Jump to content

FCSB

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This is an old revision of this page, as edited by 89.33.89.23 (talk) at 14:31, 31 August 2006 (→2006-07 Squad). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.
FC Steaua Bucuresti
logo
Full nameFotbal Club Steaua Bucureşti
Nickname(s)Militarii (The Army Men)
Ros-Albaştrii (The Red&Blues)
Viteziştii (The Speeders)
FoundedJune 7, 1947
GroundGhencea Stadium,
Bucharest, Romania
Capacity27,063
ChairmanRomania George Becali
Head CoachRomania Cosmin Olăroiu
LeagueLiga I
2005-06Divizia A, 3rd

FC Steaua Bucureşti is a Romanian football club based at Ghencea Stadium, Bucharest, Romania. It was founded on June 7, 1947 as ASA Bucureşti (Asociatia Sportivă a Armatei - English The Army Sport Association). The club changed its name for several times before settling on "Steaua" (English: The Star) in 1961.

Being the only Romanian football team, and the first in Eastern Europe, to win the European Champions Cup in 1986, having also won the European Super Cup in 1987, Steaua is the most successful and most popular football club in Romania. Alongside the two European trophies, they have also won 23 National Football Championships, 20 Romanian Cups and 5 Romanian Super Cups.

The club is historically known as the Romanian Army sports club. The football department separated from the Romanian Ministry of National Defence in 1998, and the only links to the Army right now are the historical tradition and their home ground, Ghencea Stadium, which still belongs to the Ministry of National Defence but has been leased on a 49 year long period to the football club.

Since 2002, the club is being run by Romanian businessman George Becali, who purchased the majority capital and has turned it into SA (Romanian PLC).

The other sections of CSA Steaua Bucureşti are Rugby, Ice Hockey (autonomous – Hochei Club Steaua Suki Bucureşti), Handball, Water Polo, Basketball (only a youth section at present), Volleyball, Athletics, Swimming, Gymnastics, Boxing, Paddling, Shooting, Weightlifting, Fencing, Tennis and Judo. Also in existence is Clubul Sportiv Steaua Wu-Shu (Martial Arts), run by current FC Steaua owner George Becali, with no link to CSA Steaua.

The team colours are red and blue.

European Cup Winners

File:7058653464575.jpg
Steaua Bucharest, Champions League winners, May 7 1986 *Upper row from left to right: Ladislau Bölöni, Miodrag Belodedici, Ştefan Iovan, Victor Piţurcă, Adrian Bumbescu, Helmuth Duckadam; * Lower row from left to right: Mihail Majearu, Marius Lăcătuş, Lucian Bălan, Gavril Balint, Ilie Bărbulescu

Steaua won the European Champions Cup final played on May 7 1986 against FC Barcelona at the Estadio Sanchez Pizjuan stadium in Seville, after a penalty shoot-out. Six out of eight penalties were saved by the goalkeepers. Marius Lăcătuş and Gavril Balint were the only two players to score. The final is also remembered for Helmuth Duckadam's (Steaua's goalkeeper) performance, who saved four penalties. Steaua won 2-0.

To reach the final Steaua played against Vejle BK of Denmark in the first round, qualifying after a 1-1 away result and 4-1 home win, Budapest Honvéd FC of Hungary in the second round, 0-1 away and 4-1 at home, Kuusysi Lahti of Finland in the quarter-finals, 0-0 at home and 1-0 away, and then RSC Anderlecht of Belgium, 0-1 away and 3-0 at home in the semi-finals.

Steaua Bucharest vs FC Barcelona 0 : 0 (2 : 0 after the penalty shootout), Seville, May 7, 1986, European Champions Cup Final

History

Early Years (1947-1949)

File:ASAbadge.jpg
ASA Bucureşti badge 1947-1949

On June 7, 1947, at the initiative of several officers of the Romanian Royal House, the first Romanian sports club of the Army was born through a decree signed by General Mihail Lascăr, High Commander of the Romanian Royal Army. The club was to be called ASA Bucureşti (Asociaţia Sportivă a Armatei Bucureşti – English: Army Sports Association), with a single section, that of football, and was entrusted for leadership to General-Major Oreste Alexandrescu. The decision had been adopted on the ground that several officers were already playing for different teams, which was premise to a good nucleus for forming a future competitive team. With this squad, Coloman Braun-Bogdan, the first coach in the club’s history, went to a sustained training camp in the mountain resort of Sinaia. Although shirts, boots and balls were missing, atmosphere inside the team was rather optimistic. Thanks to sustained efforts, in the shortest possible time the club soon acquired the first training suits, navy green, duck material of, and the first shirts, blue. The big surprise however were the 40 pairs of boots the club had purchased for the 20 selected players.

