Steaua Bucuresti
Encyclopedia
Fotbal Club Steaua București (ˈste̯awa bukuˈreʃtʲ) is a Romania
n professional football club
based in Bucharest
. They are the most successful Romanian football team in European competitions as well in the Romanian Liga I
(23 championship wins). They became the first East European team to win the UEFA Champions League
being victorious in the 1986 European Cup final
. They have played again the final of the 1988/1989 Champions League edition. Steaua is the only team from Eastern Europe
to achieve such performances.
The club is historically known as the Romanian Army sports club. The football department separated, however, in 1998. At the moment, its only direct link to the Army is their home ground, Stadionul Ghencea
, property of the Ministry of National Defence.
Steaua has spent all its history in the country's top-flight league, and has finished below the sixth spot for only five times. They have finished fifth in the last season. Initially, the club played in the colors of the Romanian tricolour
- blue, yellow and red - but yellow soon lost its importance, and the team became associated with the red and blue colors . Recently, away kits have begun to reintegrate the yellow color.
, High Commander of the Romanian Royal Army. The club's first name was ASA București (Asociația Sportivă a Armatei București – Army Sports Association). It was formed as a sports society with seven initial sections, including football, coached by Coloman Braun-Bogdan
. ASA was renamed CSCA (Clubul Sportiv Central al Armatei – Central Sports Club of the Army) in 1948 and CCA (Casa Centrală a Armatei – Central House of the Army) in 1950.
In 1949, CSCA won its first trophy, the Romanian Cup
, defeating CSU Cluj 2–1 in the final. Under the name of CCA, the club managed to win three Championship
titles in a row in 1951
, 1952
and 1953
, along with their first Championship-Cup Double in 1951. During the 1950s, the so-called CCA Golden Team became nationally famous. In 1956, the national team of Romania
, composed exclusively of CCA players, took on Yugoslavia in Belgrade and won 1–0. During the same year, CCA, coached by Ilie Savu
, was the first Romanian team to enterprise a tournament in England where they achieved noteworthy results against the likes of Luton Town
, Arsenal
, Sheffield Wednesday
and Wolverhampton Wanderers
.
At the end of 1961 CCA changed its name once again to CSA Steaua București
(Clubul Sportiv al Armatei Steaua – Army Sports Club Steaua). The club's new name translates The Star and was adopted because of the presence of a red star
, symbol of most East-European Army clubs, on their crest. A poor period of almost two decades followed in which the club claimed only three championships (1967–68
, 1975–76
, 1977–78
). Instead, the team won nine national cup trophies, for which matter they gained the nickname of cup specialists. Also during this period, on 9 April 1974, Steaua's current ground, Stadionul Ghencea
, was inaugurated with a friendly match opposing OFK Beograd
. For a long time, whether it was called ASA, CSCA, CCA or Steaua, the team has evolved over hundreds of stadiums across the country or abroad. But on each of them was considered, however, host. Mention further five of these arenas, indicating that the choice was made either by importance "sentimental" matches played here, or after the historic value of their. Stadiums that temporarily moved the team ("Giulești", "Unirea" or "Dinamo"), even if it was considered the host team, were not included: Stadionul Venus
, Stadionul ONEF ("ANEF"), Stadionul Republicii
, Stadionul Național and Stadionul Steaua.
Under the leadership of coaches Emerich Jenei
and Anghel Iordănescu
, Steaua had an impressive Championship run in the 1984–85
season, which they won after a six-year break. Subsequently, they were the first Romanian team to make it to a European Cup final, which they won in front of FC Barcelona
on penalties
(2–0 thanks to goalkeeper Helmuth Duckadam
succeeding to save all four penalties taken by the Spaniards), after a goalless draw. Steaua therefore became the first Eastern-European team to claim the title of European champions. An additional European Super Cup
was won in 1987 in front of SK Dinamo Kiev. Steaua remained at the top of European football for the rest of the decade, managing one more European Cup semifinal in 1987–88
and one more European Cup final in 1989
(lost 4–0 to AC Milan). This happened next to their four additional national titles (1985–86, 1986–87, 1987–88, 1988–89) and four national cups (1984–85
, 1986–87
, 1987–88
, 1988–89
). Furthermore, from June 1986 to September 1989, Steaua ran a record 104-match undefeated streak in the championship, setting a world record for that time and a European one still standing.
