FC Bihor Oradea (1958)

FC Bihor Oradea

Iuliu Bodola
Website	Club website
Home colours Away colours

Fotbal Club Bihor Oradea (Romanian pronunciation: [biˈhor oˈrade̯a]), commonly known as Bihor Oradea or simply as FC Bihor, was a Romanian professional football club based in Oradea, Bihor County.

It was founded under the name of Crișul Oradea in April 1958 and from 1963 it continued the football tradition of the city, following the dissolution of Club Atletic Oradea. In the 57 seasons spent in the Romanian football league system, FC Bihor played 18 seasons in the first division, 39 seasons in the second league and only 5 seasons in the lower leagues, respectively 4 in the Liga III and only one season, its first, in the fourth tier. This ranks the club on the 24th place out of 98 in the Liga I all-time table. In January 2016, FC Bihor was dissolved after having faced significant financial issues.

The home ground of "the Red and Blues" was

History

Early years, as Crișul (1958–1972)

FC Bihor Oradea continued the football tradition in

In the 1961–62 season the club was renamed as ASA Crișul, and finished 11th in the third series of the Divizia B, barely escaping from relegation. The following season, 1962–63, the club finished 1st in the series and promoted for the very first time in its history to the Divizia A. Coach Ladislau Zilahi used the following players: Weichelt – Bucur, Pojoni, Boros, Șchiopu, Donciu, Al. Georgescu, Kun I, Curtu, Osan, Stanciu, Podaru, I. Pop, Bokos, I. Sandu, Manescu, Al. Iacob, Șovoială, Lenalt, Fr. Stilgerlbauer and R. Petschovschi.^[1]

Crișul played for three seasons in the first league:

It succeeded to do so (after two second places achieved in the 1972–73 and 1973–74 editions) at the end of the 1974–75 season. Coaches L. Vlad (first half of the championship); R. Cosmoc and Gh. Staicu (second half of the championship) have led to the final victory with the next "11": Albu – E. Nagy, Lukács, Sărac, Popovici – Dărăban, A. Kun II, Florescu – Szűcs, Agud, C.Vlad.^[1]

Next, the team remained at an average level of behavior in the

In the summer of 1979 FC Bihor relegated back to Divizia B where it would be for three editions (1979-1982), always on the brink of promotion: 1979–80 – 2nd and 1980–81 – 4th, thing to be done by the end of the 1981-82 season, this time under the management of Gheorghe Staicu.

Returned to the Divizia A "the Red and Blues" occupied 11th place in the 1982–83 edition and 7th place in the 1983–84, equaling the best performance in the history of the club, with the following organizational formula: Honorary Chairman: H.Cosma; Executive President: Ioan Naom; Organizer of Competitions: Romeo Pașcu; coaches: Gh. Dărăban and Attila Kun (in the first part of the season), Attila Kun and Al. Muta (in the second part). Squad: Liliac, Lăzăreanu, Balasz - Dianu, Zare, Gh. Dumitrescu, Nițu, Tămaș, Biszok, Mureșan, Filip, D. Nicolae, Grosu, Georgescu, Ile, Ion Gheorghe, Szűcs, Nedelcu, Rosza, Kiss, Lazăr and Roateș.^[1]

Between 1982 and 1991 was probably the most fruitful period in the history of the club. Bihorenii played 7 seasons in the top flight and only 2 in the second tier of the Romanian football system. With a lot of players that grew up in the red and blue kit such as:

1995–96 season was the most dramatic and closest to disaster season in the history of FC Bihor. With a precarious financial situation and a play more than modest, Bihorenii finished 17th out of 18, with only 31 points and relegated to Divizia C back after 35 years. With a fortune of two players, the rest being sold, FC Bihor had the power to take it from the beginning, with a new president and a new coach, Mircea Fodor and Nicolae Manea. In the squad appeared with much stronger performances players such as: Marius Popa and Cosmin Bărcăuan, players who were part of a very good generation, including other names like: Zeno Bundea or Viorel Domocoș, among others, but the team from Oradea finished only 7th in the fourth series, far away from promotion.

In July 1997 Borsi brothers, businessmen from Oradea, took over the reins of the club and within a few months they managed the revival of the football from Bihor County back in the second division, and even touching the performance of qualification in the last 16 Romanian Cup teams. That performance was obtained with Viorel Abrudan as a coach and with a young and talented squad, formed of players that grew up in the club's academy. Orădenii finished 1st with 23 victories, 6 draws, 5 defeats, 77 goals scored and 28 conceded, 75 points, 15 more than the 2nd place (IS Câmpia Turzii).

