Lucescu happy to prolong Shakhtar relationship
Monday, March 25, 2013
Article summary
"Money was not an issue, because that's not important for me or 'Mister'," said FC Shakhtar Donetsk president Rinat Akhmetov after extending coach Mircea Lucescu's contract until 2015.
Article top media content
Article body
FC Shakhtar Donetsk coach Mircea Lucescu has agreed a two-year extension to his contract with the Ukrainian champions, binding him to the club until the summer of 2015.
The new deal was signed by Lucescu and Shakhtar president Rinat Akhmetov at the Donbass Arena on Monday. "When we talked about the contract, money was not an issue at all, because that is not important for me or for 'Mister'," said Akhmetov.
"I was interested in only one thing: Had this team reached its peak or could they make another step forward? 'Mister' replied simply: 'I love our fans. I love our players. I believe in my assistants. I am convinced that together with the club, by joining our efforts, we are able to conquer new heights.'"
Now 67, Lucescu joined Shakhtar on 16 May 2004 and has won six national titles and four domestic cups in addition to the 2008/09 UEFA Cup, and has been voted best coach in Ukraine for the last five years. Shakhtar are 16 points clear at the top of the Ukrainian league.
