Romanian Cup
Encyclopedia
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 (Romanian Football Federation
) and the county football associations regardless of the league they belong to. Currently, the winner of the competition is granted a place in the play-off round of the Europa League. The cup is sponsored by the Timişoreana
beer brand, hence the name Cupa României Timişoreana.
Most finals have been held at the Stadionul Naţional (formerly known as "23 August"), and occasionally at other stadiums in Bucharest
. During the construction of the new Stadionul Naţional
, the final was staged each year in a different major city of the country. In 2007, the final was held in Timişoara
at the Dan Păltinişanu
stadium, this being the second occasion when the last game was played outside Bucharest (the first occurrence taking place in 1989, when Braşov
hosted the event). Then, the next three finals were staged in Piatra Neamţ
, Târgu Jiu
, Iași
and again in Braşov.
The 2012 final is due to be staged on the newly-finished Cluj Arena.
The competition has been dominated by Bucharest-based teams, the most successful performers being Steaua Bucureşti with twenty-one trophies, followed by Rapid Bucureşti with thirteen and Dinamo Bucureşti with twelve. Steaua Bucureşti are the current holders, having triumphed in the final
against Dinamo.
signed a one-year sponsorship deal. The name of the competition was changed to Cupa României Samsung.
On 9 October 2006, FRF and Ursus Breweries (part of the SABMiller
group) signed a sponsorship agreement for the next three seasons. Ursus Breweries changed the name of the competition to Cupa României Timişoreana, after the Timişoreana beer brand.
season. The main differences between the current system and the last one are the dates at which rounds take place, and the two-legged format of the semifinals.
. For the first five phases, teams are paired using geographical criteria in order to avoid long travel distances. The teams from a lower division or with a lower ranking in the last league season host the games.
Every year, based on the national and international football calendar, FRF
's executive committee may choose a two-leg or one-leg system for the Round of 16, quarterfinals and semifinals. Games at these stages are, when played using a one-leg system, hosted by a neutral venue. The final is held at a pre-established venue, normally in Bucharest.
1933–34 Cupa României
The 1933-1934 Cupa României was the inaugural season of the Romania's most prestigious football cup competition. In order to promote the competition and encourage clubs to register to the cup, no taxes were enforced on the participants...
, except during the World War II
World War II
World 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...
. It is the country
Romania
Romania 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...
's main cup competition, and it is open to all clubs affiliated with FRF (Romanian Football Federation
Romanian Football Federation
The Romanian Football Federation is the governing body of football in Romania. It organizes the Romania national football team and most of the Romanian football competitions. It is based in the Romanian capital city of Bucharest...
) and the county football associations regardless of the league they belong to. Currently, the winner of the competition is granted a place in the play-off round of the Europa League. The cup is sponsored by the Timişoreana
Timisoreana
Timişoreana is a brand of beer in Romania.- History :The first brewery of Timisoreana was built in 1718 to Timişoara. In 2001 it was bought by Ursus Breweries company, part of the international group SABMiller. On November 25, 2005 Timişoreana sponsored the city of Timişoara with 60,000 dollars for...
beer brand, hence the name Cupa României Timişoreana.
Most finals have been held at the Stadionul Naţional (formerly known as "23 August"), and occasionally at other stadiums in Bucharest
Bucharest
Bucharest 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....
. During the construction of the new Stadionul Naţional
Stadionul National
The National Arena is a football stadium in Bucharest, Romania, in the Lia Manoliu Sports Complex. The stadium will host the games of Romania's national football team, as well as the Romanian Cup Final and the Romanian Supercup. The 2012 UEFA Europa League Final will be held at the new stadium...
