Tyson Emotionally Remembers Mircea Lucescu Following His Death

Former Shakhtar Donetsk footballer Tyson has expressed his profound condolences regarding the passing of legendary coach Mircea Lucescu, who died on April 7 at the age of 80. The Brazilian player took to social media to share a series of photographs with the former Shakhtar coach, emphasizing his gratitude and respect for the mentor who played a pivotal role in his career.

In his Instagram post, Tyson wrote: “Mr. Mircea, I will always remember you for everything you did for my life and for the lessons throughout my career. You were like a father to me. I will always remember you with that smile on your face. Thank you for everything, my father. Thank you for allowing me to be a part of your family for so many years. I love you, Mircea Lucescu. Forever in my heart,” Tyson emotionally expressed.

It is important to note that the Romanian specialist played a crucial role in Tyson's development as a footballer. At a young age, in the winter of 2013, the Brazilian transferred from Metalist to Shakhtar, where under Lucescu's guidance, he played 126 matches, scored 19 goals, and provided 34 assists. Thanks to these achievements, Tyson was able to debut for the Brazilian national team and became a leader in the Ukrainian squad.

Mircea Lucescu managed Shakhtar from 2004 to 2016. During this time, under his leadership, the team played 573 matches, winning 22 trophies, including 8 Ukrainian championship titles, 6 Ukrainian Cups, and 7 Ukrainian Super Cups. One of the most significant achievements was winning the UEFA Cup in 2009, marking the club's first European trophy. After leaving Shakhtar, in the 2020/21 season, Lucescu won the Ukrainian Premier League with Dynamo Kyiv, further solidifying his status as one of the most successful coaches in football history.

It is worth recalling that on March 29, 2026, Lucescu was hospitalized after feeling unwell while with the Romanian national team following a 0-1 defeat to Turkey in the World Cup 2026 qualifying playoffs. On April 2, he stepped down as the head coach of the Romanian team, and on April 3, he suffered an acute myocardial infarction while in the hospital. Following this, he was placed in a medically induced coma due to severe heart arrhythmias that were unresponsive to treatment.

During a CT scan, numerous signs of ischemic cerebral strokes and pulmonary thromboembolism were detected in Lucescu. His condition was assessed as critical, with cardiologist Stefan Busnatu reporting damage to several organs, including the heart, brain, and lungs. Unfortunately, on April 7, Mircea Lucescu passed away.

Previously, other Shakhtar players, including Yaroslav Rakitskiy, also bid a heartfelt farewell to Lucescu, while Taras Stepanenko shared a memorable photo with him, expressing his condolences and gratitude for the coach's contribution to the development of Ukrainian football.