This article is about the club regarded by LPF, a Romanian football governing body, to be the successor of the original Universitatea Craiova. For the other team which claims the Universitatea Craiova record, see FC U Craiova. For other uses, see Universitatea Craiova.
Initially founded in 1948 as the football section of the CSU Craiova sports club, it was part of the club until 1991, when its birth in the league championship was taken by FC U Craiova following privatisation. Between 1948 and 1991, Universitatea had won four national titles and five national cups.[4] In the next two decades, FC U was reorganised several times and disaffiliated, which led to it being retroactively deemed an unofficial successor to the old entity. In 2013, the sports club reinstated its football department,[5] which asserts the history and trophies of the original Universitatea Craiova. They have since been backed up by several court orders and the Liga Profesionistă de Fotbal, but the record remains subject of legal dispute with another reestablished FC U team.[6][note 2] In 2018 "the White and Blues" won the Cupa României, representing their first trophy following refoundation, and in 2021 won their first Supercupa României.
On the European stage, Universitatea Craiova's best performances are reaching the semi-finals of the 1982–83 UEFA Cup and the quarter-finals of the 1981–82 European Cup. They were the first Romanian team to reach the semi-finals of a UEFA tournament and remain the only one to have knocked out at least one club from each of five strongest countries in European football—England, France, Germany, Italy, and Spain. "The Students" play their home matches at the Stadionul Ion Oblemenco, which has a capacity of 30,929. They hold several rivalries, the most notable being the one with Dinamo București.
Football in the city of Craiova began in 1921 when the first two teams were founded: Craiovan Craiova and Rovine Grivița Craiova. In 1940, the two sides merged in what resulted to be one of the most successful Romanian clubs of the Interwar period, FC Craiova, who were the first team of the city that won the Romanian football championship. However, the 1942–43 title is not recognized officially by FRF and LPF.
Immediately after the foundation of the first university education institution – the Institute of Machines and Electric Devices – a group of teachers and students founded CSU Craiova in 1948, a sports club with athletics, volleyball, handball, table tennis, chess, and football sections.[11]
Under the coordination of the Ministry of Public Education and the National Union of Students in Romania, the football team UNSR Craiova (Uniunea Națională a Studenților din România) was formed and enrolled in the county championship. The first official match was held at Filiași on 5 September 1948, with "the Students" being defeated 6–3. These football players dressed the white-blue shirt: Dumitrescu – Rădulescu, Mihăilă I, Carli – Ozon, Mihăilă II – Sabin, Ilie, Bădescu, Tudor, and Serghi; all under the command of head coach N. Polojinski.[11]
In 1950, the football section changed its name from UNSR Craiova to CSU Craiova, the same name as its parent club. In 1951, CSU Craiova defeated with 6–0 Constructorul Craiova, a local rival, in what was going to be the first official match played in Cupa României. In 1953, the club was renamed to Știința Craiova; one year later at the promotion play-off hosted in Arad, Știința, coached by Nicolae Oțeleanu, promoted for the first time in its history at the level of the second echelon. The club relegated back to Divizia C after only one season and remained at that level until 1958.[11]
In 1958, Știința was promoted for the second time in the second league after a fight on the knife edge in the third series of Divizia C against Unirea Râmnicu Vâlcea. At the end of the season, both teams finished with 34 points, but with the advantage of direct matches for the white and blue team.[12] In the first season after promotion, Craiova placed 13th out of 14. Several wins have been made in the next seasons: 1959–60 (10th), 1960–61 (2nd), 1961–62 (4th), 1962–63 (4th).[13] The 1963–64 Divizia B season had a four-way fight for promotion in the first series of the second league. At the end, the Students won the promotion, but tied for second place with Metalul Târgoviște (one point ahead, third place). Poiana Câmpina had two points over fourth place, Dinamo Bacău. This historical act was signed by head coach Nicolae Oțeleanu and the following players: Dumitrescu, Vasilescu, Geleriu, Lungan, Deliu, Bărbulescu, Tetea, Ganga, Anton, Lovin, Onea, Vişan, Stanciu, Papuc, C.Stesnescu, A.Stenescu.[11]
The first Divizia A season was challenging for who were saved from relegation in the last rounds with just one point more than the first relegated team, Minerul Baia Mare. The end of the next season found Știința ranked eighth, the middle of the standing, and they were already putting the first bases of a team able to issue claims to the title.
