He played as a deep lying striker or inside forward for Steaua București most of his career, being the team's captain between 1994 and 1999.

Following him in the all time table are: Giedrius Arlauskis, Ciprian Deac, Adrian Bumbescu, Mircea Lucescu, Dumitru Stângaciu and Tudorel Stoica, all with 7 championships won.

He was the first player to score in the penalty shoot-out of the 1986 European Cup final against FC Barcelona, won by Steaua.

After the 1990 FIFA World Cup in Italy, where he scored two goals against the USSR, Lăcătuș signed for the Italian club Fiorentina and then moved to Real Oviedo in Spain.

On 25 March 2008, he was decorated by the president of Romania, Traian Băsescu with Ordinul "Meritul Sportiv" — (Order of Sporting Merit) class II for his part in winning the 1986 European Cup Final.