Rapid appointment for Lucescu

AFC Rapid Bucuresti have announced the appointment of both a new coach and a new club president. Razvan Lucescu, who coached FC Brasov last season, has signed a three-year contract to become their fourth manager in six months, while Dinu Gheorghe will take the helm in the boardroom.

Early plaudits
The 35-year-old Lucescu, a former goalkeeper at the club, gained plaudits last season when in his first coaching post, he led a struggling Brasov side to top-flight safety. His father is the experienced and well-respected coach of FC Shakhtar Donetsk, Mircea Lucescu, who had spells at FC Internazionale, Galatasaray SK and Besiktas JK, before moving to the Ukraine.

Fatherly advice
"I advised him to stay at Brasov for another year to gain experience and not to risk going to a big and difficult club like FC Rapid so early in his coaching career. But he didn't listen me," said Lucescu sr, who won a championship title with Rapid himself in 1999. His son explained that: "There are opportunities in life that you shouldn't miss, because you might not be given them again."

Great expectations
George Copos, the major shareholder at the club, has targeted at least second place for next season and qualification for European club competition, after the club finished third and failed to secure a European berth last term. Rapid had three coaches during the season, starting with Mircea Rednic and then Dan Petrescu before ending the season with Viorel Hizo, whom Lucescu replaces.

Gheorghe returns
Meanwhile in the boardroom, Gheorghe has regained the presidency he previously held from 1998 to 2000. He will replace Ioan Becali, who has stepped down after only six months.