Marius Şumudică, one of Mircea Lucescu’s “children”, arrived at the National Arena today to pay his respects to Mircea Lucescu. He stated that the former Romanian coach, if he had been born in another country, would have received the title of Sir, considering the performances achieved over time.
“It’s a sad week, by all accounts. I have seen all kinds of comments that this week the heavens would be open, but it would be unfair to other people who died in another time, because everyone is judged the same. In the end, only the deeds you have done remain. What I could say about Mr. Lucescu can be viewed from two angles.
An extraordinary man who helped everyone
The first is the human side, an extraordinary man who always helped everyone, a man who helped you live, taught you to behave, tried to raise your cultural level. He was talking to you and a man who I don’t think hurt anyone, a man who gave everyone the best that was in him. The professional side I don’t even think I need to mention, because from my point of view he is the most titled Romanian coach of all time. To win 36 trophies…
If he was born in another country, he would have been called Sir Mircea Lucescu. And he deserves it, because he is a gentleman in every respect. You see what is happening all over the world with moments of silence, everywhere the newspapers have written whole pages, this means to have value, to be a man who has left his mark on this much-loved phenomenon”said Marius Şumudică, quoted by Agerpres.
“Nea Mircea, you will be forever in my heart”
Lucescu’s former student from the time he worked at Rapid sent a message to his mentor: “Nea Mircea, when you will rise up and be there, know that I am a man who loved you. You will forever be in my heart, you changed me, you made me a footballer, you made me a coach and I will never forget. It is the regret of my life that I didn’t get to see him in the hospital, even though he was in an induced coma. God rest him!”
The coffin with the lifeless body of the former coach Mircea Lucescu has been placed at the National Arena since Wednesday, the supporters and football lovers being able to pay their respects to the great coach until this evening at 20:00. The coffin, covered with the Romanian flag, was placed on a stage built on the esplanade from the Official Tribune of the National Arena. A photo of him and a white wreath of flowers were placed on the head of the former selector, and on the left and right are four members of the Honor Guard of the Romanian Gendarmerie.
The funeral takes place on Friday, in a small setting
Friday, the last day of the ceremonies, will be marked by discretion and solemnity, with events held in two locations. The funeral cortege will move to the Church of Saint Elefteria in the Capital, where the funeral service will begin at 10:00.
Participation in the church is strictly limited to family and close guests. The funeral ceremony is scheduled to begin at 12:20 p.m. at the Bellu Cemetery in the capital. The moment of burial (1:10 p.m.) will be preceded by military honors, thus recognizing the special merits of the late coach. According to the wishes of the family, the access of the general public will be restricted within the cemetery, the area being delimited exclusively for the restricted circle of relatives.