With the squad gathered in record time, ASA was preparing itself for the Romanian second league promotion play-offs. However, the new Communist government who had come to power in 1946 and assumed total control of the country at the end of 1947, stated that every sports association in the country was of new to be linked to a certain State Department, Ministry or company. This was not, however the case for first league club Carmen Bucureşti, owned by wealthy industrialist Dumitru Mociorniţă, who saw his team excluded from the championship and later on dissembled. Its place was now taken by newly-formed ASA, who was later on to be reinforced by players of defunct Carmen itself.

The team’s first official competition was the 1947-48 Romanian Football Championship season, which they ended 14th. Their first official match was played in Bucharest against Dermata Cluj and ended 0-0. The team managed to avoid relegation after a play-out with seven other teams.

On June 5, 1948, through Order 289 of the Ministry of National Defence, ASA transforms into CSCA (Clubul Sportiv Central al Armatei – English: Central Sports Club of the Army), after which performances begin to roll.

In 1949, CSCA wins its first trophy in history, the Romanian Cup, after defeating CSU Cluj (current Universitatea Cluj) 2-1 in the final. Because of the championship’s pass to the Soviet inspiration spring-fall system, which lasted from 1950 to 1956, CSCA played in that year’s fall in an unofficial competition called “The Autumn Cup”, held in six different groups, without a final tournament, and won one of them.

CCA Golden Team (1949-1961)

File:CCAbadge.jpg
CCA Bucureşti badge 1949-1961

At short time after winning their first ever trophy, CSCA changed names again, this time to CCA (Casa Centrală a Armatei – English : Central House of the Army).

Under the new name, the club would enter the high-life of Romanian football by winning their first Championship - Cup Double in 1951, not before conquering their second national cup one year earlier after trailing 3-1 past Flamura Roşie Arad. The first title was achieved on goal average (which was then used as a second criterion instead of goal difference), while the cup by disposing 3-1 of Flacăra Mediaş in the final. Two subsequent titles followed consecutively after that year and another one in 1956, thanks to a squad that now comprised Iosif Petschovsky, a great player also recognized for his high spirit of Fair-Play. The team also won the Romanian Cup in 1952 (2-0 v Flacăra Ploieşti) and 1955 (6-3 v Progresul Oradea - current FC Bihor Oradea).

CCA Bucureşti

The 1950s were years of great domestic performances, ones in which the club’s first Golden Team crystallized itself, a team which sometimes confused itself with the National Team of Romania itself, with players such as goalkeeper Ion Voinescu, defenders Vasile Zavoda and Alexandru Apolzan, midfielders Ştefan Onisie and Tiberiu Bone or strikers Gheorghe Cacoveanu, Gheorghe Constantin, Ion Alecsandrescu, Francisc Zavoda and Nicolae Tătaru directed by Technical Consultant Virgil Economu and coaches Ilie Savu and Ştefan Dobay. 1956 was one of the CCA’s most prestigious years, when, apart from winning the title, the team enterprised a tournament in England where they beat Luton Town FC 4-3 (which they had already beaten 5-1 in a friendly in Bucharest one year earlier), drew against Arsenal FC 1-1 and Sheffield United FC 3-3 and lost 5-0 in front of Wolverhampton Wanderers FC. Also, on April 22, 1956, the Romanian national team beat Yugoslavia 1-0 in Belgrade with a team comprised only by CCA players.

1957 was the year Romania switched back to the fall-spring system and in whose spring CCA participated in the Danube Cup, being knocked out by MTK Budapest in the first round and also the one in which the team made their first European Cup appearance, outpassed by BV Borussia Dortmund in the European Champions Cup after a 3rd match play-off in Bologna.