In 1998, the club was taken over from the two brothers by another businessman, Viorel Știube, within 2 years the club knocked on the doors of the promotion to Divizia A. After a 1998–99 solid season ended on the 6th place, under coaches: Viorel Abrudan, Marcel Coraș and Gabi Balint, the club was abandoned again and reached the brink of relegation to the third division at the end of 1999–2000 season, when under coaches Gabi Balint and Costel Orac "the Red and Blues" finished on 14th place, not before being rescued from disaster by Bihor County Council.

Promotion play-offs (2000–2006)

In the

It also was the last game in which the audience was allowed to access in the second stand. The match observer was very close not to allow disputing the match on the stadium because the capacity was exceeded. The stadium announcer even made an appeal to supporters from the second stand to manifest without coming off the places which they occupy because there was a danger of collapse due to weight.

The adventure of FC Oradea in

After the return to Divizia B, Orădenii concluded the 2004–05 Divizia B season in 3rd place after Jiul Petroșani and Gaz Metan Mediaș. In the next season, Bihor County had two teams on the first two places: Liberty Salonta, which gave its Divizia A place to UTA Arad and FC Bihor (President, Alexandru Sătmăreanu; Technical director Emerich Jenei; Coach Alexandru Kiss) which disappointed at the promotion play-off, which was played on the Lia Manoliu Stadium.^[1]

In the first match FC Bihor lost 0-2 (0-1), against Forex Brașov and cracked too in the last game, score 2-4 (1-4) against Unirea Urziceni, result which promoted Unirea in the first league. The goals were scored for FC Bihor by Fl.Neaga and Foro. In that two games, for FC Bihor played: Mijanović - Oroș, Lupuț, D. Muscă, Lungan - Foro, Gr. Tudor, Strapak, (Szélesi '66), Fl. Neaga - Voiculeț ('46 Lupașcu), Miculescu ('61 V. Grigore), with Forex Brașov, respectively: Mijanović - Oroș, Lupuț ('36 Pătrașcu), D. Muscă, Lungan - Foro, Gr.Tudor, Strapak ('71 Voiculeț), Fl.Neaga - Miculescu ('46 V.Grigore), Széles.^[1]

A new beginning (2006–2010)

After the play-off, president and technical director, Alexandru Sătmăreanu and Emerich Jenei, were dismissed and FC Bihor has set itself as an objective to rebuild the team. President was named Alexandru Toth Ardelean and coaches in the 2006–07 Liga II season were Alexandru Kiss and Florin Farcaș. It was a very difficult championship, FC Bihor managed to save from relegation in the last round after a win, 3-1, away at Auxerre Lugoj.

Even if the seniors had problems, not the same can be said about the republican youth squad (coach Horia Rădulescu) and B youth squad (coach Gheorghe Silaghi) who managed to get the bronze medals in the final of the National Championship. Remarkable was that the second team, FC Bihor II (coach Mircea Fodor), managed to promote to Liga III after a play-off match won, 3-2 against FC Zalău. In the 2007–08 Liga II season, FC Bihor started with a new technical staff composed of Gheorghe Silaghi (manager), Zoltan Vig (assistant manager), Mircea Fodor (assistant manager) and Dorin Mudura (goalkeeping coach). FC Bihor II was taken by Horia Rădulescu, who was helped by Alexandru Gergely. The club was financially supported by Oradea City Council and Bihor County Council.^[1]

At the end of the 2007–08 Liga II season FC Bihor has managed to stay away from the relegation places, occupying 8th place, with a record of 13 wins, 8 draws, 13 defeats and 47 points, far away from the objective of the club, which had a squad consisting of valuable players and a budget that could allowed the promotion to the first league. The squad of FC Bihor, managed by Gheorghe Silaghi: Lipitor, Fildan, Bonta- V.Indrieș, Ambruș, Muscă, Lőrincz, Opriceană, Teșan, A.Achim, Andor, Ayza, Floruț, R.Lukács, C.Bucur, Gongolea, S.Achim, Săndulescu, Mihu, Cosma, V.Florea, Predică, Radu, Széles and L.Todea.^[1]

On the same line of the modest progress, FC Bihor occupied 10th place, in the 2008–09 season, when they accumulated 46 points after winning 13 matches, 7 matches had ended in a draw and 14 defeats. Without significant changes in the group of players, but with a new coach in the person of Zoltan Vig and a budget of about 1 million€. The management of FC Bihor was criticized for goal setting, a place from 1 to 10. At the end of the season Bihorenii finished on the 10th place.

The preparing of the next season was made under a new chairman, Gheorghe Alexandrescu, who held the job only from June 2009 to October 2009, after that the destinies of the Red and Blues were taken over by Ioan Lucian. FC Bihor has played in that edition of the championship equally disappointing, finally occupying the 9th place with a line of 10 victories, 12 draws and 10 defeats.

