World football is mourning following the passing of legendary Romanian coach Mircea Lucescu, who has died at the age of 80, after suffering a double heart attack,  allnigeriasoccer.com reports. 

Lucescu passed away on Tuesday evening at the University Hospital, where he had been admitted for nine days following a collapse at the Mogoșoaia training camp, shortly before a friendly match against Slovakia.

Mircea Lucescu played for Dinamo Bucharest and earned 64 caps for Romania, including an appearance at the 1970 Fifa World Cup. 

However, it was his transition into management that truly defined his legacy. 

Widely regarded as one of the greatest coaches in Romanian history, he enjoyed a distinguished career across multiple countries, including his homeland as well as Italy, Turkey, Ukraine and Russia.

Lucescu worked with two former Nigeria internationals Julius Aghahowa and Taribo West at Shakhtar Donetsk and Inter Milan respectively.

Under the Romanian tactician, West made 13 appearances and registered three assists, while Aghahowa directly participated in 34 goals in 93 matches.

Aghahowa won three Ukrainian Premier League titles with Lucescu in the Shakhtar Donetsk dugout. 

Ifeanyi Emmanuel