CFR Cluj is a Romanian professional football
clubA football team is the collective name given to a group of players selected together in the various team sports known as football.Such teams could be selected to play in an against an opposing team, to represent a football club, group, state or nation, an All-star team or even selected as a...
from the city of
Cluj-NapocaCluj-Napoca , commonly known as Cluj, is the fourth most populous city in Romania and the seat of Cluj County in the northwestern part of the country. Geographically, it is roughly equidistant from Bucharest , Budapest and Belgrade...
in
TransylvaniaTransylvania is a historical region in the central part of Romania. Bounded on the east and south by the Carpathian mountain range, historical Transylvania extended in the west to the Apuseni Mountains; however, the term sometimes encompasses not only Transylvania proper, but also the historical...
,
RomaniaRomania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
. The club had spent most of their existence in the lower divisions, except for a spell in Divizia A in the 1970s, until they received significant financial backing from Árpád Pászkány in 2002. CFR Cluj returned to the top flight in 2004 and the following season took in their first
UEFAThe Union of European Football Associations , almost always referred to by its acronym UEFA is the administrative and controlling body for European association football, futsal and beach soccer....
competition, the
Intertoto CupThe UEFA Intertoto Cup, also abbreviated as UI Cup and originally called the International Football Cup, was a summer football competition for European clubs that had not qualified for one of the two major UEFA competitions, the Champions League and the UEFA Cup. The competition was discontinued...
, finishing as runners-up. In 2007–08, CFR Cluj were champions of
Liga ILiga I, or in full, due to sponsorship reasons, Liga I Bergenbier, is the top division of the Romanian football league system. Before the 2006/2007 season, it was called Divizia A, but the name had to be changed following the discovery that someone else had registered the trademark "Divizia A"...
for the first time in their history, taking the title away from teams from the city of
BucharestBucharest is the capital municipality, cultural, industrial, and financial centre of Romania. It is the largest city in Romania, located in the southeast of the country, at , and lies on the banks of the Dâmbovița River....
for the first time in 17 years, qualifying for the
UEFA Champions LeagueThe UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
group stages in the process, six years after having been in the
third tierLiga III is the third level of the Romanian football league system. Its name was changed from Divizia C into Liga III before the start of the 2006-07 season.-Relegation:...
of Romanian league football. CFR Cluj started the
2008–09 UEFA Champions LeagueThe 2008–09 UEFA Champions League was the 54th edition of Europe's premier club football tournament and the 17th edition under the current UEFA Champions League format. The final was played at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome on 27 May 2009. It was the eighth time the European Cup final has been held in...
with an unexpected win against
RomaAssociazione Sportiva Roma, commonly referred to as simply Roma, is a professional Italian football club based in Rome. Founded by a merger in 1927, Roma have participated in the top-tier of Italian football for all of their existence but one season in the early 50s...
, followed by a draw against the previous season's Champions League finalists,
ChelseaChelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
. The team has set a record since their major managerial change in 2002, they managed to win seven trophies: the
Liga ILiga I, or in full, due to sponsorship reasons, Liga I Bergenbier, is the top division of the Romanian football league system. Before the 2006/2007 season, it was called Divizia A, but the name had to be changed following the discovery that someone else had registered the trademark "Divizia A"...
championship (two times), the
Romanian CupThe Cupa României is a football competition which was held annually since 1933-34, except during the World War II. It is the country's main cup competition, and it is open to all clubs affiliated with FRF and the county football associations regardless of the league they belong to...
(three times), and the
Romanian SupercupThe Supercupa României is a football competition, held at the beginning of each domestic season and disputed between the winners of Romanian Liga I and the winners of Cupa României. It was usually played at National Stadium in Bucharest. During the period when the new Stadionul Naţional is being...
(two times).
Early years
The club was founded in 1907, when the city of
Cluj-NapocaCluj-Napoca , commonly known as Cluj, is the fourth most populous city in Romania and the seat of Cluj County in the northwestern part of the country. Geographically, it is roughly equidistant from Bucharest , Budapest and Belgrade...
was part of
Austria-HungaryAustria-Hungary , more formally known as the Kingdoms and Lands Represented in the Imperial Council and the Lands of the Holy Hungarian Crown of Saint Stephen, was a constitutional monarchic union between the crowns of the Austrian Empire and the Kingdom of Hungary in...
. Initially, their name was
Kolozsvári Vasutas Sport Club (
Cluj-Napoca Railway Sports Club), but in 1918 the club was renamed after the Romanian state railway carrier,
Căile Ferate RomâneCăile Ferate Române is the official designation of the state railway carrier of Romania. Romania has a railway network of of which are electrified and the total track length is . The network is significantly interconnected with other European railway networks, providing pan-European passenger...
, for which an acronym CFR is. From 1907 to 1910, the team played in the Municipal Championship of Kolozsvár (today Cluj-Napoca). However, the club did not have any notable achievements during this time.
In 1911, the team won the newly organized Championship of
TransylvaniaTransylvania is a historical region in the central part of Romania. Bounded on the east and south by the Carpathian mountain range, historical Transylvania extended in the west to the Apuseni Mountains; however, the term sometimes encompasses not only Transylvania proper, but also the historical...
. The club consistently finished in second place in that competition between 1911 and 1914, a competition that was interrupted because of
World War IWorld War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. After the war, Transylvania became part of Romania and the club accordingly changed its name to
CFR Cluj, maintaining its links with the national rail organisation. They went on to win two regional titles, in 1918–19 and 1919–20.
Between 1920 and 1934 the club did not have any notable achievements.