, the final was staged each year in a different major city of the country. In 2007, the final was held in Timişoara
Timisoara
Timișoara is the capital city of Timiș County, in western Romania. One of the largest Romanian cities, with an estimated population of 311,586 inhabitants , and considered the informal capital city of the historical region of Banat, Timișoara is the main social, economic and cultural center in the...
at the Dan Păltinişanu
Stadionul Dan Paltinisanu
Dan Păltinişanu Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium in Timişoara, Romania. It is currently used mostly for football matches by the local team, Politehnica Timişoara...
stadium, this being the second occasion when the last game was played outside Bucharest (the first occurrence taking place in 1989, when Braşov
Brasov
Brașov is a city in Romania and the capital of Brașov County.According to the last Romanian census, from 2002, there were 284,596 people living within the city of Brașov, making it the 8th most populated city in Romania....
hosted the event). Then, the next three finals were staged in Piatra Neamţ
Piatra Neamt
Piatra Neamț , , ; is the capital city of Neamţ County, in the historical region of Moldavia, eastern Romania. Because of its privileged location in the Eastern Carpathian mountains, it is considered one of the most picturesque cities in Romania...
, Târgu Jiu
Târgu Jiu
Târgu Jiu is the capital of Gorj County, Oltenia, Romania. It is situated on the Southern Sub-Carpathians, on the banks of the river Jiu. Eight villages are administered by the city: Bârseşti, Drăgoeni, Iezureni, Polata, Preajba Mare, Româneşti, Slobozia and Ursaţi.-History:The city takes its name...
, Iași
Iasi
Iași is the second most populous city and a municipality in Romania. Located in the historical Moldavia region, Iași has traditionally been one of the leading centres of Romanian social, cultural, academic and artistic life...
and again in Braşov.
The 2012 final is due to be staged on the newly-finished Cluj Arena.
The competition has been dominated by Bucharest-based teams, the most successful performers being Steaua Bucureşti with twenty-one trophies, followed by Rapid Bucureşti with thirteen and Dinamo Bucureşti with twelve. Steaua Bucureşti are the current holders, having triumphed in the final
2011 Cupa României Final
The 2011 Cupa României Final was the 11th final of the Cupa României between the archrivals Dinamo Bucureşti and Steaua Bucureşti.. The match took place on 25 May 2011 at the Silviu Ploeşteanu stadium in Braşov...
against Dinamo.
Sponsorship
On 22 July 2005, FRF and Samsung ElectronicsSamsung Electronics
Samsung Electronics is a South Korean multinational electronics and information technology company headquartered in Samsung Town, Seoul...
signed a one-year sponsorship deal. The name of the competition was changed to Cupa României Samsung.
On 9 October 2006, FRF and Ursus Breweries (part of the SABMiller
SABMiller
SABMiller plc is a global brewing and bottling company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the world's second-largest brewing company measured by revenues and is also a major bottler of Coca-Cola. Its brands include Grolsch, Miller Genuine Draft, Peroni Nastro Azzurro and Pilsner Urquell...
group) signed a sponsorship agreement for the next three seasons. Ursus Breweries changed the name of the competition to Cupa României Timişoreana, after the Timişoreana beer brand.
Competition format
The competition often suffered minor changes in format over the last seasons. The following format came in use in the 09-102009–10 Cupa României
The 2009–10 Cupa României was the seventy-second season of the annual Romanian football knockout tournament. It began on 15 July 2009 with the matches of Phase 1 and ended with the Final on 6 June 2010...
season. The main differences between the current system and the last one are the dates at which rounds take place, and the two-legged format of the semifinals.
County phase
The competition at this phase is organized by the county football associations. 42 teams (one from each county) will advance to the next phase.National phase
The competition at this phase is organized by the Romanian Football FederationRomanian Football Federation
The Romanian Football Federation is the governing body of football in Romania. It organizes the Romania national football team and most of the Romanian football competitions. It is based in the Romanian capital city of Bucharest...
. For the first five phases, teams are paired using geographical criteria in order to avoid long travel distances. The teams from a lower division or with a lower ranking in the last league season host the games.
- First round - 140 teams (42 teams qualified from the county phase and 98 Liga IIILiga IIILiga 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:...
teams)
- Second round - 80 teams (70 winners from the first round and the remaining 10 Liga III teams)
- Third round - 40 teams (winners from the second round)
- Fourth round - 56 teams (20 winners from the third round and all 36 Liga IILiga IILiga 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....
teams)
- Fifth round - 28 teams (winners from the fourth round)
- Round of 32 - (14 winners from the fifth round and all 18 Liga ILiga 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"...
teams)
- Starting with this round a seeding system is used for the draw, as follows:
- Pot A: Teams 1 - 6 from last seasons Liga ILiga 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"...
final table (6 teams) - Pot B: The remaining Liga I teams (12 teams)
- Pot C: Teams from the lower divisions (14 teams)
- Teams from Pot A will be paired with teams from pot C, then the 8 remaining pot C teams will be paired with pot B teams, with the lower league clubs hosting the games. The 4 remaining pot B teams will play each other, with the host club determined by means of a draw.