In the summer of 1966, the club was renamed from Știința Craiova to Universitatea Craiova. Nevertheless, supporters continued to include in their chants and their encouragements the name Știința. Universitatea supporters tend to chant Hei, hei, hai Știința! at times of loss.[citation needed]
As Universitatea followed seasons of contrasting results, in some of them, the team delighted the audience in others less, but has remained in the first division, regardless of the situation: 1966–67 (third), 1967–68 (11th), 1968–69 (seventh), 1969–70 (4th).[14]
"The Champion of a Great Love" (1970–1979)
Constantin Cernăianu led the club to its first league title.Universitatea Craiova squad (1973–74)
Craiova started the 1970s with a team built around Ion Oblemenco, Petre Deselnicu, Teodor Țarălungă, Lucian Strâmbeanu and Dumitru Marcu, among others. The start of the decade had the club in sixth place at the end of the 1970–71 season and eighth place at the end of the 1971–72. In the 1972–73 season, they finished at the same number of points with Dinamo București, but lost the championship on goal difference. The season coined a new nickname, "the Champion of a Great Love", a nickname created by the poet Adrian Păunescu, a big fan of the team from Bănie, named Dinamo only as the champion of the country, indicating that Craiova lost the title.[15]
In the 1973–74 season, the title fight was again between Universitatea and Dinamo. Craiova won the title by a point from Dinamo, with Craiova becoming the first university team to win a national title in Europe. Dinamo was considered to be the pet team of the communist regime, which often influenced the results as well and after the last season's incidents, Universitatea was increasingly seen as a representative of the people and simple man in the struggle with the communist regime, of pure football and football played on the pitch against the one dominated by arrangements and influences, so the nickname had gained a reputation.[16] The squad that won the first title was coached by Constantin Cernăianu and Constantin Oțet and had the following players included: Oprea, Manta – Niculescu, Bădin, Deselnicu, Velea, Strâmbeanu, Ivan, Niță, Balaci, Berneanu, Țarălungă, Oblemenco, Bălan, Pană, Boc, Ștefănescu, Marcu, Stăncescu, Kiss, Chivu, Negrilă and Constantinescu.[11]
The 1974–75 season brought a first UEFA European Cup presence against Swedish team Åtvidaberg, who lost 3–4 on aggregate but ranked third place at the end of the championship. The 1975–76 season had the team rank sixth place and announcing a generational change. For the last season of Ion Oblemenco, the team from Craiova won the Romanian Cup for the first time in its history in a final against Steaua București. In the Divizia A, the team finished in third place.
With the generational exchange made, Universitatea continued to impress in 1978 by defending its Romanian Cup trophy, won a year before against Olimpia Satu Mare and a sixth place in the league. The 1978–79 season ended with fourth place and in the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup, Fortuna Düsseldorf eliminated the team in the first round.
In the 1980–81 season, the team was managing the historical double, the cup, and the championship. As a result of this performance, the students qualified for the 1981–82 European Cup, where Craiova Maxima became more and more visible by eliminating Olympiacos and KB, being stopped in the quarter-finals by Bayern Munich, 1–3 in aggregate, a historical performance for the Romanian football at that time.
The long-standing presence in the European Cups affected the team, which finished only on second place. They later qualified in the UEFA Cup throughout the 1982–83 season, being the first team in the history of Romania that qualified in a European Cup semi-finals. Under the management of Constantin Oțet and Nicolae Ivan, the team took out Fiorentina (Serie A runners-up), Bordeaux, and Kaiserslautern. In the semi-final, Universitatea encountered Benfica, two times European champions and three times European Cup finalists at that time. After two draws, the Portuguese side advanced to the final on aggregate away goals. In the Divizia A, the team finished again in second place.
Throughout the rest of the 1980s, Universitatea Craiova ranked in the following places: 1983–84 (3rd), 1984–85 (4th), 1985–86 (3rd), 1986–87 (5th), 1987–88 (5th), 1988–89 (5th), and 1988–89 (3rd). The team had a constant presence in the European Cups eliminating teams such as Real Betis, Olympiacos, AS Monaco and Galatasaray, but they never got past the third round. The Students also lost a Romanian Cup final in 1985, 1–2 against Steaua București.
