Calhanoglu's Farewell Embrace with Lucescu: "You Did So Much for Me"
The football world is in mourning following the passing of legendary coach Mircea Lucescu on Tuesday at the age of 80. In the wake of this sad news, a deeply moving moment has gone viral: Hakan Calhanoglu's heartfelt hug with his former mentor after Turkey's match against Romania in March. "You did so much for me," wrote the Inter star in a poignant tribute.
Lucescu, a highly respected figure who previously managed clubs like Inter and Brescia, had overseen his final match just days before his death. In that game, his Romania squad faced a 1-0 defeat against Turkey in a World Cup playoff semifinal. After the final whistle, Calhanoglu approached and warmly embraced his former national team coach.
Indeed, Lucescu had coached the Turkish national team between 2017 and 2018. During that period, Calhanoglu played under his guidance in 12 appearances, contributing one goal and one assist. These touching farewell embraces quickly gained traction across social media platforms, with Calhanoglu himself sharing the moment on his Instagram stories.
"We have lost not only a great coach, but also a person of immense character," Calhanoglu expressed. "You did so much for me, and I will always remember you with respect and gratitude. Rest in peace, coach."
Beyond Calhanoglu, the football club Inter and former midfielder Andrea Pirlo were among many others who also paid their respects to Lucescu on social media following his death, highlighting the widespread impact of his career.
Fresh materials — Sport news
Orsato's Refereeing Philosophy: Fouls Over Contact
Daniele Orsato, in his new role as the Serie A and Serie B refereeing designator, has articulated his vision for officiating, promising a clear distinction between deliberate fouls and mere physical contact. This approach aims to bring consistency and clarity to the game. Speaking to Rai
Adrien Rabiot to Discuss Future with New Milan Coach, Criticizes France Teammates' World Cup Behavior
Adrien Rabiot has stated that he will hold a conversation with the new Milan coach, Ruben Amorim, once he returns from his holidays. He also expressed his disapproval of what he deemed "unacceptable behavior" exhibited by some of his French national teammates during the World Cup third-place p
Collina: World Cup Final Referee Selection Challenging; Denies Ball Hit Cable in Norway vs. England
Pierluigi Collina, FIFA's Chief Refereeing Officer, has acknowledged that selecting the referee for the World Cup Final was a demanding task. He also expressed his disbelief that some individuals remain unconvinced that the ball did not make contact with any cable during the Norway vs. England
World Cup Earnings Revealed: Milan Best in Serie A, Man City First Overall
AC Milan emerged as the highest earner among Serie A clubs from the recent World Cup, and also secured a spot in the top 10 worldwide for club earnings through the tournament. FIFA's Club Benefits Programme allocates approximately €215 million to clubs whose players participated in the Wo
Merino: Arsenal Star and Lautaro Martinez Share World Cup Final Challenge
Mikel Merino acknowledges that he and Lautaro Martinez are in a similar position heading into the World Cup Final, stating, "For no player is starting on the bench the ideal game plan." Spain, with Merino, and Argentina, with Martinez, are set to face each other in the World Cup Final on
Milan Rivals Borussia Dortmund for Karetsas, Targets Hojbjerg
Italian news outlets indicate that Milan has identified Genk's Konstantinos Karetsas, a player also pursued by Borussia Dortmund, as a potential acquisition. Additionally, the club is reportedly considering an offer for Marseille midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg. Having already secured th