ACS Poli Timișoara

ACS Poli Timișoara
Full name Asociația Club Sportiv Poli Timișoara
Nickname(s) Alb-Violeţii
(The White and Purples)
Founded 1921 (1921)
Ground Dan Păltinișanu
Ground Capacity 32,972
Owner Timișoara Municipality
Chairman Liviu Anton
Manager Ionuț Popa
League Liga I
2015–16 Liga I, 13th
Website Club home page

ACS Poli Timișoara is the official record holder and successor [1] of the original club founded in 1921, FC Politehnica Timișoara, which went bankrupt and was dissolved, following the 2011–12 season. It is co-owned by the City Council and the County Council and has the backing of the Politehnica University of Timișoara, all three being active members in the legal entity running the club.[2] Poli Timișoara is a Romanian football club established in 1921. The team had won two Romanian Cups and was twice a runner-up in Liga I. It is ranked 8th in the Liga I All-Time Table, with 46 seasons played.

Named after and initially run by the Polytechnic University of Timișoara, the club was founded in 1921 by Traian Lalescu. After two decades spent in the regional leagues, Poli promoted in the first division in 1948. They have since spent 49 seasons at the top level, finishing as runner-up twice and featuring in six Romanian Cup finals. In the 2010–11 season, they finished in the second spot, but were relegated because of unpaid debts and incapacity to obtain a license for the next season.

Over the years, Poli developed rivalries with Dinamo București and UTA Arad. Timișoara and Arad are located close to each other and are the main cities in the region. Both Timișoara and Arad claim to be the first place where football was played in Romania. Poli has a friendly fan-relationship with the supporters of Rapid București and Borussia Mönchengladbach.[3]

History

Former logo.

In the summer of 2012, ACS Recaș, a club recently promoted to the Liga II, was moved to Timișoara and renamed ACS Poli Timișoara[4][5] after the dissolution of FC Politehnica Timișoara.[6] Valentin Velcea continued as head coach,[7] while the roster consisted mostly of the core ACS Recaș players and several current and ex-players from FC Politehnica.[8] Since its conception, the club has been primarily financed by the local authorities,[9][10][11] as Timișoara mayor Nicolae Robu has insisted control should not be forfeited to private investors.[12]

The club initially required consent from the owner of insolvent FC Politehnica, Marian Iancu, to use the historic badge, history, records and colours, as these had been bequeathed for a 25-year period.[13] In December 2012, it was announced that ACS Poli has received these free of charge [14] and that it could use them starting the following season.[15] However, due to the complications of the legal formalities and because of the FC Politehnica's debts, the team kept on playing under the ACS Poli name and using black/white/yellow for their official kits instead of the traditional purple colour.[16][17][18][19] This changed in the 2015–2016 season, as the club received temporary right to make use of the historic colours.[20] As of February 2016, it was announced that the club is now the sole and full owner of all the rights pertaining to and deriving from the Politehnica Timișoara brand and records, following a court decision which nullified the original agreement between the founding club and record holders, and Marian Iancu's insolvent club.[1]

From a competitive perspective, the club has achieved two promotions to the Liga I, while also being relegated once. Its rivalries with FC Steaua București and FC Dinamo București have endured, as the home matches against both teams keep drawing in above average crowds,[21][22][23][24] but the average attendance has decreased compared to the FC Politehnica's attendance numbers in the mid 2000s.[25]

Early years (1921–1997)

The club was founded in 1921 by Polytechnic University of Timișoara under the name Societatea Sportiva Politehnica.[26] Until the second World War, Poli was outclassed by two other teams from the city, Ripensia and Chinezul, both multiple winners of the Romanian championship.[27]

The club promoted for the first time in the Divizia A in 1948,[28] and played under the name CSU Timișoara in the first season.[29]

In the following seasons (from 1950[30]), the club appear with the name Știința Timișoara. The club relegates for the first time in 1951,[31] but promotes after only one year[32] and played in the top league until the season 1958–59.[33] The team promoted back after only one year.[34] The following relegation came in 1963–64 season,[35] again for only a year.[36]

During the Știința years, Timișoara won its first trophy, the 1957–58 Romanian Cup, with a 1–0 victory against Progresul București.[37]

From the 1966–67 season, the team started using the name Politehnica Timișoara,[38] but the team goes to the second division in the same season.[38] Politehnica doesn't came back to the first division until 1973.[39]

Politehnica played for the first time in Europe in 1978–79 UEFA Cup, after finishing third in the 1977–78 season. The team defeated MTK Budapest (2–0 and 1–2), but lost in the second round against Honved Budapest (2–0 and 0–4).[40]