Between 1934 and 1936, CFR played for two seasons in the Divizia B, ranking 6th in the 1934–35 season and 8th in the 1935–36 season. In 1936, CFR was relegated to the Divizia C, where the team played for two seasons, finishing 2nd and 4th, respectively.
After
World War IIWorld War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, CFR played for one season in the Divizia C, earning the promotion to the Divizia B. Before the start of the 1947–48 season, the team merged with another local club,
Ferar ClujFerar Cluj was a football club based in Cluj-Napoca, Cluj County, Romania. It was founded in 1918 and dissolved in 1948.-History:Until 1936 the club plays in the Romanian regional championship, after which it promotes to the Divizia B...
, and played in the Divizia A for the very first time in history. Unfortunately, the team lasted only two years in the first league and would not play here again for another 20 years.
In 1960, another merger, this time with
Rapid Cluj, resulted in
CSM Cluj. In 1964, the team's name was changed to
Clujeana. In that same year, the club's junior team won the national championship. Three years later, the team's name was reversed yet again to
CFR Cluj.
1969–1976
In 1969, CFR finished first in Divizia B with 40 points, five more than their rival,
Politehnica TimişoaraFotbal Club Politehnica Timişoara is a Romanian football club which was established in 1921 and is currently playing in Romania's second league, Liga II...
. The conclusive game of that season was a 1–1 draw with Politehnica. Politehnica had a 1–0 lead at half-time, but CFR came back with a fine header from Soos.
During the summer of 1969, CFR Cluj advanced to Divizia A under the leadership of coach Dr. Constantin Rădulescu, or "Jumate", as his friends called him in his youth. Rădulescu was originally from southern Romania, but he grew to manhood in the stern atmosphere of Transylvania. Before coaching, he had played for CFR and another well-known local team, Universitatea Cluj, during the 1940s.
In the 1969–70 first league championship, CFR made its debut with a 2–0 victory over
ASA Târgu MureşFotbal Club Municipal Târgu Mureş is a football club based in Târgu Mureş, in central-northern Romania. It was founded in 2004 under the name "Trans-Sil Tîrgu Mureş" and since 2010 is playing in Romania's top football league, Liga I.-History:...
. The next few games did not go as well. Apart from a 1–0 win over
Politehnica IaşiFotbal Club Politehnica Iaşi was a football club from Iaşi, Romania. Its colours were blue and white. Its home stadium was the Emil Alexandrescu Stadium. It was founded in 1945 and dissolved in 2010.-History:...
, there were losses to Steaua Bucureşti (1–3) and Dinamo Bucureşti (0–2). Unfortunately, these and other defeats were a factor in the team's downhill slide. However, the following spring CFR bounced back with a win over ASA Târgu Mureş (1–0), after a lovely goal from Octavian Ionescu, and managed to avert relegation.
At the beginning of CFR's second season in Divizia A, Rădulescu was replaced by Eugen Iordache as head coach. During his tenure, CFR did not do well, so that Rădulescu was swiftly brought back. Even so, CFR Cluj found itself again at the bottom of the table before the winter break. The spring of 1971 was somewhat better, although CFR struggled again to avoid relegation. CFR's last game of that season, against UTA Arad, was a memorable one. CFR led 1–0 at half-time. UTA Arad, however, managed to overturn the match after having scored twice. Nonetheless, the persistence of the players from Cluj was rewarded with a late goal, tying the game at 2–2. UTA went on to play in the European Cups, but, most importantly, CFR avoided relegation.
The 1971–72 season started off badly for CFR. Losses to Dinamo Bucureşti (1–3);
Crişul OradeaFotbal Club Bihor Oradea is a Romanian football club based in Oradea, founded in 1958, currently playing in the Liga II.-Current squad:-Famous players:...
(0–1, after a last-minute penalty kick), and Jiul Petroşani (1–2 after two regrettable own-goals) meant CFR's demise after the first round of the championship— the team finished at the bottom, with seven points. CFR’s return was spectacular, although inconsistent at times. The team won some important games, such as a 1–0 with
Universitatea CraiovaFotbal Club Universitatea Craiova is a Romanian professional football club from Craiova. They became the first Romanian football team to reach the semi-finals of a European tournament, during the UEFA Cup in 1982–83...
and a 3–0 with Petrolul Ploieşti. By the end of the season, however, CFR was again struggling to stay in Divizia A. CFR was tied at half-time after having led with 2–0 in their game against
Politehnica IaşiFotbal Club Politehnica Iaşi was a football club from Iaşi, Romania. Its colours were blue and white. Its home stadium was the Emil Alexandrescu Stadium. It was founded in 1945 and dissolved in 2010.-History:...
. In the second half, two late goals from Ionescu and Petrescu saved the team from relegation. When Rădulescu and his players got back home to Cluj, 3,000 fans turned out to celebrate their feat.
During the summer of 1972, CFR made a transfer of utmost importance.
Mihai AdamMihai Adam was a Romanian football player.*Total matches played in Romanian First League: 353 matches - 160 goals.*Topscorer of Romanian First League: 1965, 1968 and 1974....
, from Universitatea Cluj, was traded for Soos. Adam had been twice Romania's top goalscorer, and was considered one of the best Romanian players of his generation. He and the rest of the team would make the 1972–73 season the most glorious in CFR's history. The team achieved its highest ranking ever in Romanian football: fifth in Divizia A. Several important results concluded a great season, including a 2–0 victory against Rapid Bucureşti, a 2–2 draw against Sportul Studenţesc Bucureşti, and another draw, 1–1, with Steaua Bucureşti. Additionally, the stadium that CFR continues to use even today was built in 1973. To celebrate completion of the stadium, CFR Cluj played a friendly against
CubaThe Cuba national football team is the national team of Cuba and is controlled by the Asociación de Fútbol de Cuba. They are affiliated to the Caribbean Football Union of CONCACAF....
