1. Politia Romana Cluj Angajari
2. Politia Mun Cluj Napoca
3. Politia Rutiera Cluj Informatii

Fotbal Club Universitatea Cluj (Romanian pronunciation: [universiˈtate̯a ˈkluʒ]), commonly known as Universitatea Cluj, or simply as U Cluj, is a Romanian professional footballclub based in the city of Cluj-Napoca, Cluj County. Founded in 1919 by Iuliu Hațieganu, the team currently plays in the Liga II, the second tier of the Romanian football league system.

Politia de Frontiera Romana face parte din Ministerul Administratiei si Internelor si este institutia specializata a statului care exercita atributiile ce ii revin cu.

Universitatea Cluj spent most of their history in the first division, but never became national champions. They played five Romanian Cup finals, under four different names, and won the trophy in the 1964–65 season. The club is traditionally considered to be the most important in the region of Transylvania, however this status has recently been threatened by the success of their city rivalsCFR Cluj. Its players and fans are nicknamed Șepcile roșii ('The Red Caps'), because of the red berets worn by students of the Cluj University of Medicine.

Universitatea Cluj traditionally plays in white and black kits, although variations of red, maroon and gold have been used in the past. The club's home ground is the Cluj Arena.

• 3Support
• 4Honours
• 5Players
• 6Club officials
• 8Records and statistics
  • 8.2History by season

History[edit]

The Universitatea sports club of Cluj was founded in September 1919 by the 'Sports Society of University Students' (Romanian: Societatea Sportivă a Studenților Universitari—abbreviated to 'U'). Its first chairman was Professor Iuliu Hațieganu, a physician and politician. In the early years of its existence 'U' Cluj played in local competitions; at the time there was no national football championship in Romania. The team played against Chinezul Timișoara in the 1923 final of the Mara Cup, losing 0–2. 'U' played in the Romanian national football championship Divizia A from 1932. In their first season 'U' finished first in its group and played the championship final against Ripensia Timișoara (0–0 and 3–5).

In the first season of the Romanian Cup, in 1933–34, 'U' reached the final, losing against Ripensia Timișoara (0–5). In 1940, 'U' moved from Cluj to Sibiu as a result of the Second Vienna Award, when the northern part of Transylvania was ceded to Hungary. In 1942, 'U' played in the final of the Romanian Cup for a second time and lost against Rapid București (1–7). In 1945, after the end of the Second World War and the return of the northern part of Transylvania to Romania, 'U' returned to its home in Cluj.

In 1946, the name of the club was changed to Știința Cluj (English: Science Cluj). In 1949, the team reached the final of the Romanian Cup for the third time, but it was beaten by CSCA București—now called Steaua București (1–2).

At the end of the 1950s and the beginning of the 1960s, the manager of Știința Cluj was Ștefan Kovács—a famous Romanian coach who later became the manager of Ajax Amsterdam. In 1964–65, Știința Cluj won the Romanian Cup; this remained the greatest performance of the club for many years.

In 1966, the name of the team was changed back to 'Universitatea'. At the end of the 1971–1972 season, 'U' was in the best position in the Romanian Championship Divizia A after the Second World War; it finished third in the league table, with the same number of points as the second placed team UTA Arad. In 1998, 'U' reached the final of Cupa Ligii but lost to FCM Bacău. In 1999, 'U' was relegated into the second Romanian division, Divizia B and in 2000 it was relegated for the first time in its history into the third division, Divizia C. It played one season in the third division, and in 2001 it was promoted back to Divizia B. The manager of the team at the time was the ex-Romanian international, Ioan Ovidiu Sabău—who started playing football in the 1980s at 'U' Cluj.

In the 2005–06 Divizia B season, the new objective became promotion to the first league. Under coach Leo Grozavu, who often played highly defensive football,^{[citation needed]} the team made many nil draws and the team lost second place (promotion play-off) by a point, though in the last match days they won 4–0 with the first place and the third, and 3–2 (after leading 3–0) with the 2nd place.

