Romanian guides Ukraine miners to Europe glory

Shakhtar Donetsk coach Mircea Lucescu has transformed his side over the last decade from a provincial Ukrainian outfit to multi-national world-beaters, as they prepare to take on Chelsea on Wednesday.

The 67-year-old former Romanian international took over at the Donbass mining belt club in 2004 and with the help of billionaire owner Rinat Ahkmetov has made them challengers to perennial rivals Dynamo Kiev.

This season, the side is firmly on track for their sixth Ukrainian domestic league title, with a perfect record of 14 wins in as many matches.

After winning the last edition of the UEFA Cup in 2009, Lucescu and Akhmetov now have their sights set on an even greater prize -- Champions League glory.

Shakhtar are in with a strong chance of a play-off berth after they beat defending champions Chelsea 2-1 at home on October 23 and Danish side Nordsjaelland, leaving them top of their group as they go into Wednesday's clash in west London.

But Lucescu warned against getting carried away.

"We haven't achieved anything yet," he said. "All three remaining matches will be extremely tough. I have no doubts that on November 7 Chelsea will be much stronger than they were in Donetsk."

Lucescu, who won six Romanian titles as a player, also clinched two national titles with Bucharest clubs Dynamo and Rapid as a coach.

He has also managed Italian clubs including Pisa and Inter Milan before moving to Turkish giants Galatasaray, whom he guided to the European Super Cup in 2000 and Turkish title in 2002.

Lucescu was named Turkish Coach of the Year before taking over at Besiktas and guiding them to the 2003 domestic title -- despite an offer from Akhmetov.

Eastern Europe's most Brazilian side

When Lucescu finally took over Shakhtar in May 2004 he set about creating a completely new team based around foreign stars, with only Croatia captain Dario Srna and Romania's Razvan Rat spared the axe.

Currently, there are nine Brazilian footballers in Shakhtar's line-up, including star midfielder Willian, who has a big chance at Stamford Bridge to prove he is worth his estimated 30 million euro price tag.

Lucesco makes no apologies for turning Shakhtar into Eastern Europe's "most Brazilian" side.

"Brazilians are the worldwide-known bearers of beautiful and spectacular football, which always excited me," he told AFP.

It has not all been easy: after winning the Ukrainian title twice in 2004-2005 and 2005-2006 Lucescu was heavily criticised for relatively disappointing seasons in 2006-2007 and 2007-2008, when the club was runner-up and then regained the title.

But Akhmetov kept the faith and was rewarded with three back-to-back titles in the 2009-10, 2010-11 and 2011-12 seasons.

"I also felt tough pressure of those who wanted him to resign. But there were some things that kept me from sacking him," the metals tycoon said.

"First is his true professionalism, which changed the team radically during all these years. And of course there was his moral rectitude.

"He wasn't just trying to keep his contract running but he was sincerely and passionately driving the team to the next peak of the football glory."

Ahmetov's patience soon paid off when Shakhtar won the UEFA Cup in 2009. Two years later they finally made the Champions League knockout stage, although they were beaten in the quarter-final by Barcelona.

This season Shakhtar fans are hoping their favourites will again reach the play-offs.

Uppermost in their minds is Chelsea's Champion's League home defeat on October 1, 2003 to Besiktas -- managed by Lucescu.