Chart of CS Universitatea Craiova's league performance 1955–2018
In 1991, Universitatea Craiova conquered its last national title and Romanian Cup, under the management of Sorin Cârțu.
However, in the same year, the CS Universitatea Craiova sports club dissolved its football section,[17] and Fotbal Club Universitatea Craiova continued its tradition until the early 2010s—until 1994, the club was still controlled by the Ministry of National Education. FC U won a Romanian Cup in 1993 and reached three finals, in 1994, 1998, and 2000. There was faulty management during the 1990s and early 2000s, which led to the 2005 relegation, when 41 consecutive years of Divizia A were celebrated.
On 20 July 2011, the club was temporarily excluded by the Romanian Football Federation[18] for failing to withdraw their dispute with former coach Victor Pițurcă from a civil court, as per article 57 of the FRF statute which states that the Football Federation solves all the sports lawsuits.[19] However, the article allows disputes regarding employment contracts to be adjudicated in civil court.[20] The exclusion decision was approved by the FRF General Assembly on 14 May 2012.[21] All of the squad players were declared free agents and later signed with other clubs.
Rebranding (2013–present)
I believe that this team [CS U Craiova] is the successor of the one established in 1948, under the auspices of the Senate of the University of Craiova.
– Corneliu Andrei Stroe, club president during the Craiova Maxima era, on 26 August 2013[22]
The striped crest was used on the home shirt between 2013 and 2015, and on the away shirt until 2017.
On 20 July 2011, the Romanian Football Federation decided to disaffiliate with FC Universitatea Craiova,[23] but the decision was found controversial in court.[24] Consequently, in the summer of 2013, local authorities of Craiova, supported by Pavel Badea and associated with Club Sportiv U Craiova SA (CS U), reestablished the football section of CS U Craiova.[25] CS U claimed that it owns all of the Universitatea honours,[26] and that the sports club did not offer its records to FC U Craiova, which was considered a new club; this was confirmed in justice in June 2016[27] and reaffirmed by LPF in November 2017.[7] CS Universitatea Craiova is the rightful owner of the brand and records – accepting the 1992–93 Cupa României, claimed[9] but not officially part of CS U's honours.[28]
On 14 August 2013, CS Universitatea Craiova was provisionally affiliated to the Romanian Football Federation, following complications with a licensing file.[29] After resolving the issues, the club was introduced in Liga II, the second tier of the Romanian league system. Universitatea made its season debut on 27 August, with a 6–1 success over Pandurii II Târgu Jiu in the fourth round of the Romanian Cup.[30] In the 2013–14 Liga II season, CS Universitatea Craiova and FC U Craiova met in two direct matches, which hid the true identities of the clubs. CS Universitatea Craiova promoted back to Liga I in 2014 after 23 years of absence, while FC U Craiova was permanently excluded, but later reappeared under the name of FC U Craiova 1948 in 2017.
After the promotion, Universitatea ended the 2014–15 campaign in fifth place.[31] This result was followed by eighth place in the 2015–16 season and a fourth place at the end of the 2016–17 season, the latter ensuring return to European competitions. The comeback in the third qualifying round of the UEFA Europa League was Italian side A.C. Milan, with Craiova leaving the competition after 0–3 on aggregate.[32][33] On 27 May 2018, Universitatea won its first trophy since its reinstatement after beating second-tier club Hermannstadt in the Cupa României final. The game ended 2–0 and was hosted by the Arena Națională in Bucharest.[34] One month later, the Romanian Football Federation approved an application to rename the society from Club Sportiv U Craiova SA to U Craiova 1948 Club Sportiv SA.[1] As the winner of Cupa României, Craiova subsequently took part in the 2018 Supercupa României, which they lost 0–1 to CFR Cluj on home ground.[35]
Two years later on 3 August 2020, in a home ground game against CFR Cluj, Universitatea Craiova came close to winning its first national league since the 1990–91 season. Dan Nistor opened the scoring for Craiova in the 11th minute, but their title contenders won the final fixture of the season 3–1, thus becoming champions for the third consecutive year.[36]
Stadionul Ion Oblemenco (Ion Oblemenco Stadium) was a multi-purpose stadium in Craiova, and it was originally named Central Stadium. It was used mostly for football matches and would hold up to 25,252 people before it was demolished in 2015. The stadium was opened on 29 October 1967, with the national teams of Romania and Poland tying after scoring two goals each.
