PAOK’s partnership with Razvan Lucescu has come to an end, bringing a close to a journey filled with titles, drama, and memorable moments. The Romanian coach, speaking to Fox Insider and Kyriakos Kyriakos, highlighted his relationship with Ivan Savvidis, the man who brought him to Thessaloniki and with whom he experienced the club’s most successful seasons.

Despite the successes and mutual respect, Lucescu did not hide his disappointment over how things ended. He emphasized that he would have preferred a more natural and human farewell, with a simple handshake and a hug from Savvidis, while hinting at the “negativity” that had built up over the past few weeks and affected the atmosphere surrounding his departure.

With his sights now set on the next step in his career, the Romanian emphasized that he is leaving enriched by his experiences at PAOK, but also with the feeling that the finale could—and should—have been different.

Specifically, Razvan Lucescu stated:

“I’m happy with everything I’ve achieved here at PAOK. I’m happy with the fantastic moments I’ve experienced at PAOK. I’m happy with the titles we’ve won together. The only—the only thing I regret is that I wish I could have said goodbye to the PAOK fans in a different way.

There were people who created this negativity during these moments. What happened during those three or four weeks of the break was crazy. The most natural thing would have been for Mr. Savvidis and me to shake hands and give each other a hug. I want to thank Mr. Savvidis, because he’s the man who made this period possible for me.”

*photo source: AP