinul Hunedoara|Corvinul]] like [[Ioan Andone]], [[Mircea Rednic]], [[Michael Klein (footballer, born 1959)|Michael Klein]] and [[Dorin Mateuț]], thus creating a team that reached the quarter-finals in the [[1988–89 European Cup Winners' Cup]] where they were eliminated on the [[away goals rule]] after 1–1 on aggregate by [[U.C. Sampdoria|Sampdoria]].<ref name=agerpres/><ref name=qmagazine/><ref name=GSP/><ref name=eurosport/><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.digisport.ro/fotbal/rodion-camataru-un-cosmarul-presedintelui-sampdoriei-marco-lanna-o-provocare-fantastica-1468045 | title=Rodion Cămătaru, coșmarul președintelui Sampdoriei, Marco Lanna:"A fost o provocare fascinantă"| publisher=Digisport.ro| language=Romanian |trans-title=Rodion Cămătaru, the nightmare of the president of Sampdoria, Marco Lanna: "It was a fascinating challenge"| date=14 January 2022 | access-date=5 August 2022}}<br>{{cite web | url=https://jurnalul.ro/scinteia/special/desi-neinvinsa-dinamo-a-ratat-calificarea-in-semifinalele-cupei-cupelor-319724.html | title=Deşi neînvinsă, Dinamo a ratat calificarea în semifinalele Cupei Cupelor| publisher=Jurnalul.ro| language=Romanian |trans-title=Although undefeated, Dinamo missed qualifying for the semifinals of the Cup Winners Cup| date=13 March 2009 | access-date=5 August 2022}}</ref> In the following season they won the [[1989–90 Divizia A|Divizia A]] title, the [[1989–90 Cupa României|Cupa României]] after another win over Steaua in the [[1990 Cupa României final|final]] and reached the semi-finals in the [[1989–90 European Cup Winners' Cup]] where they were eliminated after 2–0 on aggregate by [[R.S.C. Anderlecht|Anderlecht]].<ref name=agerpres/><ref name=qmagazine/><ref name=GSP/><ref name=eurosport/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.romaniansoccer.ro/romanian_cup/1989_1990.shtml|title=Romanian Cup – Season 1989–1990|publisher=RomanianSoccer|access-date=30 September 2024}}<br>{{cite web | url=https://www.gsp.ro/gsp-ro/gsp-special/dosarele-gazetei-dinamo-1989-1990-jucatori-627337.html | title=Cum au fost create marile echipe ale anilor '80?. Episodul 3: Dinamo - Show cu doar 14 "câini". Dar de rasă| publisher=Gsp.ro| language=Romanian |trans-title=How were the great teams of the '80s created? Episode 3: Dinamo - Show with only 14 "dogs". But dogs of race| date=25 March 2021 | access-date=9 August 2022}}</ref>

===Pisa===
After the [[1989 Romanian Revolution]], Lucescu went in July 1990 to coach in [[Italy]] at [[Serie A]] club, [[Pisa S.C.|Pisa]] where after a good start, in round six of the season after a 6–3 loss against [[Inter Milan]] he had his first problems with the club's president, Romeo Anconetani, however he managed to stay 24 rounds, being dismissed in March 1991, but the team relegated at the end of the season.<ref name=GSP/><ref name=fanatik>{{cite web | url=https://www.fanatik.ro/de-ce-a-fost-concediat-mircea-lucescu-in-1991-de-la-pisa-18065234 | title=Fiul fostului patron de la Pisa dezvăluie: "De atunci nu l-a mai vrut pe Lucescu"| publisher=Fanatik.ro| language=Romanian |trans-title=The son of the former owner from Pisa reveals: "Since then he no longer wanted Lucescu"| date=14 April 2018 | access-date=5 August 2022}}</ref> During this period he coached 20-year old [[Diego Simeone]] and met Adriano Bacconi, a fitness trainer who was put by Lucescu to write statistical data about players during matches, as he previously did that at [[FC Corvinul Hunedoara|Corvinul]], because he wanted to know more details possible about the players performances.<ref name=eurosport/><ref name=libertatea>{{cite web | url=https://www.libertatea.ro/sport/pe-urmele-lui-luce-120697 | title=Pe urmele lui Luce| publisher=Libertatea.ro| language=Romanian |trans-title=On the footsteps of Luce| date=17 January 2016 | access-date=5 August 2022}}</ref><ref name=prosport>{{cite web | url=https://www.prosport.ro/fotbal-intern/liga-1/special-analiza-statistica-in-sport-stiinta-sau-moft-reghecampf-sunt-printre-putinii-din-romania-care-stiu-sa-foloseasca-datele-secretul-cifrelor-de-la-steaua-12288363 | title=Analiza statistică în sport: știință sau moft? Reghecampf: "Sunt printre puținii din România care știu să folosească datele". Secretul cifrelor de la Steaua| publisher=Prosport.ro| language=Romanian |trans-title=Statistical analysis in sports: science or fad? Reghecampf: "I am among the few in Romania who know how to use data". The secret of the figures from Steaua| date=19 March 2014 | access-date=5 August 2022}}</ref><ref name=GSP2>{{cite web | url=https://www.gsp.ro/gsp-special/ideile-gazetei/olivian-gotiu-spune-ca-il-luce-a-fost-un-vizionar-uneori-credeam-ca-sint-omologul-lui-lucescu-229353.html | title=Olivian Goţiu spune că "Il Luce" a fost un vizionar: "Uneori, credeam că sînt omologul lui Lucescu!"| publisher=Gsp.ro| language=Romanian |trans-title=Olivian Goţiu says that "Il Luce" was a visionary: "Sometimes, I thought I was Lucescu's counterpart!"| date=19 February 2011 | access-date=5 August 2022}}</ref><ref name=GSP3>{{cite web | url=https://www.gsp.ro/gsp-special/superreportaje/asistentul-lui-lippi-la-mondialul-cistigat-de-italia-in-2006-dezvaluie-lucescu-a-revolutionat-fotbalul-227597.html | title=Asistentul lui Lippi la Mondialul cîştigat de Italia în 2006 dezvăluie: "Lucescu a revoluţionat fotbalul"| publisher=Gsp.ro| language=Romanian |trans-title=Lippi's assistant at the World Cup won by Italy in 2006 reveals: "Lucescu revolutionized football"| date=7 February 2011 | access-date=5 August 2022}}</ref> He and Adriano Bacconi also worked together at [[Brescia Calcio|Brescia]] where in 1994 they invested each 35.000$ in order to create a software called FARM (Football Athletic Results Manager) which was the first football data monitoring program, afterwards in 1996 Lucescu sold his part of the company which became known as Digital Soccer Project and Bacconi sold it to [[Panini Group|Panini]] for 2 million euros.<ref name=prosport/><ref name=GSP2/><ref name=GSP3/>

===Brescia===
Lucescu signed with [[Serie B]] club [[Brescia Calcio|Brescia]] in July 1991, winning promotion to [[Serie A]] after just one season.<ref name=GSP/><ref name=libertatea/><ref name=GSP4>{{cite web | url=https://www.gsp.ro/fotbal/liga-2/rapid-mircea-lucescu-isi-incheie-cariera-de-antrenor-incepe-o-noua-aventura-in-giulesti-toate-detaliile-colaborarii-cu-daniel-pancu-584973.html | title=Mircea Lucescu își încheie cariera de antrenor! Începe o nouă aventură în Giulești. Toate detaliile colaborării cu Daniel Pancu| publisher=Gsp.ro| language=Romanian |trans-title=Mircea Lucescu ends his coaching career! A new adventure begins in Giulești. All the details of the collaboration with Daniel Pancu| date=9 December 2019 | access-date=5 August 2022}}</ref><ref name=culto>{{cite web | url=https://cultofcalcio.com/mircea-lucescu-brescia-romena/ | title=Mircea Lucescu and The Tale of The "Brescia Romena"| publisher=Cultofcalcio.com| language=Romanian | date=31 March 2020 | access-date=5 August 2022}}</ref><ref name=onromanian>{{cite web | url=https://onromanianfootball.medium.com/brescia-romena-159163ca5a02 | title=Brescia Romena| publisher=Onromanianfootball.medium.com| language=Romanian | date=4 September 2021 | access-date=5 August 2022}}</ref><ref name=click>{{cite web | url=https://click.ro/sport/fotbal-intern/lucescu-a-plans-dupa-brescia-178815.html | title=Lucescu a plâns după Brescia| publisher=Click.ro| language=Romanian |trans-title=Lucescu cried after Brescia| date=22 August 2014 | access-date=5 August 2022}}</ref> The club were relegated the following season after a play-off defeat against [[Udinese Calcio|Udinese]], but promoted again the following season, during which Brescia also won the [[1993–94 Anglo-Italian Cup]]. When they were relegated from Serie A again the following season, however, Lucescu was sacked.<ref name=GSP/><ref name=libertatea/><ref name=GSP4/><ref name=culto/><ref name=onromanian/><ref name=click/> He was promptly re-hired to lead the team in [[Serie B]], but was dismissed again because of poor results, the club in danger of falling into [[Serie C]].<ref name=GSP4/><ref name=culto/><ref name=onromanian/><ref name=click/> During this period, the club was nicknamed "Brescia Romena", as Lucescu brought Romanian players [[Gheorghe Hagi]], [[Florin Răducioiu]], [[Dorin Mateuț]], [[Ioan Sabău]] and [[Dănuț Lupu]] to the club. He also promoted 15-year old [[Andrea Pirlo]] to train with the senior team, but could not give him his senior debut because the rules of the Italian federation did not allow players so young to play for senior squads.<ref name=qmagazine/><ref name=GSP/><ref name=eurosport/><ref name=libertatea/><ref name=GSP4/><ref name=culto/><ref name=onromanian/><ref name=click/>

