CSA Steaua București (football)

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Steaua București
Steaua
Capacity31,254
OwnerMinistry of National Defence
ChairmanȘtefan Bichir
ManagerDaniel Oprița
LeagueLiga II
2022–23Liga II, 2nd of 20
WebsiteClub website
Current season

Clubul Sportiv al Armatei Steaua București (Romanian pronunciation: [ˈste̯awa bukuˈreʃtʲ]), commonly known as Steaua București, or simply as Steaua, is a Romanian professional football club based in Bucharest. It is one of the sporting sections of the namesake CSA Steaua București and competes in the Liga II.

In 2017, the parent club reactivated its football section and entered it into the 2017–18 season of Liga IV, the fourth tier of the Romanian football league system. According to the club's records and the latest Romanian court orders (July 2019[1] and June 2021[2]) it is the most successful football club in Romania, with national records for winning the domestic trophies, plus the European Cup in 1986 and European Super Cup in 1987.[3] However, ownership of the titles is disputed between two entities,[4][5][6] with agencies such as UEFA and LPF attributing all of the original club history to the other club, FCSB.[7][8]

They play their home matches at the new

Steaua Stadium. They used to play on Ghencea V between 2017 and 2021, one of the former training fields of the Complexul Sportiv Steaua, as the previous stadium
, used by the historic Steaua entity during its heyday, was demolished in order for the current stadium to be built in the old one's place. The team colours are red and blue.

The club has a long-standing rivalry with neighbouring Dinamo București, with matches between the two being commonly referred to as "the Eternal Derby", "the Romanian Derby", or "the Great Derby".

History

ASA București (Asociația Sportivă a Armatei București – "Army Sports Association") was founded on 7 June 1947 at the initiative of several officers of the Romanian Royal House. The establishment took place following a decree signed by General

sports society with seven initial sections, including football, coached by Coloman Braun-Bogdan.[9] ASA was renamed CSCA (Clubul Sportiv Central al Armatei – "Central Sports Club of the Army") in 1948 and CCA (Casa Centrală a Armatei – "Central House of the Army") in 1950.[9]

Name Period
Asociația Sportivă a Armatei (ASA) București 1947–1948
Clubul Sportiv Central al Armatei (CSCA) București 1948–1950
Casa Centrală a Armatei (CCA) București 1950–1961
Clubul Sportiv al Armatei (CSA) Steaua București 1961–1998
Asociația Fotbal Club (AFC) Steaua București 1998–2003
Clubul Sportiv al Armatei (CSA) Steaua București 2017–present

In 1949, CSCA won its first trophy, the

1953, along with its first Championship–Cup double in 1951. During the 1950s, the so-called "CCA Golden Team" became nationally famous.[10] In 1956, the Romania national team (composed exclusively of CCA players) played Yugoslavia in Belgrade and won 1–0. In the same year, CCA, coached by Ilie Savu, became the first Romanian team to participate in a tournament in England, where it achieved noteworthy results against the likes of Luton Town, Arsenal, Sheffield Wednesday and Wolverhampton Wanderers.[11]

At the end of 1961, CCA changed its name once again to

1977–78). Instead, the team won nine national cup trophies, for which matter it gained the nickname of "cup specialists".[12] Also during this period, on 9 April 1974 Steaua's ground, Stadionul Ghencea, was inaugurated with a friendly match against OFK Belgrade.[13]

Steaua with the UEFA European Champions Clubs' Cup in 1986.
The champion team of 1989

Under the leadership of coaches

Milan). Notably, this was in addition to its four additional national titles (1985–86, 1986–87, 1987–88,[note 1] 1988–89) and four national cups (1984–85, 1986–87, 1987–88, 1988–89). Furthermore, from June 1986 to September 1989, Steaua ran a record 104-match undefeated streak in the championship, setting a world record for that time and a European one still standing.[14]

The

Romanian Revolution led the country towards a free open market and, subsequently, several players of the 1980s team left for other clubs in the West. After a short pull-back, a quick recovery followed and Steaua managed a six consecutive championship streak between 1992–93 and 1997–98 to equalize the 1920s performance of Chinezul Timișoara[15] and also three more cups in 1995–96, 1996–97 and 1998–99. At international level, the club also managed to reach the UEFA Champions League group stage three years in a row between 1994–95 and 1996–97
.