In the beginning of the 2006–07 Liga II season (Divizia B was renamed to Liga II in this season), a new manager, Adrian Falub—who had never coached before but had played over 220 matches for 'U' Cluj in the first league—was hired. Under his lead, the team had a poor early season and only reached 8th position. Yet, the moment passed and the team reached 1st position, often separated by over 6 points from the next position. On 19 May 2007, virtual promotion was achieved after a 0–0 draw against second place contender Dacia Mioveni. Three weeks before the final match day, 'U' ended its 8-year spell in the lower divisions, returning to the first league for the 52nd season in its history.

2007–08 Liga I season, first season of Liga I in last 8 years for 'U' Cluj was a tough one, the club didn't manage very well the promotion and at the end of a tumultuous season the club finished on 18th place, the last one, with only 17 points, returning to Liga II.^[2]

2008–09 Liga II season was a transition one and 'U' saved from relegation to Liga III in the last round, after a 3-0 victory against Arieșul Turda while the main contra-candidate ACU Arad ended only 1-1 at home against Bihor Oradea, a match which was followed by a major scandal. Bihor Oradea accused ACU Arad of trying to fix the match, a victory being enough for the team from Arad to save from relegation.^[3]

In the summer of 2009 'U' Cluj was taken over by Florian Walter, owner of Romprest Service which is one of the leaders of the facility management sector in Romania.^[4] After only one season under the ownership of Walter, 'U' Cluj promoted to Liga I finishing 2nd in the 2009–10 Liga II season.

In the new season, 'U' Cluj demonstrated that was much better prepared from an administrative and sports point of view and managed to finish 2010–11 Liga I season on the 8th place, far away from the relegation area.

2011–12 Liga I season brought 'U' to another area of its existence, well known and valuable players like Mircea Bornescu, George Galamaz, Gabriel Boștină, Marian Cristescu, Ovidiu Hoban, Gheorghe Grozav, Laurențiu Marinescu or Tony were bought by the club and the objective was qualification in the UEFA Europa League. Șepcile Roșii finished only on 7th place and failed to achieve the objective, but they got the best ranking of the club in the last 26 years.

In the summer of 2012, Florian Walter left 'U' Cluj and becoming the owner of Petrolul Ploiești. Together with his departure, most valuable players left also the club and signed with the team from Ploiești.^[5] Left without the main financier Alb-Negrii attempted to form a squad of competitive players with little money. In February 2013 club debts grew worrying and 'U' went into insolvency.^[6]Despite all the financial problems the team saved from relegation, finishing 12th at the end of 2012–13 season.

In the spring of 2013 Florian Walter announced that he will return at 'U' Cluj.^[7] At the end of the 2012–13 season a new problem shaken the already disturbed environment of 'U' Cluj. License committee refused to license the club for the 2013–14 Liga I season and decided to relegate it to Liga II.^[8]Șepcile Roșii contest the decision at CAS and won, assuring his presence in the next season of Liga I.^[9]2013–14 season it would once again be one without claims for 'U' due to financial problems that the club had, also Florian Walter no longer seemed interested in investing too much in the team. With all the problems Studenții managed again to save from relegation, finishing 11th.

2014–15 Liga I season was a reorganization one, 6 teams relegated instead of 4, in attempt to reduce Liga I teams from 18 to 14. 'U' Cluj struggled with its few resources until the very end, but at the end of the season the club was placed on 15th position and relegated to Liga II after its 5-year spell in Liga I.