===Reggiana===
In July 1996, Lucescu signed with [[Serie A]] club, [[A.C. Reggiana 1919|Reggiana]], bringing [[Ioan Sabău]] with him, but his spell lasted until November 1996, being dismissed because of poor results, the team finishing on the last place in the end of the season.<ref name=GSP/><ref name=libertatea/>

===Rapid București===
In July 1997, Lucescu returned in Romania, coaching at [[FC Rapid București|Rapid București]] where he created a team by promoting young players like [[Bogdan Lobonț]], [[Răzvan Raț]] and [[Daniel Pancu]], mixing them with players he coached in the past like [[Dănuț Lupu]], [[Ioan Sabău]] and [[Mircea Rednic]], thus creating a team that won the [[1997–98 Cupa României]].<ref name=agerpres/><ref name=qmagazine/><ref name=GSP/><ref name=eurosport/><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.fanatik.ro/mircea-lucescu-rapid-stadion-giulesti-razvan-adi-mutu-19932521 | title=Mircea Lucescu are COVID, dar va fi prezent pe Stadionul Giulești sâmbătă. "Familia Lucescu face parte din istoria Rapidului". Exclusiv| publisher=Fanatik.ro| language=Romanian |trans-title=Mircea Lucescu has COVID, but will be present at Giulești Stadium on Saturday. "The Lucescu family is part of Rapid's history." Exclusive| date=22 March 2022| access-date=5 August 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.playsport.ro/video-exclusiv-cum-l-a-convins-mircea-lucescu-pe-nelutu-sabau-sa-vina-la-rapid-m-a-sunat-si-cornel-dinu-daca-o-facea-cu-30-de-minute-inainte-ma-intorceam-la-dinamo-115304 | title=Cum l-a convins Mircea Lucescu pe Neluțu Sabău să vină la Rapid! "M-a sunat și Cornel Dinu. Dacă o făcea cu 30 de minute înainte, mă întorceam la Dinamo!"| publisher=Playsport.ro| language=Romanian |trans-title=How Mircea Lucescu convinced Nelutu Sabău to come to Rapid! "Cornel Dinu also called me. If he did it 30 minutes before, I would go back to Dinamo!"| date=16 February 2022| access-date=5 August 2022}}</ref> Then after a short spell at [[Inter Milan]], he returned at Rapid, winning the [[1998–99 Divizia A]], which was the first championship title won by the club after 32 years, also winning the [[1999 Supercupa României]].<ref name=agerpres/><ref name=qmagazine/><ref name=GSP/><ref name=eurosport/>

===Inter Milan===
In December 1998, Lucescu was named coach at [[Inter Milan]], working with players such as [[Ronaldo (Brazilian footballer)|Ronaldo]], [[Roberto Baggio]], [[Andrea Pirlo]], [[Javier Zanetti]] and [[Ivan Zamorano]], managing to reach the quarter-finals in the [[1998–99 UEFA Champions League|1998–99 Champions League]], being eliminated with 3–1 on aggregate by [[Alex Ferguson]]'s [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]], who eventually won the competition. He left the club in March 1999, one of the reasons being a conflict with [[Ronaldo (Brazilian footballer)|Ronaldo]].<ref name=agerpres/><ref name=qmagazine/><ref name=GSP/><ref name=libertatea/><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.gsp.ro/international/stranieri/mircea-lucescu-clarifica-modul-in-care-s-a-despartit-de-o-fosta-echipa-nu-am-fost-dat-afara-am-vrut-sa-plec-512858.html | title=Mircea Lucescu clarifică modul în care s-a despărțit de o fostă echipă: "Nu am fost dat afară, am vrut să plec"| publisher=Gsp.ro| language=Romanian |trans-title=Mircea Lucescu clarifies how he broke up with a former team: "I wasn't kicked out, I wanted to leave"| date=6 June 2017| access-date=5 August 2022}}<br>{{cite web | url=https://spotmedia.ro/stiri/sport/mircea-lucescu-isi-aduce-aminte-cat-de-aproape-a-fost-de-trofeul-champions-league-cu-inter-acele-greseli-de-arbitraj-au-fost-decisive | title=Mircea Lucescu își aduce aminte cât de aproape a fost de trofeul Champions League cu Inter: "Acele greşeli de arbitraj au fost decisive"| publisher=Spotmedia.ro| language=Romanian |trans-title=Mircea Lucescu remembers how close he was to the Champions League trophy with Inter: "Those refereeing mistakes were decisive"| date=19 July 2020| access-date=5 August 2022}}<br>{{cite web | url=https://spotmedia.ro/stiri/sport/mircea-lucescu-dezvaluie-adevaratul-motiv-pentru-care-a-plecat-de-la-inter-milano | title=Mircea Lucescu dezvăluie adevăratul motiv pentru care a plecat de la Inter Milano| publisher=Spotmedia.ro| language=Romanian |trans-title=Mircea Lucescu reveals the real reason why he left Inter Milan| date=23 January 2022| access-date=5 August 2022}}<br>{{cite web | url=https://www.sport.ro/liga-campionilor/se-repeta-istoria-in-manchester-inter-vezi-cum-sir-alex-l-a-batut-pe-lucescu-in-1999.html| title=Se repeta istoria in Manchester - Inter? Vezi cum Sir Alex l-a batut pe Lucescu in 1999| publisher=Sport.ro| language=Romanian |trans-title=Is history repeating itself in Manchester - Inter? See how Sir Alex beat Lucescu in 1999| date=11 March 2009| access-date=5 August 2022}}<br>{{cite web | url=https://orangesport.ro/momentul-in-care-mircea-lucescu-a-intrat-in-conflict-cu-marele-ronaldo-l-am-scos-din-echipa-17522318| title=Momentul în care Mircea Lucescu a intrat în conflict cu marele Ronaldo: "L-am scos din echipă!"| publisher=Orangesport.ro| language=Romanian |trans-title=The moment when Mircea Lucescu came into conflict with the great Ronaldo: "I removed him from the team!"| date=25 December 2017| access-date=5 August 2022}}</ref>

===Galatasaray===
In June 2000, he replaced [[Fatih Terim]] at Turkish club [[Galatasaray S.K. (football)|Galatasaray]], with whom, alongside Romanian players [[Gheorghe Hagi]] and [[Gheorghe Popescu (footballer, born 1967)|Gheorghe Popescu]] he won the [[2000 UEFA Super Cup]], after a 2–1 win against [[Real Madrid C.F.|Real Madrid]].<ref name=agerpres/><ref name=qmagazine/><ref name=GSP/><ref name=GSP5>{{cite web | url=https://www.gsp.ro/international/campionate/mesajul-lui-mircea-lucescu-pentru-fatih-terim-i-a-placut-mereu-sa-lupte-si-sa-castige-594600.html| title=Mesaj puternic al lui Lucescu pentru Fatih Terim: "Întotdeauna i-a plăcut să lupte și să câștige"| publisher=Gsp.ro| language=Romanian |trans-title=Lucescu's strong message for Fatih Terim: "He always liked to fight and win"| date=31 March 2020| access-date=5 August 2022}}</ref><ref name=sport2>{{cite web | url=https://www.sport.ro/europa-league/mircea-lucescu-primul-antrenor-roman-care-ia-cupa-uefa-transmite-i-aici-un-mesaj.html| title=Mircea Lucescu, primul si singurul antrenor roman care ia Cupa UEFA!| publisher=Sport.ro| language=Romanian |trans-title=Mircea Lucescu, the first and only Romanian coach to win the UEFA Cup!| date=21 May 2009| access-date=5 August 2022}}</ref><ref name=digi>{{cite web | url=https://www.digisport.ro/fotbal/champions-league/deja-vu-galata-cu-hagi-si-popescu-a-invins-de-doua-ori-realul-42505| title=Deja-vu: Galata, cu Hagi şi Popescu, a învins de două ori Realul| publisher=Digisport.ro| language=Romanian |trans-title=Deja-vu: Galata, with Hagi and Popescu, defeated Real twice| date=15 March 2013| access-date=5 August 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.playsport.ro/inspiratia-lui-gica-hagi-a-adus-supercupa-europei-la-istanbul-mircea-lucescu-n-a-avut-de-ales-hagi-mi-a-zis-sa-intru-21638| title=Inspirația lui Gică Hagi a adus Supercupa Europei la Istanbul! Mircea Lucescu n-a avut de ales: "Hagi mi-a zis să intru"| publisher=Playsport.ro| language=Romanian |trans-title=Gică Hagi's inspiration brought the European Supercup to Istanbul! Mircea Lucescu had no choice: "Hagi told me to enter"| date=28 March 2021| access-date=5 August 2022}}</ref> Under Lucescu's leadership, Galatasaray reached the quarter-finals on the [[UEFA Champions League]] during the [[2000–01 UEFA Champions League|2000–01 season]] where after a 3–2 victory in the first leg, they lost with 3–0 in the second against [[Real Madrid C.F.|Real Madrid]].<ref name=sport2/><ref name=digi/><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.digisport.ro/special/video-amintiri-dupa-12-ani-hagi-si-lucescu-s-au-certat-in-vestiar-dar-am-castigat-44902| title=Amintiri după 12 ani! "Hagi și Lucescu s-au certat în vestiar, dar am câștigat"| publisher=Digisport.ro| language=Romanian |trans-title=Memories after 12 years! "Hagi and Lucescu argued in the dressing room, but we won"| date=29 March 2013| access-date=5 August 2022}}</ref> The following year, Galatasaray qualified to the second group phase of the [[2001–02 UEFA Champions League|Champions League]] and won the [[2001–02 Süper Lig|Turkish League]] title.<ref name=agerpres/><ref name=qmagazine/> Lucescu was sacked at the end of the season, despite winning the league championship, and was replaced by [[Fatih Terim]].<ref name=agerpres/><ref name=qmagazine/><ref name=GSP/><ref name=GSP5/>