- Round of 16 (winners from the Round of 32)
- Quarterfinals
- Semifinals
- Final
Every year, based on the national and international football calendar, FRF
Romanian Football Federation
The Romanian Football Federation is the governing body of football in Romania. It organizes the Romania national football team and most of the Romanian football competitions. It is based in the Romanian capital city of Bucharest...
's executive committee may choose a two-leg or one-leg system for the Round of 16, quarterfinals and semifinals. Games at these stages are, when played using a one-leg system, hosted by a neutral venue. The final is held at a pre-established venue, normally in Bucharest.
Performance by club
| Club | Winners | Runners-up | Winning Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steaua Bucureşti | |
|
1948–49, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1955, 1961–62, 1965–66, 1966–67, 1968–69, 1969–70, 1970–71, 1975–76, 1978–79, 1984–85, 1986–87, 1987–88, 1988–89, 1991–92, 1995–96, 1996–97, 1998–99, 2010–11 2010–11 Cupa României The 2010–11 Cupa României is the seventy-third season of the annual Romanian football knockout tournament. It began on 17 July 2010 with the matches of the first round. For the third consecutive season, CFR Cluj were the defending champions... |
| Rapid Bucureşti | |
|
1934–35, 1936–37, 1937–38, 1938–39, 1939–40, 1940–41, 1941–42, 1971–72, 1974–75, 1997–98, 2001–02, 2005–06, 2006–07 |
| Dinamo Bucureşti | |
|
1958–59, 1963–64, 1967–68, 1981–82, 1983–84, 1985–86, 1989–90, 1999–00, 2000–01, 2002–03, 2003–04, 2004–05 |
| Universitatea Craiova FC Universitatea Craiova Fotbal 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... |
|
|
1976–77, 1977–78, 1980–81, 1982–83, 1990–91, 1992–93 |
| CFR Cluj CFR Cluj CFR Cluj is a Romanian professional football club from the city of Cluj-Napoca in Transylvania, Romania. 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... |
|
|
2007–08, 2008–09, 2009–10 2009–10 Cupa României The 2009–10 Cupa României was the seventy-second season of the annual Romanian football knockout tournament. It began on 15 July 2009 with the matches of Phase 1 and ended with the Final on 6 June 2010... |
| Politehnica Timişoara FC Politehnica Timişoara Fotbal Club Politehnica Timişoara is a Romanian football club which was established in 1921 and is currently playing in Romania's second league, Liga II... |
|
|
1957–58, 1979–80 |
| Ripensia Timişoara Ripensia Timisoara Ripensia Timişoara was a football team from the Romanian city of Timişoara. It was founded in 1928 by Dr. Cornel Lazăr and it lasted only twenty years before folding due to lack of funds in 1948.... |
|
|
1933–34, 1935–36 |
| UTA Arad | |
|
1947–48, 1953 |
| Petrolul Ploieşti Petrolul Ploiesti Fotbal Club Petrolul Ploiești is a Romanian professional football club based in Ploiești, Prahova County, currently playing in the Liga I.-History:... |
|
|
1962–63, 1994–95 Cupa României 1994–95 The 1995 Cupa României Final was the 57th final of Romania's most prestigious cup competition. The final was played at the Stadionul Naţional in Bucharest on 21 June 1995 and was contested between Divizia A sides Petrolul Ploieşti and Rapid Bucureşti. The cup was won by Petrolul on penalties.-Match... |
| Arieşul Turda | |
|
1960–61 |
| CFR Turnu Severin CFR Turnu Severin CFR Turnu Severin was a football club based in Turnu Severin , Romania. It was founded in 1928 and it won one Romanian Cup in 1943. The club was dissolved in 1958.-History:... |
|
|
1942–43 |
| Chimia Râmnicu Vâlcea Chimia Râmnicu Vâlcea Chimia Râmnicu Vâlcea was a football club based in Râmnicu Vâlcea, Vâlcea County, Romania. It was founded in 1946 and dissolved in 2004. It won one Romanian Cup, in 1973.-History:... |
|
|
1972–73 |
