{{short description|Romanian former footballer}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2020}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Mircea Luca | image = Mircea Luca 1963 (cropped).jpg | caption = Luca in 1963 | image_size = | fullname = | birth_date = {{Birth date|1921|08|03|df=y}}<ref name=transilvania/> | birth_place = Zalău, Kingdom of Romania<ref name=transilvania/> | death_date = {{Death date and age|2008|07|29|1921|08|03| df=y}}<ref name=GSP/><ref name=clujeanul/> | death_place = Cluj-Napoca, Romania | height = | position = Central defender<ref name=gandul/> | youthyears1 = 1932–1939 |youthclubs1 = Universitatea Cluj<ref name=gandul/> | years1 = 1939–1956 |clubs1 = Universitatea Cluj<ref name=4ever/> |caps1 = 201 |goals1 = 3 | manageryears1 = 1964 | managerclubs1 = Universitatea Cluj<ref name=gandul/><ref name=transilvania2/> | manageryears2 = 1973 | managerclubs2 = Universitatea Cluj | pcupdate = 1 January 2020 }}
'''Mircea Luca''' (3 August 1921 – 29 July 2008) was a Romanian football defender, manager and president at Universitatea Cluj.<ref name=transilvania>{{cite web | url=http://transilvaniareporter.ro/sport/u-cluj-mircea-luca-a-revenit-intre-suporteri/ | title="U" Cluj. Mircea Luca a revenit între suporteri| publisher=Transilvaniareporter.ro| language=Romanian |trans-title="U" Cluj. Mircea Luca came back among fans| date=1 December 2013 | access-date=1 January 2020}}</ref><ref name=GSP>{{cite web | url=https://www.gsp.ro/fotbal/liga-2/moartea-unei-legende-89864.html| title=Moartea unei legende| publisher=Gsp.ro| language=Romanian |trans-title=The death of a legend| date=30 July 2008 | access-date=1 January 2020}}</ref><ref name=gandul>{{cite web | url=http://clujeanul.gandul.info/sport/viata-si-moartea-doctorului-luca-citeste-emotionanta-si-incredibila-poveste-a-ultimului-simbol-al-lui-u-2833095 | title=Viața și moartea doctorului Luca. Citește emoționanta și incredibila poveste a ultimului simbol al lui "U"| publisher=Clujeanul.gandul.ro| language=Romanian |trans-title=The life and death of Dr. Luca. Read the exciting and incredible story of the last symbol of "U"| date=29 July 2008 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200101160808/http://clujeanul.gandul.info/sport/viata-si-moartea-doctorului-luca-citeste-emotionanta-si-incredibila-poveste-a-ultimului-simbol-al-lui-u-2833095| access-date=1 January 2020| archive-date=1 January 2020}}</ref><ref name=4ever>{{cite web | url=https://www.4everucluj.ro/jucatori/mircea-luca/ | title=Mircea Luca profile| publisher=4everucluj.ro| language=Romanian}}</ref><ref name=transilvania2>{{cite web | url=http://transilvaniareporter.ro/sport/u-cluj-dr-mircea-luca-revine-acasa/ | title="U" Cluj. Dr Mircea Luca revine acasă| publisher=Transilvaniareporter.ro| language=Romanian |trans-title="U" Cluj. Dr Mircea Luca is coming home| date=28 November 2013 | access-date=1 January 2020}}</ref> ==Playing career== {{Quote box| width=20% |align=left |quote="An ideal centre-back, unsurpassed heading, very good clearances on both sides, striking the ball with both feet perfectly and a superb spirit of self-sacrifice hard to imagine, to which is added the attachment to Universitatea for 25 years" |source=–Dr. Constantin Rădulescu talking about Mircea Luca<ref name=4ever/>}} Luca was born on 3 August 1921 in Zalău, Kingdom of Romania and began playing football in 1932, at the age of 11, at the junior center of Universitatea Cluj.<ref name=gandul/><ref name=4ever/> He made his debut for the senior squad at age 18 under coach Ferenc Nyúl who used him as a winger on 18 November 1939 in the last game of the 1938–39 Divizia B season which was a 6–1 home win over Industria Sârmei Câmpia Turzii.<ref name=4ever/><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.4everucluj.ro/istorie/1938-1939/ | title=Universitatea Cluj 1938–39 season| publisher=4everucluj.ro| language=Romanian}}</ref> In the first home game of the following season, Luca was also used as a winger by new coach Janos Szaniszló, scoring a brace in a 7–0 victory against Stăruința Oradea <ref name=4ever/><ref name=4ever2>{{cite web | url=https://www.4everucluj.ro/istorie/1939-1940/ | title=Universitatea Cluj 1939–40 season| publisher=4everucluj.ro| language=Romanian}}</ref> Those were his only two goals in his total of five appearances in the season, at the end of which the club finished second and gained promotion to Divizia A.<ref name=4ever/><ref name=4ever2/>