===Beşiktaş===
Shortly after his departure from [[Galatasaray S.K. (football)|Galatasaray]] in June 2002, Lucescu signed a contract with rivals [[Beşiktaş J.K.|Beşiktaş]]. It was a very important season for Beşiktaş as in 2003; the Turkish club was celebrating its 100th year since its foundation, and he managed to win the Turkish title, having only one loss and collecting 85 points – a record points tally in a single [[Süper Lig]] season, also reaching the [[2002–03 UEFA Cup]] quarter-finals, losing with 3–1 on aggregate against [[S.S. Lazio|Lazio]].<ref name=agerpres/><ref name=qmagazine/><ref name=GSP/><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.fanatik.ro/turcii-arunca-bomba-mircea-lucescu-antrenor-la-besiktas-din-sezonul-viitor-18792886| title=Turcii aruncă bomba! Mircea Lucescu, antrenor la Beșiktaș din sezonul viitor!| publisher=Fanatik.ro| language=Romanian |trans-title=The Turks drop the bomb! Mircea Lucescu, Beşiktaş coach from next season!| date=1 March 2019| access-date=5 August 2022}}<br>{{cite web | url=https://www.fanatik.ro/bomba-anului-mircea-lucescu-si-razvan-lucescu-la-besiktas-istanbul-ce-posturi-vor-avea-si-ce-salarii-vor-primi-exclusiv-18807087| title=Bomba anului: Mircea Lucescu și Răzvan Lucescu, la Beșiktaș Istanbul! Ce posturi vor avea și ce salarii vor primi!| publisher=Fanatik.ro| language=Romanian |trans-title=Bomb of the year: Mircea Lucescu and Răzvan Lucescu, at Beşiktaș Istanbul! What positions will they have and what salaries will they receive!| date=18 March 2019| access-date=5 August 2022}}<br>{{cite web | url=https://www.worldsoccer.com/news/lazio-take-advantage-of-besiktas-mistakes-51733| title=Lazio take advantage of Besiktas mistakes| publisher=Worldsoccer.com| language=English | date=21 March 2003| access-date=5 August 2022}}</ref>

In the following season, the team could not progress from a difficult [[2003–04 UEFA Champions League|Champions League group]], but was able to get a ticket to the [[2003–04 UEFA Cup]] by finishing third in its group – only to be knocked out by [[Valencia CF|Valencia]] in the third round, who eventually went on to win the competition.<ref name=adevarul>{{cite web | url=https://adevarul.ro/news/sport/fachirul-lucescu-salveaza-cobra-1_50b9fa717c42d5a663ad945e/index.html| title=Fachirul Lucescu salveaza "Cobra"| publisher=Adevarul.ro| language=Romanian |trans-title=The fakir Lucescu saves "Cobra"| date=12 January 2004| access-date=5 August 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.digisport.ro/fotbal/champions-league/video-mircea-lucescu-e-ultimul-antrenor-care-a-invins-pe-stamford-bridge-in-grupele-champions-league-21515| title=Mircea Lucescu e ultimul antrenor care a învins pe Stamford Bridge, în grupele Champions League| publisher=Digisport.ro| language=Romanian |trans-title=Mircea Lucescu is the last coach to win at Stamford Bridge, in the Champions League group stage| date=7 December 2012| access-date=5 August 2022}}<br>{{cite web | url=https://adevarul.ro/news/sport/lucescu-pasa-praga-1_50ba06787c42d5a663b097b5/index.html| title=Lucescu, "pasa" si la Praga?| publisher=Adevarul.ro| language=Romanian |trans-title=Lucescu, "pass" in Prague too?| date=22 October 2003| access-date=5 August 2022}}<br>{{cite web | url=https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/0197-0e6a7a18be2c-262988fc70be-1000--honours-even-after-exceptional-battle/| title=Honours even after 'exceptional battle'| publisher=[[UEFA]]| language=english | date=26 November 2003| access-date=5 August 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://sports.ndtv.com/football/valencia-win-2-0-against-besiktas-1612284| title=Valencia win 2-0 against Besiktas| publisher=Sports.ndtv.com| language=English | date=25 February 2007| access-date=5 August 2022}}</ref> On 25 January 2004, Beşiktaş played a home game against [[Samsunspor]] in the championship, referee Cem Papila showing five red cards to Beşiktaş players and after this match, the team's performance declined drastically and Lucescu could not stop the decline, blaming the [[Turkish Football Federation]] for one-sided decisions by the referees, leaving the club after finishing the championship in third place, claiming that the championship was stolen.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://adevarul.ro/news/sport/arbitrul-meciului-besiktas---samsunspor-implicat-intr-un-accident-rutier-1_50b9faea7c42d5a663adb4c2/index.html| title=Arbitrul meciului Besiktas - Samsunspor, implicat intr-un accident rutier| publisher=Adevarul.ro| language=Romanian |trans-title=The referee of the match Besiktas - Samsunspor, involved in a road accident| date=29 January 2004| access-date=5 August 2022}}<br>{{cite web | url=https://adevarul.ro/news/sport/presedintele-clubului-besiktas-nu-l-mai-lasa-lucescu-certe-arbitrii-1_50b9f9be7c42d5a663ad6afe/index.html| title=Presedintele clubului Besiktas nu-l mai lasa pe Lucescu sa se certe cu arbitrii| publisher=Adevarul.ro| language=Romanian |trans-title=The president of the Besiktas club no longer allows Lucescu to argue with the referees| date=12 February 2004| access-date=5 August 2022}}<br>{{cite web | url=https://www.gds.ro/Sport/2004-01-27/Besiktas-a-vazut-numai-rosu-in-fata-ochilor/| title=Besiktas a vazut numai rosu in fata ochilor| publisher=Gds.ro| language=Romanian |trans-title=Besiktas saw only red in front of their eyes| date=27 January 2004| access-date=5 August 2022}}<br>{{cite web | url=https://click.ro/sport/fotbal-intern/lucescu-chiar-a-fost-furat-de-arbitrii-357752.html| title=Lucescu chiar a fost furat de arbitrii!| publisher=Click.ro| language=Romanian |trans-title=Lucescu was really robbed by the referees!| date=24 October 2013| access-date=5 August 2022}}<br>{{cite web | url=https://adevarul.ro/news/sport/mircea-lucescu-isi-bagajele-1_50ba03d27c42d5a663aff293/index.html| title=Mircea Lucescu isi face bagajele| publisher=Adevarul.ro| language=Romanian |trans-title=Mircea Lucescu packs his bags| date=3 May 2004| access-date=5 August 2022}}</ref> During the period spent at [[Beşiktaş J.K.|Beşiktaş]], he bought Romanian players [[Daniel Pancu]], [[Adrian Ilie]] and [[Marius Măldărășanu]] at the club.<ref name=adevarul/><ref>{{cite web | url=https://acasa.ro/social-125/pancu-sint-fericit-la-besiktas-112730.html| title=Pancu: Sunt fericit la Besiktas| publisher=Acasa.ro| language=Romanian |trans-title=Pancu: I am happy at Besiktas| date=12 May 2004| access-date=5 August 2022}}</ref>

===Shakhtar Donetsk===
[[File:Mircea Lucescu Shakhtar Donetsk-Arsenal Kiev 2013 (1).jpg|thumb|right|240px|Lucescu coaching [[FC Shakhtar Donetsk|Shakhtar Donetsk]] in a [[Ukrainian Premier League]] match against [[FC Arsenal Kyiv|Arsenal Kyiv]], October 2013.]]
In May 2004, Lucescu joined Ukrainian side [[FC Shakhtar Donetsk|Shakhtar Donetsk]] and led their rise to prominence in Ukraine the following years.<ref>{{cite web|title=How Mircea Lucescu put Shakhtar on the map|url=http://www.uefa.com/memberassociations/news/newsid=2367219.html?autoplay=true|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160526050635/http://www.uefa.com/memberassociations/news/newsid=2367219.html?autoplay=true|url-status=dead|archive-date=26 May 2016|publisher=UEFA|access-date=24 May 2016|date=23 May 2016}}</ref> His first trophy with the club came in the [[2003–04 Ukrainian Cup]], defeating [[FC Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk|Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk]] 2–0 in the [[2004 Ukrainian Cup Final|final]] on 30 May. In his first full season with the club, he secured the [[2004–05 Ukrainian Premier League|2004–05 Premier League]] title.<ref>{{cite web|title=Ukraine 2004/05|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tableso/oekr05.html|access-date=19 September 2012}}</ref>

The following season, he secured both the [[2005–06 Ukrainian Premier League|Premier League]] and the [[Ukrainian Super Cup|Super Cup]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Ukraine 2005/06|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tableso/oekr06.html|access-date=19 September 2012}}</ref> He failed to win any trophies the following [[2006–07 Ukrainian Premier League|season]], however, though he made up for it in the 2007–08 season, winning the [[2007–08 Ukrainian Premier League|Premier League]] title and the [[2007–08 Ukrainian Cup|Ukrainian Cup]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Ukraine 2007/08|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tableso/oekr08.html|access-date=19 September 2012}}</ref> His only domestic success in the 2008–09 season came in the Super Cup, although he was able to guide Shakhtar to their first ever European trophy, winning the last [[2008–09 UEFA Cup|UEFA Cup]] before it was renamed the UEFA Europa League. He won the [[2009 UEFA Cup Final|final]] against [[SV Werder Bremen|Werder Bremen]] 2–1 after extra time.<ref>{{cite web|title=Jadson the difference as Shakhtar triumph|url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/match/302827--shakhtar-vs-bremen/|access-date=19 September 2012}}</ref>

