Turkey has great respect for Mircea Lucescu (80 years old), the man who wrote a page of history in the Crescent Land, as a coach at Galatasaray and Beşiktaş, with both winning the title, as well as as a selector, even if in the latter mission he failed in terms of results.
The locals didn’t forget him, and yesterday a journalist really wanted to show his appreciation for the Romanian coach at the very moment he entered the conference room, to preface the roadblock on the way to the World Cup.
Although an opponent now, Lucescu was greeted by the Turks with much warmth and affection. And Ismail Er, a journalist of the Hürriyet publication, was the one who felt he had to make a gesture that few of those present might have expected. Before the conference, he went to the Romanian coach and kissed his hand, showing his appreciation for what he did in Turkish football.
The gesture made by the journalist is a known one in Turkey, a country where it represents a form of respect towards the person in question. “Il Luce” also kissed French footballer Pascal Nouma’s hand in public, whom the technician revitalized in Beşiktaș. The image has since gone around the world.
Later, Ismail Er and Mircea Lucecsu took a photo together, and the journalist marked the moment with a post on social networks.
“I met Mircea Lucescu, the one who coached in Turkey. We witnessed how Turkish coaches run after money, while Lucescu never engaged in dishonorable negotiations for bonuses or compensation, never showed arrogance or pride.
I hugged him with love and wished him success, I added: «Since the World Championship in 2002, we only watch the tournament on TV. May love and respect always bring victory to Turkey!” and Lucescu smiled as we spoke. As they say, football is about friendship and peace. Regardless of the score, life goes on…“, Ismail Er wrote on Instagram.
