Răzvan Lucescu mourns father’s death while courting a €5 million Al‑Sadd deal

Romanian coach Răzvan Lucescu, who ended a five‑year stint at Greek club PAOK, gave an extensive interview to the Greek press about the recent passing of his father, renowned trainer Mircea Lucescu. He recounted how a planned trip to Bucharest was canceled after a league loss to Volos and a national‑team match against Turkey, leaving him unable to be with his father before the latter’s hospitalization and death on 7 April 2026. Lucescu expressed deep personal grief and reflected on his father’s turbulent career, stating, “The final chapter of his life was very complicated,” and lamented the criticism his father faced as Romania’s national team selector.

At the same time, Lucescu is reportedly on the verge of signing a new contract with Qatar’s Al‑Sadd, the country’s champion club. Sources say the deal would grant him a salary of about €5 million per year, significantly lower than former Al‑Sadd coach Roberto Mancini’s €9 million but still a substantial increase. The move would mark Lucescu’s return to the Gulf after previous spells with El Jaish in Qatar and Al‑Hilal in Saudi Arabia, where he won the Asian Champions League in 2019. Both stories highlight the coach’s personal loss and his next professional step.