Dmytro Chyhrynskyi Pays Tribute to Mircea Lucescu at Funeral in Bucharest

Dmytro Chyhrynskyi, a well-known Ukrainian footballer who has made substantial contributions to the development of Ukrainian football, was present at the funeral of the legendary coach Mircea Lucescu in Bucharest. This event became a pivotal moment for many who knew and revered Lucescu, as he left an unforgettable mark on the world of football.

Romanian journalist Pol Andone shared a video showing Chyhrynskyi arriving in Bucharest to bid farewell to the distinguished coach. The video served as a testament to the deep respect and gratitude that many people feel towards Mircea Lucescu, who throughout his career nurtured more than one generation of football players.

In his speech, Chyhrynskyi did not hold back his emotions, stating, 'I just want... I want to thank him for the role he played in my life. He was a teacher, a mentor, a master for all of us.' These words reflect a profound recognition of Lucescu's importance not only as a coach but also as a personality who influenced the lives of many young footballers.

Chyhrynskyi emphasized that only now, after Lucescu's passing, do they finally realize how great Mircea Lucescu was and the immense legacy he left in football. 'I feel a tremendous gratitude towards him. I was very lucky that he was my coach for so many years,' he added, reminiscing about the years spent under Lucescu's guidance at Shakhtar Donetsk.

Mircea Lucescu led the Donetsk club Shakhtar from 2004 to 2016, during which time the team won 22 trophies, a testament to his professionalism and ability to work with young talents. His training methods and approaches to the game left a deep imprint on the hearts of many players who had the honor of working with him.

Unfortunately, the last days of Lucescu's life were filled with difficulties. On March 29, 2026, he was hospitalized due to a deterioration in his health following Romania's defeat to Turkey in the playoff qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup. On April 2, Mircea resigned from his position as coach of the Romanian team, which came as a shock to many of his fans.

On April 3, while undergoing treatment in the hospital, Lucescu suffered an acute myocardial infarction, leading to him being placed in a medically induced coma due to severe cardiac arrhythmias. During a CT scan, numerous signs of ischemic cerebral strokes and pulmonary thromboembolism were discovered, and his condition was assessed as critical. Cardiologist Ştefan Buşnatu reported damage to several organs, including the heart, brain, and lungs.

The death of Mircea Lucescu was a significant loss for the football world. Former renowned Ukrainian coach Myron Markevych also expressed his condolences, comparing Lucescu to the legendary Valeriy Lobanovskyi, emphasizing that both coaches left an unforgettable mark in the history of Ukrainian football.

Thus, the funeral of Mircea Lucescu was not only a farewell to an outstanding coach but also a moment for all who knew him to honor his memory and celebrate his immense contribution to the development of football.