Luca became "U" Cluj's captain in 1941, in the hardest period of the club's history, as in 1940, the team moved from Cluj-Napoca to Sibiu as a result of the Second Vienna Award, when the northern part of Transylvania was ceded to Hungary.<ref name=gandul/><ref name=transilvania2/><ref name=ucluj>{{cite web | url=https://www.fcucluj.ro/stiri/99-de-ani-de-la-na-terea-doctorului-mircea-luca/ | title=Mircea Luca, o viață dedicată Universității| publisher=Fcucluj.ro| language=Romanian |trans-title=Mircea Luca, a life dedicated to Universitatea| date=3 August 2020 | access-date=29 September 2020}}</ref> In 1945, after the end of the Second World War and the return of the northern part of Transylvania to Romania, "U" returned to its home in Cluj.<ref name=gandul/><ref name=transilvania2/><ref name=ucluj/> During these years some players left to play for Bucharest teams but Luca refused to do so, and the team's biggest performance was reaching the 1942 Cupa României final, in which Luca did not play in the eventual defeat to Rapid București.<ref name=gandul/><ref name=ucluj/><ref name=RSCUP>{{cite web|url=https://www.romaniansoccer.ro/romanian_cup/1941_1942.shtml|title= Romanian Cup – 1941–1942|publisher=RomanianSoccer|access-date=8 March 2024}}</ref> After the war in which some of the club's players died, the team had to earn its right to play in Cluj, having to defeat Ferar Cluj.<ref name=gandul/><ref name=4ever/> During the war, Ferar competed in the Hungarian league under the name ''Kolozsvár AC'', finishing third in one season and had more experienced and international footballers.<ref name=gandul/><ref name=4ever/> According to historian Gheorghe Bodea who was at the game, the disparity between the two teams could be seen since the players entered the field as Ferar 's players had new equipment while the players of "U" appeared in equipment that was five years old.<ref name=gandul/><ref name=4ever/> Bodea also claims that the game was dominated at first by Ferar but Universitatea resisted with Luca being the leader of the defense.<ref name=gandul/><ref name=4ever/> At one moment in the game, Luca's eyebrow was broken during an aerial duel, and teammate Sever Coracu bandaged him so he could continue the match.<ref name=gandul/><ref name=4ever/> With Luca handling the defense and Coracu the offense, "U" Cluj won with 4–0, Luca being named "Man of the match.<ref name=gandul/><ref name=4ever/> In December 2007 in an interview for the ''Gazeta Sporturilor'' newspaper, Luca said:"Only I know how I gathered them for a match with Ferar (...) They had a strong team, as Cluj never had, one like a racing horse. We won that match 4–0, one that I care a lot about and that ended Ferar's hegemony in Transylvania".<ref name=GSP/>
In the summer of 1946, the Romanian Football Federation decided that Universitatea Cluj had to play a play-off against Victoria Cluj in order to earn the right to play in the 1946–47 Divizia A season.<ref name=4ever/> During the first leg, while the score was 1–1, goalkeeper Nicolae Szoboszlay got injured, so Luca took his place, managing not to concede a goal, as the game ended with a draw.<ref name=4ever/> The second leg was won by ''The Red Caps'' with 3–1, thus earning their right to play in the first league where they would stay for the following three seasons, being relegated in 1949.<ref name=4ever/> During this period the team also reached the 1949 Cupa României final in which coach Iuliu Baratky used Luca the entire match in the eventual 2–1 loss to CSCA București.