Taras Stepanenko Expresses Condolences on the Death of Mircea Lucescu: 'Rest in Peace'

Taras Stepanenko, a Ukrainian midfielder currently playing for FC Kolos, has not remained indifferent to the tragic news of the death of his former coach Mircea Lucescu. This Romanian specialist, under whose guidance Stepanenko took his first steps in professional football, left a significant mark on the careers of many Ukrainian footballers, including Stepanenko himself.

In a heartfelt post on his Instagram account, Stepanenko shared an archival photo with Lucescu taken in 2010 during the presentation of the young footballer at FC Shakhtar Donetsk. This image has become a symbol of gratitude and respect for the coach who helped the team win numerous trophies in Ukraine over a span of six years.

“Thank you for everything, Mister! Rest in peace,” wrote Stepanenko in his post, reflecting his deep feelings and gratitude for all that Lucescu did for his career.

Mircea Lucescu led FC Shakhtar from 2004 to 2016, during which time the team played 573 matches under his management. Throughout this period, the Romanian coach achieved an impressive tally of 22 trophies, including 8 Ukrainian championship titles, 6 Ukrainian Cups, and 7 Ukrainian Super Cups. The year 2009 was particularly memorable when Shakhtar won their first European trophy—the UEFA Cup. Following this, in the 2020/21 season, Lucescu also clinched the UPL title with Dynamo Kyiv, further cementing his status as one of the most successful coaches in the history of Ukrainian football.

Sadly, on March 29, 2026, Mircea Lucescu was hospitalized after falling ill during the Romanian national team's training camp following a 0-1 defeat to Turkey in the World Cup 2026 qualifying playoff. On April 2, he stepped down from his position as head coach of the Romanian team, and just a few days later, on April 3, he suffered an acute myocardial infarction in the hospital. Lucescu's condition deteriorated, and doctors placed him in a medically induced coma due to severe arrhythmias that were unresponsive to treatment.

During a computed tomography scan, Lucescu was found to have multiple signs of ischemic cerebral strokes and pulmonary thromboembolism, with his condition assessed as critical. Cardiologist Ștefan Bușnatu noted that several organs were affected—heart, brain, and lungs—significantly increasing the risks. Unfortunately, on April 7, Mircea Lucescu passed away, leaving behind a tremendous legacy in Ukrainian football.

Previously, other footballers, such as Yaroslav Rakitskiy, also bid a touching farewell to Lucescu, emphasizing his importance to Ukrainian football and his influence on the lives of many players. The death of Mircea Lucescu has been a great loss for the entire football world, and his memory will live on forever.