A New Star (1961-1985)

File:STEAUAbadge.jpg
CSA Steaua Bucureşti badge 1961-1991

In 1961, after having won the previous two national titles, CCA changes names once again for the final time to CSA Steaua Bucureşti (Clubul Sportiv al Armatei Steaua – English: Army Sports Club Steaua). The name "Steaua" is Romanian for The Star and was adopted because of the presence, just like in any other Eastern-European Army team, of a red star (turned to yellow now) on their badge.

On April 9 1974, Steaua’s current home, the Ghencea Stadium, is inaugurated with a friendly match opposing OFK Beograd that ended 2-2. The arena was something new for Romania, as it was built especially for football, with a capacity of 30,000 and with no athletics track. Up to that date, Steaua had played its home matches on either two of Bucharest’s largest stadiums, Republicii and 23 August (present-day Lia Manoliu Stadium).

Internally, fierce rivalry with teams like Dinamo Bucharest, Petrolul Ploieşti and UTA Arad made the military team reach the title harder and harder, the 7th and 8th decades seeing them win the title only three times under their new name (1967-68, 1975-76, 1977-78). However, during that same period, Steaua won several National Cups, eight in number (1961-62, 1965-66, 1966-67, 1968-69, 1969-70, 1970-71, 1975-76 and 1978-79), ultimately being nicknamed The Cup Specialists.

The first half of the 1980s was very poor to the club, as no trophies were won for six years. However, several prodigies were transferred, such as Helmuth Duckadam, Ştefan Iovan, Miodrag Belodedici, Marius Lăcătuş, Victor Piţurcă, Mihail Majearu, Gavril Balint or Adrian Bumbescu, who set the basis for the future team. These years of search and fluster did however no less than to foretell the amazing performances of the 9th and 10th decades.

Second Golden Team (1985-1989)

File:IOVANcce.jpg
Ştefan Iovan lifting the European Champions Cup for Steaua in 1986

Under the command of coaches Emerich Jenei and Anghel Iordănescu, Steaua had an impressive Championship run in the 1984-85 season, which they eventually won after a six-year break. What followed was an absolutely astonishing European Cup season. After knocking-out Vejle BK, Honved FC, Kuusysi Lahti FC and RSC Anderlecht, they were the first ever Romanian team to make it into a European Cup final. On May 7, 1986, at the Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan in Seville, Spanish champions FC Barcelona were clear favourites, but after a goalless draw, legendary goalkeeper Helmuth Duckadam saved all four penalties taken by the Spaniards being the first ever Romanian to reach the Guinness Book for that matter, while Gavril Balint and Marius Lăcătuş transformed theirs to make Steaua the first Eastern-European team to conquer the supreme European trophy.

File:HAGIesc.jpg
Gheorghe Hagi lifting the European Super Cup for Steaua in 1987

Gheorghe Hagi, the Romanian all-time best footballer, joined the club a few months later, scoring the only goal of the match against Dinamo Kiev which brought Steaua an additional European Super Cup on February 24, 1987 in Monaco, just two months after having lost the Intercontinental Cup 1-0 to Argentinians CA River Plate in Tokyo.

Surprisingly for the ones who saw these performances as something isolate, Steaua remained at the top of European football for the rest of the decade, managing one more European Cup semifinal against SL Benfica (1987-88) and one more European Cup final in 1989, which was lost 4-0 in front of Marco van Basten, Ruud Gullit and Frank Rijkaard’s AC Milan, next to their four more national titles (1985-86, 1986-87, 1987-88, 1988-89) and four national cups (1984-85, 1986-87, 1987-88, 1988-89). In addition, from June 1986 to September 1989, Steaua ran a record 104-match undefeated streak in the championship, which by that time was a new world record.

Post-Revolution Era (1990-2002)

File:CSAbadge.jpg
CSA Steaua Bucureşti badge 1991-1998

The 1989 Romanian Revolution led the country towards a free open-market and subsequently, several players of the great team of the 1980s left for bigger clubs in the West. Gheorghe Hagi went to Real Madrid CF for a record $ 4,300,000 fee which stands up to this day for the national championship, Marius Lăcătuş to AC Fiorentina, Dan Petrescu to Foggia Calcio, Silviu Lung to CD Logrones, Ştefan Iovan to Brighton & Hove Albion FC and so on.