AFC Steaua

In 1998, Steaua's football section separated from CSA Steaua and changed its name to AFC Steaua București

George Becali, another businessman, was offered the position of vice-president in hope of richer investment in the club. In 2003, Becali managed to gain control over the club by turning it from non-profit to a public share company.[18]

Subsequently, even though the club managed to win five national championships and to qualify for the UEFA Champions League four times, it became increasingly associated with Becali's controversial character, infamous for his homophobia,[19] xenophobia, misogyny, racism,[20] tax evasion[21] and even imprisonments.[22] Apart from this, the club also moved from the historical Stadionul Ghencea to the newly built Arena Națională.

Steaua vs FCSB lawsuit

In December 2014, following legal action from former parent club CSA Steaua, the Becali-backed club lost its right to use the "Steaua" trademark, its use having never been approved by CSA Steaua București.[23] The club which had acted as Steaua throughout this time was summoned to change their name and logo;[24] presently, they are officially called SC FC FCSB SA and continue to play in Liga I. A further ongoing trial was initiated by CSA Steaua, claiming FC FCSB must pay almost 37 million Euros as compensation for having unlawfully used the Steaua brand from 2003.[25] In July 2019, the judgement was made in favour of CSA Steaua, subject to appeal.[1]

According to comments made by Constantin Danilescu (a former Steaua employee who worked for the club until 1999), during the 1998 separation CSA Steaua did not relinquish ownership of the team's name, honours or brand, as was believed until 2017. The club only allowed the non-profit it partnered with to use these elements, but the non-profit never had any right to sell them, placing doubt over the claims of FCSB to titles won before the takeover by Becali.[26]

New start in Liga IV

Having legally reclaimed the football team, CSA Steaua București reactivated its football section and entered it to

Stadionul Ghencea
.

In April 2018, Steaua București played a home league fixture against

AS Academia Rapid București, the principal 'phoenix club' established by supporters of the defunct FC Rapid București. Due to the high profile of the participants, the match was moved to the Arena Națională and attracted a crowd of 36,277, setting a lower-league national record; Rapid București won 3–1 to consolidate their position at the top of the table, with Steaua five points behind in second place.[28]

The team reached the promotion play-offs in their first two seasons but lost each time.

2019–20 season. They were promoted the very next season to Liga II.[30]

Crest and colours

The evolution of Steaua's crest from 1947 up until the present day

ASA București was founded by the Royal Army on 7 June 1947. During its first season, 1947–48, Steaua wore yellow and red striped shirts with blue shorts, to symbolize Romania's tricolour flag.[31]

Starting with the following season and with the Army's change of identity from the Royal Army to the People's Army, the yellow was gradually given up, so that the official colours remained, up to this day, the red and the blue.

Following the

Ministry of Defence
coat of arms and also on Romania's.

As FC Steaua appeared in 1998, the club added two yellow stars on top of the CSA Steaua badge signifying its 20 titles of champions won, along with the Fotbal Club specification.

Kit manufacturers and shirt sponsors

Period Kit manufacturer Shirt sponsor
1947–1976 None None
1976–1988 Germany Adidas
1988–1990 United States Ford
1990–1991 United Kingdom Castrol
1991–1994 Netherlands Philips
1994 United States CBS
1995
BRCE
1996–1997 Romania Bancorex
1997–1999
Dialog
2000–2002 Romania BCR
2002–2003 United States Nike None
2017–2018 Spain Joma Romania BetArena
2018–2019 Spain Joma / Germany Jako Romania GoBet1
2019–2021 Spain Joma None
20212 Romania Get's Bet, Austria Porotherm (Wienerberger) & Romania International Alexander Holding
2021–present Germany Adidas
1. ^ Partner of Superbet
2. [1] Just for a few matches (pre-season friendlies, 1 cup match and the first 4 league games of the 2021-22 season)

Grounds

Ghencea
Location35, Bulevardul Ghencea, Bucharest, Romania
OwnerMinistry of National Defence
Capacity31,254
OpenedJuly 2021

Steaua played the first three matches in its history at the defunct

Venus București, a club disbanded in 1949.[32] After that ground's demolition through order of the Communist regime, Steaua played its home matches at any one of Bucharest's three largest multi-use stadia: ANEF, Republicii (built in 1926 and demolished in 1984 to make room for the erection of the Casa Poporului) and 23 August
(built in 1953). Of these two, 23 August (later renamed Național) was mostly used when two matches between Bucharest clubs were scheduled in the same matchday or for important European matches, while Republicii for regular matches in the championship.

