Ex-Romania manager hospitalised again just 24 hours after stepping down from national job

Ex-Romania national team manager Mircea Lucescu suffered a heart attack on Friday morning.

The news comes just 24 hours after the 80-year-old was forced to step down from his role in charge of the national team, having collapsed during a team meeting on Sunday.

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‘Stable’

A statement from the University Hospital in Bucharest on Friday, confirmed Lucescu is in a stable condition.

While he was not named for legal reasons, local media have reported that the manager is the patient concerned.

The statement read: “During the morning, the patient suffered an acute myocardial infarction.

“He was taken to the emergency room and promptly received the necessary medical and therapeutic interventions, according to the protocols in force.

“Currently, his condition is stable, under close specialist monitoring.

“The patient remains hospitalized in the Cardiology Department, where he is receiving appropriate medical care.”

Romanian outlet Gazeta Sporturilor reports that Lucescu had been hospitalised Sunday morning – when he collapsed during team training – and was due to be discharged on Friday.

Lucescu left Romania role after worrying medical episode

Lucescu left his position as national team boss on Thursday, days after his collapse saw him rushed to hospital.

A statement provided by the Romanian Football Federation (FRF) said Lucescu ‘felt sick’ during the team’s final video session before flying out to Slovakia ahead of their friendly on Tuesday.

This was the fourth time the veteran coach had been hospitalised since December, following a string of worrying medical episodes.

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The FRF later revealed he had undergone tests and interventions to stabilise his heart rhythm.

It was confirmed that Lucescu would remain in hospital and would play no part in Romania’s clash with Slovakia on Tuesday – with assistant coach and former Wolves striker Ionel Ganea ultimately overseeing a 2-0 defeat.

Two days later, it was announced that Lucescu had stepped down as head coach of the national team, after two years in charge.

This brought an end to his second stint as Romania boss, having previously led the team between 1981 and 1986.

Confirming his departure, president of the Romanian Football Federation, Razvan Burleanu, said: “Mircea Lucescu accepted this challenge and came to give everything for Romania, showing boundless passion and dedication.

“Through his tireless effort and the commitment he demonstrated at every moment, he proved what true love for the national team and for football means, earning the respect and gratitude of all of us who love the game.”

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In his first stint as Romania manager, Lucescu guided his country to its first-ever European Championship appearance in 1984.

Following the end of his tenure, the ex-Romania international went on to manage a number of big name European sides, including Inter Milan, Galatasaray and Shakhtar Donetsk.

In 2024, Lucescu returned to take charge of his national team in a bid to help them qualify for the 2026 World Cup.

However, their hopes were ended last week, after suffering a 1-0 defeat to Turkey in their World Cup play-off semi-final, which ultimately proved to be Lucescu’s last match in charge.