It hosted many matches during the Craiova Maxima era, such as the 1981–82 European Cup quarterfinal against Bayern Munich and the 1982–83 UEFA Cup semi-final against Benfica. Following the death of Universitatea Craiova legend Ion Oblemenco in 1996, the stadium was renamed in his honour. In 2008, the stadium underwent a major renovation, and in 2015 was entirely demolished.
Craiova fans choreographyCS Universitatea Craiova fans coreography and pyroshow in Craiova city at the Ion Oblemenco stadium
Universitatea Craiova has many fans in Craiova, especially in the region of Oltenia; in Romania, they are third-most supported team in the country after FCSB and Dinamo București, as shown in a 2016 survey.
CS Universitatea Craiova ultras coregraphy at match whith FCSBPeluza Nord Craiova & Ultras Antwerp in Craiova
Many ultras groups exist, but in 2013, a strong division among the fans occurred due to the uncertainty regarding the true identities of the two clubs which claim the record of Universitatea. Sezione Ultra' 2000 and Utopia from Peluza Nord chose to support CS Universitatea Craiova,[39] while Praetoria and Ultras 2004 from Peluza Sud 97 chose FC U Craiova. Later in 2017, Ultras Craiova 2004 left FC U and decided to remain neutral.[40]
After some time, given the fact that CS Universitatea Craiova acquired most of the records, many new groups were founded: Peluza Nord Craiova:North Lions,[41] Vechiul Spirit Ultras, Nord Oltenia, Gruppo Sibiu, Gruppo Capitala, Ponsiona and UNU MAI UNIT.
In March 2018, FC U Craiova supporters attending a friendly game between Romania and Sweden at the Stadionul Ion Oblemenco booed CS U player Alexandru Mitriță upon being substituted out.[42] They also broke chairs, and as a response, CS U fans symbolically used insecticide to "get rid of the stench" left over by Peluza Sud 97 ultras.[43]
Rivalries
Supporters at a match between Universitatea Craiova and Dinamo București in 1973.
Universitatea Craiova is rivals with Dinamo București. It first developed at the end of the 1972–73 season; the two finished with an equal number of points in the national championship, but Dinamo was awarded the title due to having a slightly superior goal difference.[44][45]
Știința also has less intense rivalries with three other clubs from the capital: Steaua București, FCSB, and Rapid București. Throughout time, the club had local competition with sides such as Extensiv Craiova and, from 2013, FC U Craiova, the aforementioned entity that claims the Universitatea record. The 2010s also saw the start of a minor rivalry against Pandurii Târgu Jiu, another team from Oltenia.[46]
Honours
Note: As of November 2017, LPF attributes all Universitatea Craiova trophies won between 1948 and 1991 to this entity.[7][8] The ownership of these honours is disputed with FC U Craiova 1948, which acted as the continuation of Universitatea Craiova after the sports club dissolved its football section in 1991.[17] Another court order from 2018 suggested that neither of the current clubs actually hold the original honours.[10] On 10 July 2023, the Timișoara Court of Appeal established that the historical record achieved until the end of 1990–91 season belongs to CS U Craiova.[47]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
↑ The club adopted its current name in 2018,[1] however the following year it formally requested to instead use the "Universitatea Craiova" trademark in all competitions it participates in.[2]
↑ As of November 2017, LPF attributes all Universitatea Craiova trophies won between 1948 and 1991 to the CS U entity.[7][8] FC U's only major trophy would be the 1992–93 Cupa României, although it is also claimed by the former.[9] Another court order from 2018 suggested that neither of the current clubs actually hold the original honours.[10]
Related Research Articles
FCU 1948 Craiova Fotbal Club, commonly known as FC U Craiova 1948 or simply FC U Craiova, is a Romanian professional football club based in Craiova, Dolj County, that competes in the Liga II, the second tier of the Romanian league system.