From 1974 to 2003, Steaua played its home matches at the

Ministry of National Defence inside a former military base and was long used by CSA Steaua
.

The original capacity was 30,000 on benches. A general renovation occurred in 1991; this included installing seats, which dropped the capacity to 28,365.

The

new stadium was inaugurated on 7 July 2021, with a match between Steaua and OFK Beograd
.

Support

Present day

While ultra groups stopped attending matches around the time of the Court's demand that FCSB doesn't have the rights to be Steaua, regular spectators (citizens) continued their presence at Arena Națională matches and now form the majority of the FCSB support, mostly at important European fixtures but also with Universitatea Craiova, CFR Cluj and Dinamo Bucharest.[citation needed]

Ever since the Court's decision in 2014, Peluza Sud has fully adopted the reopened football team of Steaua București and represents a constant presence for the Liga IV matches.

More recently, as of 2017, the supporters have formed their own official association, called AS47 (Asociația Steliștilor 1947 – Steaua Supporters' Association 1947), as a legal entity with its stated goals of 'reoffering Steaua and its supporters their true meaning, in harmony with the club's original values'.[33]

During the 2017-18 season, while playing in the 4th Romanian division, Steaua's home match against Rapid achieved a national record, with an audience of 36.277 spectators.[34]

Rivalries

Steaua's most important rivalry is the one against

Ministry of Internal Affairs (Dinamo). Several clashes between different factions of supporters have often occurred and still occur inside and outside the stadium. The heyday was reached before a match kick-off in 1997, when Dinamo's fans set a sector of Stadionul Ghencea's Peluza Sud, where they were assigned, on fire.[37]

The second-most important rivalry is with Rapid București. Several matches throughout the years between Steaua and Rapid have also ended in serious clashes between fans.[38] The conflict has become even fiercer after FCSB (then believed to be Steaua) outpassed Rapid in an all-Romanian quarter-final of the 2005–06 UEFA Cup. The local sports newspapers said that the two teams were linked up in this quarter-final by the line of the number 41 tram which links the Ghencea Stadium to the Valentin Stănescu Stadium.

Milder and historical rivalries are also with non-Bucharest-based teams, such as

Politehnica Timișoara, Petrolul Ploiești, CFR Cluj, Universitatea Cluj[39] and a recent one with FC FCSB
.

Friendships

As Steaua is the most popular club in Romania, there are, besides

) enjoy a great majority of Steaua fans which are often well-received even by fans of the local teams.

The club is also popular outside the borders, notably between Romanian emigrants. The Valencian Community in Spain accounts for an important number of supporters, being the most important area for this matter.

Steaua fans are also maintaining good relations with the fans of

Farul Constanța
.

Honours

Note: As of June 2018, UEFA and LPF regard FC FCSB as the continuation of historic FC Steaua and attribute all honours since 1947 to that entity.[7][8] However, the ownership of the many trophies won between 1947 and 2003 is disputed, with the restarted football department of former parent club CSA Steaua also claiming them[40] following legal disputes between the two organisations.[4][41][26] In July 2019, CSA Steaua won a first court decision regarding the record dispute. However, the ruling is not definitive.[1][42] CSA Steaua won another court decision against FC FCSB in June 2021. This ruling is not definitive but it has an enforceable title.[citation needed] According to the June 2021 court decision, CSA Steaua has all honours until 1998.[43]

Domestic

Leagues

Cups

International

Players

First team squad

As of 13 January 2024[45]

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

No. Pos. Nation Player
2 DF Romania ROU David Maftei (on loan from Farul)
4 DF Romania ROU Dean Beța
5 DF Brazil BRA Walace (3rd captain)
6 DF Romania ROU Daniel Vîrtej
8 MF Romania ROU Valentin Bărbulescu (Vice-captain)
10 FW Romania ROU Bogdan Chipirliu
12 GK Romania ROU Adrian Frânculescu
13 DF Romania ROU Adrian Ilie
17 MF Romania ROU Alin Raicu
19 MF Romania ROU Stephan Drăghici
20 MF Romania ROU Răzvan Florea
No. Pos. Nation Player
21 DF Romania ROU Mihai Dobrescu
22 GK Romania ROU Horia Iancu (Captain)
23 FW Bulgaria BUL Tsvetelin Chunchukov
27 MF Spain ESP Rober Sierra
32 MF Moldova MDA Alexandru Boiciuc
36 MF Argentina ARG Gianluca Mancuso
76 MF Romania ROU David Matei
78 DF Romania ROU Costel Avram
94 MF Romania ROU Rareș Enceanu
DF Argentina ARG Kevin Ceceri
MF Spain ESP
Paulino Miguélez

