by the beginning of 1988–1989, răducioiu was first-choice in lucescu's team. he made an impressive debut in european football by reaching the quarterfinals of the 1988–89 cup winners' cup (ousted by u.c. sampdoria in the quarterfinals, on away goals) and finishing second in the league. by 1989–90, răducioiu was one of romania's finest players, and that year was to be the most significant of his early career. he won the romanian championship and the cup (hat-trick in the final against steaua), reaching the semifinals of the 1989–90 cup winners' cup, where dinamo was defeated by rsc anderlecht.