The second trophy won by Politehnica Timișoara was the 1979–80 Romanian Cup. The final was disputed against Steaua București and the final score was 2–1, after extra time.[37] Politehnica played in the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup, defeating Celtic Glasgow (1–0 and 1–2) and being defeated by West Ham United (1–0 and 0–4) in the quarterfinals.[41] They played again in the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup in 1981–82 season because the team lost the 1980–81 Romanian Cup to that year champions, Universitatea Craiova (0–6). Politehnica skipped the first round, and lost to Leipzig with 2–0 and 0–5.[41]

Politehnica Timișoara played in the Divizia A for ten years, until 1983.[42] The next period was spent between the Divizia A and the Divizia B, with promotions in 1984,[43] 1987,[44] 1989[45] and relegations in 1986 [46] and 1988.[47]

After the 1989 Revolution, Politehnica played in the 1990–91 UEFA Cup, beating Atlético Madrid (2–0 and 0–1), but lost in the second round to Sporting Lisbon (2–0 and 0–7).[48] In 1992–93 UEFA Cup, Politehnica scored a draw against Real Madrid (1–1 in Timișoara), but was defeated in the next match (0–4).[48]

The team was relegated to the Divizia B in 1994[49] and promoted back in 1995.[50] After the 1996–97 relegation,[51] the team didn't came back in the first division on competitions ground. Instead, it relegated again, this time to the Liga III, at the end of the 2001–02 season.

The comeback and the record dispute (2002–2011)

In 2002, AEK Bucharest were promoted to Liga I, Romanian football's top division, for the first time,[52] whereupon Anton Doboș, the team's owner, moved it to Timișoara. It was renamed Politehnica AEK Timișoara, and received the full support of local authorities and Politehnica fans. The team was on the verge of relegation after only one year.[53] Poli was able to maintain the Liga I spot after winning a play-off against Gloria Buzău.[54]

From 2004–05 season, the team changed the name again in FCU Politehnica Timișoara.[55] From 2008, following a Court of Arbitration for Sport decision, the team changed the name in FC Timișoara. The colors and the records before 2002 were lost in favor of Politehnica Timișoara former owner, Claudio Zambon.[56]

At the end of 2007–08 Liga I, FC Timișoara qualified for UEFA Cup.[57] It was the first time in sixteen years that a team from Timișoara had achieved European qualification. The team was eliminated by Partizan Belgrade in the first round by an aggregate score of 1–3.[58]

In 2008–09, Timișoara finished the season in 2nd place, qualifying the 3rd preliminary round of the 2009–10 UEFA Champions League.[59] The team defeated the reigning UEFA Cup champions Shakhtar Donetsk, but they were eliminated from the competition during the Playoff Round by an aggregate score of 0–2 by German club VfB Stuttgart. In the 2009–10 UEFA Europa League Group A, FC Timișoara finished in last place, after Anderlecht, Ajax and Dinamo Zagreb.[58]

After the 2009–10 Liga I, fifth placed team FC Timișoara were drawn in the third qualifying round of the Europa League against MyPa from Finland, which they surpassed 5–4 on aggregate, after a spectacular comeback from three goals down in the second leg. However, in the play-off round they were drawn against Manchester City and were defeated twice in a row, 0–1 and 0–2.[58]

In November 2010, the Romanian Court of Appeal returned Politehnica's name, colors and records to FC Timișoara.[60] Due to rules that forbid changes of team names during a season, the team used the name FC Timișoara until the end of 2010–11 season.

Relegated to Liga II by RFF and dissolution (2011–2012)

Despite finishing second in the 2010–11 Liga I, the team was relegated to Liga II after the club failed to meet the requirements for obtaining the necessary licence to play in the first division.[61] They played in the 2011–12 Liga II under the name of Politehnica Timișoara, and gained promotion back to the Liga I but were again denied the licence and were dissolved in September 2012. ACS Recaș was moved to Timișoara and was renamed ACS Poli Timișoara .

