Pirlo’s farewell to Lucescu: ‘You raised me like a son’ | OneFootball

Italy legend Andrea Pirlo bids farewell to his former Brescia and Inter coach Mircea Lucescu: ‘You raised me like a son, I’ll never stop thanking you.’

Lucescu, a former coach of Pisa, Inter, Reggiana, and Brescia, died on Tuesday, aged 80.

Italian legend Pirlo made his Serie A debut at Brescia in 1995, aged 16. Lucescu had been sacked by the Rondinelle a few months earlier but remained at the club as the technical director.

Pirlo made his Serie A debut under Lucescu’s assistant Adelio Moro with Brescia already relegated to Serie B.

“Thank you for everything, mister. I will never stop thanking you,” Pirlo wrote on Instagram, posting a picture of him hugging Lucescu.

Official: Andrea Pirlo is the new head coach of the Dubai-based United FC of the UAE first division.

“You raised me like a son, giving me the opportunity to challenge myself with others when I was very young. You taught me what it means to love this sport in all its details. I will never stop thanking you. Have a good trip, mister. Thank you, Mircea.”

A few years later, Pirlo played under Lucescu at Inter, making 16 appearances in the 1998-99 campaign.

The Nerazzurri have also paid tribute to their former coach with a message on social media.

GELSENKIRCHEN, GERMANY – FEBRUARY 25: Mircea Lucescu manager of Shakhtar Donetsk looks on prior to the UEFA Europa League round of 32 second leg match between FC Schalke 04 and Shakhtar Donetsk at Veltins-Arena on February 25, 2016 in Gelsenkirchen, Germany. (Photo by Martin Rose/Bongarts/Getty Images)

Lucescu’s last game was just a few days ago, as he took charge of the Romanian national team in the World Cup play-off semi-final against Turkey, one of his former teams.

Pirlo’s social media message for Lucescu