The [[2009–10 FC Shakhtar Donetsk season|2009–10 season]] saw Shakhtar regain the [[2009–10 Ukrainian Premier League|Premier League]] title.<ref>{{cite web|title=Ukraine 2009/10|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tableso/oekr2010.html|access-date=19 September 2012}}</ref> The [[2010–11 FC Shakhtar Donetsk season|2010–11 season]] was very successful for Lucescu. He guided Shakhtar to a domestic treble, winning the [[2010–11 Ukrainian Premier League|Premier League]], the [[2010–11 Ukrainian Cup|Ukrainian Cup]] and the Super Cup.<ref>{{cite web|title=Ukraine 2010/11|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tableso/oekr2011.html|access-date=19 September 2012}}</ref> They also had their most successful [[2010–11 UEFA Champions League|Champions League]] campaign, reaching the quarter-final stage before being defeated by eventual winners [[FC Barcelona|Barcelona]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Shakhtar Champions League history|url=https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/history/clubs/52707--shakhtar/|access-date=19 September 2012}}</ref>

The following [[2011–12 FC Shakhtar Donetsk season|season]] saw Shakhtar retain their [[2011–12 Ukrainian Premier League|Premier League]] and [[2011–12 Ukrainian Cup|Ukrainian Cup]] titles.<ref>{{cite web|title=Ukraine 2011/12|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tableso/oekr2012.html|access-date=19 September 2012}}</ref> This gave Lucescu his sixth [[Ukrainian Premier League|Premier League]] and fourth [[Ukrainian Cup]] with the club. Shakhtar had a disappointing Champions League campaign, finishing in fourth place in their [[2011–12 UEFA Champions League group stage|group]].<ref>{{cite web|title=2011-12 Champions League Group G|url=https://int.soccerway.com/international/europe/uefa-champions-league/2011-2012/group-stage/group-g/|access-date=19 September 2012}}</ref> His son, [[Răzvan Lucescu]], is a former goalkeeper who at several points managed [[FC Rapid București|Rapid București]], a team his father had also previously managed. Coincidentally, Shakhtar and Rapid met in the group stage of the UEFA Cup, the duel was disputed in only one leg at [[Donetsk]] in November 2005 ending with 1–0 win for Rapid.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/match/81959--shakhtar-vs-rapid-bucuresti/|title=Shakhtar Donetsk 0-1 Rapid București|publisher=UEFA|access-date=9 October 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://jurnalul.ro/sport/sahtior-rapid-0-1-dulce-si-amar-32634.html|title=SAHTIOR - RAPID 0-1 Dulce si amar|publisher=jurnalul.ro|language=ro|trans-title=SAHTIOR - RAPID 0-1 Bitter and sweet|access-date=9 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171008053100/http://jurnalul.ro/sport/sahtior-rapid-0-1-dulce-si-amar-32634.html|archive-date=8 October 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref>

[[File:Fernando_Shaht_(1).jpg|thumb|Lucescu presenting [[Fernando (footballer, born 1992)|Fernando]] in 2013, one of a large number of Brazilians to sign for Shakhtar during his spell.]]
On 22 May 2009, Lucescu received, from the [[President of Romania]] [[Traian Băsescu]], the National Order "Cross of Romania" in the rank of Knight, "as a sign of high appreciation of the entire football activity and the performances obtained as a coach, crowned by winning the UEFA Cup 2009, in the final in Istanbul" and on 29 May 2009 he was granted the title "[[Citizenship|Honorary citizen]] of [[Donetsk]]" by the city council of Donetsk for "earning the UEFA Cup, development and popularization of the [[Football in Ukraine|Ukrainian football]], improvement of the Donetsk, [[Donetsk Oblast|Donetsk region]] and Ukraine authority in the world".<ref name=agerpres/><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.prosport.ro/sport-life/special/lucescu-si-rat-decorati-cu-ordinul-meritul-sportiv-de-basescu-4438065 | title=Lucescu și Raț, decorați cu Ordinul "Meritul Sportiv" de Băsescu| publisher=Prosport.ro| language=Romanian |trans-title=Lucescu and Raț, decorated with the "Sports Merit" Order by Băsescu| date=22 May 2009 | access-date=5 August 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.realitatea.net/stiri/ultimele-stiri/mircea-lucescu-si-razvan-rat-decorati-de-basescu-pentru-castigarea-cupei-uefa-cu-sahtior_5dcc91a3406af85273ca0f28 | title=Mircea Lucescu şi Răzvan Raţ, decoraţi de Băsescu pentru câştigarea Cupei UEFA cu Șahtior| publisher=Realitatea.net| language=Romanian |trans-title=Mircea Lucescu and Răzvan Rat, decorated by Băsescu for winning the UEFA Cup with Șahtior| date=22 May 2009 | access-date=5 August 2022}}</ref><ref>[http://www.ukrainiansoccer.net/?controller=publication&action=item&id=79218 Mircea Lucescu becomes an "Honorary citizen of Donetsk"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719072702/http://www.ukrainiansoccer.net/?controller=publication&action=item&id=79218 |date=19 July 2011 }}, Ukrainian Soccer Portal (29 May 2009)</ref>

In December 2009, he turned down an offer to coach the [[Ukraine national football team|Ukraine national team]], his reason being to avoid another potential clash with his son, Răzvan, who then managed the [[Romania national football team|Romania national team]] and could qualify for [[UEFA Euro 2012]], which Ukraine was to host.<ref>[http://www.interfax.com.ua/eng/main/26714/ Shakhtar trainer Lucescu not to coach Ukraine's national team], [[Interfax-Ukraine]] (2 December 2009)</ref><ref>[http://www.interfax.com.ua/eng/main/26618/ FFU President ready to officially offer job of national coach to Lucescu], [[Interfax-Ukraine]] (1 December 2009)</ref>

Lucescu has won the Coach of the Year award in Ukraine in 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014.

He led Shakhtar into the semi-finals of Europa League during his [[2015–16 FC Shakhtar Donetsk season|last season in charge]], being eliminated by defending champions and eventual winners [[Sevilla FC|Sevilla]]. He announced his resignation in early 2016, ending a 12-year period in charge of Shakhtar and becoming the club's greatest manager. In his last match in charge, he won the [[2015–16 Ukrainian Cup]] after defeating [[FC Zorya Luhansk|Zorya Luhansk]] 2–0 in the final.

In the beginning of his period spent at Shakhtar, Lucescu had Romanians [[Flavius Stoican]], [[Cosmin Bărcăuan]], [[Daniel Florea (footballer, born 1975)|Daniel Florea]], [[Ciprian Marica]] and [[Răzvan Raț]] under his command, but only the latter stayed with him to win the [[2008–09 UEFA Cup]], in later years he relied heavily on young Brazilian players such as [[Willian (footballer, born 1988)|Willian]], [[Fernandinho (footballer, born May 1985)|Fernandinho]], [[Douglas Costa]], [[Luiz Adriano]], [[Elano]], [[Alex Teixeira]], [[Ilsinho]], [[Jádson]], [[Brandão (footballer, born 1980)|Brandão]] or [[Matuzalém]].<ref name=eurosport/><ref>{{cite web | url=https://adevarul.ro/news/sport/lucescu-lider-ucraina-1_50ba01f17c42d5a663af7753/index.html| title=Lucescu, lider in Ucraina| publisher=Adevarul.ro| language=Romanian |trans-title=Lucescu, leader in Ukraine| date=3 December 2004| access-date=5 August 2022}}<br>{{cite web | url=https://www.gsp.ro/international/campionate/lucescu-face-istorie-la-sahtior-povestea-succesului-ucrainian-231619.html| title=Lucescu face istorie la Şahtior. Povestea succesului ucrainian| publisher=Gsp.ro| language=Romanian |trans-title=Lucescu makes history at Şahtior. Ukrainian success story| date=9 March 2011| access-date=5 August 2022}}<br>{{cite web | url=https://orangesport.ro/video-un-nou-jucator-roman-la-sahtior-iata-anuntul-facut-de-lucescu-17696150| title=Un nou jucător român la Şahtior? Iată anunţul făcut de Lucescu!| publisher=Orangesport.ro| language=Romanian |trans-title=A new Romanian player at Şahtior? Here is the announcement made by Lucescu!| date=7 January 2014| access-date=5 August 2022}}<br>{{cite web | url=https://www.prosport.ro/sport-life/special/lucescu-70-pirlo-mkhitaryan-willian-raducioiu-stelea-hagi-lista-impresionanta-cu-jucatorii-lansati-de-mircea-lucescu-14652773| title=Pirlo, Mkhitaryan, Willian, Răducioiu, Stelea, Hagi… Lista impresionantă cu jucătorii lansați de Mircea Lucescu| publisher=Prosport.ro| language=Romanian |trans-title=Pirlo, Mkhitaryan, Willian, Răducioiu, Stelea, Hagi... The impressive list of players launched by Mircea Lucescu| date=29 July 2015| access-date=5 August 2022}}</ref>