The relegation in the Liga II was a real disaster for 'U's already shaky financial situation. The club made a squad full of young players from the academy hoping that through the ambition of the young players and a miracle the team will promote back in Liga I after only one season of Liga II.^[10] That was the only solution for saving the club, which was at that moment in insolvency for 2 years and a half and with an owner, Florian Walter, present only as a name in the papers, without investing in the club anyway and also being in international tracking for tax evasion and money laundering.^[11]2015–16 Liga II season was a season of extremes for 'U' Cluj. In the first part of the championship the team had run over expectations and had great chances of promotion. But after the winter break the financial situation become worse and the team started to have bad results which ended with a qualification in the play-out tournament, without any chances of promotion. This moment was a crucial one, without any motivation the team ended the championship on 10th place and relegated to Liga III.^[12]

Summer of 2016 it meant a new beginning for 'U'. With a sporting society in insolvency, with big chances of bankruptcy and an owner arrested for tax evasion and money laundering, there was no other solution than the formation of a new club. Cluj-Napoca Municipality which is the owner of 'U' Cluj logo and record terminated the lease agreement with the company of Florian Walter. Than Cluj-Napoca Municipality together with Babeș-Bolyai University and 'U' Cluj Supporters Association started a new project entitled ACSF Alb-Negru al Studenților Clujeni (ACSF White-Black of the Students from Cluj) a name that was given to the new team, because the society administered by Florian Walter was not yet bankrupt and the name of FC Universitatea Cluj could not belong to two companies. After the foundation of the new team Cluj-Napoca Municipality rented 'U' logo and record to the new society.^[13] The team was enrolled in Liga IV-Cluj County, Ioan Ovidiu Sabău has been named team manager and Marius Popescu the new coach. Șepcile Roșii also signed with a lot of valuable players like Octavian Abrudan, Alexandru Păcurar, Dorin Goga or Gabriel Giurgiu. Together with them in the team have been added the most talented players of 'U' Cluj Football Academy and the objective was the promotion.^[14] The project was a real success and Studenții won Liga IV without any problems, winning 26 matches and making only a draw in a match against Sticla Arieșul Turda. Also the team achieved the number of 1,000 contributing members and a lot of development projects are planned.^[15][16][17]

On 29 September 2016 Walter's society, FC Universitatea Cluj, has gone bankrupt leaving the name free.^[18] But the bankruptcy occurred after the starting of the 2016–17 Liga IV season, so the name remained ACSF Alb-Negru al Studenților Clujeni for that season.On 11 May 2017 was announced officially that from the 2017–18 season the team will return to the old name, FC Universitatea Cluj and also the basketball team will evolve under the same brand.^[19][20]

Stadium[edit]

Ion Moina Stadium, the first football and athletics stadium in Cluj-Napoca, was built between 1908 and 1911 and had a capacity of 1,500. The official inauguration in 1911 was a game between a Cluj team and Galatasaray Istanbul. It was the first game in Europe for Galatasaray; the Cluj team won 8–1. In 1961, new U-shaped stands were built and the capacity of the stadium became 28,000. In 2000, most of the stands were declared structurally unsafe for hosting supporters and were closed, leaving the stadium with a capacity of 12–13,000. In late 2008, the old 'Ion Moina' Stadium was demolished, and building works begun for the Cluj Arena. The last official game at the old stadium was played on 22 November 2008; Universitatea drew 0–0 in their Liga II game with Mureșul Deva.^[21]

During the construction works for the new stadium, Universitatea played its home games in the 2008–09 and 2009–10 Liga II seasons at the Clujana Stadium and its home games in the 2010–11 Liga I season at the Cetate Stadium in Alba Iulia, Gloria Stadium in Bistrița and Gaz Metan Stadium in Mediaș.

On 11 October 2011, the first match at the new Cluj Arena stadium—a friendly between Universitatea and the Russian team Kuban Krasnodar—was played; Kuban won 4–0. On 16 October 2011, the first official match at the new stadium was played; Universitatea won the Liga I game against FC Brașov 1–0.

