Razvan Lucescu in line to coach Romania

Razvan Lucescu, in charge of Romanian first division side FC Brasov, is favourite to become national team coach, it emerged here on Tuesday.

Lucescu’s candidature for the Romania job will be put before the Romania Football Federation (FRF) when it meets on Wednesday, FRF vice-president Ionut Lupescu said on Tuesday.

The job became vacant after the sacking this month of Victor Piturca who paid the price for Romania’s poor showing in qualifying for the 2010 World Cup.

“On Wednesday I will propose Razvan Lucescu for the job of coach. This nomination will be put before the executive committee,” Lupescu confirmed in the local press.

“According to my analysis he is the best choice for this role,” he added.

If he is given the job Lucescu’s main task will be to qualify Romania for Euro 2012.

Lucescu, 40, is the son of Mircea Lucescu who is manager of Ukraine’s UEFA Cup semi-finalists Shaktar Donetsk and identified as another possible candidate for the Romania post.

Razvan Lucescu began his coaching career with Brasov in 2003 before moving to Rapid Bucharest in 2004. Despite guiding Rapid to the Romania Cup title in 2006 and 2007 the former goalkeeper subsequently rejoined Brasov.

Piturca, 53, was sacked on April 9 by the FRF, who assessed the country’s chances of qualifying for next year’s tournament in South Africa as “zero”.

Romania are second-bottom of European qualifying group seven, eight points behind leaders Serbia with five matches remaining.