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
47 MF Romania ROU Dragoș Nicolae (to Agricola Borcea)
No. Pos. Nation Player
GK Romania ROU Alexandru Petreacă (to Înainte Modelu)

Retired numbers

Shirt number 7 retired in 2021 as tribute to Marius Lăcătuș

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

No. Pos. Nation Player
7 FW Romania ROU Marius Lăcătuș (1983–1990 & 1993-2000)

On 7 July 2021, Steaua retired the number 7 at the inauguration match of the new

Steaua Stadium. The last player to wear the number 7 was Florin Răsdan, during the 2020–21 season
.

Club officials

See also

References

  1. ^ Steaua București gave up the trophy in 1990.
  1. ^ a b c Tribunalul BUCUREŞTI: Informaţii dosar (Bucharest tribunals: File information), Ministerul Justiției al României (Romanian Ministry of Justice), 4 July 2019
  2. ^ Curtea de Apel BUCUREŞTI: Informaţii dosar (Bucharest Court of Appeal: File information), Ministerul Justiției al României (Romanian Ministry of Justice), 28 June 2021
  3. ^ "Steaua București". steaualibera.com.
  4. ^ a b "S-a stins Steaua lui Gigi Becali. FCSB preia palmaresul din 2003" [Gigi Becali's Steaua is gone. FCSB keeps historical record only as of 2003.] (in Romanian). Evenimentul Zilei. 30 March 2017. Retrieved 1 November 2017.
  5. ^ "Ultima zi cu "Steaua" – Anunţ-şoc făcut de Becali: "De mâine e gata" – Anunț IMPORTANT despre palmaresul echipei" [Last day as "Steaua" – Shocking statement made by Becali – Important announcement about the club's honours]. Gazeta Sporturilor (in Romanian). 29 March 2017. Retrieved 1 November 2017.
  6. ^ "FCSB – FC Steaua Bucharest official website: Trophies". FCSB. 1 November 2017. Archived from the original on 8 July 2019. Retrieved 1 November 2017.
  7. ^ a b "Profile: Fotbal Club FCSB". UEFA.com. Retrieved 1 November 2017.
  8. ^ a b "Liga 1 Betano: Cifrele vicecampioanei FCSB" [Liga 1 Betano: The records of vice-champion FCSB]. LPF. 4 June 2018. Retrieved 5 June 2018.
  9. ^ a b Dida, Alexandru (21–12–2001), Steaua fotbalului românesc, Pro TV Magazin, nr.51/IV, pp.62–63
  10. ^ "Întîia cucerire a Occidentului!" (in Romanian). Gazeta Sporturilor. 14 February 2012. Retrieved 21 May 2013.
  11. ^ "Cupa Romaniei: STEAUA – Otelul Galati". FCSteaua.ro.
  12. ^ a b "Ghencea Stadion". StadiumGuide.com.
  13. ^ "Unbeaten in the Domestic League". RSSSF. Retrieved 4 June 2015.
  14. ^ "Romania – List of Champions". RSSSF. Retrieved 7 July 2007.
  15. ^ Besutiu, Andrei. "Politica mineaza sportul românesc". Ziua. Archived from the original on 30 September 2007. Retrieved 10 June 2007.
  16. ^ Petrache, Bogdan; Predan, Cristian. "Conducatorii vor plati cu averea datoriile cluburilor". 9am.ro. Archived from the original on 8 July 2007. Retrieved 7 July 2007.
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  18. ^ "From racism and homophobia to peace and religion: Is Gigi Becali really a changed man?". Goal.com. 10 April 2015. Retrieved 9 September 2017.
  19. ^ "The most offensive owner in world sports is sadly not Donald Sterling". The Washington Post. 28 April 2014. Retrieved 9 September 2017.
  20. ^ "Gigi Becali si-a vandut toate actiunile de la Steaua nepotilor sai". Archived from the original on 29 September 2007. Retrieved 6 September 2007.
  21. ^ "Racist, sexist and an MP, meet Gigi Becali, the owner of Steaua Bucharest". The Indepdendent. 7 March 2013. Retrieved 6 September 2017.