The 1989 Romanian Revolution led the country towards a free open market and, subsequently, several players of the 1980s team left for other clubs in the West. After a short pull-back, a quick recovery followed and Steaua managed a six consecutive championship streak between 1992–93
and 1997–98
to equalise the 1920s performance of Chinezul Timișoara
and also three more cups in 1995–96, 1996–97 and 1998–99. At international level, they also managed to make it to the UEFA Champions League
group stage three years in a row between 1994–95
and 1996–97
, remaining, at the moment, the only team in Romania to have participated in this competition.
In 1998, the football club separated from CSA Steaua and changed their name for the final time to FC Steaua București (Fotbal Club Steaua – Football Club Steaua), being led by Romanian businessman Viorel Păunescu. Păunescu performed poorly as a president and soon the club was plunged into debt. George Becali, another businessman, was offered the position of vice-president, in hope that he would invest money in the club. Becali eventually purchased the majority share in 2002 and turned the governing company public in January 2003.
Because of his controversial character, he has been contested by the majority of Steaua fans. The team qualified for the UEFA Cup
group stage in the 2004–05
season and further on became the first Romanian team to make it to the European football spring since 1993
(also Steaua's performance). The next season, they reached the UEFA Cup semi-finals in 2005–06
, where they were eliminated by Middlesbrough FC thanks to a last minute goal and thereafter qualified for the following UEFA Champions League
seasons after a ten year break. In the 2007–08 season Steaua have qualified again in the group stage of UEFA Champions League
.
Nationally, they gained two titles in 2004–05
and 2005–06
and the Romanian Super Cup in 2006, the latter being the club's 50th trophy in its 59 year history.
, means of transferring players and involvement of the Ceaușescu family
in the life of the team during the 1980s.
The club was founded as ASA București, by the Romanian Royal Army, on 7 June 1947. Debates regarding this issue relate to Romania's form of government, confronting the arguments that, on one hand, the government was mostly communist and on the other hand that the country was still a constitutional monarchy
, with the king serving as the High Commander of the Romanian Army. Nevertheless, at the beginning of their first season, even though supposing to attend a play-off for 2nd league promotion, Carmen București was disbanded out of political reasons, its place in the first league being occupied therefore by ASA. Subsequently, the team never relegated and is currently one of the 2 teams to have only played inside the first league, along with FC Dinamo 1948 București.
The means players would transfer to the club link to the organization of sporting activities inside former Communist countries. As of 1947, the new Communist government instituted norms stating that every sports association was to be linked to a certain form of trade union or governmental institution. As professional football was therefore abolished, players would move between teams as arrangements between the clubs' governing institutions, and not as regular market economy transactions. Being the club of the Army, several young gifted players would often be tempted by Steaua to join their ranks, having the advantages of better conditions ensured by the club, the opportunity of a more productive career, and also, among other, of being exempted from the compulsory military stage. Gheorghe Hagi
was borrowed this way from FC Sportul Studențesc
for the 1987 European Super Cup
match with SK Dinamo Kiev and afterwards continued, at his will, to play for Steaua, despite his former club's opposition. However, another famous example is also the one of Gheorghe Popescu
, transferred in 1988 from FC Universitatea Craiova
, apparently without the club's or player's consent and who returned to his former club after one season.
Approximately during the second half of the 1980s and also last years of the Communist regime in Romania, dictator Nicolae Ceaușescu
's adoptive son Valentin was involved in the life of the team. In spite of allegations of favouring the club nationally by transferring the best players in the country and of facilitating its five-title consecutive winning streak by arrangements with referees or opposing teams, Valentin Ceaușescu
stated in a recent interview that he had done nothing else than to protect his favourite team from Dinamo București's sphere of influence, ensured by the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Relatively little is known, however, at the moment about Valentin Ceaușescu's role in Steaua's history. Claims of him being involved in the life of the team using unethical methods have yet to be proven, and, as a consequence, the topic is still subject to discussion.
ASA București was founded by the Royal Army on 7 June 1947, at which date the club had no official crest.
As communists assumed total control of the country on 30 December 1947, the Royal Army was transformed into the People's Army and ASA automatically with it. Being inspired by the Red Army
, the new Ministry of Defence decided to create a crest for the club, along with the change of name to CSCA, consisting in an A-labeled red star
(symbol of the Red Army) on a blue disc.
Two years later, the change of name to CCA brought with it a new crest consisting of the same red star labeled CCA surrounded by a crown of laurel. The all-present star motif on the crest finally had its saying over the new name of Steaua as up 1961. It was opted for a badge which, redesigned, remains up to this day the club's symbol: the red and blue striped background with a golden star in the middle, to symbolize to Romanian tricolour flag. The shape for the emblem was redesigned in 1974, once the team moved to Stadionul Ghencea
.
