“This morning the patient suffered an acute heart attack,” a hospital representative confirmed regarding Mircea Lucescu’s health status. The 80-year-old football coach has been transferred to intensive care due to complications from a heart rhythm disorder.
Lucescu’s health issues began during a training camp for the Romania national football team, where he fell ill on March 29. His condition deteriorated as he experienced an increase in heart rhythm irregularities and did not respond to initial treatment.
Prior to his hospitalization, Lucescu was managing the Romanian national team, which recently faced a setback, losing 1-0 to Türkiye in the semifinal of the 2026 FIFA World Cup European qualifiers play-offs on March 26. This loss marked a challenging moment for the team under his leadership.
Lucescu officially stepped down as head coach of the Romanian national football team on April 2, after overseeing 18 official matches, achieving 11 wins, 1 draw, and 6 losses. His tenure began in the summer of 2024, and he is well-known for his successful stints with clubs like Shakhtar Donetsk and Dynamo Kyiv.
Despite his resignation, the Romanian Football Federation is considering continuing cooperation with Lucescu in another role, indicating the respect he commands within the organization.
As of now, Lucescu’s condition is reported to be stable, and he is being carefully monitored by specialists. Further updates on his health are expected as the situation develops.