===Zenit Saint Petersburg===
[[File:Z-L2016_(12).jpg|thumb|Lucescu with Zenit in 2016]]
On 24 May 2016, Lucescu agreed to a two-year deal with Russian club [[FC Zenit Saint Petersburg|Zenit Saint Petersburg]], with an extension option for another year.<ref>{{cite web|title=Lucescu appointed Zenit boss|url=http://www.goal.com/en-us/news/1956/europe/2016/05/24/23885662/lucescu-appointed-zenit-boss|publisher=Goal.com|access-date=25 May 2016|date=24 May 2016}}</ref> He was dismissed roughly one year later, as Zenit failed to qualify for the Champions League after finishing third in the [[Russian Premier League]], but managed to win the [[2016 Russian Super Cup]] after a 1–0 victory against [[PFC CSKA Moscow|CSKA Moscow]].<ref>{{cite web|publisher=[[FC Zenit Saint Petersburg]]|url=http://fc-zenit.ru/news/2017-05-28-zenit-blagodarit-mirchu-luchesku-za-sotrudnichestvo.htm|script-title=ru:«Зенит» благодарит Мирчу Луческу за сотрудничество|date=28 May 2017|language=ru}}<br>{{cite web | url=https://www.digisport.ro/fotbal/fotbal-international/lucescu-primul-trofeu-la-zenit-a-castigat-supercupa-rusiei-239169| title=Lucescu, primul trofeu la Zenit: a câştigat Supercupa Rusiei| publisher=Digisport.ro| language=Romanian |trans-title=Lucescu, the first trophy at Zenit: he won the Russian Supercup| date=23 July 2016| access-date=5 August 2022}}<br>{{cite web | url=https://www.gsp.ro/international/stranieri/de-ce-a-esuat-lucescu-la-zenit-a-fost-o-mare-eroare-sa-vin-aici-analiza-unui-esec-previzibil-ce-despagubiri-solicita-cine-vine-in-locul-lui-512200.html| title=De ce a eșuat Lucescu la Zenit: "A fost o mare eroare să vin aici". Analiza unui eșec previzibil + ce despăgubiri solicită + cine vine în locul lui| publisher=Gsp.ro| language=Romanian |trans-title=Why Lucescu failed at Zenit: "It was a big mistake to come here". Analysis of a foreseeable failure + what damages is he seeking + who is coming in his place| date=30 May 2017| access-date=5 August 2022}}</ref>

===Turkey===
On 2 August 2017, he was appointed as the new head coach of [[Turkey national football team|Turkey]], succeeding [[Fatih Terim]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.tff.org/default.aspx?pageID=202&ftxtID=27580|title=Milli Takımın yeni teknik direktörü Lucescu|work=[[Turkish Football Federation]]|language=tr|date=3 August 2017}}</ref> On his debut a month later, he lost 2–0 away to [[Ukraine national football team|Ukraine]] in [[2018 FIFA World Cup]] [[2018 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA)|qualification]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Yarmolenko shines as Ukraine defeats Turkey 2-0 in World Cup qualifier |url=https://www.dailysabah.com/football/2017/09/03/yarmolenko-shines-as-ukraine-defeats-turkey-2-0-in-world-cup-qualifier |access-date=22 December 2022 |work=Daily Sabah |date=3 September 2017}}</ref> The team failed to qualify for the World Cup, with their campaign ending with a 3–0 home loss to [[Iceland national football team|Iceland]] in the penultimate fixture on 6 October.<ref>{{cite news |title=Iceland end Turkey's World Cup hopes with 3&ndash;0 victory |url=https://www.eurosport.com/football/world-cup-qualification-uefa/2018/iceland-end-turkey-s-world-cup-hopes-with-3-0-victory_sto6358048/story.shtml |access-date=22 December 2022 |publisher=Eurosport |date=6 October 2017}}</ref>

In the [[2018–19 UEFA Nations League|inaugural season]] of the [[UEFA Nations League]], Turkey were relegated to League C in November 2018.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Erel |first1=Fatih |title=UEFA Nations League: Turkey relegated to League C |url=https://www.aa.com.tr/en/sports/uefa-nations-league-turkey-relegated-to-league-c/1314328 |access-date=22 December 2022 |publisher=Anadolu Agency |date=17 November 2018}}</ref> The following February, his contract was terminated by mutual consent.<ref>{{cite news |title=Turkey sack head coach Mircea Lucescu with immediate effect |url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/13959/11634602/turkey-sack-head-coach-mircea-lucescu-with-immediate-effect |access-date=22 December 2022 |publisher=Sky Sports |date=11 February 2019}}</ref>

===Dynamo Kyiv===
On 23 July 2020, Lucescu returned to Ukraine after signing a two-year contract with the [[Klasychne derby|main rival]] of his former club Shakhtar Donetsk, [[FC Dynamo Kyiv|Dynamo Kyiv]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Mircea Lucescu becomes FC Dynamo Kyiv manager|url=https://www.kyivpost.com/sport/unian-mircea-lucescu-becomes-fc-dynamo-kyiv-manager.html|work=Kyiv Post|access-date=23 July 2020|date=23 July 2020}}</ref> His spell started in a controversial way, as he attempted to resign from his position after only a couple of days. The reason behind his actions was that Dynamo Kyiv fans fiercely protested the decision to hire Lucescu because of his long-term spell at Shakhtar. Dynamo president [[Ihor Surkis]] initially told press that he knew nothing about the resignation, and later that day both sides confirmed that their cooperation will in fact continue.

On 20 October, in Dynamo Kyiv's opening Champions League match of the season against [[Juventus FC|Juventus]], Lucescu became the oldest manager to take charge of a game in the competition, at the age of 75 years and 83 days; The match ended in a 2–0 home loss.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/54559665 |title=Morata double as Juve beat Dynamo Kyiv |work=BBC Sport |date=20 October 2020 |access-date=20 October 2020 }}</ref> Lucescu secured his first league title with Dynamo Kyiv on 25 April, following a 5–0 victory against [[FC Inhulets Petrove|Inhulets]],<ref>{{cite web|title=Dynamo Kyiv seal Ukrainian Premier League title|url=https://www.kyivpost.com/sport/unian-dynamo-kyiv-seals-ukraine-premier-league-top-title.html|work=Kyiv Post|access-date=25 April 2021|date=25 April 2021}}</ref> and on 13 May he secured the double with a 1–0 win over [[FC Zorya Luhansk|Zorya Luhansk]] in the [[2021 Ukrainian Cup Final]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Visu |first1=Andreea |title=Mircea Lucescu a reușit eventul în Ucraina! Antrenorul român a cucerit și Cupa|trans-title=Mircea Lucescu won the event in Ukraine! The Romanian coach also won the Cup|url=https://www.prosport.ro/fotbal-extern/stranieri/mircea-lucescu-a-castigat-cupa-ucrainei-19262247 |access-date=22 December 2022 |work=ProSport |date=13 May 2021 |language=Romanian}}</ref> In his first season spent at the club, he transferred compatriot [[Tudor Băluță]] on a one-season loan from [[Brighton & Hove Albion F.C.|Brighton & Hove Albion]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.gsp.ro/international/stranieri/mircea-lucescu-si-dinamo-kiev-il-vor-pe-tudor-baluta-611838.html| title=Mircea Lucescu, primul transfer după ce a ajuns în grupele Champions League! Dinamo Kiev aduce un internațional român| publisher=Gsp.ro| language=Romanian |trans-title=Mircea Lucescu, the first transfer after reaching the Champions League groups! Dinamo Kyiv brings a Romanian international| date=1 October 2020| access-date=5 August 2022}}<br>{{cite web | url=https://www.sport.ro/stranieri/reactia-lui-baluta-dupa-ce-a-semnat-cu-dinamo-kiev-e-gata-sa-se-bata-cu-messi-si-ronaldo-in-champions.html| title=Reactia lui Baluta dupa ce a semnat cu Dinamo Kiev! E gata sa se bata cu Messi si Ronaldo in Champions League: "Voi da totul in fiecare minut!"| publisher=Sport.ro| language=Romanian |trans-title=Baluta's reaction after signing with Dinamo Kyiv! He is ready to fight with Messi and Ronaldo in the Champions League: "I will give everything in every minute!"| date=8 October 2020| access-date=5 August 2022}}<br>{{cite web | url=https://www.prosport.ro/fotbal-extern/tudor-baluta-a-plecat-de-la-dinamo-kiev-19265619| title=Tudor Băluță a plecat de la Dinamo Kiev! Anunțul ucrainenilor pe site-ul oficial: "Îi dorim succes în viitoarea lui carieră"| publisher=Prosport.ro| language=Romanian |trans-title=
Tudor Băluță left Dinamo Kyiv! Announcement of the Ukrainians on the official website: "We wish him success in his future career"| date=19 May 2021| access-date=5 August 2022}}</ref>

Lucescu was living in [[Kyiv]] in February 2022 when [[2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine|Russia invaded Ukraine]]. He initially wanted to stay put,<ref>{{cite news |title=Dynamo Kyiv's Lucescu says 'not going anywhere' amid Russian invasion |url=https://www.dailysabah.com/sports/football/dynamo-kyivs-lucescu-says-not-going-anywhere-amid-russian-invasion |access-date=22 December 2022 |work=Daily Sabah |agency=Anadolu Agency |date=24 February 2022}}</ref> but fled to his homeland on the advice of the Romanian embassy, as a way to help Dynamo's foreign players get to safety.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Rosu |first1=Emanuel |title=Dynamo Kyiv's Mircea Lucescu: 'My dream is to see Ukraine smile again' |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2022/mar/28/dynamo-kyivs-mircea-lucescu-my-dream-is-to-see-ukraine-smile-again |access-date=22 December 2022 |work=The Guardian |date=28 March 2022}}</ref>

