Former international Gheorghe Popescu declared on Thursday, at the National Arena in the capital, that his former coach Mircea Lucescu put the interest of the national team above his own life.
"It is very difficult for me to speak about Mircea Lucescu in the past tense, especially since only a few days before I had heard good news about him. Unfortunately, Romanian sport is losing one of the most important figures in its history. A man who loved football more than his own life and paid for it. For all of us, he will remain an example of passion. He loved football like no other person has ever done. The way he chose to live his last period, being ill and aware of the danger of returning to the national team's bench, makes me bow before him. Mircea Lucescu put his life in danger and paid dearly. I don't know how many of us would have put the national team's interest above our own. He did it," Popescu mentioned.
The former Barcelona captain explained that his knees shook on Wednesday night in the stands at the Nou Camp when he saw UEFA's tribute to Mircea Lucescu.
"I will remain with the long hours of discussions about football with sir Mircea during the time we worked together at Galatasaray. I will miss him enormously. The most successful Romanian coach is leaving. I rarely felt emotional at Camp Nou, not even when I was playing... but last night [during the Barcelona - Atletico Madrid match] my knees shook when I saw sir Mircea praised on the screen. It is proof of the appreciation for his incredible career. He has a career with 36 trophies won and is one of the most important coaches in Europe in the last 20 or so years. It will be difficult without him", stated Gheorghe Popescu.
Mircea Lucescu's coffin has been laid in state at the National Arena since Wednesday, with supporters and football lovers being able to pay their respects to the great coach until this evening at 8:00 p.m. Mircea Lucescu will be buried on Friday with military honors.
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