Therefore, three years followed in which the club only won a national cup in the 1991-92 season. A swift recovery followed though and Steaua managed a six consecutive championship streak between 1992-93 and 1997-98 to equalize the 1920s performance of Chinezul Timişoara and also three more cups in 1995-96, 1996-97 and 1998-99. Another record highly regarded by the fans was the eight year and six month long undefeatead streak in front of arch-rivals FC Dinamo Bucureşti, which counted 19 matches in both the championship and the Romanian Cup. Also, Dinamo have yet to beat Steaua at Ghencea in the league since September 1989.

At the international level, the club managed to reach the Cup Winners' Cup quarter-finals in 1993, when they lost on away goals to Royal Antwerp FC, and also to make it to the UEFA Champions League group stage three years in a row between 1994 and 1996.

In 1998, following lobby from football department president, Marcel Puşcaş, the football club separated from the CSA (the entire sports club) and changed their name for the last time to Fotbal Club Steaua Bucureşti, being led by Romanian businessman Viorel Păunescu.

George Becali Takeover (2002-Present)

File:Steaua2005.jpg
Steaua Bucharest 2005

Viorel Păunescu performed poorly as a president and soon the club was plunged into debt. Despite the title won in 2000-01, George Becali, another businessman, was offered the position of vice-president, in the hope that he would invest money in the club. Becali eventually purchased 51% of the club’s shares in February 2002 and turned the governing company into SA (Romanian equivalent for PLC) on 1 March 2002. Even though contested by many because of his controversial character which saw him turn to politics further on, Becali has so far had inspired management plans for the club, also helped by Chief Executive Mihai Stoica.

In the summer of 2004, following a third consecutive year with no trophy won, former Italian glory Walter Zenga was appointed as head coach, becoming the first ever foreign Steaua technician. Following the appoitment the results came immediately, as the team qualified for the UEFA Cup group stage and further on became the first Romanian team to make it to the European football spring since 1993 (also Steaua’s performance), where they surprisingly outpassed holders Valencia CF after a dramatic penalty shootout at Ghencea. Walter Zenga was sacked with three matchdays to go in the Romanian league, but Steaua eventually won the title, a performance repeated the following year, when, under coaches Oleg Protasov (July – December) and Cosmin Olăroiu (January – present), they also managed to make it to the UEFA Cup semifinals (dramatically knocked out by Middlesbrough FC after having eliminated local rivals Rapid Bucureşti in an epic all-Romanian quarter final) and to win the Romanian Supercup (1-0 against the same AFC Rapid Bucureşti in July 2006), the latter being the club’s 50th trophy in its 59 year-old history.

After successfully passing two qualifying rounds, playing against NK Gorica and Standard Liege, Steaua reached the group stage of the 2006-07 UEFA Champions League, where they will play in Group E alongside Real Madrid, Lyon and Dynamo Kiev.

Team's milestones

Shirt Sponsors

Kit Manufacturers

Highest Transfer Fees Received

Highest Transfer Fees Paid

Steaua's Managers (1947 - 2006)

Famous Players of the Past

Marius Lăcătuş

File:54657658691.jpg
Marius Lăcătuş

Every team has a symbol and Marius Lăcătuş is Steaua's. Lăcătuş is an idol for Steaua's supporters. Nicknamed Fiara (The Beast) for his commitment during the games, it was always a pleasure to watch him play. Even now, seven years after leaving the club as a player, the supporters chant his name at each game.

Lăcătuş played for Steaua between 1983 and 1990 and then again between 1993 and 2000. During his time with Steaua, Lăcătuş won ten Romanian championships. No other Romanian player has won more titles. In addition he won the European Cup in 1986, the European Supercup in 1987, played the European Cup final in 1989 and the Intercontinental Cup final in 1986. He was captain between 1994 and 1999.

At Steaua he always wore the number 7 shirt.

Lăcătuş also played for FC Braşov, AC Fiorentina, Real Oviedo and FC Naţional Bucureşti and coached FC Naţional Bucureşti, FC Farul Constanţa, FC Braşov, Ceahlăul Piatra Neamţ and now is in charge at UT Arad. He was also assistant coach of Romania.

