Romanian coach Răzvan Lucescu (57) has chosen to continue with PAOK Thessaloniki for the 2026-2027 season, turning down a lucrative offer from Beşiktaş Istanbul. A Turkish journalist, Kartal Yigit, revealed the decision to the public, dispelling any remaining speculation.

Răzvan Lucescu was strongly pursued by Beşiktaş for the upcoming season, with the club’s chairman, Serdal Adali (62), reportedly making personal overtures to secure the Romanian coach’s services. However, after discussions with Ivan Savvidis, a wealthy investor in PAOK, Lucescu decided to continue with the Greek club.

PAOK had faced a tumultuous end to the 2025-2026 season, with the club missing out on the Champions League qualifiers and settling for a place in the UEFA Europa League. The club’s performance in the Europa League will likely see them face strong opposition in the qualifying rounds.

PAOK's Season Highlights

The 2025-2026 season was challenging for PAOK, ending with several disappointing results. The club lost the Greek Cup to OFI Crete and failed to qualify for the Champions League. Instead, they will participate in the UEFA Europa League, where they narrowly missed the final play-off stage last season.

PAOK’s Europa League Prospects

PAOK’s participation in the UEFA Europa League is expected to be tough, with the club likely to face strong opponents in the qualifying rounds. Their performance in the 2025-2026 season suggests they will need to step up their game to make an impact in the competition.