Former Inter manager Mircea Lucescu has revealed that he tried to stop working in football last year but failed to do so and has explained why this was the case for him.
“I find motivation in my passion for football, that’s for sure. I tried to stop last year, because I’ve worked for 50 years without a break,” he explained in an interview with the website of European football’s governing body UEFA.
“I’ve never taken a sabbatical like other coaches. I wanted to work. I tried to stop last year, but it was impossible. I wanted to come back.
“I told myself that there was so much I could still give to football, especially to young players. So, I came back and I feel good being back at work.”
Lucescu, who has managed in five different countries during his long managerial career, then spoke on what he tries to do when going to new countries.
“That passion is what continues to push you forward. I try to understand other people and also to respect and understand the culture of the country you’re coming to, because there are cultural differences between countries, even with regards to football.
“Being the ‘globetrotting’ manager that I am, you do things this way precisely because you want to be faced with different cultures, different people, different history, different geography, everything.
“You enjoy everything that’s important. That is learning, education, going to museums. Everywhere you go, it’s not just football that’s important.”
Lucescu’s managerial career began back in 1979 when he became the player manager of Romanian club FC Corvinul Hunedoara.
He became Inter’s manager in January 1999 but last far less than anyone expected him to do as he lasted just two months in the job. The 75-year-old Romanian managed Inter in 17 matches across all competitions, of which he won just four.
Lucescu is best known for the great success that he had at Shakhtar Donetsk between 2004 and 2016, during which time he won 24 trophies. He is currently in charge of Shakhtar Donetsk’s rivals Dynamo Kyiv.