Support[edit]

'U' has many supporters in Cluj-Napoca, but also in some other parts of Romania—especially in Transylvania. One of the reasons for the team’s popularity is that Cluj-Napoca has some of Romania's most important universities—including the Babes-Bolyai University, the largest in the country with more than 45,000 students.^[22]

The ultras groups of 'U' Cluj are: VG (Vechia Guardia), Boys, Mads, UCG (Ultra Curva Groapa), FPU (the few the proud the ultras), Fanatics, PPS (Prezenti pentru simbol), Black Devils, Commando Zebras. and others.^{[23][permanent dead link]}

Rivalries[edit]

Universitatea have a rivalry with local city team CFR Cluj. The animosity between the teams is one of the oldest in Romanian football.^[24] The first incidents between fans of the two sides occurred in the 1920s.^[24] A particularly violent episode took place during a derby played in 1924, when the stadium had to be evacuated because of a large-scale fight between supporters. Universitatea won the match 2–1. Other episodes of this rivalry are: in 2005, upset by the fact that Universitatea was relegated to Divizia C, 'U' fans injured CFR players at the Sport Hotel in Cluj-Napoca; in 2008, following a derby, CFR won and obtained its first league title and Universitatea relegated in Liga II, but this match was preceded by a corruption scandal, because Steaua București's owner, Gigi Becali, offered 'U' staff one million euros for defeating CFR.^[25]Another rivalries are Steaua and Rapid.

Honours[edit]

Domestic[edit]

Leagues[edit]

• Liga I
  • Runners-up (1): 1932–33
• Liga II
  • Winners (6):1950, 1957–58, 1978–79, 1984–85, 1991–92, 2006–07
  • Runners-up (3): 1939–40, 1983–84, 2009–10
• Liga III
  • Winners (2):2000–01, 2017–18
• Liga IV – Cluj County
  • Winners (1):2016–17

Cups[edit]

• Cupa României
  • Winners (1):1964–65
  • Runners-up (4): 1933–34, 1941–42, 1948–49, 2014–15
• Cupa Ligii
  • Runners-up (1): 1998

Junior Teams[edit]

The 'U' Cluj Under 21 and Junior teams have always ranked among the best in the country and have won several National Championship titles:

• The Under-21s were Romanian champions 3 times in: 1962–63, 1970–71, 1971–72
• The Under-21s were Romanian champions 8 times in: 1955, 1956, 1964–65, 1966–67, 1968–69, 1971–72, 1973–74, 2000–01

Players[edit]

First team squad[edit]

As of 2 April 2019

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

Out on loan[edit]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

Club officials[edit]

Shirt sponsors and manufacturers[edit]

Politia Romana Cluj Angajari

Records and statistics[edit]

European cups all-time statistics[edit]

History by season[edit]

Key[edit]

The players in bold were the top goalscorers in the division.

Notable former players[edit]

The footballers enlisted below have had international cap(s) for their respective countries at junior and/or senior level. Players whose name is listed in bold represented their countries at junior and/or senior level on through the time's passing. Additionally, these players have also had a significant number of caps and goals accumulated throughout a certain number of seasons for the club itself as well.

Former managers[edit]

References[edit]