. The game ended in a 2–1 victory for CFR.
The 1973–74 season was a rather bad one for CFR, as it barely saved itself from relegation, ranking 14th at the end of the season. The only notable achievement of that season was Mihai Adam's third title as Romania's top goal-scorer who, even though he was 33 years old, scored 23 goals.
The 1974–75 season was much like the one before: CFR struggled to avoid relegation, achieving its objective all the while.
The 1975–76 season marked CFR's relegation and its last season in Divizia A during the 20th century. The problem was that the team was very old, with most of its players in their 30s.
1976–2002
During the 1977–78 season, CFR tried to make a comeback and play in the first league again. Unfortunately, the team managed to finish only second in Divizia B, after
Baia MareFC Baia Mare was a Romanian football club, based in Baia Mare, Maramureș, northern Romania. In the 2009–10 season, they played in the Liga II . The team played at Dealul Florilor Stadium , which hosted big names of European football such as Real Madrid, Dinamo Bucharest and Steaua Bucharest in the...
. Four years later, CFR slid further down, into the third division (Divizia C). From then on, the team would alternate between the second and third leagues. In 1983, CFR played in Divizia B under its ever-loyal coach, Dr. Constantin Rădulescu ("Jumate").
In the 1990s, CFR struggled financially and found itself more than once on the brink of bankruptcy. Nevertheless, several very talented players were raised, including
Cristian DulcaCristian Alexandru Dulca is a former Romanian football player. Clubs he played for include CFR Cluj and Rapid Bucureşti. He was included in the Romania national football team squad for the 1998 FIFA World Cup. In 2003, he was forced to retire because of a congenital heart defect...
, Attila Piroşka,
Cristian CoroianCristian Ambrozie Coroian is a Romanian footballer currently under contract for Romanian first league side Gloria Bistriţa.- Career :...
, and
Alin MinteuanAlin Ilie Minteuan is a retired Romanian footballer, and current caretaker manager of CFR Cluj.- Career :Minteuan's first team was CFR Cluj, where he went on to play for Universitatea Cluj, Rapid Bucharest, and Gloria Bistrita. He is a right midfielder or a central defensive midfielder.- Coaching...
.
2002–2005
In January 2002, a new sponsor, Árpád Pászkány, head of S.C. ECOMAX M.G., founded the new commercial sport society, with ECOMAX M.G. as primary shareholder. By the end of the 2001–02 season, CFR had been promoted back to Divizia B.
The summer of 2003 was very important for CFR as many new talented players were transferred, among them being Cătălin Bozdog,
Adrian AncaAdrian Gheorghe Anca is a former Romanian footballer, who played as a striker. Currently unemployed, he last managed second division side Silvania Şimleu Silvaniei.- Career :...
, Cristian Turcu, and Sabin Piglisan. With these players and others, CFR managed to enter the first league after a spectacular season in Divizia B. CFR began the season superbly, holding first place for a while. Then the club's main sponsor, Árpád Pászkány, became involved in a public scandal, in which Pászkány accused several referees of corruption. This conundrum plagued the team and ended up in head coach GH. Cioceri's dismissal. CFR lost several consecutive games before the scandal blew away. After the winter break, GH. Cioceri was replaced by Aurel Sunda. In the spring of 2004, Sunda's team had a nearly perfect run, winning 14 out of 15 games, with only one draw. One round before the season's end, CFR was one point behind Jiul Petroşani, who were in first place. All this changed when Jiul were held to a draw by
Gaz Metan MediaşClubul Sportiv Gaz Metan Mediaș is a Romanian professional football club from Mediaș, Sibiu county, founded in 1945, and currently playing in the Romanian first division.- First promotion in Divizia A :...
. This, along with CFR's 3–0 victory, was one of the most crucial moments for the club in the 21st century. Thus CFR Cluj advanced to the top league for the first time in 28 years.
In the summer of 2004, CFR acquired many new players, including
Vasile JulaVasile Ilie Jula is a Romanian footballer currently playing for FC Zalău. Jula began his career at Universitatea Cluj, playing in the 1996 UEFA Intertoto Cup. He later went on to play for Gloria Bistriţa before moving to CFR Cluj during the summer of 2004.Jula plays as a centre back.In 2005 he was...
and
Radu MargineanRadu Leon Marginean is a Romanian footballer currently playing for Gloria Bistriţa.- Career :Marginean is on loan to Gloria until the summer of 2007 from CFR 1907 Cluj. Marginean was the captain of the under-21 Romanian national team. He is a central defensive midfielder...
.
CFR Cluj's first year back in Divizia A was spectacular, yet inconsistent. CFR finished sixth after the first half of the 2004–05 championship — a great accomplishment for a newly promoted team. It was during this time that CFR played one of its most amazing games ever, defeating, at home, Dinamo Bucureşti. The final score was 4–2, after four spectacular goals by
Adrian AncaAdrian Gheorghe Anca is a former Romanian footballer, who played as a striker. Currently unemployed, he last managed second division side Silvania Şimleu Silvaniei.- Career :...
and Sorin Oncică, two goals each.
However, the second half of the championship proved disappointing for CFR, as it gathered only 12 points after 15 games. The team finished 11th, though, avoiding relegation.
