Turkish national team coach Lucescu dismissed

ISTANBUL

The Turkish Football Federation (TFF) has part ways with experienced coach Mircae Lucescu following a string of bad results at the UEFA Nations League.

The Feb. 11 decision came after days of rumors on his possible leave in the Turkish media. 

The Romanian coach had taken the helm of the national team on Aug. 2, 2017, only three days after Fatih Terim’s departure.

The Turkish national team lost three out of its five Nations League games under Lucescu, winning only against Croatia 1-0 at home on Sept. 5. Following a loss against Sweden in its final game, Turkey was relegated to the Group C of the international competition.

Lucesu had coached Turkey’s Galatasaray between 2000 and 2002, achieving the UEFA Super League title after defeating Real Madrid. His both successor and predecessor at Galatasaray was Terim. Lucescu also headed Galatasaray’s archrival Beşiktaş, clinching the Turkish Super League title in his first sesaon with the Black Eagles in 2003.

He was also the manager of Shakhdar Donetsk in 2004 and more recently Zenit Saint Petersburg, a post he left in May 2017 before he moved to Turkey.  He is best known for his 12-year tenure at Shakhtar Donetsk, winning eight Ukrainian Premier League titles and the 2008–09 UEFA Cup.