1. ^'Universitatea Cluj - Site-ul oficial al echipei de fotbal FC Universitatea Cluj'. Archived from the original on 4 May 2012. Retrieved 13 February 2017.
2. ^http://www.libertatea.ro/sport/scapa-cine-poate-3-251120
3. ^http://www.crisana.ro/stiri/sport-7/acu-i-acu-sorin-cigan-si-presedintele-acu-arad-saltati-de-dna-63904.html
4. ^http://ziuadecj.realitatea.net/sport/walter-noul-presedinte-executiv-al-u-cluj--20023.html
5. ^http://sptfm.ro/2012/06/03/florian-walter-a-plecat-la-petrolul-dar-inca-mai-ia-jucatori-pentru-clubul-pe-care-nu-l-a-vandut/
6. ^http://www.gsp.ro/fotbal/liga-1/oficial-u-cluj-a-intrat-in-procedura-de-insolventa-389951.html
7. ^http://www.digisport.ro/Sport/FOTBAL/Competitii/Liga+1/Florian+Walter+se+intoarce+la+conducerea+lui+U+Cluj
8. ^http://m.cotidianul.ro/rapid-bucuresti-si-u-cluj-nu-au-primit-licenta-pentru-liga-1-213243/
9. ^https://www.agerpres.ro/sport/2013/07/05/fotbal-u-cluj-a-castigat-apelul-la-tas-si-va-evolua-in-liga-i-16-27-34
10. ^http://liga2.prosport.ro/seria-2/pregatiri-amicale/u-cluj-ultima-echipa-din-liga-2-care-a-dat-start-pregatirii-marius-popescu-si-zsolt-szilagyi-sunt-noii-antrenori-cel-mai-in-varsta-jucator-din-lot-are-22-de-ani-14648099
11. ^http://www.digi24.ro/stiri/actualitate/justitie/update-comunicat-oficial-politia-romana-florian-walter-este-arestat-in-emiratele-arabe-unite-florian-walter-a-primit-rezidenta-in-dubai-si-nu-mai-poate-fi-extradat-415898
12. ^http://www.sport.ro/fotbal-intern/adio-u-universitatea-cluj-a-retrogradat-in-liga-a-treia-dar-are-sanse-mici-sa-joace-acolo-in-sezonul-urmator.html
13. ^http://liga2.prosport.ro/special/oficial-u-cluj-a-iesit-de-sub-aripa-walter-dupa-7-ani-astazi-se-va-naste-noul-club-sustinut-de-primarie-si-universitati-15557672
14. ^http://sptfm.ro/2016/09/07/goga-abrudan-pacurar-si-giurgiu-s-au-intors-la-cluj-pentru-juca-liga-4-la-noul-u/
15. ^http://ziuadecj.realitatea.net/sport/u-cluj-s-a-impus-clar-la-viile-dejului-si-e-sigura-de-calificarea-la-barajul-pentru-liga-a-treia--158783.html
16. ^http://ziuadecj.realitatea.net/sport/record-inimaginabil-u-cluj-aproape-de-cifra-1000-la-numarul-de-socios--158345.html
17. ^http://actualdecluj.ro/hagi-ii-inspira-u-cluj-isi-contruieste-academie-pe-modelul-regelui-cel-care-va-coordona-proiectul-a-stat-o-saptamana-la-viitorul-s-a-interesat-de-organizare-de-metodele-de-pregatire-de-tot/
18. ^http://www.digisport.ro/Sport/FOTBAL/Oficial-U-Cluj-a-intrat-in-faliment
19. ^http://radiocluj.ro/2017/05/11/fc-universitatea-cluj-1919-o-singura-iubire-pentru-clujeni/
20. ^http://www.ovidiublag.ro/2017/05/fc-universitatea-cluj-1919-numele-generic-pentru-fotbal-si-baschet/
21. ^'Universitatea Cluj – Muresul Deva 0-0'. 22 November 2008. Retrieved 13 February 2017.
22. ^'First 10 romanian universities'. Gândul. 25 June 2007. Archived from the original on 15 July 2007. Retrieved 27 March 2009.
23. ^'Names of Ultras'. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 13 February 2017.
24. ^ ^abVocea.biz (31 August 2014). 'U Cluj – CFR 1907, povestea celei mai lungi rivalităţi din fotbalul românesc - Ştiri de ultimă oră'. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 13 February 2017.
25. ^'TOP 10 rivalități din fotbalul românesc'. ProSport.
26. ^RomanianSoccer.ro, (r). 'Evolutia denumirilor echipelor de-a lungul anilor'. Retrieved 13 February 2017.
27. ^'Universitatea Cluj - statistics'. Retrieved 13 February 2017.
28. ^Won the Relegation play-off against ILSA Timișoara (5–1 agg)
29. ^ ^abcUnofficial championship.
30. ^ ^abDeducted two points.
31. ^Points halved after the regular season, after the results with the last two teams are canceled. Entered the play-out with 16 points.

Politia Mun Cluj Napoca

External links[edit]

Politia Rutiera Cluj Informatii