2005–2007
The summer of 2005 brought some extraordinary changes to CFR Cluj. The club's executives signed up the team for the
UEFA Intertoto CupThe UEFA Intertoto Cup, also abbreviated as UI Cup and originally called the International Football Cup, was a summer football competition for European clubs that had not qualified for one of the two major UEFA competitions, the Champions League and the UEFA Cup. The competition was discontinued...
, being CFR's first European adventure. CFR began well, qualifying for the second round after two victories against
FK VetraFK Vėtra was a Lithuanian football team from the capital city of Vilnius.- History :The club was founded in 1997 and was initially based in Rūdiškės, a settlement in Vilnius district, and moved in 2003 to Vilnius city with the purchase of its own stadium....
(3–2 and 4–1).
Also, the Romanian international
Dorinel MunteanuDorinel Ionel Munteanu is a Romanian former football midfielder, and current manager of Oţelul Galaţi.-Club career:Munteanu started to play football for Metalul Bocşa, a team which offered him the first chance to play in Divizia B in 1986...
came to CFR from Steaua Bucureşti. Munteanu would have the double role of player-coach. His first game produced one of CFR's greatest successes. CFR Cluj defeated
Athletic BilbaoAthletic Club, also known as Athletic Bilbao, is an association football club from Bilbao in Biscay, Spain. The club has played in the Primera División of La Liga since its start in 1928. They have won La Liga on eight occasions...
of
SpainSpain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
1–0 (although almost all players from Bilbao's side were from the reserve squad) during the second round of the 2005 UEFA Intertoto Cup. The only goal of the match was scored by
Cosmin TilincăCosmin Tilincă is a Romanian footballer currently under contract with Arieşul Turda. He began football at his hometown club Arieşul Turda. During the summer of 2002 he moved to CFR Cluj, where he played until 2007...
with a brilliant header. CFR then lost in the city
BilbaoBilbao ) is a Spanish municipality, capital of the province of Biscay, in the autonomous community of the Basque Country. With a population of 353,187 , it is the largest city of its autonomous community and the tenth largest in Spain...
(1–0) but still qualified to the next round after a tense penalty shootout.
Munteanu's team played the next game at Cluj, against French side
Saint-ÉtienneAssociation Sportive de Saint-Étienne Loire is a French association football club based in Saint-Étienne. The club was founded in 1919 and currently play in Ligue 1, the top division of French football. Saint-Étienne plays its home matches at the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard located within the city...
.
Adrian AncaAdrian Gheorghe Anca is a former Romanian footballer, who played as a striker. Currently unemployed, he last managed second division side Silvania Şimleu Silvaniei.- Career :...
played one of the greatest games in his career, even though the match ended in a 1–1 draw. Anca hit the crossbar with a header early in the game, and Tilincă pushed the ball into the net from the rebound. Anca then went on to earn a penalty, but did not score. He then hit the crossbar a second time, in the second half. The away game, in
FranceThe French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, was also an eventful game for CFR Cluj. The game ended in a 2–2 draw, so CFR went on to the next qualifying stage due to its away goals. The game began well for CFR, as
Cristian CoroianCristian Ambrozie Coroian is a Romanian footballer currently under contract for Romanian first league side Gloria Bistriţa.- Career :...
scored from a penalty kick, earned by Adrian Anca. The second half went by less smoothly for CFR.
Julien SableJulien Sablé is a French footballer who currently plays defensive midfielder for OGC Nice.- Career :He was the captain of AS Saint-Étienne, where he made his first team debut in the 1997–98 season. He became an integral member of the club the next season, when they earned promotion into Ligue 1...
managed to score for Saint-Étienne, tying the game at 1–1. Then followed CFR player
László BalintLászló Balint is a Romanian football manager of Hungarian descent, currently in charge of the Liga III club Unirea Tărlungeni...
's elimination. However, a
Cosmin TilincăCosmin Tilincă is a Romanian footballer currently under contract with Arieşul Turda. He began football at his hometown club Arieşul Turda. During the summer of 2002 he moved to CFR Cluj, where he played until 2007...
goal gave the team new hope, a hope fulfilled at the end of a memorable match, tied up by the French in the very last minute. In the next round, CFR easily disposed of Zalgiris Vilnius, 2–1 in
LithuaniaLithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the biggest of the three Baltic states. It is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, whereby to the west lie Sweden and Denmark...
and 5–1 at home.
For the final match of the 2005 UEFA Interoto Cup, CFR Cluj's opponent was another French side,
RC LensRacing Club de Lens is a French association football club based in the northern city of Lens in the Pas-de-Calais department. Its nickname, sang et or , comes from its traditional colours of red and gold. Their primary rivals are their northern neighbors Lille OSC, whom they contest the Derby du...
. The first game, at Cluj, ended in a 1–1 draw, with both sides having scored from free kicks. Cristian Turcu scored for CFR. The second game was played at
LensLens is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department in northern France. It is one of France's large Picarde cities along with Lille, Valenciennes, Amiens, Roubaix, Tourcoing, Arras, and Douai.-Metropolitan area:...
, in front of 30,000 French fans. Unfortunately, the Romanian players showed signs of exhaustion and conceded three goals. Player-coach
Dorinel MunteanuDorinel Ionel Munteanu is a Romanian former football midfielder, and current manager of Oţelul Galaţi.-Club career:Munteanu started to play football for Metalul Bocşa, a team which offered him the first chance to play in Divizia B in 1986...
managed to regain some honour for his team with a beautiful goal from a free kick in the 89th minute. Thus ended CFR' Cluj's Intertoto journey. CFR then finished 5th at the end of the 2005–06 domestic season.