Following the 1989 Romanian Revolution, the Army decided to break all links to the defunct communist regime, so, in 1991, CSA Steaua had a last change of crest with an eagle also present on the Ministry of Defence coat of arms and also on Romania's. As FC Steaua appeared in 1998, the club added two yellow stars on top of the CSA Steaua badge signifying its 20 titles of champions won, along with the Fotbal Club specification.
2003 was the year of the last change of crest, decided by the new Board of Administration run by George Becali, which was a return to the old emblem of 1974–1991, redesigned with the two yellow stars on top.
During their first season, 1947–48, Steaua wore yellow and red striped shirts with blue shorts, to symbolize Romania's tricolour flag.
Starting with the following season and with the Army's change of identity from the Royal Army to the People's Army, the yellow was gradually given up, so that the official colours remained, up to this day, the red and the blue.
Steaua has never had a standard playing kit. However, the most widely used throughout time was the combination of red shirts, blue shorts and red socks. Other variants have been all-red, all-blue and also shirts in vertical red and blue stripes during the 1960s and 1970s. Other kit colours have very rarely been used. Exceptions were the 1986 European Cup Final
in which Steaua wore, for the only time in their history, an all-white kit, the 1999–00 away kit (yellow and red), the 2005–06 third kit (yellow and black)and the 2008–09 away kit (all yellow).
The 2008–09 home kit, different from the previous seasons, consists in vertical-striped red and blue shirts with blue shorts and socks, while the away strip is all-yellow. Various combinations of these kits also occur.
Steaua's kit is currently manufactured by Nike
, which was contracted in 2002, after a long partnership with adidas
. In 1988, Steaua was the first football team from Romania to display the name of a Western company, Ford. Several other sponsors succeeded thereafter: Castrol
, Philips
, CBS
, Bancorex (initially BRCE), Dialog (currently Orange
), BCR
and RAFO. As of September 2007, the club's new shirt sponsor is CitiFinancial
, with a one-year contract valuing EUR 1.3 million.
Last update: 12 May 2010
. Opened in 1931, the venue had previously been in the property of Venus București
, a club disbanded in 1949. After the ground's demolition through order of the Communist regime, Steaua had played its home matches on either two of Bucharest's largest multi-use stadia, Republicii
(built in 1926 and put down in 1984 to make room for the erection of the Casa Poporului
) and 23 August (built in 1953). Of these two, 23 August (current Național) was mostly used when two matches between Bucharest clubs were scheduled in the same matchday or for important European matches, while Republicii for regular matches inside the championship.
Steaua used to play its home matches at the Stadionul Ghencea
, a football
stadium
situated in South-Western Bucharest. Part of Complexul Sportiv Steaua, it was inaugurated on 9 April 1974 when Steaua played a friendly match against OFK Beograd
, at which time it was the first football-only stadium ever built in Communist Romania, with no track and field facilities.
The original capacity was 30,000 on benches. A general renovation occurred in 1991. This included installing seats, which dropped the capacity to 28,139, inaugurating a floodlighting system and erecting a VIP personal box section.
After a second renovation, in 2006, which included refurbishing the turf, Ghencea) was able to host UEFA Champions League
events, being a third category arena according to the UEFA classification system
. Lately, there have been talks for increasing the capacity to either 45,000 or 60,000.
Romania
was also a tenant. The first game played by the national team at Ghencea was in March 1977 against Turkey
. 59 other games have been played ever since, the last one occurring in October 2006 against Belarus
. Also, several matches from the 1998 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship
, including the final, have been hosted by the arena.
The stadium, built through order of the Ministry of National Defence inside a former military base and was long used by CSA Steaua
.
As Steaua is, judging by performances, the most successful Romanian football team, they enjoy the biggest support among Romanian football fans. A survey conducted in June 2007 suggested that the Ghencea-based team accounts for approximately 42% of all Romanian football lovers, as opposed to the following two ranked teams, Dinamo, with 12%, and Rapid, with 9%.
The largest concentration of fans are in Bucharest
, notably in areas adjacent to the arena, covering the whole southern half of Bucharest, a city geographically divided by the Dâmbovița River
. Also, the club has an important fan base inside the country, where several towns are renowned for counting vast majorities of Steaua supporters, and outside the borders, among Romanian emigrants.