  22. ^ "Steaua Bucharest change name to FC FCSB". Special Broadcasting Service. 31 March 2017. Retrieved 25 April 2017.
  23. ^ "Deciziile Comitetului Executiv din 30 martie 2017" [The Executive Committee's decisions on 30 March 2017]. Romanian Football Federation. 30 March 2017. Archived from the original on 31 March 2017. Retrieved 30 March 2017.
  24. ^ Știri, Steaua Libera · in (24 May 2017). "A inceput dosarul in care Steaua ii cere despagubiri de 37 milioane euro lui Becali".
  25. ^ a b "Trofeele Stelei rămân în ceață. Dănilescu: "Aveam aceeași emblemă și dreptul de a folosi palmaresul și marca"" [Steaua Trophies Stay in the Fog. Danilescu: "We had the same emblem and the right to use the record and mark"] (in Romanian). Digisport. 26 September 2017. Retrieved 1 November 2017.
  26. ^ "The new Steaua will have a 300,000 Euro budget and in four years the team must reach Liga I". Romania TV. 9 September 2017. Retrieved 9 September 2017.
  27. ^ "Steaua – Academia Rapid 1–3" (in Romanian). CSA Steaua București. 14 April 2018. Retrieved 18 April 2018.
  28. ^ "CSA Steaua Bukarest: Heftige Ausschreitungen nach Niederlage im Playoff-Spiel zur 3. Liga". Sport1.de.
  29. ^ "A fost sărbătoare în Ghencea! Steaua a promovat în Liga a II-a". 30 May 2021.
  30. ^ "Zbuciumata infiintare a Stelei". Archived from the original on 23 July 2011.
  31. ^ "Venus București". romaniansoccer.ro. Retrieved 27 August 2007.
  32. ^ "What we want to do". as47.ro. Archived from the original on 10 September 2017. Retrieved 10 September 2017.
  33. ^ "Meciul sezonului! Steaua - Rapid nu a bătut recordul mondial, dar a stabilit o bornă importantă în România".
  34. ^ "Marele derby (the great derby)". footballderbies.com. Retrieved 7 July 2007.
  35. ^ "Romania – List of Champions". RSSSF. Retrieved 11 August 2007.
  36. ^ Dulamita, I.; Dobre, F.; Popan, C. "Armatele de fanatici din spatele fotbalului". HotNews.ro. Retrieved 14 June 2007.
  37. ^ "Rapid – Steaua / dusmanie nula". PresaOnline.com. Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 14 June 2007.
  38. ^ "Lista completa cu derbyurile campionatului". fanatik.ro. Archived from the original on 28 September 2007. Retrieved 2007-07-07.
  39. ^ "Jocuri sportiveb fotbal" [Sporting departments: football] (in Romanian). CSA Steaua București. Retrieved 1 November 2017.
  40. ^ "Ultima zi cu "Steaua" " Anunţ-şoc făcut de Becali: "De mâine e gata" – Anunț IMPORTANT despre palmaresul echipei" [Last day as "Steaua" " Shocking statement made by Becali " Important announcement about the club's honours]. Gazeta Sporturilor (in Romanian). 29 March 2017. Retrieved 1 November 2017.
  41. ^ "CSA Steaua a câştigat procesul pentru palmares / Gigi Becali: "Voi ataca decizia la Curtea de Apel" - Fotbal - HotNews.ro". sport.hotnews.ro. 5 July 2019.
  42. ^ "Lovitură catastrofală pentru FCSB! CSA Steaua a câștigat procesul pentru palmares - ProSport.ro". prosport.ro. 28 June 2021.
  43. ^ Steaua gave up the trophy in 1990"Steaua's series of 104 matches unbeaten in the Divizia A". RSSSF. 10 September 2001. Retrieved 7 July 2007.
  44. ^ Steaua a anunțat lotul pe care va miza în debutul Ligii 2. Numerele alese de jucătorii veniți în această vară liga2.prosport.ro (in Romanian)
  45. ^ "Președinte – CSA Steaua Clubul Sportiv al Armatei STEAUA Bucureşti".
  46. ^ "Fotbal – CSA Steaua Clubul Sportiv al Armatei STEAUA Bucureşti".

External links