During the 2006–07 season, major changes at the club started to occur. Dorinel Munteanu resigned as player-coach, and was replaced by
Cristiano Bergodi. Foreign players from Western Europe and South America were transferred. A partnership with Portuguese giants Sport Lisboa e Benfica was signed. On 22 July 2007, CFR Cluj celebrated its centenary year by playing a friendly game against Benfica and inaugurating its new illumination system at its stadium.
2007–present
The team's new coach, Romanian
Ioan AndoneIoan Andone is a Romanian football coach and former player.-Career:He made his Divizia A debut with Corvinul Hunedoara in 1979. He later went to Dinamo Bucureşti where he helped win the league title in 1984 and 1990 and the cup title in 1984, 1986 and 1990. In 1990 he was bought by Spanish team...
, formerly of
Omonia NicosiaAthletic Club Omonoia Nicosia is a professional football club that plays in the Cyprus capital city Nicosia. The club was established in 1948 and became a member of the Cyprus Football Association in 1953...
and Dinamo Bucureşti started the 2007–08 season well, with CFR Cluj leading the league by eight points halfway through the season and remaining unbeaten. Their form was not as good in the second half of the season, and they were overtaken by Steaua Bucureşti with two games remaining. Even though Steaua clashed Gloria Buzau 5–0 in the last matchday, it wasn't enough to bring the title in Ghencea, since CFR Cluj won against Universitatea Cluj so the CFR won the title, the first team outside the city of
BucharestBucharest is the capital municipality, cultural, industrial, and financial centre of Romania. It is the largest city in Romania, located in the southeast of the country, at , and lies on the banks of the Dâmbovița River....
to win the title in nearly two decades. Three days later, CFR Cluj completed a league and cup
DoubleThe Double is a term in association football which refers to winning a country's top tier division and its primary cup competition in the same season...
, beating Unirea Urziceni in the
Romanian CupThe Cupa României is a football competition which was held annually since 1933-34, except during the World War II. It is the country's main cup competition, and it is open to all clubs affiliated with FRF and the county football associations regardless of the league they belong to...
final.
By winning the league, CFR Cluj qualified for the group stage of the
2008–09 UEFA Champions League seasonThe 2008–09 UEFA Champions League was the 54th edition of Europe's premier club football tournament and the 17th edition under the current UEFA Champions League format. The final was played at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome on 27 May 2009. It was the eighth time the European Cup final has been held in...
. They were drawn in Group A against
ChelseaChelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
of
EnglandEngland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
,
AS RomaAssociazione Sportiva Roma, commonly referred to as simply Roma, is a professional Italian football club based in Rome. Founded by a merger in 1927, Roma have participated in the top-tier of Italian football for all of their existence but one season in the early 50s...
of
ItalyItaly , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, and
BordeauxFootball Club des Girondins de Bordeaux is a French association football club based in the city of Bordeaux. The club currently play in Ligue 1, the first division of French football, and won its last Ligue 1 title in the 2008–09 season....
of
FranceThe French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and given little chance of progressing, with odds of 300–1 being given on them winning the competition. In their opening game, Cluj caused a shock by beating Roma in the
Italian capitalRome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
, 2–1, and further exceeded expectations by holding the previous season's finalists Chelsea to a 0–0 draw.
The end of the 2008–09 season saw CFR finish fourth, the team had two coaching staff changes in the second part of the competition and did not manage to secure a second title. The Romanian Cup was kept for a consecutive year at Cluj, and achievement through which CFR ended the year in high spirits.
In the 2009–10 season, the team managed to win the league title for the second time in its history, confirming the heavy investments in the clubs infrastructure, management and squad transfers. Managed by coach
Andrea MandorliniAndrea Mandorlini is an Italian football manager and former defender, currently in charge as head coach of Verona.-Playing career:...
, CFR Cluj also kept the Romanian Cup and qualified for the UEFA Champions League group stage.
Stadium
CFR Cluj's play their home games at Dr. Constantin Radulescu stadium, which has an all-seated capacity of 23,500.
With an investment of
€The euro is the official currency of the eurozone: 17 of the 27 member states of the European Union. It is also the currency used by the Institutions of the European Union. The eurozone consists of Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg,...
10 million, from autumn 2006 till June 2007, the club changed the field to higher quality turf, built a state of art
floodlightsFloodlights are broad-beamed, high-intensity artificial lights often used to illuminate outdoor playing fields while an outdoor sports event is being held during low-light conditions....
, and updated its infrastructure. All the work has been completed for the 100th birthday of the club, when the first official friendly game was played against Sport Lisboa e Benfica of
PortugalPortugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
.
In 2008, the club expanded the stadium to a capacity of 23,500.
The CFR stadium meets all of UEFA's regulations and can host
UEFA Champions LeagueThe UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
matches.
Domestic
- Liga I
Liga I, or in full, due to sponsorship reasons, Liga I Bergenbier, is the top division of the Romanian football league system. Before the 2006/2007 season, it was called Divizia A, but the name had to be changed following the discovery that someone else had registered the trademark "Divizia A"...
:
- Winners (2): 2007–08, 2009–10
The 2009–10 Liga I season was the ninety-second since its establishment. Unirea Urziceni were the defending champions.- Teams :Farul Constanţa, Otopeni and Gloria Buzău were relegated at the end of the 2008–09 season after finishing in 16th through 18th place...
- Liga II
Liga II is the second tier league of the Romanian football league system. The league acquired this name in the 2006-07, being previously called Divizia B....
:
- Winners (2): 1968–69, 2003–04
- Liga III
Liga III is the third level of the Romanian football league system. Its name was changed from Divizia C into Liga III before the start of the 2006-07 season.-Relegation:...