On 3 November 2023, Lucescu announced that he would step down as the manager of Dynamo Kyiv after a 1–0 home defeat against their rivals Shakhtar Donetsk, and on the following day he was succeeded by [[Oleksandr Shovkovskyi]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://fcdynamo.com/news/oleksandr-shovkovskij-vikonuvach-obov-yazkiv-golovnogo-trenera-dinamo |title=Олександр Шовковський – виконувач обовʼязків головного тренера "Динамо" |trans-title=Oleksandr Shovkovskyi - acting head coach of "Dynamo" |publisher=FC Dynamo Kyiv |language=uk |date=4 November 2023 }}</ref>

===Return to Romania===
On 6 August 2024, Lucescu returned as the head coach of the Romania national team, 38 years after his first tenure.<ref>{{cite news |title=Mircea Lucescu replaces Edi Iordănescu as coach of Romania's national football team |url=https://www.romania-insider.com/mircea-lucescu-coach-romanias-national-football-team-aug-2024 |access-date=6 August 2024 |agency=Romania-Insider.com |date=6 August 2024}}</ref> His first match in charge was on 6 September, an away 3–0 victory against [[Kosovo national football team|Kosovo]] in the [[2024–25 UEFA Nations League C|Nations League C]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Vasiliu |first=Dan |date=8 September 2024 |title=FlashFocus: Lucescu returns to Romania in final chapter of stellar career |url=https://www.flashscore.co.uk/news/football-uefa-nations-league-flashfocus-lucescu-returns-to-romania-in-final-chapter-of-stellar-career/UHv3U7Cr/?utm_source=ios&utm_medium=share_news |website=Flashscore}}</ref>

==Publications==
Lucescu started writing chronicles, comments and match analysis in 1980 at the "Drumul Socialismului" newspaper.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://welovesport.ro/stiri/fotbal-vintage-cronicarul-mircea-lucescu-27617| title=Cronicarul Mircea Lucescu| publisher=Welovesport.ro| language=Romanian |trans-title=Chronicler Mircea Lucescu| date=29 July 2023| access-date=31 July 2023}}</ref> He also wrote two volumes about football:<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.prosport.ro/sport-life/special/lucescu-70-viziune-in-1981-mircea-lucescu-aloca-in-autobiografia-mirajul-gazonului-un-capitol-despre-fotbalul-viitorului-principiile-enuntate-atunci-se-aplica-in-toata-lumea-azi-la-35-de-ani-distanta-14650328 | title=VIZIUNE: În 1981, Mircea Lucescu aloca în autobiografia "Mirajul gazonului" un capitol despre fotbalul viitorului. Principiile enunțate atunci se aplică în toată lumea azi, la 35 de ani distanță| publisher=Prosport.ro| language=Romanian |trans-title=VISION: In 1981, Mircea Lucescu allocated a chapter on the football of the future in his autobiography "Mirajul gazonului". The principles enunciated then apply all over the world today, 35 years later| date=29 July 2015 | access-date=31 July 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.prosport.ro/sport-life/mircea-lucescu-despre-viata-de-miner-il-luce-si-a-lansat-o-carte-in-ucraina-8714696 | title=Mircea Lucescu, despre "viața de miner"! Il Luce și-a lansat o carte în Ucraina| publisher=Prosport.ro| language=Romanian |trans-title=Mircea Lucescu, about the "miner's life"! Il Luce launched his book in Ukraine| date=8 September 2011 | access-date=31 July 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.sport.ro/stranieri/super-foto-mircea-lucescu-si-a-lansat-ultima-carte-in-ucraina-a-fost-show-la-lansare-ce-zice-despre-o.html | title=Mircea Lucescu si-a lansat ultima carte in Ucraina: a fost SHOW la lansare! Ce zice despre o PLECARE de la Sahtior| publisher=Sport.ro| language=Romanian |trans-title=Mircea Lucescu launched his last book in Ukraine: it was a SHOW at the launch! What about a DEPARTURE from Sahtior| date=8 September 2011 | access-date=31 July 2023}}</ref>
* Mirajul gazonului ''(The mirage of the lawn)'' (1981)
* Shakhtarsʹke zhyttya ''(Miner's life)'' (2011)

==Personal life==
Lucescu is a [[polyglot]]. He speaks [[English language|English]], [[Portuguese language|Portuguese]], [[Spanish language|Spanish]], [[Italian language|Italian]], [[French language|French]] and [[Russian language in Ukraine|Russian]] in addition to his native [[Romanian language|Romanian]].<ref>{{UEFA coach|40040|Mircea Lucescu|accessdate=19 March 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3IHb-EqoWCQ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/3IHb-EqoWCQ| archive-date=2021-12-12 |url-status=live|title=Lucescu: "We were better|date=5 October 2014 |via=YouTube|access-date=11 July 2016}}{{cbignore}}</ref> He is often cited as telling his players that going to the theatre or reading a book is far more beneficial than going to [[Nightclub|clubs]] or restaurants.<ref name="shakhtar.com99.eu">{{cite news|url=http://shakhtar.com/ru/news/18276|script-title=ru:Луческу сочинил текст клубного гимна|publisher=shakhtar.com (citing Газета «Сегодня»)|date=19 August 2011 |language=ru}}</ref> He also pressured his players to go to university.<ref name="shakhtar.com99.eu"/> His son, [[Răzvan Lucescu]], was also a footballer, and is currently managing [[PAOK FC|PAOK]].

Lucescu joined the [[Romanian Humanist Party]] in March 2000.<ref>https://www.ziaruldeiasi.ro/stiri/mircea-lucescu-vrea-sa-dribleze-si-in-politica--18cg.html</ref>

On 15 July 2009, Lucescu suffered an attack of [[unstable angina|pre-infarct angina]], and was operated in an emergency hospital in Donetsk.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gsp.ro/international/stranieri/mircea-lucescu-a-suferit-un-preinfarct-la-donetk-147184.html|title=Mircea Lucescu a suferit un preinfarct la Doneţk!|website=GSP}}</ref>

On 6 January 2012, he was involved in a [[Traffic collision|road accident]] in [[Bucharest]] and was seriously hurt.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.antena3.ro/actualitate/mircea-lucescu-implicat-intr-un-grav-accident-rutier-antrenorul-a-suferit-o-contuzie-toracica-severa-150432.html|title=Mircea Lucescu, implicat într-un grav accident rutier. Antrenorul a suferit o contuzie toracică severă|website=antena3.ro}}</ref>

==Career statistics==
===Player===
===Club===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition<ref name=RS/><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.lucescu.ro/mircea/cariera.htm |title=Player stats |access-date=22 May 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304044952/http://www.lucescu.ro/mircea/cariera.htm |archive-date=4 March 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
|-
!rowspan="2" width="150"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Season
!colspan="3"|League
!colspan="2"|Cup
!colspan="2"|[[UEFA|Europe]]
!colspan="2"|Total
|-
!width="40"|Division
!width="40"|Apps
!width="40"|Goals
!width="40"|Apps
!width="40"|Goals
!width="40"|Apps
!width="40"|Goals
!width="40"|Apps
!width="40"|Goals
|-
|rowspan="13"|[[FC Dinamo București|Dinamo București]]
|[[1963–64 FC Dinamo București season|1963–64]]
|[[Liga I|Divizia A]]
|2||0||||||colspan="2"|–||2||0
|-
|[[1964–65 FC Dinamo București season|1964–65]]
|Divizia A
|1||0||||||colspan="2"|–||1||0
|-
|[[1967–68 FC Dinamo București season|1967–68]]
|Divizia A
|17||1||||||colspan="2"|–||17||1
|-
|[[1968–69 FC Dinamo București season|1968–69]]
|Divizia A
|28||8||||||1||0||29||8
|-
|[[1969–70 FC Dinamo București season|1969–70]]
|Divizia A
|24||4||||||colspan="2"|–||24||4
|-
|[[1970–71 FC Dinamo București season|1970–71]]
|Divizia A
|23||3||||||3||0||26||3
|-
|[[1971–72 FC Dinamo București season|1971–72]]
|Divizia A
|26||7||||||3||0||29||7
|-
|[[1972–73 FC Dinamo București season|1972–73]]
|Divizia A
|28||12||||||colspan="2"|–||28||12
|-
|[[1973–74 FC Dinamo București season|1973–74]]
|Divizia A
|25||5||||||2||1||27||6
|-
|[[1974–75 FC Dinamo București season|1974–75]]
|Divizia A
|31||4||||||3||1||34||5
|-
|[[1975–76 FC Dinamo București season|1975–76]]
|Divizia A
|26||6||||||2||1||28||7
|-
|[[1976–77 FC Dinamo București season|1976–77]]
|Divizia A
|19||7||||||1||0||20||7
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!250!!57!!!!!!15!!3!!265!!60
|-
|rowspan="3"|[[FC Sportul Studențesc București|Știința București]] (loan)
|[[1965–66 Divizia B|1965–66]]
|[[Liga II|Divizia B]]
|||||||||colspan="2"|–||||
|-
|[[1966–67 Divizia B|1966–67]]
|Divizia B
|||||||||colspan="2"|–||||
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!39!!12!!!!!!!!!!39!!12
|-
|rowspan="6"|[[FC Corvinul Hunedoara|Corvinul Hunedoara]]
|[[1977–78 Divizia A|1977–78]]
|Divizia A
|34||7||||||colspan="2"|–||34||7
|-
|[[1978–79 Divizia A|1978–79]]
|Divizia A
|27||5||||||colspan="2"|–||27||5
|-
|[[1979–80 Divizia B|1979–80]]
|Divizia B
|||||||||colspan="2"|–||||
|-
|[[1980–81 Divizia A|1980–81]]
|Divizia A
|27||7||||||colspan="2"|–||27||7
|-
|[[1981–82 Divizia A|1981–82]]
|Divizia A
|23||2||||||colspan="2"|–||23||2
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!111!!21!!!!!!!!!!111!!21
|-
|Dinamo București
|[[1989–90 FC Dinamo București season|1989–90]]
|Divizia A
|1||0||||||colspan="2"|–||1||0
|-
!colspan="3"|Career total
!401!!90!!!!!!15!!3!!416!!93
|}