Current squad

As of 6 September 2016

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

No. Position Player
1 Romania GK Mădălin Smaranda
3 Romania DF George Neagu
4 Spain MF Fernando Llorente
5 Romania MF Adrian Poparadu
6 Romania DF Harald Fridrich
7 Romania MF Cristian Bărbuț
8 Romania MF Marius Croitoru (Captain)
9 Romania FW Alexandru Popovici
10 Romania MF Cătălin Doman
11 Romania FW Cătălin Vraciu
12 Romania MF Sebastian Mailat
13 Romania DF Cristian Scutaru
14 Romania MF Alin Cârstocea
15 Romania DF Cristian Bocșan
16 Romania DF Deian Sorescu
No. Position Player
17 Romania FW Sebastian Velcotă
18 Romania MF Andrei Artean
22 Croatia DF Leopold Novak
23 Romania DF Gabriel Cânu
24 Romania MF Iulian Roșu
25 Romania GK Cătălin Straton
26 Romania MF Cosmin Bîrnoi
30 Romania DF Alin Șeroni
32 Romania DF Bogdan Străuț
33 Romania GK Vasile Curileac
38 Romania MF Lucian Oprea
85 Romania FW Octavian Drăghici
91 Brazil FW Pedro Henrique
94 Romania MF Daniel Vădrariu
— Albania FW Fabian Lokaj

Out on loan

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

No. Position Player
— Romania GK David Filip (at CSM Lugoj)
— Romania DF Ciprian Sturz (at Becicherecu Mic)
No. Position Player
— Romania MF Mădălin Livan (at CSM Lugoj)
— Romania MF Denis Ciobanu (at Becicherecu Mic)

Second team squad (ACS Poli II)

As of 6 September 2016

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

No. Position Player
1 Romania GK Daniel Rusu
2 Romania DF Denis Hăruț
3 Romania DF Cristian Podină
6 Romania MF Narcis Popan
8 Romania MF Eduard Codrean
9 Romania MF Renato Kokora
10 Romania FW Andrei Sîntean
13 Romania DF Raul Cochințu
14 Romania MF Slagian Andreici
No. Position Player
15 Romania MF Emanuel Vasi
18 Romania DF Daniel Filip
25 Romania DF Alexandru Cherecheș
29 Romania FW Denis Golda
33 Romania FW Damir Totić
36 Romania MF David Pop
38 Romania MF Lucian Oprea
40 Romania GK Mario Contra
49 Romania FW Cristian Pădurariu

Club Officials

Board of directors

Role Name
Owner Romania Timișoara Municipality
President Romania Liviu Anton
Board member Romania Dănuț Șoșdean
Board member Romania Viorel Boiț
Board member Romania Grigore Grigoroiu
Board member Romania Iosim Radovan
Board member Romania Cristian Rusu
Sporting manager Romania Adrian Neaga
Financial director Romania Mircea Mihuţ
Responsible for licensing Romania Petre Mușat
Marketing manager Romania Radu Birlică
Organizer of competitions Romania Viorel Vișan
HR inspector Romania Liliana Filip
Economist Romania Monica Jipescu
IT adviser Romania Ionel Poclid
Relationship with fans manager Romania Marius Babuciu
Management adviser Romania Giorgiana Prodanciuc
Press officer Romania Levente Balint
TMS manager Romania Răzvan Mușat
Secretary Romania Alexandra Manole
Football fields administrator Romania Gheorghe Bogdan
Judicial adviser Romania Alina Atanasescu
Team manager Romania Sorin Boiangiu

Current technical staff

Role Name
Manager Romania Ionuț Popa
Assistant manager Romania Sorin Bǎlu
Assistant manager Romania Octavian Benga
Goalkeeping coach Romania Petru Țurcaș
Physiotherapist Romania Mihai Alexandru
Club doctor Iran Teymoor Ahmadi
Club doctor Romania Samer Hosin
Physiokinetotherapist Romania Stanislav Savici
Masseur Romania Adrian Rus
Masseur Romania Marius Cristescu
Second team manager Romania Adrian Stoicov
Storeman Romania Ovidiu Moraru

Honours

Liga I

Liga II

Romanian Cup

European record

UEFA Champions League / European Cup

Season Round Country Club Home Away Aggregate
2009-10 Third qualifying round Ukraine Ukraine Shakhtar Donetsk 0 – 0 2 – 2 (a) 2 – 2
Play-off round Germany Germany Stuttgart 0 – 2 0 – 0 0 – 2

UEFA Cup Winners' Cup / European Cup Winners' Cup

Season Round Country Club Home Away Aggregate
1980-81 First round Scotland Scotland Celtic 1 – 0 1 – 2 (a) 2 – 2
Second round England England West Ham United 1 – 0 0 – 4 1 – 4
1981-82 Preliminary round East Germany East Germany 1. FC Lokomotive Leipzig 2 – 0 0 – 5 2 – 5