<ref name=4ever/><ref name=RSCUP2>{{cite web|url=https://www.romaniansoccer.ro/romanian_cup/1948_1949.shtml|title=Romanian Cup – 1948–1949 |publisher=RomanianSoccer|access-date=8 March 2024}}</ref> In the 1950 Divizia B season, Luca played 19 games, helping the club finish in first place and gain back promotion to the first league.<ref name=4ever/><ref name=4ever3>{{cite web | url=https://www.4everucluj.ro/istorie/1950-1951/ | title=Universitatea Cluj 1950 season| publisher=4everucluj.ro| language=Romanian}}</ref> In that season, he even played in a 2–1 win over Locomotiva Cluj from the beginning as a goalkeeper because the usual goalkeeper Crăciun got injured two days before the game.<ref name=4ever/><ref name=4ever3>{{cite web | url=https://www.4everucluj.ro/istorie/1950-1951/ | title=Universitatea Cluj 1950 season| publisher=4everucluj.ro| language=Romanian}}</ref> In the following six years, the team played in the first league with Luca's style of play being appreciated by the journalists.<ref name=4ever/> On 20 November 1955 during an away match against Flacăra Ploiești, goalkeeper Ghibănescu got injured, so Luca went again in the goalpost but this time the game ended with a 4–1 loss.<ref name=4ever/> In the 1956 season, the team finished in 12th place, being relegated to Divizia B, the last game of the season being Luca's last game of his career, a 5–2 home loss to Progresul Oradea.<ref name=4ever/><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.4everucluj.ro/istorie/1956-1957/ | title=Universitatea Cluj 1956 season| publisher=4everucluj.ro| language=Romanian}}<br>{{cite web | url=https://www.romaniansoccer.ro/statistici/fotbal/universitatea-cluj-1956.htm | title=Universitatea Cluj 1956 season| publisher=Romaniansoccer.ro| language=Romanian}}</ref> He has a total of 176 appearances with one goal scored in Divizia A, and also he is known for playing for at least one game on all the main positions in football: goalkeeper, defender, midfielder and forward.<ref name=4ever/>
==Managerial career== After retiring from his playing activity, he always remained close to Universitatea Cluj, being president or coach, especially in hard times.<ref name=transilvania/><ref name=gandul/><ref name=4ever/><ref name=ucluj/> Luca first coached "U" in the second half of the 1963–64 Divizia A season, the team finishing in 9th place.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.4everucluj.ro/istorie/1963-1964/ | title=Universitatea Cluj 1963–64 season| publisher=4everucluj.ro| language=Romanian}}</ref> He coached the team once more, but just for one round by the end of the 1972–73 Divizia A season, obtaining a draw in the Cluj derby against CFR Cluj.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.4everucluj.ro/istorie/1972-1973/ | title=Universitatea Cluj 1972–73 season| publisher=4everucluj.ro| language=Romanian}}</ref>
==Personal life== thumb|right|200px|{{center|Luca in 1966}} He also worked as an ENT surgeon.<ref name=transilvania/><ref name=4ever/><ref name=transilvania2/><ref name=ucluj/> A book about the history of Universitatea Cluj, written by journalist Ioan Chirilă called ''Șepcile Roșii'' ({{langx|en|The Red Caps}}), ends with an analysis by Dr. Luca about the club:"Universitatea Cluj won and lost when no one expected. Even its victory in the Cupa României is the result of some calendar coincidences, when the students found the maximum form through the laws of chance. "U" tried several times to be more than it can. It tried to forget what it was. It tried, in the last resort, to stop being "U", sacrificing the lovely black horseshoe on its student chest, in the name of wanting to be what it could never be. Universitatea Cluj will always be just a champion of unsettled enthusiasms. Can there be a more beautiful title?".<ref name=GSP/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fcucluj.ro/istorie|title=Istorie |publisher=Fcucluj.ro|trans-title=History|access-date=8 March 2024}}</ref> In 1994, he received the Honorary Citizen of Cluj-Napoca title.