Lucescu set for Shakhtar success

Schuster out
Lucescu has agreed a three-year deal and was unveiled at a press conference in Donetsk today alongside Shakhtar president Rinat Akhmetov. The 58-year-old will replace Bernd Schuster who was sacked earlier this month. Hasmet Bedii Kürüm, Besiktas's director of football, confirmed Lucescu's resignation and said "no compensation will be paid". He added that the club, who finished third in the Superleague, were looking for a replacement.

High hopes
Speaking about his new challenge, which he described as "an important step" in his career, Lucescu said: "My exercise here is to make Shakhtar one of the leading European clubs. In Donetsk, we have all the necessary conditions to make that happen."

Experienced coach
Lucescu has plenty of experience including leading his country to the 1984 UEFA European Championship and spells at four Italian clubs including Brescia Calcio and FC Internazionale. He moved to Turkey in 2000 to take charge of Galatarasaray SK before heading across Istanbul to join Besiktas, where he won the league title in 2002/03.

Cup chance
With five games to go in the Ukrainian season, Shakhtar are six points behind leaders and defending champions FC Dynamo Kyiv. However, while the title looks beyond Shakhtar, Lucescu will have a chance of success in the Ukrainian Cup final on 30 May when Shakhtar take on FC Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk.