SSU Politehnica Timișoara

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This article is about the football club founded in 2012. For the original entity dissolved during that year, see FC Politehnica Timișoara. For other uses, see Politehnica Timișoara.

Politehnica Timișoara
Știința
Capacity5,000 / 2,600
OwnersPolitehnica University of Timișoara (77%)
Druckeria (12%)
Other private entities (11%)
ChairmanCostel Pantilimon
Head coachPaul Codrea
LeagueLiga III
2022–23Liga II, 19th of 20 (relegated)
WebsiteClub website
Current season

Societatea Sportivă Universitară Politehnica Timișoara (Romanian pronunciation: [poliˈtehnika timiˈʃo̯ara]), commonly known as SSU Politehnica Timișoara, Politehnica Timișoara or simply Poli Timișoara, is a Romanian professional football club based in Timișoara, Timiș County, that competes in the Liga III.

Originally named ASU Politehnica, the team was formed following the dissolution of the original

ACS Recaș was moved to the city and renamed ACS Poli Timișoara, eventually reaching the top flight while ASU struggled in the lower leagues. Between the two, the majority of the fans chose to support the latter, and in 2021 ACS Poli was also dissolved. That summer, the Polytechnic University of Timișoara
, founder of the original team in 1921, ceased the FC Politehnica brand and records to SSU.

Hence, SSU Politehnica Timișoara is the only active entity asserting the history of the original club, which has totalled 44 seasons in the top national league and won two

Dan Păltinișanu Stadium, which has a capacity of 32,972 seats. Their bitter rivals are UTA Arad, with whom they contest the West derby
.

History

Former logo.

Beginnings and lower leagues (1921–1945)

The club was founded in 1921 by the

Polytechnic University of Timișoara under the name Societatea Sportiva Politehnica.[2][3]

Its initial aim was to provide an opportunity for university students to work on their fitness within a competitive environment. The logistics of the sport proved problematic, as there were limited financial means available. Thanks to contributions gathered from university professors and employees, the club bought their first football kits, with white-black vertical stripes, and rented the "Patria" football stadium. It was not until 1928 that the club developed its own training grounds, "Politehnica", which were built by volunteers. Players for the team were chosen on merit from the pool of Timișoara students and high-schoolers, who trained after school hours during the week and played football on weekends. The football landscape in the city was already developed at that time, with CAT, RGMT and Chinezul dominating locally.[3]

After spending three years in the District Championships II, Politehnica won promotion to the first tier in 1924, by defeating Kadima Timișoara. The club became established in the years to come, even finishing 2nd in the 1926–27 District Championships I, when Politehnica lost out to Chinezul by a single point, who were one of Romania's most famous football names at the time. However, the competitive level could not be easily sustained by a university club, as it was subject to the inflow and outflow of players conditioned by their student status. After a decline towards the end of the decade, the low-point came at the beginning of the 1930s, between 1931 and 1933, when due to insufficient material resources, Politehnica had to suspend its football activities.

Divizia B
, once they were founded. As war beckoned, the national championships were suspended and all football activities reduced to friendly matches and the "Cupa Eroilor" (1943–44).

Until the second World War, Politehnica was far from the number one Timișoara football club. Chinezul and then Ripensia won multiple Romanian championship, whereas the students' club failed to achieve similar results.[4] It did, however, propel several players to the Romania national football team, with the likes of Sfera, Ignuţa, Deheleanu, Chiroiu, Pop, Protopopescu and Sepi all wearing the national jerseys.[5]

Becoming one of the city's notable clubs (1945–1991)

largest stadium
in the city is named after him.

With Romania under a communist regime, these decades were a challenge for Politehnica, as the club represented an educational institution of the highest tier. The numerous promotions and relegations between the first two national leagues were contrasted by the two Romanian cups won and the club's first forays into international football.[3]

Politehnica was first promoted to Romanian top league, the

Progresul București,[12] with the club finishing joint first in the league in the same season, but losing out on goal difference.[3]

The next decade saw the club struggle to remain in the first league, particularly towards the end of the 60s. However, it was then that the club's modern identity started taking shape. Firstly, in 1963, the largest stadium in Timişoara was completed. It was initially named "1 Mai", honoring the

Stadionul Dan Păltinişanu.[3] Secondly, the club reverted to its previous name of Politehnica Timișoara[13] in 1966 and went to play during the next five decades on the then-erected stadium.[3]

When Politehnica returned to the first league in 1973, after struggling to win promotion for several years, it went on to celebrate one of its best streaks in the top flight. With the likes of

Honved Budapest (2–0 and 0–4) in the second round.[14]

The club remained steady and managed to win its

West Ham United (1–0 and 0–4) in second leg.[3][15] In spite of losing another Romanian Cup final in 1981, the club qualified once more for the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup, where they lost to Leipzig 2–5 on aggregate.[15]

After being relegated in 1983, Politehnica yo-yo-ed between Divizia A and the Divizia B, with promotions in 1984,[16] 1987,[17] 1989[18] and relegations in 1986[19] and 1988.[20] Fans ironically called this period as the 'ABBA years'. As the Romanian Revolution, which started in Timișoara, signalled the end of an era, Politehnica managed to grab its most impressive result yet in European competitions, by eliminating Atlético Madrid (2–0 and 0–1) in the 1990–91 UEFA Cup.[21]

After privatisation (1991–2001)

By state order, all public institutions were forced to relinquish and reorganize any owned sports clubs in 1991, to effectively privatize them. As a result, alongside the newly organized football club appeared a non-profit association, AFC Politehnica Timișoara.[22] The latter, consisting of previous club players and staff, was mandated with owning and protecting the club records and intellectual property.[23]

The club's swan song near the top of Romanian football for the next decade was to be the 1991–92 season. Poli finished 5th and also reached the

Real Madrid (1–1 in Timișoara), before being defeated in the return leg (0–4).[21] Politehnica lost several key players in the years after the forced privatization, which slowly lead to the team's downfall. In fewer than twenty four months from their draw against Real, the club was relegated to the Divizia B in 1994.[24] Despite a fast return to the first league in 1995,[25] Poli failed to consolidate their position and were soon relegated once more after the 1996–97 season.[26]

An inability to rebound lead to mounting financial pressures. The club was temporarily owned by a Timișoara based businessman between 1998 and 2000, before the local authorities accepted the bid of an Italian investor, Claudio Zambon, to take over Politehnica.

Dacia Pitești, and purchased their license to participate in the Divizia B.[3] After failing to earn promotion to top flight, the 2001–02 season posed an insurmountable challenge for Politehnica. Zambon's departure following disagreements with the local authorities meant the club found itself in dire financial straits.[3] Forced to use mostly youth players, Politehnica finished the season dead last, with one win and four draws to its name, but negative eight points in the standings, due to unpaid debts. Once again the club was bound to be relegated to the third division.[3][28]

Identity crisis, glory years and downfall (2002–2012)

Poli Timișoara supporters during a first division game against FC Steaua București, April 2011.

In 2002, AEK Bucharest were promoted to Liga I, Romanian football's top division, for the first time,[29] whereupon Anton Doboș, the club's owner, moved it to Timișoara.[3] It was renamed Politehnica AEK Timișoara after merging with CSU Politehnica, a club owned and run by the Politehnica University, and received the full support of local authorities and white-purple fans. After a rocky first season, which required a spectacular relegation play-off against Gloria Buzău[30] to avoid demotion, Poli AEK consolidated during the next season, finishing on a safe mid-table position. Moreover, starting with the 2004–05 season, the team changed its name to FCU Politehnica Timișoara, trying to reestablish its former identity.[31]

Financially difficulties looming, Politehnica changed ownership once more. Former president Anton Doboș stayed on at the club for another year in a new position, while Balkan Petroleum Ltd., owned by Marian Iancu, took full charge. Significant investments in the transfer market transformed the club overnight, as it received the nickname "EuroPoli" for its newly found ambitions to reach the top of Romanian football.[3]

During the takeover by Marian Iancu, a dispute regarding the proprietary rights for the club name, colors and records arose. After prolonged litigation, Politehnica was forced to change its name to FC Timișoara, following a decision by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.[3] It was deemed that the colors and records dating before 2002 were lost in favor of former Politehnica Timișoara owner, Claudio Zambon.[3] The Italian had struck a deal with AFC Politehnica, the non-profit association which owned said proprietary items, when he left Timișoara during the 2001–02 season.[3][32]

Results on the pitch improved immediately after the takeover, but a leap to the Liga 1 podium proved elusive until 2008–09, when Politehnica finished runner-up, a feat repeated two seasons later. The club did, however, rejoin European football the season before that by qualifying for the

UEFA Cup[33] – sixteen years after its last appearance against Atletico Madrid. More European appearances followed, culminating with the qualification for the 3rd preliminary round of the 2009–10 UEFA Champions League.[34] The team defeated the reigning UEFA Cup champions Shakhtar Donetsk, but were eliminated from the competition during the playoff round, which still meant the club would take part in the 2009–10 UEFA Europa League group stage.[3][35]

In November 2010, the Romanian Court of Appeal returned Politehnica's name, colors and records to FC Timișoara.[3][36]

Despite finishing second in the

ASU Politehnica Timișoara, considering ACS Poli Timișoara is a fraud and a political maneuver.[3]

The Romanian Football Federation announced before the start of the 2021–22 Liga II championship, that the Polytechnic University of Timișoara, the owner of the logo, history and all of Politehnica Timișoara's football records, approves the use of these by SSU Politehnica Timișoara.[3] So from a legal point of view, from now on, this team will be considered as the official and legal successor of the old FC Politehnica Timișoara team.[3]

Founding as ASU Politehnica (2012)

Lacking other ambitions, in most of its business the team has evolved in the municipal championship. Following the dissolution of the

ACS Recaș to Timișoara, South Lawn representatives, together with other fans of Politehnica Timișoara, decided to support the Liga V team, ASU Politehnica, which is the only now that they can identify as belonging to the right of the Polytechnic Institute, institution which appeared in 1921 as Politehnica Timișoara. Even if ASU Politehnica is not the legal successor of the former Divizia A and B team and even if not holding Polytechnics old track record, this is the only team that Poli supporters recognize as the one that can carry forward the spirit of the white and purple colours of Timișoara
.

County Leagues (2012–2015)

On their first season after founding they reached the second place in 2012–2013

Voința Lupac, the champions of Liga IV Caraș-Severin County, in the play-off promotion match for a place in the 2015–16 Liga III season. In the home match they beat them (5–1) and secured the promotion. Away they lost (1–2) but they still promoted to Liga III
, for the first time in their short history.

Professional Leagues (2015–present)

ASU Poli debuted very good in the

Șoimii Pâncota
in the fourth round.

In the summer of 2021, ASU Politehnica Timișoara was renamed as SSU Politehnica Timișoara.[1] The Romanian Football Federation announced before the start of the 2021–22 Liga II championship that the Polytechnic University of Timișoara, the owner of the logo, history and all of Politehnica Timișoara's football records, approves the use of these by SSU Politehnica Timișoara. So from a legal point of view, from now on, this team will be considered as the official and legal successor of the old FC Politehnica Timișoara team.

Supporters and Rivalries

Poli Timișoara supporters during a First Division game.

Historically, Poli has been the most prominent football club in Timișoara after 1945, playing consistently in either the first or the second tier of Romanian football. Local rivalries with

CFR Timișoara[38] and UM Timișoara[39] were relevant until the early 2000s. Afterwards, the former was relegated to a semi-professional status in the lower leagues and the latter was dissolved in 2008. A more recent local rivalry has emerged since the 2010s, with Ripensia Timișoara. SSU Poli has many fans in Romania
but also in other countries. The roots of the Poli ultras movement was found in 1995 when groups like Urban Guerilla, Gruppo Soarelui, Frenetic, Banatica, Drojdierii or Gruppo Autonomo Viola appear in the South End.

