Lukaku has passed away

Roger Lukaku, father of forward Romelu Lukaku, passed away at 58 years old.

Roger Lukaku, Romelu Lukaku’s father, died on Sunday at the age of 58. Also a striker like his eldest son, he earned 11 caps for the Zaire national team, scoring 6 goals and participating in the Africa Cup of Nations in 1994 and 1996.

Roger Lukaku moved to Belgium in 1990, playing for Boom, Seraing, Germinal Ekeren, then had a brief stint in the Turkish Süper Lig before returning to play for Malines and Ostende. In the Belgian top division, he scored 47 goals in 135 matches.

In 2010, he founded the Rojolu SC club in his hometown of Kintambo (Congo), naming it as a tribute combining the names of his two sons (Romelu and Jordan).

Recently, Romelu Lukaku shared a childhood photo with his father Roger on his personal Instagram, accompanied by a deeply emotional caption.

The Belgian striker wrote: "Thank you, Dad, for teaching me and passing down everything I know.

I will forever be grateful and cherish you. Life will never be the same again. You always protected and guided me in a way no one else could. I will never be the same either.

Pain and tears are flowing, but I believe God will give me the strength to stand up and keep moving forward.

Thank you for everything, Roger Menama Lukaku Vieux Roy, the beloved name friends often called you. You will always be my dear father."

Condolences for Roger have poured in from the football community worldwide.

The Royal Belgian Football Association issued a statement: “We extend our condolences and prayers to the Lukaku family on the passing of Roger Lukaku.”

Rio Ferdinand and Jeremy Doku, the Manchester City and Belgium star, left heart emojis under Lukaku’s Instagram post.

His Napoli teammate, Juan Jesus, wrote: “Stay strong, my brother."

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