UEFA Europa League / UEFA Cup

Season Round Country Club Home Away Aggregate
1978-79 First round Hungary Hungary MTK Hungária FC 2 – 0 1 – 2 3 – 2
Second round Hungary Hungary Budapest Honved FC 2 – 0 0 – 4 2 – 4
1990-91 First round Spain Spain Atlético Madrid 2 – 0 0 – 1 2 – 1
Second round Portugal Portugal Sporting CP 2 – 0 0 – 7 2 – 7
1992-93 First round Spain Spain Real Madrid 1 – 1 0 – 4 1 – 5
2008-09 First round Serbia Serbia Partizan 1 – 2 0 – 1 1 – 3
2009-10 Group stage (A) Netherlands Netherlands Ajax 1 – 2 0 – 0 4th place
Croatia Croatia Dinamo Zagreb 0 – 3 2 – 1
Belgium Belgium Anderlecht 0 – 0 1 – 3
2010-11 Third qualifying round Finland Finland MYPA 3 – 3 2 – 1 5 – 4
Play-off round England England Manchester City 0 – 1 0 – 2 0 – 3

Total statistics

Competition S P W D L GF GA GD
UEFA Champions League / European Cup 1 4 0 3 1 2 4 −2
UEFA Cup Winners' Cup / European Cup Winners' Cup 2 6 3 0 3 5 11 −6
UEFA Europa League / UEFA Cup 6 22 6 4 12 20 38 −18
Total 9 32 9 7 16 27 53 −26

Managers

Supporters and rivalries

The roots of the Poli ultras movement can be found in 1995 when groups like Urban Guerilla or Gruppo Autonomo Viola appear in the South End. Poli's most important rivalry is with UTA Arad. The match between them, Derby-ul Vestului (The West Derby), has been the leading Romanian football encounter in the last 65 years, as Poli and UTA are the two most successful football teams from the west of the country.

Other rivalries are shared with Dinamo București, CFR Cluj and Steaua București, and a minor one with Universitatea Craiova.

Over the years, Politehnica Timișoara fans have established close friendships with the supporters from Rapid București and the Nordkurve from Borussia Mönchengladbach.

Players

Most capped players

# Name Career Matches Goals
1 Dan Păltinișanu 1970–1985 271 24
2 Sorin Vlaicu 1987–2001 244 25
3 Emerich Dembrovschi 1966–1981 208 51
4 Valentin Velcea 1990–2006 180 12
5 Iosif Rotariu 1980–2000 173 33
6 Dan Alexa 2001–2011 138 5
7 Mircea Oprea 2000–2007 132 28
8 Gheorghe Bucur 2005–2010 124 52

Players

Appearances

Competitive, professional matches only. Only pertains to 2012 onwards.

As of 28 November 2016

NameYearsLeagueCupTotal
1Romania Cristian Bărbuț2012–present1019110
2Romania Cristian Scutaru2012–present87592
3Romania Claudiu Belu2013–201676682
4Romania Răzvan Trandu2012–201570474
5Romania Cristian Boldea2012–201672274

Goalscorers

Competitive, professional matches only. Appearances, including substitutes, appear in brackets. Only pertains to 2012 onwards.

As of 28 November 2016

#NameYearsLeagueCupTotalRatio
1Romania Szabolcs Szekely2012–201518 (57)2 (2)20 (59)0.34
2Romania Cristian Bărbuț2012–present12 (101)1 (913 (110)0.12
3Brazil Pedro Henrique2014–present13 (24)0 (1)13 (25)0.52
4Romania Cristian Boldea2012–201612 (72)0 (2)12 (74)0.16
5Romania Robert Elek2015–20169 (50)2 (5)11 (50)0.2

