Mircea Lucescu Hospitalized Again Due to Flu

Mircea Lucescu, the 80-year-old technical commissioner for the Romanian national team, was admitted to a Bucharest clinic on the evening of January 22. His hospitalization followed a severe bout of influenza and a high fever exceeding 39 degrees Celsius.

This latest health setback comes after a previous hospitalization earlier this year, in addition to his ongoing heart problems. Lucescu told the media, "I am in the hospital, that's true. I was briefly admitted at the beginning of the year, then discharged, but in the meantime, I caught a severe flu and had to return to the hospital again because I also had a high fever, exceeding 39 degrees. I am now under the doctors' supervision, and I hope to recover soon."

His health condition raises concerns regarding the Romanian national team's preparations for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers in March, where they are scheduled to face Turkey on March 26 in Istanbul. Doctors advise extreme caution due to his advanced age.