Gigi Becali claims late Mircea Lucescu sought FCSB role before death

FCSB owner Gigi Becali stated that the late Mircea Lucescu wanted to join the club as a coach but that he did not pursue negotiations due to anticipated conditions. Becali made these remarks in early November 2026, months after the manager's death, explaining why a potential appointment never materialized despite expressed interest from both parties.

According to Becali, Lucescu initiated contact regarding a potential coaching role and visited the FCSB training base during the unfulfilled negotiation process. The owner claimed the manager showed interest in the club without explicitly stating his terms at that stage. Becali said he pretended not to understand Lucescu's intentions regarding the position, and the manager did not insist further after he chose not to engage in substantive discussions.

Despite the failed talks, Becali stated he believed he could have worked with Lucescu given the coach's experience, career performances, and personal qualities. He described the manager as wise and smart. However, former player Dănuț Lupu offered a differing opinion, suggesting that Becali and Lucescu could never have successfully worked together at FCSB.

Mircea Lucescu died on April 7, 2026, at the age of 80. His managerial career spanned 47 years and included tenures at clubs such as Inter Milano and Shakhtar Donetsk. Over his career, he won 35 trophies, a total noted as fewer than managers like Pep Guardiola and Sir Alex Ferguson.

In Romanian domestic football, Lucescu achieved significant success with multiple Bucharest clubs. He won the league title and Cupa României with Dinamo in the 1989–1990 season. Later, he secured a league title with Rapid in the 1998–1999 campaign, which marked only the second championship in that club's history.