:
- Winners (7): 1946–47, 1982–83, 1985–86, 1988–89, 1990–91, 1995–96, 2001–02
- Romanian Cup
The Cupa României is a football competition which was held annually since 1933-34, except during the World War II. It is the country's main cup competition, and it is open to all clubs affiliated with FRF and the county football associations regardless of the league they belong to...
:
- Winners (3): 2007–08, 2008–09, 2009–10
The 2010 Cupa României Final was the 72nd final of Romania's most prestigious cup competition. The final was played at the Emil Alexandrescu stadium in Iaşi between the Cup's holder, CFR Cluj and FC Vaslui. The trophy was won for the third year in a row by CFR Cluj after penalty kicks.-Match...
- Romanian Supercup
The Supercupa României is a football competition, held at the beginning of each domestic season and disputed between the winners of Romanian Liga I and the winners of Cupa României. It was usually played at National Stadium in Bucharest. During the period when the new Stadionul Naţional is being...
:
- Winners (2): 2009
The 2009 Supercupa României was the 11th edition of Romania's season opener cup competition. The match was played in Bucharest at Stadionul Giuleşti-Valentin Stănescu on 26 July 2009, and was contested between Liga I title holders, FC Unirea Urziceni and Cupa României champions, CFR Cluj. The...
, 2010The 2010 Supercupa României was the 12th edition of Romania's season opener cup competition. The match was played in Cluj-Napoca at Dr. Constantin Rădulescu on 18 July 2010, and was contested between Liga I title holders and Supercup defending champions, CFR Cluj and Liga I runner-ups, FC Unirea...
European record
| Competition |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
UEFA Champions LeagueThe UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
/ European CupThe UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
|
2 |
12 |
2 |
2 |
8 |
11 |
21 |
– 10 |
| UEFA Europa League / UEFA Cup |
2 |
10 |
2 |
2 |
6 |
8 |
15 |
– 7 |
UEFA Intertoto CupThe UEFA Intertoto Cup, also abbreviated as UI Cup and originally called the International Football Cup, was a summer football competition for European clubs that had not qualified for one of the two major UEFA competitions, the Champions League and the UEFA Cup. The competition was discontinued...
|
1 |
10 |
5 |
3 |
2 |
20 |
13 |
7
| Total |
5 |
32 |
9 |
7 |
16 |
39 |
49 |
– 10 |
Liga I
| Season |
Position |
Wins |
Draws |
Losses |
Goals |
Points |
| 1946–47 |
7 |
13 |
4 |
9 |
44-29 |
30 |
| 1947–48 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
11 |
48-42 |
28 |
| 1948–49 |
11 |
9 |
5 |
12 |
39-67 |
23 |
| 1969–70 |
14 |
10 |
7 |
13 |
29-45 |
27 |
| 1970–71 |
14 |
9 |
8 |
13 |
37-52 |
26 |
| 1971–72 |
13 |
9 |
7 |
14 |
27-37 |
25 |
| 1972–73 |
5 |
11 |
11 |
8 |
33-33 |
33 |
| 1973–74 |
14 |
11 |
9 |
14 |
40-53 |
31 |
| 1974–75 |
15 |
11 |
10 |
13 |
26-34 |
32 |
| 1975–76 |
17 |
9 |
10 |
15 |
30-39 |
28 |
| 2004–05 |
11 |
9 |
9 |
12 |
33-44 |
36 |
| 2005–06 |
5 |
14 |
8 |
8 |
36-27 |
50 |
| 2006–07 |
3 |
21 |
6 |
7 |
59-32 |
69 |
| 2007–08 |
1 |
23 |
7 |
4 |
52-22 |
76 |
| 2008–09 |
4 |
16 |
11 |
7 |
44-26 |
59 |
| 2009–10 |
1 |
20 |
9 |
5 |
43-21 |
69 |
| 2010-11 |
10 |
11 |
12 |
11 |
50-45 |
45 |
Records
- Best finish Liga I: Champions in 2007–08, 2009–10
- Greatest victory: CFR Cluj – Minaur Zlatna 10–0 (4 October 2003)
- Biggest defeat: CFR Bucureşti – CFR Cluj 12–2 (20 April 1949)
- Player with most caps in Liga I:
Kingdom of Romania Cristian PaninCristian Panin is a Romanian footballer currently playing for Romanian first league side CFR 1907 Cluj. Panin began his career at UTA Arad. During the summer of 2004 he was traded to CFR Cluj. He plays as a right back or right midfield, as well as a leftback. Panin is currently the veteran in the...
(200)
- Player with most goals in Liga I: Kingdom of Romania Mihai Adam
Mihai Adam was a Romanian football player.*Total matches played in Romanian First League: 353 matches - 160 goals.*Topscorer of Romanian First League: 1965, 1968 and 1974....
(47)
Current squad
As of August 12, 2011
Out on loan
Players with dual nationality
Côte d'Ivoire 5
Bakary SaréBakary Bouba Saré is a Belgian footballer of Ivorian heritage who plays for CFR Cluj.-Anderlecht:Saré made his debut in the Belgian Pro League for R.S.C. Anderlecht in a match against R.A.E.C...
Italy 7 Renan Garcia
Netherlands 8
Dominique KivuvuDominique Kivuvu is a Dutch-Angolan footballer who plays for Liga I club CFR Cluj and the Angolan national team.- Club career :...
Italy 18
Sixto PeraltaSixto Raimundo "Mumo" Peralta Salso is an Argentine football midfielder currently playing for CFR Cluj.- Career :He made his professional debut against Lanús, 23 August 1996...