References

  1. 1 2 "ACS Poli Timișoara are, oficial, palmares. Instanta a decis: culorile si numele ii raman definitiv". Tion.ro.
  2. ↑ "Hotărâre a senatului Universităţii Politehnica din Timișoara, Nr. 36/20.09.2012" (PDF). upt.ro.
  3. ↑ "Fan friendship". Tempo Poli.
  4. ↑ Robu a elucidat misterul: "Nu-i spunem Politehnica, îi spunem Poli!"
  5. ↑ ACS Recaş a primit acordul lui Marian Iancu pentru a purta denumirea ACS Poli Timișoara
  6. ↑ A treia operaţie estetică! AC Recaş se mută de luni pe "Dan Păltinişanu"
  7. ↑ Velcea, reconfirmat ca antrenor la Timișoara! Ce a spus primarul după întâlnirea cu jucătorii
  8. ↑ "ACS Poli Timișoara Soccer Statistics and Results in Liga II 2012–2013". soccerpunter.com.
  9. ↑ "Cati bani primesc anul acesta din partea Consiliului Local, ACS Poli, RCM Timișoara si BC Timișoara?". Opinia Timişoarei.
  10. ↑ "Din nou despre buget. Şi despre ACS". Vestul.ro.
  11. ↑ ACS Recaş, transformată în ACS Poli, trăieşte din bani publici: CLT i-a dat 4 milioane de lei!
  12. ↑ "Planuri mari la ACS Poli Timișoara » Ce a promis primarul Nicolae Robu". GSP.
  13. ↑ "SS Politehnica, la mana lui Marian Iancu". debanat.ro.
  14. ↑ Marian Iancu a cedat gratuit palmaresul Politehnicii Timișoara!
  15. ↑ ACS Poli s-a transformat în Politehnica Timișoara! Iancu le-a cedat culorile, denumirea şi palmaresul
  16. ↑ "ACS Poli Timișoara porneste la drum fara violet, cu alb, negru si galben". tion.ro.
  17. ↑ "Marian Iancu explică de ce ACS Poli nu joacă în alb-violet la şase luni de la anunţul triumfalist al primarului Robu". pressalert.ro. Retrieved 21 July 2013.
  18. ↑ "ACS Poli şi-a prezentat noile echipamente fără urmă de violet". pressalert.ro. Retrieved 21 July 2013.
  19. ↑ "Planuri mari la ACS Poli Timișoara » Ce a promis primarul Nicolae Robu". Gazeta sporturilor. Retrieved 29 July 2013.
  20. ↑ "Echipa ACS Poli Timișoara, promovată în Liga I, poate folosi numele Politehica şi culorile alb-violet". Gazeta sporturilor. Retrieved 29 July 2013.
  21. ↑ "ACS Poli – Dinamo 2013/2014". soccerway.com.
  22. ↑ "ACS Poli – Steaua 2013/2014". soccerway.com.
  23. ↑ "ACS Poli – Steaua 2015/2016". soccerway.com.
  24. ↑ "ACS Poli – Dinamo 2015/2016". soccerway.com.
  25. ↑ "European Football Statistics Attendances". European Football Statistics.
  26. ↑ "History". fcupoli.com.
  27. ↑ "Romania – List of Champions". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation.
  28. ↑ "Season 1947–48". RomanianSoccer.ro.
  29. ↑ "Season 1948–49". RomanianSoccer.ro.
  30. ↑ "Season 1950". RomanianSoccer.ro.
  31. ↑ "Season 1951". RomanianSoccer.ro.
  32. ↑ "Season 1952". RomanianSoccer.ro.
  33. ↑ "Season 1958–59". RomanianSoccer.ro.
  34. ↑ "Season 1959–60". RomanianSoccer.ro.
  35. ↑ "Season 1963–64". RomanianSoccer.ro.
  36. ↑ "Season 1964–65". RomanianSoccer.ro.
  37. 1 2 "History of Poli". Tempo Poli.
  38. 1 2 "Season 1966–67". RomanianSoccer.ro.
  39. ↑ "Season 1972–73". RomanianSoccer.ro.
  40. ↑ "1970–1980". StatisticiFotbal.ro.
  41. 1 2 "1980–1990". StatisticiFotbal.ro.
  42. ↑ "Season 1982–83". RomanianSoccer.ro.
  43. ↑ "Season 1983–84". RomanianSoccer.ro.
  44. ↑ "Season 1986–87". RomanianSoccer.ro.
  45. ↑ "Season 1988–89". RomanianSoccer.ro.
  46. ↑ "Season 1985–86". RomanianSoccer.ro.
  47. ↑ "Season 1987–88". RomanianSoccer.ro.
  48. 1 2 "1990–2000". StatisticiFotbal.ro.
  49. ↑ "Season 1993–94". RomanianSoccer.ro.
  50. ↑ "Season 1995-95". RomanianSoccer.ro.
  51. ↑ "Season 1996–97". RomanianSoccer.ro.
  52. ↑ "Season 2001–02". RomanianSoccer.ro.
  53. ↑ "Season 2002–03". RomanianSoccer.ro.
  54. ↑ "Poli remianing in Divizia A". Agenda.
  55. ↑ "Season 2004–05". RomanianSoccer.ro.
  56. ↑ "Arbitration CAS 2006/A/1109" (PDF). Court of Arbitration for Sport.
  57. ↑ "Poli qualified to UEFA Cup after 16 years". Realitatea TV.
  58. 1 2 3 "2000–2010". StatisticiFotbal.ro.
  59. ↑ "Poli qualified in UEFA Champions League". Timpul.
  60. ↑ "comunicare" (PDF). Opinia Timişoarei.
  61. ↑ "13 cluburi din Liga I au primit licenţa pentru sezonul 2011–2012". FRF. 31 May 2011.

External links

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