In the 2009–10 season the team was coached by Ioan Petcu, then replaced by Ovidiu Lazăr. In the second part of the season FC Bihor recovered with a new coach, Dan Dobai, and a squad with a lot of players from Liberty Salonta (Petrache, Tegzes, Chiș, Coroian, Sorian, Danci).

In June 2010, between the local administration and businessman Marius Vizer, the chairman of the International Judo Federation and owner of Liberty Football Academy, was signed a two-year partnership on the takeover of the club's management.

Premature promotion (2010–2013)

With young players coming mostly from Liberty Salonta, FC Bihor managed in the first year of the collaboration with Liberty, a very good season in the Liga II. Although officially the target wasn't the promotion, the club managed to finish 2nd in the 2010–11 Liga II season, and thus obtain the access to Liga I.^[1]

The performance was possible after the team from Oradea has fared consistently in the championship, especially in the second part when though have some opponents who have announced from the start that aim to promote, teams like

The first eleven that was sent on the pitch in the last game, a 4-2 win, against Gaz Metan CFR Craiova: Pogacsics - Oltean, Muscă, Deaconescu, Lupu - Chiș, M.Popa, Selagea - Florean, Cigan, Bîrză. In the second half, entered: Sorian, Petrache and Fl. Pop; manager: Gheorghe Ghiț. Three of the four goals in that game from the last round of the championship were scored by Cătălin Chiș and the other one by Ciprian Selagea.

The joy of the promotion obtained on the football pitch, which was then celebrated in front of the Oradea City Hall by hundreds of fans, city and county officials, it was not a long-term one. A decision of the Romanian Football Federation, which has tightened the criteria for licensing, not made possible the evolution of FC Bihor in the following Liga I season, because of the historic debts accumulated by the former management of the club.

It was a controversial decision of the Licensing Commission of the FRF, marking the first time when a team that has obtained the right to play in Liga I was relegated due to the financial situation. Subsequently, after the economic crisis appeared, the licensing criteria have become milder.

However, Orădenii were forced to start over again from Liga II in the next season. But although they have proposed to promote, the target could not be obtained on the ground. The disappointment caused by the promotion ban was quite high and affected the morale of players who had an average age rather low. Thus, FC Bihor finished the 2011–12 season only 8th with 44 points, as a result of 12 wins, 8 draws and 10 defeats.

Meanwhile, the partnership with businessman Marius Vizer and his company, Liberty, was extended, the objective of promotion was more pressing than ever. Unfortunately, although there were big ambitions, the first part of the 2012–13 season did not bring the expected results and the team was far from the objective. Coach Claudiu Niculescu was dismissed and Marian Pană was hired instead and five valuable players have signed contracts with FC Bihor: Florin Lazăr, Ciprian Vasilache, Ovidiu Mihalache, Cristian Bud and Daniel Vădrariu. In the second part of the season it has been tried an evolution without mistake, a journey of force to return on the top places, but unfortunately, FC Bihor ranked only 7th with 33 points.

Insolvency and bankruptcy (2013–2016)

The disappointment caused by the failure of promotion, but also the fact that he was elected the president of

In 2009 the new chairman of FC Bihor at that time, Ioan Lucian, discovered large debts and introduced the club into insolvency to avoid bankruptcy.[3] Then, during the partnership with Liberty the insolvency plan has been respected and 14 installments have been paid.^[4] After the withdrawal of Liberty, no more installments were paid and the bankruptcy was delayed several times.^[5]

Later, during the reconstruction of the team and due to the severe financial situation, a collaboration was possible with Luceafărul Felix, the second team of Bihor County, which decided to withdraw from Liga II and give their best players to FC Bihor. The team was rebuilt under Gheorghe Ghiț, who managed the 2011 promotion.

In the first part of the season the results were poor and Gheorghe Ghiț was replaced by Alexandru Pelici, but results remained unchanged and FC Bihor ended in the 2013–14 Liga II season on 9th place, just above the relegation zone.^[6] In the summer of 2014 Oradea City Council, one of the owners of the club, withdrew and left the team in a tough situation.^[7] As a result of this action, the president of the club, Șerban Morcan refused to renew his contract with FC Bihor. At that time, the club was heading to dissolution. However, the other owner, Bihor County Council tried to reorganize the team and appointed a new chairman, in the person of Viorel Nemeș.^[8]

However, the situation worsened after Bihor County Council faced legal problems related to the absence of the other owner from the club's organization chart. The club lived entire season with money received from the transfers of players and sponsorships, but that money was not enough to pay the wages.^[9] Because of the financial situation and the lack of results, coach Alexandru Pelici has resigned and was replaced by his assistant, Călin Cheregi.^[10]

In March 2015, president Viorel Nemeș has resigned due to the poor financial situation. Mircea Fodor, former player and coach of FC Bihor, was appointed as the new chairman, he was the only one who has assumed the disastrous situation.