Portugal 26
CelestinoPedro Celestino Silva Soares known as Celestino, is a Cape Verdean footballer who plays for CFR Cluj as a midfielder.Celestino also holds Portuguese passport.- External links :* *...
Canada 66 Daniel Fernandes
France 99
Modou SougouPape Amodou Sougou is a Senegalese Winger who plays for CFR Cluj.-Beginning:Sougou started his career as a teenager at AS Douanes, a football team in Dakar, Senegal. He moved to U.D. Leiria.-Vitoria:...
Notable former players
Romania
Mihai AdamMihai Adam was a Romanian football player.*Total matches played in Romanian First League: 353 matches - 160 goals.*Topscorer of Romanian First League: 1965, 1968 and 1974....
Adrian AncaAdrian Gheorghe Anca is a former Romanian footballer, who played as a striker. Currently unemployed, he last managed second division side Silvania Şimleu Silvaniei.- Career :...
Cristian CoroianCristian Ambrozie Coroian is a Romanian footballer currently under contract for Romanian first league side Gloria Bistriţa.- Career :...
Ciprian DeacCiprian Ioan Deac is a Romanian professional footballer who currently plays for Liga I club Rapid Bucureşti on loan from German club FC Schalke 04.-Early career:...
Nicolae DicăNicolae Constantin Dică is a Romanian football attacking midfielder. He is a playmaker or forward known for his incisive passing and long balls...
Cristian DulcaCristian Alexandru Dulca is a former Romanian football player. Clubs he played for include CFR Cluj and Rapid Bucureşti. He was included in the Romania national football team squad for the 1998 FIFA World Cup. In 2003, he was forced to retire because of a congenital heart defect...
Vasile JulaVasile Ilie Jula is a Romanian footballer currently playing for FC Zalău. Jula began his career at Universitatea Cluj, playing in the 1996 UEFA Intertoto Cup. He later went on to play for Gloria Bistriţa before moving to CFR Cluj during the summer of 2004.Jula plays as a centre back.In 2005 he was...
István Kovács
Bogdan MaraIon Bogdan Mara is a Romanian footballer who is playing for Greek club Skoda Xanthi.-Inter Sibiu:Mara made his first steps in professional football in Sibiu, at Inter, where he played for two years...
Radu MărgineanRadu Leon Marginean is a Romanian footballer currently playing for Gloria Bistriţa.- Career :Marginean is on loan to Gloria until the summer of 2007 from CFR 1907 Cluj. Marginean was the captain of the under-21 Romanian national team. He is a central defensive midfielder...
Alin MinteuanAlin Ilie Minteuan is a retired Romanian footballer, and current caretaker manager of CFR Cluj.- Career :Minteuan's first team was CFR Cluj, where he went on to play for Universitatea Cluj, Rapid Bucharest, and Gloria Bistrita. He is a right midfielder or a central defensive midfielder.- Coaching...
Dorinel MunteanuDorinel Ionel Munteanu is a Romanian former football midfielder, and current manager of Oţelul Galaţi.-Club career:Munteanu started to play football for Metalul Bocşa, a team which offered him the first chance to play in Divizia B in 1986...
Romeo SurduRomeo Constantin Surdu is a Romanian footballer currently under contract with FC Rapid Bucureşti.-Club career:Surdu began his football career at FC Braşov, where he became a very good player...
Cosmin TilincăCosmin Tilincă is a Romanian footballer currently under contract with Arieşul Turda. He began football at his hometown club Arieşul Turda. During the summer of 2002 he moved to CFR Cluj, where he played until 2007...
Eugen TricăEugen Trică is a former Romanian footballer who played as a midfielder.- Club career :Trică started his career at Universitatea Craiova as a youth, being promoted in the first team in 1995....
Martin Tudor
Petru ŢurcaşPetru Ţurcaş is a Romanian footballer currently playing for Recaş in Liga III.- Career :He began football at FC Politehnica Timişoara, eventually playing for Gloria Bistriţa, and Apulum Alba-Iulia. He was traded to CFR Cluj in early 2005...
Argentina
Tomás CostaTomás Costa is an Argentine footballer who plays for Club Atlético Colón as a central midfielder.-Rosario Central:Born in Oliveros, Santa Fe, Costa joined Rosario Central's youth ranks at the age of 18...
Emmanuel CulioJuan Emmanuel Culio is an Argentine football player who currently plays for Orduspor on loan from Galatasaray. in Turkey's Süper Lig...
Sebastián DubarbierSebastián Dubarbier is an Argentine football midfielder currently playing for FC Lorient in the France Ligue 1.-Player: CFR Cluj** Romanian First League – winner 2008...
Cristian Fabbiani Diego Ruiz
Brazil
André GaliassiAndré de Sousa Galiassi is a Brazilian footballer currently under contract for Romanian first league side Concordia Chiajna and plays centre back.- Career :He is both a champion of Bolivia and Romania...
DidiCleidimar Magalhães Silva, commonly known as Didi is a Brazilian footballer currently under contract with Liga 1 side FCM Târgu Mureş.-Player: CFR Cluj** Romanian First League - winner...
Hugo AlcântaraHugo Alcântara is a Brazilian footballer who currently plays for Portuguese Primeira Liga side União Desportiva de Leiria.-Career:...
Burkina Faso
Yssouf KonéYssouf Koné is a naturalized Burkinabé football striker, who plays for the Norwegian club Vålerenga.- Career :He scored ten goals in the UEFA Champions League 2007/08 season including qualification matches....
Canada
Lars HirschfeldLars Justin Hirschfeld is a Canadian football goalkeeper currently playing for Vålerenga Fotball in Norway.-Club career:Hirschfeld started his career with the Edmonton Drillers, playing indoor soccer...
