Romania coach Lucescu

The Romanian Football Federation has appointed 79-year-old Mircea Lucescu as the new head coach of the national team, succeeding Edward Iordanescu. Lucescu previously managed Romania from 1981 to 1986 and has an illustrious coaching career that includes stints with top clubs like Inter Milan and Galatasaray, as well as the Turkey national team. His main objective will be to qualify Romania for the 2026 World Cup, an ambition that follows the team's recent success in reaching the knockout stages of Euro 2024. Despite expressing hesitance about returning at his age, Lucescu emphasized his commitment to Romanian football and confidence in the current generation of players. He aims to leverage his extensive experience to rebuild the team and foster young talent, with hopes of restoring Romania's status in international football. Lucescu's return marks a significant moment in Romanian football history, coming 38 years after his first tenure.