In the summer of 2015, a new sponsor was brought to the club, in the person of Mihai Giurgiu, the owner of a football academy from Cluj-Napoca. He assumed all the club's debts estimated at 1 million€, but after a short period he gave up to finance the team.^[13] In the 2015–16 Liga II season, the team was always threatened with bankruptcy and exclusion from championship and only the efforts made by Mircea Fodor and the players, who were not paid for several months, kept the team alive.^[14] In October Gheorghe Silaghi has resigned and was replaced by Dan Mănăilă, the only coach who agreed to work for free. In January 2016, FC Bihor was kicked out from its headquarters and coach Dan Mănăilă chose to coach a Liga IV side instead of FC Bihor.^[15]

Finally, after a year in which it lived from day to day, FC Bihor has been declared bankrupt on 12 January 2016.^[16]

After the declaration of bankruptcy, CSM Oradea announced the establishment of the football department and took the youth academy of FC Bihor, in an attempt to save what was still possible.^[17]

Youth program

Youth academy of FC Bihor gave important names for the Romanian and international football such as:

The club played its home matches on

FC Bihor has many supporters in Oradea and especially in Bihor County. The ultras group of FC Bihor Oradea it is known as Peluza Nord Oradea (PNO).^[18] FC Bihor supporters consider Olimpia Satu Mare supporters to be their allies, fans of both teams had the opportunity to support the other during matches.

Rivalries

The most important rivalry for FC Bihor is the one against

Historical squads

• 
  1965–1966
• 
  1966–1967
• 
  1974–1975
• 
  1975–1976
• 
  1978–1979
• 
  1981–1982
• 
  1982–1983
• 
  1983–1984
• 
  1985–1986
• 
  1986–1987
• 
  1988–1989
• 
  1989–1990

Honours

Leagues

• Liga II
  • Winners (5): 1962–63, 1970–71, 1974–75, 1981–82, 1987–88
  • Runners-up (8): 1967–68, 1972–73, 1973–74, 1979–80, 1992–93, 2002–03, 2005–06, 2010–11
• Liga III
  • Winners (1): 1997–98

Friendly

• Norcia Winter Cup Italy
  • Winners (1): 2004
  • Runners-up (1): 2005

Other performances

• Appearances in Liga I: 18
• Best finish in Liga I: 7th place in the 1963–1964, 1983–84 and 1988–89 seasons.
• Place 24 of 98 teams in the Liga I All-time table

Shirt sponsors and manufacturers

Period	Kit manufacturer	Period	Shirt partner
2002–2005	Erreà	2003–2005	None
2005–2007	Lotto	2005–2007	None
2007–2009	Nike	2007–2009	None
2009–2010	Sportika	2009–2011	AdePlast
2010–2011	Erreà
2011–2016	Joma	2011–2013	OK Liberty

Player statistics

All-time most appearances Rank Player Period Caps 1 Cornel Georgescu 1974–89 347[21] 2 Attila Kun 1966–71, 1974–83 309 Árpád Szűcs 1965–78 4 János Lukács 1965–78 280 5 Eugen Nagy 1964–77 275 6 Nicolae Florescu 1972–83 219 7 Ovidiu Lazăr 1983–90, 1991–92, 1994–95 218 8 Vladimir Tămaș 1985–95 216 9 Alexandru Nagy 1964–72, 1975–77 193 10 Paul Popovici 1964–70, 1974–78 184

All-time top scorers Rank Player Period Goals 1 Attila Kun 1966–71, 1974–83 103 2 Cornel Georgescu 1974–89 96[21] 3 Ovidiu Lazăr 1983–90, 1991–92, 1994–95 79 4 Petre Grosu 1981–86 52 5 Raymond Lukács 2004–10, 2013–15 49 6 Alexandru Gergely 1975–80 45 7 Zoltán Csehi 2001–03 32 8 Árpád Szűcs 1964–73, 1974–80 31 9 Adrian Mărkuș 2010–13 29 10 Nicolae Florescu 1972–83 26

• Only players for which information is available are taken into consideration.

Notable former players

The footballers enlisted below have had international cap(s) for their respective countries at junior and/or senior level and/or more than 100 caps for FC Bihor Oradea.

Notable former managers

References

External links

• Media related to FC Bihor Oradea at Wikimedia Commons
• Official website
• FC Bihor Oradea on
  Facebook
• Club profile on UEFA.com