Côte d'Ivoire Lacina Traoré
Croatia
Saša BjelanovićSaša Bjelanović is a Croatian footballer striker who is currently playing for Verona in Serie B.He also holds Italian passport since 2007, as his grandmother was from Trieste, Venezia Giulia, made him eligible to acquire Italian nationality at birth.-Club career:Saša Bjelanović started his career...
France Tony
Greece
Ioannis MatzourakisIoannis Matzourakis is a Greek association football manager and former player. He is currently employed by Kavala FC....
Portugal
Antonio SemedoAntónio Paulo Sanches Semedo is a Portuguese footballer who plays for FK Khazar Lankaran in Azerbaijan. Operating on the left or right wings or behind the striker, he is nicknamed "The Black Panther".-Club career:...
Dani
Manuel JoséManuel José Azevedo Vieira , known as Manuel José, is a Portuguese footballer who plays for F.C. Paços de Ferreira in the Portuguese first division....
Pedro Oliveira
Sweden
Mikael DorsinMikael Frank Dorsin is a Swedish footballer, playing as a defender at Rosenborg BK in the Norwegian Premier League.-Career:Dorsin started his career at minor-league IFK Lidingö...
Niklas SandbergNiklas Sandberg is a Swedish centre-back who plays for second-tier Swedish club Brage.He started his career in the Swedish top flight in AIK in 1996 but only played two games during two years. After a spell at Helsingborg he returned to Stockholm in 2001 to play at FC Café Opera. He played there...
Serbia
Svetozar MijinSvetozar Mijin is a Serbian footballer who currently plays for FK ČSK Pivara in the Serbian First League as a defensive midfielder.-External sources:* at Srbijafudbal....
Zoran MiloševićZoran Milosević is a Serbian footballer currently playing for FK Žarkovo...
Uruguay
Álvaro PereiraÁlvaro Daniel Pereira Barragán is an Uruguayan footballer who plays for Futebol Clube do Porto in Portugal.On the left side, he can play as either a defender or midfielder.-Early years:...
Former coaches
Constantin Rădulescu Marius Bretan (2001–02) George Ciorceri (2002–03) Adrian Coca (2004)
Aurel ŞundaAurel Şunda is a retired Romanian football player and since September 27th 2011 the manager of Liga III side FC Hunedoara.-As a player:* Romanian Cup : 1979–80 , 1982-83...
(2004–05)
Dorinel MunteanuDorinel Ionel Munteanu is a Romanian former football midfielder, and current manager of Oţelul Galaţi.-Club career:Munteanu started to play football for Metalul Bocşa, a team which offered him the first chance to play in Divizia B in 1986...
(2005–06)
Cristiano Bergodi (2006–07)
Ioan AndoneIoan Andone is a Romanian football coach and former player.-Career:He made his Divizia A debut with Corvinul Hunedoara in 1979. He later went to Dinamo Bucureşti where he helped win the league title in 1984 and 1990 and the cup title in 1984, 1986 and 1990. In 1990 he was bought by Spanish team...
(2007–08)
Maurizio TrombettaMaurizio Trombetta is an Italian former football player turned manager. He was in charge as head coach of Romanian Liga I club CFR Cluj and youth team coach at Reggina.-Playing:...
(2008)
Czech Republic Aleš JindraAleš Jindra is the former coach of Liga I champions CFR Cluj and former player.Before moving to Romania, he was the assistant coach of the Czech 2. Liga team FK Baník Sokolov.-External links:...
/
Czech Republic Dušan Uhrin, Jr. (2009)
ToniToni, real name António Conceição da Silva Oliveira , is a Portuguese football head coach.-Coaching career:He started his managerial career at Naval in 2003. In 2009, he took control of Liga 1 team CFR Cluj where he the Romanian Cup and the Romanian Supercup. He was sacked on 14 November 2009...
(2009)
Andrea MandorliniAndrea Mandorlini is an Italian football manager and former defender, currently in charge as head coach of Verona.-Playing career:...
(2010)
Sorin CârţuSorin Cârţu is a former football striker and current manager. He is currently unemployed, after leaving as manager Steaua Bucureşti in May 2011. Cârţu won 2 Romanian Championships and 4 Romanian Cups with Universitatea Craiova...
(2010)
Alin MinteuanAlin Ilie Minteuan is a retired Romanian footballer, and current caretaker manager of CFR Cluj.- Career :Minteuan's first team was CFR Cluj, where he went on to play for Universitatea Cluj, Rapid Bucharest, and Gloria Bistrita. He is a right midfielder or a central defensive midfielder.- Coaching...
(2011)
Jorge CostaJorge Paulo Costa Almeida , known as Costa, is a retired Portuguese professional footballer who played as a central defender, and a current manager....
(2011–)
Club executives
Coaching staff
Supporters
The biggest supporter groups of CFR 1907 Cluj are
Commando Gruia and
KVSC.
Commando Gruia currently has about 500 members, whereas
KVSC has 450.
As a premier, the 2009–2010 CFR Fans' Trophy was awarded to Cristian Panin as voted by supporters and football reviewers. The trophy is to be awarded every year by the CFR Cluj fans associations to the player that receives the highest aggregate amount of votes online and highest per match rating respectively.
External links
,
Official website KVSC - CFR Cluj supporters ChefereTV - CFR 1907 Cluj Fan's Tube&TV website Cefere.com - CFR Cluj fan site CFR Cluj news website CFR Cluj fan site CFR 1907 News, Stats and Info in English Romanian Football History and Statistics CFR Cluj independent Fan Site CFR Cluj match photos