Dream Team (1947 - 2006)

1 - 4 - 4 - 2

Ion Voinescu - Ştefan Iovan, Miodrag Belodedici, Alexandru Apolzan, Vasile Zavoda - Gheorghe Hagi, Mirel Rădoi, Ladislau Bölöni, Ilie Dumitrescu - Marius Lăcătuş, Marcel Răducanu Coach: Emerich Jenei Subs: Helmuth Duckadam, Dan Petrescu, Anghel Iordănescu, Tudorel Stoica, Adrian Ilie, Ştefan Onisie, Ion Dumitru

The Stadium

File:75686798098.jpg
Ghencea Stadium

Steaua Bucharest play its home games on the Ghencea Stadium (or Ghencea), a football stadium situated in south western Bucharest. Also called Steaua Stadium, it was inaugurated in April 9 1974 when Steaua Bucharest played a friendly game against OFK Belgrade. At the time it was one of the first football-only stadiums ever built in Romania. As there are no athletic track and field facilities, the stands are very closed to the pitch creating an incredible atmosphere.

The original capacity was 30,000, however in 1991 when the plastic seats where installed, the capacity dropped to 27,063. Today Ghencea is the most modern stadium in Romania offering some state-of-art facilities.

The floodlighting system has been inaugurated in 1991. A general renovation followed in 1996 in order to host UEFA Champions League games.

As of August 23,2006 the stadium is still under renovation, as the operator changes the pitch and updates the facilities. However, it will be ready to host UEFA Champions League games this fall.

Romania is also a tenant. The first game the national team played in Ghencea was in March 1977 against Turkey. Since then other 58 games were played, the last one in November 2003 against Nigeria.

Current season

2006-07 Squad

Steaua Bucharest 2006/07 1st lineup

As of August 1 2006 Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
3 DF Romania ROU Dorin Goian
4 DF Romania ROU Bogdan Panait
5 DF Romania ROU Daniel Bălan
6 DF Romania ROU Mirel Rădoi (captain)
7 FW Romania ROU Daniel Opriţa
9 FW Romania ROU Valentin Badea
10 MF Romania ROU Nicolae Dică (vice-captain)
11 MF Romania ROU Gabriel Boştină
12 GK Romania ROU Cornel Cernea
13 GK Portugal POR Carlos Fernandes
14 MF Romania ROU Vasilică Cristocea
15 DF Romania ROU Mihai Neşu
16 MF Romania ROU Bănel Nicoliţă
No. Pos. Nation Player
17 DF Romania ROU Eugen Baciu
18 DF Romania ROU Petre Marin
19 FW Romania ROU Victoraş Iacob
20 MF Romania ROU Florin Lovin
22 MF Romania ROU Sorin Paraschiv (vice-captain)
23 DF Israel ISR Klemi Saban
24 DF Romania ROU Sorin Ghionea
28 MF Romania ROU Gigel Coman
30 MF Romania ROU Răzvan Ochiroşii
31 GK Romania ROU Marius Toma
21 FW France FRA Cyril Théréau
8 MF Romania ROU Ovidiu Petre

Squad changes ahead the 2006/07 season

In:

Out:

Out on loan


Squad changes during the 2006/07 season

Management

Board Room

  • Board of Administration President: George Becali
  • Honorary President: Viorel Păunescu
  • General Manager: Mihai Stoica
  • Chief executive : Valeriu Argăseală
  • Vice-President:Tea Sponte
  • Economic Director: Iulian Ghiorghişor
  • Public Relations Director: Paul Andone

Youth Centre Staff

  • Youth Centre Manager: Leonard Strizu
  • Physiotherapist: George Mărculescu
  • Fitness Coach: Ciprian Prună
  • Group Coaches: George Mărculescu, Adrian Bumbescu, Constantin Dumitriu, Lajos Sătmăreanu, Vasile Aelenei, Ştefan Sameş, Petre Mihai, Florea Voinea, Horea Codorean, Bogdan Iovan, Gigel Gheorghe

Honours

International

National

  • Liga I: 23 (1951, 1952, 1953, 1956, 1959-60, 1960-61, 1967-68, 1975-76, 1977-78, 1984-85, 1985-86, 1986-87, 1987-88, 1988-89, 1992-93, 1993-94, 1994-95, 1995-96, 1996-97, 1997-98, 2000-01, 2004-05, 2005-06)
  • Romanian Cup: 20 (1948-49, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1955, 1961-62, 1965-66, 1966-67, 1968-69, 1969-70, 1970-71, 1975-76, 1978-79, 1984-85, 1986-87(*), 1987-88, 1991-92, 1995-96, 1996-97, 1998-99)
  • Romanian Super Cup: 5 (1994, 1995, 1998, 2001, 2006)

(*) Steaua gave up the trophy after 1990


Support

The Old Days (1947-1995)

As Steaua is undoubtedly the most successful Romanian footbal team, they enjoy the biggest support among Romanian football fans. A survey conducted in 2004 suggested the Ghencea-based team accounts for approximately 40% of all football lovers, about five million fans inside and outside the borders. There is no doubt that this large number of supporters owes a lot to the club’s outstanding performances, both internally and internationally.