| Gloria Bistriţa Gloria Bistrita Gloria Bistriţa is a Romanian professional football club from Bistriţa, Bistriţa-Năsăud County.-History:The club was founded on July 6, 1922 and among the founding staff members there were: Simion Sbârcea as the club's president, Teofil Moldovan as the club's secretary, Ion Bota, Dumitru Hara,... |
|
|
1993–94 |
| Jiul Petroşani Jiul Petrosani Jiul Petroşani is a Romanian professional football club from Petroşani, Hunedoara county, Romania, founded in 1919.-History:The history of Jiul Petroşani goes back to 1919, when the club was founded as Clubul Atletic al Minerilor din Petroşani .In 1925 Jiul was runners-up in the Liga I.Most of its... |
|
|
1973–74 |
| Metalul Reşiţa | |
|
1954 |
| Progresul Bucureşti | |
|
1959-60 |
| Progresul Oradea | |
|
1956 |
| FC Universitatea Cluj FC Universitatea Cluj Fotbal Club Universitatea Cluj is a Romanian professional football club from Cluj-Napoca, founded in 1919 by Iuliu Hațieganu. The team plays in the country's top-flight league, Liga I... |
|
|
1964-65 |
Performance by cities
The following table sorts cities by the number of Cups won by local teams. Bucharest, hosting the three most decorated sides in the competition and having staged the majority of the Cup finals, is easily the most prolific city.| City | Cups | Winning Clubs |
|---|---|---|
| Bucureşti | |
Steaua (21), Rapid (13), Dinamo (12), Progresul (1) |
 CraiovaCraiova Craiova , Romania's 6th largest city and capital of Dolj County, is situated near the east bank of the river Jiu in central Oltenia. It is a longstanding political center, and is located at approximately equal distances from the Southern Carpathians and the River Danube . Craiova is the chief... |
|
Universitatea (6) |
 TimişoaraTimisoara Timișoara is the capital city of Timiș County, in western Romania. One of the largest Romanian cities, with an estimated population of 311,586 inhabitants , and considered the informal capital city of the historical region of Banat, Timișoara is the main social, economic and cultural center in the... |
|
Politehnica (2), Ripensia (2) |
 Cluj-NapocaCluj-Napoca Cluj-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... |
|
CFR (3), Universitatea (1) |
 AradArad, Romania Arad is the capital city of Arad County, in western Romania, in the Crişana region, on the river Mureş.An important industrial center and transportation hub, Arad is also the seat of a Romanian Orthodox archbishop and features two universities, a Romanian Orthodox theological seminary, a training... |
|
UTA (2) |
 PloieştiPloiesti Ploiești is the county seat of Prahova County and lies in the historical region of Wallachia in Romania. The city is located north of Bucharest.... |
|
Petrolul (2) |
| Bistriţa Bistrita Bistrița is the capital city of Bistriţa-Năsăud County, Transylvania, Romania. It is situated on the Bistriţa River. The city has a population of approximately 80,000 inhabitants, and it administers six villages: Ghinda, Sărata, Sigmir, Slătiniţa, Unirea and Viişoara.-History:The earliest sign of... |
|
Gloria (1) |
 Drobeta-Turnu SeverinDrobeta-Turnu Severin Drobeta-Turnu Severin is a city in Mehedinţi County, Oltenia, Romania, on the left bank of the Danube, below the Iron Gates.The city administers three villages: Dudaşu Schelei, Gura Văii, and Schela Cladovei... |
|
CFR (1) |
 OradeaOradea Oradea is the capital city of Bihor County, in the Crișana region of north-western Romania. The city has a population of 204,477, according to the 2009 estimates. The wider Oradea metropolitan area has a total population of 245,832.-Geography:... |
|
CAO (1) |
 PetroşaniPetrosani Petroşani is a city in Hunedoara County, Romania, with a population of 45,447 .-History:The city of Petroşani was founded in the 17th century... |
|
Jiul (1) |
 Râmnicu VâlceaRâmnicu Vâlcea Râmnicu Vâlcea is the capital city of Vâlcea County, Romania .-Geography and climate:Râmnicu Vâlcea is situated in the central-south area of Romania... |
|
Chimia (1) |