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.prosport.ro/fotbal-intern/liga-2/expozitia-u100-a-fost-vandalizata-foto-cum-arata-acum-panourile-care-intruchipeaza-legendele-universitatii-18321287 | title=Expoziția "U100" a fost vandalizată! FOTO Cum arată acum panourile care întruchipează legendele Universității| publisher=Prosport.ro| language=Romanian |trans-title=The exhibition "U100" was vandalized! PHOTO How do the panels that embody the University legends now look like| date=26 August 2019 | access-date=1 January 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://primariaclujnapoca.ro/cultura/cetateni-de-onoare/ | title=Cetățeni de onoare ai municipiului Cluj-Napoca| publisher=Primariaclujnapoca.ro| language=Romanian |trans-title=Honorary citizens of Cluj-Napoca}}</ref>
Luca died on 29 July 2008.<ref name=GSP/><ref name=clujeanul>{{cite web | url=http://clujeanul.gandul.info/sport/a-murit-mircea-luca-2832227| title=A murit Mircea Luca | publisher=Clujeanul.gandul.ro| language=Romanian |trans-title=Mircea Luca died| date=29 July 2008 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200101160809/http://clujeanul.gandul.info/sport/a-murit-mircea-luca-2832227| access-date=1 January 2020| archive-date=1 January 2020}}</ref><ref name=gandul/> After his death, historian Gheorghe Bodea said:"I am sorry. With this death, the symbolism of "U" ended. I am very saddened by the loss. Such love as his for the colors of the team has never existed in the history of the team".<ref name=GSP/> Remus Câmpeanu who was "U" Cluj's president at that time said:"For me, he was a model, both as a person and as a player. He loved this team, with whom he stayed both through thick and thin. We were proud of him and we will continue to be proud. I would like to have people like him close to the team".<ref name=GSP/>
On 1 December 2013, a bronze statue of him was revealed to the public by his nephew, Ovidiu Luca and former "U" Cluj players Nicolae Szoboszlay and Remus Câmpeanu in front of the Cluj Arena stadium, where a marble plaque was also placed before the statue that says: "Dr. Mircea Luca 1921–2008. Fidelity, honor, respect, tradition".<ref name=transilvania/><ref name=transilvania2/><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.stiridecluj.ro/sport/statuia-lui-mircea-luca-dezvelita-cu-fast-in-fata-stadionului-cluj-arena-de-1-decembrie-video | title=Statuia lui Mircea Luca, dezvelită cu FAST în fața stadionului Cluj Arena de 1 Decembrie - VIDEO| publisher=Stiridecluj.ro| language=Romanian |trans-title=The statue of Mircea Luca, revealed with CEREMONY in front of the Cluj Arena stadium on December 1st - VIDEO| date=1 December 2013 | access-date=1 January 2020}}<br>{{cite web | url=http://www.monitorulcj.ro/sport/30730-mircea-luca-mereu-alaturi-de-simbolul-alb-negru#sthash.T1gH0KPg.dpbs | title=Mircea Luca, o legendă care nu moare niciodată!| publisher=Monitorulcj.ro| language=Romanian |trans-title=Mircea Luca, a legend that never dies!| date=1 December 2013 | access-date=1 January 2020}}</ref>
==Honours== '''Universitatea Cluj''' *Divizia B: 1950<ref name=4ever3/> *Cupa României runner-up: 1941–42, 1948–49<ref name=ucluj/><ref name=RSCUP/><ref name=RSCUP2/>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *[https://web.archive.org/web/20200101160807/http://www.labtof.ro/profil/mircea-luca-1873/ Mircea Luca player profile] at Labtof.ro *[https://web.archive.org/web/20200101160806/http://www.labtof.ro/profil/mircea-luca-6775/ Mircea Luca manager profile] at Labtof.ro
{{FC Universitatea Cluj managers}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Luca, Mircea}} Category:1921 births Category:2008 deaths Category:Romanian men's footballers Category:Men's association football defenders Category:Liga I players Category:Liga II players Category:FC Universitatea Cluj players Category:Romanian football managers Category:FC Universitatea Cluj managers Category:Romanian surgeons Category:Romanian sports executives and administrators Category:Sportspeople from Zalău Category:Footballers from Sălaj County Category:20th-century surgeons Category:20th-century Romanian sportsmen