However, at the beginning, being the club of the Army, Steaua drew its supporters mostly from people linked with the Army. The first waves of new fans came at the beginning of the 1950s, when CCA’s legendary golden team won the hearts of many people delighted by their spectacular play.

It was not until 1974 and the erection of the Ghencea Stadium in south-western Bucharest that the Steaua zones of supporters became to standardize themselves in the regions adjacent to the arena, subsequently covering the whole southern half of Bucharest, a city geographically divided by Dâmboviţa River.

1986 is the year when Steaua began to become the most beloved club in the country. The extraordinary success in the European Cup of a fantastic team that was to remain among Europe’s finest for another three years turned everyone’s attention to the red and blues. Dinamo, up until then leader in which regards fan support, increasingly lost ground to Steaua, currently counting 15% of Romanian football lovers according to that 2004 survey.

Armata Ultra' (1995-2001)

Armata Ultra' at a 1997 match against Dinamo Bucharest

The Steaua Ultras movement began on December 4 1995, when the bases of Armata Ultra (AU), the first Ultras group from Bucharest as well (and second in Romania), were set. For years, AU dominated the Ultra movement in Romania. It quickly reached an impressive number of 4,000 members, a record which stands up to this day for supporter groups in the country. Internal rules were very strict, both inside and outside matches: there was no smoking, no eating, no drinking, no sitting, only standing and chanting. Many saw the disappearance of AU something as the death of a legend and even compared it to the fall of the Roman Empire. This occurred in 2001, due to internal problems, when other small groups, who identified themselves with AU, appeared and gradually messed with their policy, style and way of life and it all culminated with a conflict of their leader, Jean Pavel, with the Steaua Board of Administration. Even though extinct, Armata Ultra’s spirit still lives on in most Steaua fans and a great lot of them still identify themselves with AU, as it probably was the strongest, most important ever Ultra group in Romania.

Present Days (2001-Present)

Peluza Nord's choreography before the match that won Steaua their 22nd national title

Currently Steaua is the only team whose supporters are not lead by a single group. The tendency nowadays is to form several small groups who each play their part. The most important part of them are located in the Peluza Nord (North End), some others taking their place in the Peluza Sud (South End). Because of different attitudes towards the team and the game (PS are usually tougher and more severe in which regards the game and often not so patient), there have lately been quite a few conflicts between the two. The four groups at the PS (Ultras, Hunters, Vacarm, Stil Ostil) officially ceased activity even because of these conflicts with the more numerous PN. Groups inside Peluza Nord include Tineretului Korp, Titan Boys, Nucleo, Gruppo Tei, Skins Berceni, Insurgenţii, Inseparabilii, Cauza Noastră, Ultras Colentina, Gruppo Voluntari Est, Tradizione, Desant. It’s difficult to assign Steaua fans a certain style, as they do have the typical Italian style, common in different respects to all Romanian groups of fans, with lots of choreographies, banners, flags, doubleholders, flags swinging in the air and groundhopping, but on the other hand still have serious Hooligan influences existent from the defunct Armata Ultra’. Therefore, they mostly resemble the Western-European style, typical for fans such as those of AFC Ajax, Paris Saint-Germain FC, BV Borussia Dortmund, RSC Anderlecht, etc.

In what concerns choreographies, Steaua have lately become the best in an unofficial ranking. Overshadowed for years by Dinamo’s Nuova Guardia (as Armata Ultra’ didn’t assign great importance to this aspect), they lately came up with some very inspired and impressive displays, the last one occurring on the occasion of the UEFA Cup Semifinal with Middlesbrough FC in 2006.