Over the years, Poli developed rivalries with

West Derby, stems from the natural competition between the cities of Timișoara and Arad, which 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, with Timișoara being the true first city in Romania to host a football game.[40]

Other rivalries are shared with CFR Cluj, Bihor Oradea, Steaua București and Universitatea Craiova.

Over the years, Politehnica Timișoara fans have established close friendships with the supporters of Rapid București and the Nordkurve from Borussia Mönchengladbach.[41]

Honours

See also: List of FC Politehnica Timisoara seasons

Domestic

Leagues

Cups

Friendly

  • Football without Owners Tournament
    • Winners (1): 2015
  • Dinu Instal Winter Cup
    • Winners (1): 2014

Players

First-team squad

As of 22 April 2024[42]

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

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK Romania ROU Rareș Murariu (Vice-captain)
2 DF Romania ROU Cosmin Huminic
4 DF Romania ROU Cristian Bocșan (Captain)
6 MF Romania ROU Dănuț Pureca
7 MF Romania ROU Alex Adamcsik
8 MF Romania ROU David Popa
9 FW Romania ROU Daniel Olariu
10 MF Romania ROU David Ciurel (on loan from Ripensia Timișoara)
11 MF Romania ROU Cristian Bărbuț
13 FW Romania ROU Bogdan Istrătie (on loan from Politehnica Iași)
14 DF Romania ROU Andrei Haloș
15 DF Romania ROU Aurel Vlaicu
No. Pos. Nation Player
17 MF Romania ROU Eric Adam
19 DF Romania ROU Radu Ciurel (on loan from Ripensia Timișoara)
20 DF Romania ROU Robert Curescu
21 DF Romania ROU David Roșu (on loan from UTA II Arad)
22 MF Romania ROU Fabian Marincu
23 GK Romania ROU Róbert Miklos
24 MF Romania ROU Sorin Careba (on loan from Ripensia Timișoara)
25 MF Romania ROU Iosif Rotariu
26 DF Romania ROU Claudiu Pamfile
27 MF Romania ROU Denis Boariu
28 MF Romania ROU Mario Oprea
29 FW Romania ROU Victor Prună

Out on loan

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

No. Pos. Nation Player
— GK Romania ROU Mario Balică (to Gloria Lunca-Teuz Cermei)
— DF Romania ROU Denis Radu (to Petrolul Ploiești)
No. Pos. Nation Player
— DF Romania ROU Armin Mada (to Phoenix Buziaș)
— MF Romania ROU Patrick Paleacu (to Dumbrăvița)

Club officials

Most capped players

# Name Career Matches Goals
1 Sorin Vlaicu 1987–2001 288 29
2 Simion Surdan 1963–1975 282 58
3 Constantin Varga 1986–1999 274 71
4 Dan Păltinișanu 1970–1985 271 24
5 Stelian Anghel 1974–1984 262 72
6 Adrian Stoicov 1987–1998 246 3
7 Iosif Lereter 1957–1967 227 89
8 Gheorghe Șerbănoiu 1975–1984 222 13
9 Aurel Șunda 1979–1987 218 10
10 Emerich Dembrovschi 1966–1981 208 51