===International goals===
:''Scores and results list Romania's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Lucescu goal''.<ref name=EU/>

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:100%"
|+ List of international goals scored by Mircea Lucescu
|-
! Goal !! Date !! Venue !! Opponent !! Score !! Result !! Competition
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| '''1''' || 3 December 1966 || [[GSP Stadium (1902)|GCP Stadium]], [[Nicosia]], Cyprus || {{fb|Cyprus}} || style="text-align:center;"| '''2'''–1 || style="text-align:center;"| 5–1 || [[UEFA Euro 1968 qualifying Group 6|Euro 1968 qualifiers]] 
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| '''2''' || 23 April 1967 || [[Stadionul Național (1953)|Stadionul 23 August]], [[Bucharest]], Romania || {{fb|Cyprus}} || style="text-align:center;"| '''1'''–0 || style="text-align:center;"| 7–0 || Euro 1968 qualifiers
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| '''3''' || 9 February 1970 || [[Estadio Alberto Gallardo|Estadio San Martín de Porres]], [[Lima]], Peru || {{fb|Peru}} || style="text-align:center;"| '''1'''–0 || style="text-align:center;"| 1–1 || [[Exhibition game|Friendly]]
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| '''4''' || 22 September 1971|| [[Helsinki Olympic Stadium|Olympic Stadium]], [[Helsinki]], Finland || {{fb|Finland}} || style="text-align:center;"| '''4'''–0 || style="text-align:center;"| 4–0 || [[UEFA Euro 1972 qualifying Group 1|1972 Euro qualifiers]]
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| '''5''' || 24 November 1971 || Stadionul 23 August, Bucharest, Romania || {{fb|Wales}} || style="text-align:center;"| '''2'''–0 || style="text-align:center;"| 2–0 || 1972 Euro qualifiers
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| '''6''' || 29 May 1974 || Stadionul 23 August, Bucharest, Romania || {{fb|Greece|old}} || style="text-align:center;"| '''3'''–1 || style="text-align:center;"| 3–1 || [[1973–76 Balkan Cup]]
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| '''7''' || 19 March 1975 || [[BJK İnönü Stadium|İnönü Stadium]], [[Istanbul]], Turkey || {{fb|Turkey}} || style="text-align:center;"| '''1'''–1 || style="text-align:center;"| 1–1 || Friendly
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| '''8''' || 11 May 1975 || Stadionul 23 August, Bucharest, Romania || {{fb|Denmark}} || style="text-align:center;"| '''5'''–0 || style="text-align:center;"| 6–1 || [[UEFA Euro 1976 qualifying Group 4|Euro 1976 qualifiers]]
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| '''9''' || 5 June 1976 || [[San Siro|Stadio San Siro]], [[Milan]], Italy || {{fb|Italy}} || style="text-align:center;"| '''1'''–2 || style="text-align:center;"| 2–4 || Friendly
|}

===Managerial===
{{updated|match played 10 June 2025}}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
|+ Managerial record by team and tenure
|-
!rowspan="2"|Team
!rowspan="2"|Country
!rowspan="2"|From
!rowspan="2"|To
!colspan="8"|Record
|-
!{{Tooltip|G|Games managed}}
!{{Tooltip|W|Games won}}
!{{Tooltip|D|Games drawn}}
!{{Tooltip|L|Games lost}}
!{{Tooltip|GF|Goals for}}
!{{Tooltip|GA|Goals against}}
!{{Tooltip|GD|Goal difference}}
!{{Tooltip|Win %|Winning percentage}}
|-
|align=left|[[Romania national football team|Romania]]
|{{flagicon|ROU}}
|align=left|1 November 1981
|align=left|2 October 1986
{{WDL|58|24|19|15|for=77|against=63|diff=yes}}
|-
|align=left|[[FC Dinamo București|Dinamo București]]
|{{flagicon|ROU}}
|align=left|1 November 1985
|align=left|30 June 1990
{{WDL|177|132|28|17|for=494|against=167|diff=yes}}
|-
|align=left|[[A.C. Pisa 1909|Pisa]]
|{{flagicon|ITA}}
|align=left|1 July 1990
|align=left|11 March 1991
{{WDL|24|8|5|11|for=32|against=49|diff=yes}}
|-
|align=left|[[Brescia Calcio|Brescia]]
|{{flagicon|ITA}}
|align=left|1 July 1991
|align=left|19 February 1995
{{WDL|151|47|59|45|for=197|against=188|diff=yes}}
|-
|align=left|[[Brescia Calcio|Brescia]]
|{{flagicon|ITA}}
|align=left|1 July 1995
|align=left|25 February 1996
{{WDL|29|7|9|13|for=32|against=36|diff=yes}}
|-
|align=left|[[A.C. Reggiana 1919|Reggiana]]
|{{flagicon|ITA}}
|align=left|1 July 1996
|align=left|25 November 1996
{{WDL|13|1|4|8|for=13|against=22|diff=yes}}
|-
|align=left|[[FC Rapid București|Rapid București]]
|{{flagicon|ROU}}
|align=left|1 July 1997
|align=left|25 November 1998
{{WDL|57|41|11|5|for=122|against=42|diff=yes}}
|-
|align=left|[[Inter Milan]]
|{{flagicon|ITA}}
|align=left|1 December 1998
|align=left|21 March 1999
{{WDL|17|4|4|9|for=26|against=26|diff=yes}}
|-
|align=left|[[FC Rapid București|Rapid București]]
|{{flagicon|ROU}}
|align=left|1 April 1999
|align=left|30 June 2000
{{WDL|49|32|9|8|for=103|against=49|diff=yes}}
|-
|align=left|[[Galatasaray S.K. (football)|Galatasaray]]
|{{flagicon|TUR}}
|align=left|1 July 2000
|align=left|30 June 2002
{{WDL|106|64|22|20|for=210|against=111|diff=yes}}
|-
|align=left|[[Beşiktaş J.K.|Beşiktaş]]
|{{flagicon|TUR}}
|align=left|1 July 2002
|align=left|17 May 2004
{{WDL|89|53|19|17|for=162|against=98|diff=yes}}
|-
|align=left|[[FC Shakhtar Donetsk|Shakhtar Donetsk]]
|{{flagicon|UKR}}
|align=left|17 May 2004
|align=left|24 May 2016
{{WDL|573|395|90|88|for=1220|against=452|diff=yes}}
|-
|align=left|[[FC Zenit Saint Petersburg|Zenit Saint Petersburg]]
|{{flagicon|RUS}}
|align=left|24 May 2016
|align=left|28 May 2017
{{WDL|40|25|7|8|for=74|against=34|diff=yes}}
|-
|align=left|[[Turkey national football team|Turkey]]
|{{flagicon|TUR}}
|align=left|2 August 2017
|align=left|11 February 2019
{{WDL|17|4|6|7|for=17|against=25|diff=yes}}
|-
|align=left|[[FC Dynamo Kyiv|Dynamo Kyiv]]
|{{flagicon|UKR}}
|align=left|23 July 2020
|align=left|3 November 2023
{{WDL|126|70|21|35|for=216|against=126|diff=yes}}
|-
|align=left|[[Romania national football team|Romania]]
|{{flagicon|ROU}}
|align=left|6 August 2024
|align=left|''present''
{{WDL|10|8|0|2|for=26|against=7|diff=yes}}
|-
!colspan="4"|Total
{{WDLtot|1537|916|313|308|for=2924|against=1396|diff=yes}}
|}

===Managing Shakhtar===
<ref name=stats/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://shakhtar.com/en/news/37776|title=Thank you, Mister!|publisher=shakhtar.com|access-date=22 May 2016|date=21 May 2016}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:100%; text-align: center;"
|-
!width="100"|Tournament
!width="60"|Games
!width="40"|Won
!width="40"|Draw
!width="40"|Lost
!width="40"|GF
!width="40"|GA
|-
|[[Ukrainian Premier League]]
|357||273||49||35||817||234
|-
|[[Ukrainian Cup]]
|71||57||7||7||175||45
|-
|[[Ukrainian Super Cup]]
|11||5||4||2||22||12
|-
|[[UEFA|Europe]]
|134||60||30||44||206||161
|-
!Total
!573!!395!!90!!88!!1220!!452
|}

==Honours==
===Player===
'''Dinamo București'''
*[[Liga I|Divizia A]]: [[Divizia A 1963–64|1963–64]], [[Divizia A 1964–65|1964–65]], [[Divizia A 1970–71|1970–71]], [[Divizia A 1972–73|1972–73]], [[Divizia A 1974–75|1974–75]], [[Divizia A 1976–77|1976–77]], [[1989–90 Divizia A|1989–90]]<ref name=RS/>
*[[Cupa României]]: [[1967–68 Cupa României|1967–68]]<ref name=RS/>
'''Corvinul Hunedoara'''
*[[Liga II|Divizia B]]: [[1979–80 Divizia B|1979–80]]<ref name=RS/>

'''Individual'''
*[[Romanian Footballer of the Year]] (''fourth place''): 1971

===Manager===
'''Corvinul Hunedoara'''
*[[Liga II|Divizia B]]: [[1979–80 Divizia B|1979–80]]

'''Dinamo București'''
*[[Liga I|Divizia A]]: [[1989–90 Divizia A|1989–90]]
*[[Cupa României]]: [[1985–86 Cupa României|1985–86]], [[1989–90 Cupa României|1989–90]]