Statistics

Pts Pld W D L GF GA
In Liga I (60 seasons), ranked 1st** 2310 1738 959 392 387 3380 1824
In European Cup* (18 seasons), ranked 25th** 91 87 34 23 30 132 121
In UEFA Champions League*** (3 seasons) 13 18 3 7 8 15 26
In Cup Winners' Cup (11 seasons), ranked 34th** 40 40 14 12 14 51 54
In UEFA Cup (10 seasons), ranked 48th** 64 60 23 18 19 81 69
In European Supercup 2 1 1 0 0 1 0
In Intercontinental Cup 0 1 0 0 1 0 1

(*) include UEFA Champions League

(**) up to and including the 2005 - 06 season

(***) do not include the qualifying rounds results

Records

  • Record Win: 12-0 v CIL Blaj (10 June 1964, Romanian Cup 1/8 Finals);
  • Record League Win: 11-0 v Corvinul Hunedoara (7 December 1988, Divizia A);
  • Record Loss: 0-7 v ITA Arad (currently UTA Arad, 14 September 1947, Divizia A);
  • Record Away Win: 9-0 v Locomotiva Galaţi (27 June 1951, Romanian Cup 1/16 Finals);
  • Record Home Loss: 1-6 v ITA Arad (currently UTA Arad, Divizia A, 1947-48);
  • Record European Win: 6-0 v BSC Young Boys (3 October 1979, Cup Winners’ Cup);
  • Record European Loss: 0-5 v Montpellier HSC (23 October 1990, Cup Winners’ Cup), 0-5 v Paris Saint-Germain FC (27 August 1997, Champions’ League Qualifiers);
  • Most Appearances: Tudorel Stoica (368 matches in 14 seasons);
  • Most Goals Scored: Anghel Iordănescu (146 goals in 14 seasons);
  • Record Unbeaten League Run: 104 matches (June 1986 – September 1989) European record, former World Record;
  • Record Home Unbeaten League Run: 113 matches (November 1989 – August 1996);
  • Record League Percentage in a Season: 65 pts in 34 matches (1988-89; 2 pts/win; 95,58%);
  • Least Goals Conceived in a Season: 16 (2005-06; 0,53/match);
  • The only Romanian team to have played in UEFA Champions League (1994-95, 1995-96, 1996-97, 2006-07);
  • The first Romanian to have entered the Guinness Book: (Helmuth Duckadam, after saving all four penalties in the ECC Final in 1986);
  • The first Eastern European team to win the European Champions Cup;
  • Most trophies in Romanian football: 50;
  • Most National Championships: 23;
  • Most National Cups: 20;
  • Most National Super Cups: 5;
  • Most Romanian championships won by a single player: Marius Lăcătuş (10);
  • Most championships in a row: 6 (1992-93 – 1997-98, equal to Chinezul Timişoara’s record from the 1920s);
  • Most matches won in a row in Divizia A: 17 (equal to FC Dinamo Bucureşti);
  • Steaua and Dinamo Bucharest are the only teams that played only in the first Romanian league;
  • Youngest goal scorer in european cups: Răzvan Ochiroşii: 17 years and 5 months (2 August 2006 v ND Gorica).

Rivalries

Rivalry with Dinamo

Steaua against FC Dinamo Bucureşti has been leading football derby in the last 50 years, as Steaua and Dinamo are the two most successful football teams in the country. It is also been and still is a match between the former clubs of the Romanian Army (Steaua) and the Ministry of Internal Affairs (Dinamo). Not once have there been famous clashes between different factions of supporters of them, in the streets as well as inside the stadium. The heyday was reached before a match kick-off in 1997, when Dinamo fans set a sector of Ghencea Stadium's South End (where they were assigned) on fire. Between October 1991 and April 2000, Steaua enjoyed their moment of glory, counting 19 undefeated official matches in front of their rivals, both in the championship and the cup.

Rivalry with Rapid

The second rivalry has a full racial background behind. AFC Rapid Bucureşti, one of the oldest Romanian clubs, have been seen as the Communism-opressed lower-class supporters’ club (hence their great adversity for Steaua and Dinamo) for a long time and became a force in the Romanian football only in the last ten years. They are based in the working-class neighbourhood of Giuleşti and part of the Steaua and Dinamo fans see them as ţigani (gypsies), or pejoratively said ciori (crows), due to the stereotype of that allegedly considers the above-mentioned part of Bucharest as inhabited by large numbers of Roma. Therefore, the matches between Steaua and Rapid are full of those racial issues among the supporters. In the last years every single match between Steaua and Rapid has ended in serious clashes between fans fueled by racial adversities. The encounter at Ghencea Stadium in the spring of 2005 ended in both teams’ pitch suspension for one matchday and the following, during which the match was stopped several times because of fans throwing rocks and seats on the pitch, resulted in two matchdays’ suspension for them. Rivlary has become even fiercer since Steaua outpassed Rapid in an all-Romanian UEFA Cup quarter final in 2006.

