Romania end Mircea Lucescu tenure after 2026 World Cup play-off loss | OneFootball

Romania have parted company with head coach Mircea Lucescu, days after a 1-0 World Cup play-off defeat by Türkiye. The Romanian Football Federation announced the decision, which comes amid recent health concerns.

The loss ended hopes of a return to the finals. Lucescu, 80, departs as the oldest national team manager in Europe.

Appointed in August 2024 on a two-year deal, he could not take the team back to a first World Cup since 1998.

His record in this spell was 11 wins, one draw and six defeats. A leading figure in Romanian football, he previously led the side in the 1980s and secured qualification for Euro 1984.

Recent weeks have also brought health concerns, with Lucescu hospitalised after a cardiac episode during training four days ago. Gheorghe Hagi has been strongly linked with the vacancy, having had a brief spell in charge in 2001, and could return.

Source: L'Équipe