'''Brescia'''
*[[Serie B]]: [[1991–92 Serie B|1991–92]]
*[[Anglo-Italian Cup]]: [[1993–94 Anglo-Italian Cup|1993–94]]
'''Rapid București'''
*[[Liga I|Divizia A]]: [[1998–99 Divizia A|1998–99]]
*[[Cupa României]]: [[1997–98 Cupa României|1997–98]]
*[[Supercupa României]]: [[1999 Supercupa României|1999]]

'''Galatasaray'''
*[[Süper Lig]]: [[2001–02 Süper Lig|2001–02]]
*[[UEFA Super Cup]]: [[2000 UEFA Super Cup|2000]]

'''Beşiktaş'''
*[[Süper Lig]]: [[2002–03 Süper Lig|2002–03]]

'''Shakhtar Donetsk'''<ref>{{cite web |url=http://shakhtar.com/en/team/coaches/ |title=Coaching Staff &#124; First Team &#124; FC Shakhtar Donetsk official website |access-date=19 September 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120920143253/http://shakhtar.com/en/team/coaches/ |archive-date=20 September 2012}}</ref>
[[File:Mircea Lucescu (2011 Ukrainian Cup).jpg|thumb|180px|Lucescu lifting the [[2010–11 Ukrainian Cup]] with Shakhtar Donetsk.]]
*[[Ukrainian Premier League]]: [[2004–05 Ukrainian Premier League|2004–05]], [[2005–06 Ukrainian Premier League|2005–06]], [[2007–08 Ukrainian Premier League|2007–08]], [[2009–10 Ukrainian Premier League|2009–10]], [[2010–11 Ukrainian Premier League|2010–11]], [[2011–12 Ukrainian Premier League|2011–12]], [[2012–13 Ukrainian Premier League|2012–13]], [[2013–14 Ukrainian Premier League|2013–14]]
*[[Ukrainian Cup]]: [[2003–04 Ukrainian Cup|2003–04]], [[2007–08 Ukrainian Cup|2007–08]], [[2010–11 Ukrainian Cup|2010–11]], [[2011–12 Ukrainian Cup|2011–12]], [[2012–13 Ukrainian Cup|2012–13]], [[2015–16 Ukrainian Cup|2015–16]]
*[[Ukrainian Super Cup]]: [[Ukrainian Super Cup|2005]], [[Ukrainian Super Cup|2008]], [[Ukrainian Super Cup|2010]], [[Ukrainian Super Cup|2012]], [[Ukrainian Super Cup|2013]], [[Ukrainian Super Cup|2014]], [[Ukrainian Super Cup|2015]]
*[[UEFA Cup]]: [[2008–09 UEFA Cup|2008–09]]
'''Zenit Saint Petersburg'''
*[[Russian Super Cup]]: [[2016 Russian Super Cup|2016]]

'''Dynamo Kyiv'''
*[[Ukrainian Premier League]]: [[2020–21 Ukrainian Premier League|2020–21]]
*[[Ukrainian Cup]]: [[2021 Ukrainian Cup Final|2020–21]]
*[[Ukrainian Super Cup]]: [[Ukrainian Super Cup|2020]]

'''Individual'''
*''[[Gazeta Sporturilor]]'' [[Romania Coach of the Year]]: 2004, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2021
*[[Ukrainian Premier League]] Manager of the Month (3): [[2020–21 Ukrainian Premier League|2020–21]] (March, April, May),

'''Orders'''
*[[Order of Merit (Ukraine)]] III degree (2006)<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://zakon4.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/697/2006|title = Про відзначення державними нагородами України}}</ref>
*Order of The Sportive Merit (Romania) III degree (2008)<ref name=agerpres/><ref name=monitor/>
*[[Order of the Star of Romania]] (2009)<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://shakhtar.com/news/all-news/|title=Новости футбольного клуба "Шахтер" &#124; Официальный сайт ФК "Шахтер" (Донецк)|website=shakhtar.com}}</ref>
*[[Order of Merit (Ukraine)]] II degree (2009)<ref name="auto"/>
*[[Order of Merit (Ukraine)]] I degree (2011)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.president.gov.ua/documents/13574.html |title=УКАЗ ПРЕЗИДЕНТА УКРАЇНИ № 579/2011 - Офiцiйне представництво Президента України |access-date=2014-12-24 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141224192957/http://www.president.gov.ua/documents/13574.html |archive-date=24 December 2014}}</ref>
*Honorary Citizen of [[Donetsk]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://lukyanchenko.donetsk.ua/news_echo.php?id=5069 |title=Мирча Луческу - почетный гражданин города Донецка |access-date=2014-12-24 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129140941/http://lukyanchenko.donetsk.ua/news_echo.php?id=5069 |archive-date=29 November 2014}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[List of UEFA Cup winning managers]]
*[[List of UEFA Super Cup winning managers]]
*[[List of longest managerial reigns in association football]]

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=lower-alpha}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

== Further reading ==
*{{cite book|last=Lucescu|first=Mircea|title=Mirajul gazonului|year=1981|publisher=Junimea|oclc=895274098}}
*{{cite book|last=Chirilă|first=Ioan|author-link=Ioan Chirilă|title=Lucescu|year=1999|publisher=Editura Mentor|isbn=973-98955-1-4}}
*{{cite book|last=Nicolaescu|first=Gheorghe|title=Luceștii|year=2006|publisher=Artemis|isbn=978-9-7362-4401-8}}
*{{cite book|last=Wilson|first=Jonathan|author-link=Jonathan Wilson (writer)|title=Behind the Curtain: Football in Eastern Europe|year=2006|publisher=Orion Publishing|isbn=978-0-7528-7945-1}}
*{{cite book|last1=Lucescu|first1=Mircea|last2=Juris|first2=Yuriy|title=My Shakhtar Story|year=2011|publisher=Novyĭ Svit|isbn=978-617-638-017-7}}
*{{cite book|last=Palumbo|first=Giannino|title=Una vita in B. Brescia calcio nel cuore (e calci al cuore)|year=2013|publisher=Lampi di Stampa|isbn=978-8-8488-1470-6}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* {{IMDb name|9814553}}
* {{NFT player|17628}}
* {{EU-Football.info manager|346}}
* {{Soccerbase manager}}
* {{Soccerway coach|mircea-lucescu/125540}}

{{Current managers of UEFA national teams}}
{{Navboxes
| title = Awards
| bg = gold
| fg = navy
| list1 = 
{{Süper Lig winning managers}}
{{UEFA Cup / Europa League winning managers}}
{{UEFA Super Cup winning managers}}
{{Romania Coach of the Year}}
}}
{{Navboxes
| title = Romania squads
| bg = #FFE60D
| fg = #0045E6
| bordercolor = #CE1126
| list1 = 
{{Romania squad 1970 FIFA World Cup}}
{{Romania squad UEFA Euro 1984}}
}}
{{Navboxes
| title = Managerial positions
| list1 = 
{{Romania national football team managers}}
{{FC Dinamo București managers}}
{{FC Rapid București managers}}
{{F.C. Internazionale Milano managers}}
{{Galatasaray SK managers}}
{{Beşiktaş JK managers}}
{{FC Shakhtar Donetsk managers}}
{{FC Zenit Saint Petersburg managers}}
{{Turkey national football team managers}}
{{FC Dynamo Kyiv managers}}
}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lucescu, Mircea}}
[[Category:1945 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Footballers from Bucharest]]
[[Category:Romanian men's footballers]]
[[Category:FC Corvinul Hunedoara players]]
[[Category:FC Dinamo București players]]
[[Category:FC Sportul Studențesc București players]]
[[Category:Olympic footballers for Romania]]
[[Category:Romania men's international footballers]]
[[Category:Men's association football midfielders]]
[[Category:1970 FIFA World Cup players]]
[[Category:Romanian football managers]]
[[Category:FC Corvinul Hunedoara managers]]
[[Category:FC Dinamo București managers]]
[[Category:FC Rapid București managers]]
[[Category:Pisa SC managers]]
[[Category:Brescia Calcio managers]]
[[Category:AC Reggiana 1919 managers]]
[[Category:Inter Milan managers]]
[[Category:Galatasaray S.K. (football) managers]]
[[Category:Beşiktaş J.K. managers]]
[[Category:FC Shakhtar Donetsk managers]]
[[Category:FC Dynamo Kyiv managers]]
[[Category:Serie A managers]]
[[Category:Süper Lig managers]]
[[Category:Ukrainian Premier League managers]]
[[Category:Expatriate football managers in Italy]]
[[Category:Romanian expatriate sportspeople in Italy]]
[[Category:Expatriate football managers in Turkey]]
[[Category:Romanian expatriate sportspeople in Turkey]]
[[Category:Expatriate football managers in Ukraine]]
[[Category:Romanian expatriate sportspeople in Ukraine]]
[[Category:Romania national football team managers]]
[[Category:Romanian expatriate football managers]]
[[Category:UEFA Euro 1984 managers]]
[[Category:UEFA Europa League–winning managers]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Order of Merit (Ukraine), 3rd class]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Order of Merit (Ukraine), 2nd class]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Order of Merit (Ukraine), 1st class]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Order of the Star of Romania]]
[[Category:FC Zenit Saint Petersburg managers]]
[[Category:Russian Premier League managers]]
[[Category:Expatriate football managers in Russia]]
[[Category:Romanian expatriate sportspeople in Russia]]
[[Category:Turkey national football team managers]]
[[Category:Romanian writers]]
[[Category:Romanian male writers]]
[[Category:20th-century Romanian writers]]
[[Category:20th-century Romanian male writers]]
[[Category:21st-century Romanian writers]]
[[Category:21st-century Romanian male writers]]
[[Category:20th-century Romanian sportsmen]]