 ReşiţaResita ' is a city in western Romania and the capital of Caraş-Severin County, in the Banat region. Its 2004 population was 83,985.- Etymology :The name of Reşiţa, might comes from the Latin recitia, meaning "cold spring", as the great historian Nicolae Iorga once suggested, presuming that the Romans... |
|
CSM (1) |
 TurdaTurda Turda is a city and Municipality in Cluj County, Romania, situated on the Arieş River.- Ancient times :The city was founded by Dacians under the name Patavissa or Potaissa... |
|
Arieşul (1) |
Records
| Player | Period | Club | Goals | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Florea VoineaFlorea Voinea Florea Voinea is a former Romanian football Striker.-Career statistics:* Total matches played in Romanian First League: 251 matches - 117 goals* Total matches played in Ligue 1: 50 matches - 18 goals... |
Steaua Bucureşti Steaua Bucuresti Fotbal Club Steaua București is a Romanian professional football club based in Bucharest. They are the most successful Romanian football team in European competitions as well in the Romanian Liga I . They became the first East European team to win the UEFA Champions League being victorious in the... , Prahova Ploieşti Prahova Ploiesti Prahova Ploieşti was a football club based in Ploieşti, Prahova County, Romania. It was founded in 1911 and it soon became one of the best teams in the country, winning one Romanian Championships in 1916. The club was dissolved in 2000.-History:... |
40 | |
| 2 | Gyula Barátky Gyula Barátky Gyula Barátky was a football player who had represented both Hungary and Romania. His preferred position was half right.He played a total of 155 games in the national Romanian championships , starting on 10 September 1933... |
Rapid Bucureşti Rapid Bucuresti Fotbal Club Rapid București is a Romanian football club. It was founded in 1923 by a group workers of the Grivița workshops under the name of "Cultural and Sporting Association CFR" . Rapid won the Romanian championship 3 times and the Romanian Cup on thirteen occasions... , Crişana Oradea Crisana Oradea Crişana Oradea was a football club based in Oradea, Romania. It was founded in 1929 and dissolved in 1947.-History:The club was founded in 1929. The players from the first year of existence were: Putirică, Combi, Aurel, Bulzan, Restea, Slopu, Vanghelu, Blondu, Ştefănescu, Matei, I... |
37 | |
| 3 | Ionel Dănciulescu Ionel Danciulescu Ionel Daniel Dănciulescu is a Romanian football player. He is currently playing as a striker for Dinamo Bucureşti... |
Electroputere Craiova, Dinamo Bucureşti, Steaua Bucureşti | 35 | |
| 4 | Ion Alecsandrescu Ion Alecsandrescu Ion Alecsandrescu was the chairman of Steaua Bucureşti during the team's golden era, between 1985 and 1989. His nickname was Sfinxul and was recently declared as Steaua Bucharest's Man of the Century.... |
Steaua Bucureşti Steaua Bucuresti Fotbal Club Steaua București is a Romanian professional football club based in Bucharest. They are the most successful Romanian football team in European competitions as well in the Romanian Liga I . They became the first East European team to win the UEFA Champions League being victorious in the... , CA Câmpulung Moldovenesc CA Câmpulung Moldovenesc CA Câmpulung Moldovenesc was a football club based in Câmpulung Moldovenesc, Suceava County, Romania. It was founded in 1948 and dissolved in 1953.-History:... |
34 | |
| 5 | Ştefan Dobay Stefan Dobay Ștefan Dobay , native name István Dobay, was a Austrian-Hungarian native Romanian footballer.He played for Ripensia Timișoara and the Romania national football team for whom he got 41 caps, scored 20 goals and he appeared at the 1934 and 1938 World Cups as a forward and scoring a goal in each... |
Ripensia Timişoara Ripensia Timisoara Ripensia Timişoara was a football team from the Romanian city of Timişoara. It was founded in 1928 by Dr. Cornel Lazăr and it lasted only twenty years before folding due to lack of funds in 1948.... |
33 | |