League history

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "ASU Politehnica și-a făcut societate pe acțiuni și așteaptă afilierea la FRF. Cramele Recaș și Cosmin Contra, printre membrii Consiliului de Administrație. "Vrem pe Poli în Liga 1"" [ASU Politehnica has set up a joint-stock company and is waiting to join FRF. Cramele Recaș and Cosmin Contra, among the members of the Board of Directors. "We want Poli in Liga 1"] (in Romanian). ProSport. 25 June 2021.
  2. ^ "History". fcupoli.com. Archived from the original on 29 September 2008.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x "Poli Timișoara, centenar tumultuos "Înainte de '89, trebuia să fii ori cu Dinamo, ori cu Steaua. Poli a refuzat prostituția sportivă"" [Poli Timișoara, tumultuous centenary "Before '89, you had to be with either Dinamo or Steaua. Poli refused sports prostitution"] (in Romanian). Gsp.ro. 4 December 2021. Retrieved 10 December 2021.
  4. ^ "Romania – List of Champions". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation.
  5. ^ Jiva, Mircea (1973). Haide "Poli"!. Bucuresti: Editura Stadion. pp. 18–26.
  6. ^ "Season 1947–48". RomanianSoccer.ro.
  7. ^ "Season 1948–49". RomanianSoccer.ro.
  8. ^ "Season 1950". RomanianSoccer.ro.
  9. ^ "Season 1951". RomanianSoccer.ro.
  10. ^ "Season 1952". RomanianSoccer.ro.
  11. ^ "Season 1958–59". RomanianSoccer.ro.
  12. ^ a b "History of Poli". Tempo Poli.[permanent dead link]
  13. ^ "Season 1966–67". RomanianSoccer.ro.
  14. ^ "1970–1980". StatisticiFotbal.ro. Archived from the original on 5 October 2011. Retrieved 23 October 2016.
  15. ^ a b "1980–1990". StatisticiFotbal.ro. Archived from the original on 5 October 2011. Retrieved 23 October 2016.
  16. ^ "Season 1983–84". RomanianSoccer.ro.
  17. ^ "Season 1986–87". RomanianSoccer.ro.
  18. ^ "Season 1988–89". RomanianSoccer.ro.
  19. ^ "Season 1985–86". RomanianSoccer.ro.
  20. ^ "Season 1987–88". RomanianSoccer.ro.
  21. ^ a b "1990–2000". StatisticiFotbal.ro. Archived from the original on 5 October 2011. Retrieved 23 October 2016.
  22. ^ "Boiţ: "Crăciun i-a dat palmaresul lui Zambon!"". Retrieved 4 December 2017.
  23. ^ "Poli – transfer de identitate!". ProSport. Retrieved 4 December 2017.
  24. ^ "Season 1993–94". RomanianSoccer.ro.
  25. ^ "Season 1995-95". RomanianSoccer.ro.
  26. ^ "Season 1996–97". RomanianSoccer.ro.
  27. ^ "Vinovaţi în afacerea Poli-Claudio Zambon". Retrieved 4 December 2017.
  28. ^ "Ioan Carțiș: "Am încredere că se va căuta soluția cea mai bună"". Retrieved 4 December 2017.
  29. ^ "Season 2001–02". RomanianSoccer.ro.
  30. ^ "Poli remaining in Divizia A". Agenda. Archived from the original on 13 May 2008.
  31. ^ "Season 2004–05". RomanianSoccer.ro.
  32. ^ "Arbitration CAS 2006/A/1109" (PDF). Court of Arbitration for Sport. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 October 2011.
  33. ^ "Poli qualified to UEFA Cup after 16 years". Realitatea TV. Archived from the original on 4 February 2011.
  34. ^ "Poli qualified in UEFA Champions League". Timpul.
  35. ^ "2000–2010". StatisticiFotbal.ro. Archived from the original on 5 October 2011. Retrieved 23 October 2016.
  36. ^ "comunicare" (PDF). Opinia Timişoarei.
  37. ^ "13 cluburi din Liga I au primit licenţa pentru sezonul 2011–2012". FRF. 31 May 2011. Archived from the original on 15 January 2013.
  38. ^ "CFR Timișoara, legendă a fotbalului bănățean". Ripensia Sport Magazin.
  39. ^ "Poveste UMT-ului". Ripensia Sport Magazin.
  40. ^ "Poartă gigant în Timişoara, primul oraş din România unde s-a jucat fotbal GALERIE FOTO". Retrieved 13 December 2017.
  41. ^ "Fan friendship". Tempo Poli.[permanent dead link]
  42. ^ "Politehnica Timişoara 2021/2022" [Timişoara Polytechnic 2021/2022] (in Romanian). liga2.prosport.ro. Retrieved 4 August 2021.

External links

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