Lucescu reverses Rapid decision

Razvan Lucescu has reversed his decision to leave AFC Rapid Bucuresti to take charge of FCU Politehnica Timisoara.

Agreement announced
Politehnica Timisoara announced on Tuesday that they had agreed a three-year-contract with Lucescu, who guided Rapid to second place in the Romanian First Division, victory in the Romanian Cup and the UEFA Cup quarter-finals in 2004/05. The deal was due to be signed on Monday, when Lucescu returned from holiday, with the coach also scheduled to give his first press conference in his new role the same day.

Player pleas
However, over the past few days Rapid's players have pleaded with Lucescu to remain at the club, waiting for him at Bucharest airport to parade a banner on his return from holiday while a delegation of five players also went to his house. Following discussions with Rapid's shareholders, Lucescu announced on Friday evening that he will stay with the club after all. "Yes, I accepted Timisoara's offer, but the players have proved to me that over the last two years we formed a real unit," he said. "Thanks to them I will stay at Rapid." Rapid will start their 2005/06 UEFA Cup campaign in the first qualifying round, and were paired with Sliema Wanderers FC of Malta in Friday's draw.