Other Rivalries

Milder and historical rivalries are also with non-Bucharest teams such as FC Universitatea Craiova and, in the last couple of years, FCU Politehnica Timişoara.

Trivia

  • Over the last few years, German Techno group Scooter's tune 'Maria' has become an unofficial anthem of all Steaua supporters. Even though several artists have tried their luck with their own version of the official Steaua anthem, none of these songs imposed itself or created as much impact as Scooter's creation, played at the beginning of every home match and sung together by all fans.
  • During the last years of Communist regime in Romania, Steaua had Romanian dictator Nicolae Ceauşescu's son Valentin involvement inside the team's life. Even though a controversial character, Valentin Ceauşescu admitted in a recent interview that he had done nothing else than to protect his favourite team from Dinamo's sphere of influence insured by the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Though contested by some, their five-year winning streak in the championship between 1984-85 and 1988-89 had the European performances as a back-up and as a prove that the team was really the best during this period.
  • With an impressive European pedigree behind, Steaua was virtually anonymous before their 1986 triumph in the European Cup. Their best performance had been reaching the Cup Winners Cup Quarter Finals in 1971-72. Apart from the European Cups, Steaua also have two perticipations in non-FIFA/UEFA competitions. In 1958, they were knocked out in the first round of the Danube Cup (continuator of Mitropa Cup) by MTK Budapest and in 1982, they didn't manage to pass the group stages of the Balkans Cup in a group with Beroe Stara Zagora and Galatasaray SK.

Other Sports

Handball (Men)

The handball team of Steaua Bucharest won the European Cup in 1968 and 1977 as well as the Challenge Cup in 2006.

The team also won the Romanian Handball Championship (in seven players) 27 times in 1963, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1994, 1996, 2000 and 2001 and the Romanian Handball Championship (in eleven players) seven times in 1950, 1951, 1952, 1954, 1955, 1957 and 1961 and the Romanian Cup six times in 1981, 1985, 1990, 1997, 2000 and 2001.

They play their home matches at 'Lucian Grigorescu' Sports Hall. The current coach is Vasile Stângă.

Ice Hockey

CCA Bucureşti founded an Ice Hockey section in 1951. Nowadays, Hochei Club Steaua Suki Bucureşti is an autonomous club ever since 2004, but still belongs to CSA Steaua. It is the most successful ice hockey team in Romania after having won the domestic league 41 times. They are the current champions inside a national competition comprised of only 6 teams and in which, besides them, only SC Miercurea Ciuc actually count, a club with whom Steaua plays the final every year over a "best of 7" encounter.

They play their home matches at 'Mihail Flamaropol' Ice Rink. The current coach is Marius Gliga. The team is the Steaua fans' second favourite team after the football one.

Rugby

The CSA Steaua Bucureşti rugby team won the domestic league 23 times since 1947. They are the current league title holders. Romanian rugby club teams do not participate in major European competitions because of the obvious value difference between them and the ones from the leading continental countries. Instead, a Romanian National Rugby League team, comprised basically by Steaua players, participates every year in the European Shield.

The team plays its home matches at 'Ghencea II' Field, inside the Steaua Sports Complex, just next to the football Ghencea Stadium. The current coach is Costică Florea.

Basketball (Men)

Baschet Club Steaua Bucureşti was the first basketball club in Romania to turn independent. The club didn't manage but for a few years until it went bankrupt. CSA Steaua currently runs only a youth club for basketball, under the name of Clubul Sportiv Şcolar Steaua Bucureşti (English: School Sports Club Steaua). As CSA Steaua, the club won the Romanian Basketball Championship 21 times in 1956, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1966, 1970, 1978, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1989, 1990 and 1991.

Template:Champions League 2006-07

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=FCSB&oldid=73028488"