Silviu Lung is a former Romanian footballer who played as a goalkeeper, who serves as a goalkeeping coach for Romania U20.
Mihăiță Păunel Pleșan is a Romanian former professional footballer who played as a central midfielder.
Eugen Trică is a Romanian football manager and former footballer who played as a midfielder.
Constantin Cernăianu was a Romanian football player and coach.
Ionel Tersinio Gane is a Romanian football coach and former player who is an assistant coach for the Romania national team.
Ion Oblemenco was a Romanian football striker who spent the majority of his career playing for Universitatea Craiova. He is known for being four times the top-goalscorer of the Romanian top-division, Divizia A, having a total of 170 goals scored in his 272 appearances in the competition, however these performances were not enough to earn him a cap for the national team.
Alexandru Mihail Băluță is a Romanian professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder or a forward for Liga I club FCSB.
U Craiova 1948 Club Sportiv II, commonly known as Universitatea II Craiova, U II Craiova was the reserve squad of Romanian first league side, CS Universitatea Craiova
Vladimir Ionuț Screciu is a Romanian professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder or a centre-backfor Liga I club Universitatea Craiova and the Romania national team.
Asociația Clubul Sportiv Petrolul 52, commonly referred to as FC Petrolul Ploiești, Petrolul Ploiești or simply Petrolul, is a Romanian professional football club based in Ploiești, Prahova County, that competes in the Liga I.
The 2017–18 CS Universitatea Craiova season is the 66th season in the football club's history and 4th consecutive and 51st overall season in the top flight of Romanian football, the Liga I, having been promoted from the Liga II in 2014. Universitatea Craiova also are participating in this season's edition of the domestic cup Cupa României, and the UEFA Europa League. This is the 1st season for Universitatea in the rebuilt Ion Oblemenco stadium, located in Craiova, Romania. The season covers a period from 1 July 2017 to 30 June 2018.
The 2018 Supercupa României was the 20th edition of the Supercupa României, the annual super cup in Romania.
The 2018–19 season was the 48th season of competitive football by Universitatea Craiova. Craiova competed in the Liga I, Cupa României and Europa League.
The 2019–20 season was the 11th season in Viitorul Constanța's history, and the 8th in the top-flight of Romanian football. Viitorul competed in Liga I and in the Cupa României.
Ștefan Baiaram is a Romanian professional footballer who plays as a winger for Liga I club Universitatea Craiova.
Adrian Pigulea is a retired Romanian football striker.
Nicolae Zamfir is a Romanian former football defender.
Universitatea Craiova was a Romanian professional football club based in Craiova, Dolj County. Between 1948 and 1991, Universitatea won four national titles and five national cups. In addition to its domestic success, its reputation as a major club in the country was established by being the first Romanian team to reach the semi-finals of a UEFA tournament, and remains the only one to have knocked out at least one club from each of five strongest countries in European football—England, France, Germany, Italy and Spain.
↑ "Deciziile Comitetului Executiv din 3 iulie 2019"[The Executive Committee's decisions on 3 July 2019] (in Romanian). Romanian Football Federation. However, this only means they can use this name and NOT that they are Universitatea Craiova. 3 July 2019. Archived from the original on 4 July 2019. Retrieved 4 July 2019.
↑ Buzărin, Alin (14 May 2020). "Ce înseamnă promovarea lui FC U Craiova în Liga a 2-a?"[What does FC U Craiova's promotion to the League 2 mean?]. Gazeta Sporturilor (in Romanian). Archived from the original on 16 May 2020. Retrieved 14 May 2020. This step forward of FC U will ignite the identity flame in Bănie. It always burned, and CS Universitatea, the League 1 team, always felt its flicker, even when Mititelu's side was struggling in the Fourth League.
↑ "Toată lumea știe, Cupa-i în Bănie!"[Everyone knows, the Cup is in Bănie!] (in Romanian). CS Universitatea Craiova. 27 May 2018. Archived from the original on 28 May 2018. Retrieved 28 May 2018.
↑ "Inaugurare SF pentru OZN-ul Craiovei"[Incredible opening for Craiova's UFO] (in Romanian). ProSport. 10 November 2017. Archived from the original on 11 November 2017. Retrieved 11 November 2017.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.