The Steaua Ultras
movement began in 1995, when the bases of Armata Ultra (AU), the first Ultras group from Bucharest (and second in Romania after Politehnica Timișoara's Commando Viola Ultra Curva Sud), were set. The group quickly,reached an impressive number of members, but, in 2001, they dissolved due to internal problems. Currently Steaua's supporters are divided into several groups, most of them located at the Peluza Nord (North End) (Tineretului Korps, Nucleo, Insurgenții, Armata 47 Vest, Roosters,Shadows etc.), with some other ones taking their place at the Peluza Sud (South End) (Ultras, Stil Ostil, Glas, Vacarm, Banda Ultra, Hunters, South Boys, Outlaws, ERA).
More recently, as of 2006, the supporters have formed their own official association, called AISS (Asociația Independentă a Suporterilor Steliști – Steaua Supporters' Independent Association). AISS was formed as a legal entity with its stated goals of protecting the interests and image of Steaua supporters, as well as identifying and promoting the club's perennial values.
A heavy debated topic about the fans is the one related to racism
. Stemmed from their rivalry with FC Rapid București, whose fans are often envisioned as Roma ethnics, the issue degenerated on certain situations in several incidents between factions of supporters of Steaua and Rapid. Also, the UEFA Champions League 2005–06
qualifying match against Shelbourne FC, resulted in a one-matchday pitch suspension for Steaua during the same European season, after racial chants were heard from the crowd.
Lately, crowd turbulence has been one of the club's main problems. During the last three seasons, 11 Liga I
matchday suspensions and one in the UEFA Cup
have been dictated against the Ghencea-based club out of reasons such as crowd trouble, racial chants or torch lighting.
In 2009, UEFA ordered Steaua to play two home games of the Europa League behind closed doors
due to their fans displaying racist banners in a second qualifying round match against Hungarian side Ujpest
.
Steaua's most important rivalry is the one against FC Dinamo 1948 București. Marele Derby
(The Great Derby) has been the leading Romanian football encounter in the last 60 years, as Steaua and Dinamo are the two most successful football teams in the country. With 41 titles won altogether (Steaua–23; Dinamo–18), the two clubs have won 23 of the last 26 seasons. It is also a match between the former clubs of the Romanian Army (Steaua) and the Ministry of Internal Affairs (Dinamo). Several clashes between different factions of supporters have often occurred and still occur inside and outside the stadium. The heyday was reached before a match kick-off in 1997, when Dinamo's fans set a sector of Stadionul Ghencea
's Peluza Sud, where they were assigned, on fire. Between October 1991 and April 2000, Steaua counted 19 undefeated official matches in front of their rivals, both in the championship and the cup. Just as well, a period of 17 years and 7 months has been recorded in which Dinamo did not manage to win away against Steaua in the domestic league.
The second most important rivalry is the one with FC Rapid București. Several matches in the last years between Steaua and Rapid have also ended in serious clashes between fans. Rivalry has become even fiercer since Steaua outpassed Rapid in an all-Romanian quarter final of the UEFA Cup 2005–06
season. The local sports newspapers said that the 2 teams were linked up in this quarter final by the line of the number 41 tram which links the Ghencea Stadium to the Valentin Stanescu Stadium.
Milder and historical rivalries are also with non-Bucharest teams such as Universitatea Craiova
, Politehnica Timișoara
, Petrolul Ploiești and Universitatea Cluj
.
, they are one of only two teams to have played only in the first national league, along with Dinamo București (61 seasons). At the same time, the club is the current record holder for the number of national championships (23), national cups (20) and national super cups (5). Between 1993 and 1998, their run of six consecutive national titles won equaled the one of Chinezul Timișoara
from the 1920s. Internationally, they are the only Romanian club to have won continental trophies (the European Champions Cup
in 1986 and the European Super Cup
in 1987) and to have played in the final of the European Cup (in 1986
and 1989
).
For three years and three months (June 1986 – September 1989), Steaua counted a number of 104 unbeaten matches in the league, establishing, at that moment, a world record and a European one still standing. Also inside the national league, they counted 112 matches between November 1989 and August 1996 of invincibility at Stadionul Ghencea in Liga I. Their run of 17 straight wins in 1988 is another record, equal to the one held by Dinamo as of one year later.
Tudorel Stoica
is the player with the most appearances for Steaua in Liga I, a record unlikely to be broken in the nearby future, as none of the current players have entered the top 10 so far. The club's all-time top scorer in the league is Anghel Iordănescu
with 146 goals, a record that also looks solid, out of the same reason as above-mentioned. Other records are currently owned by former players such as Dorinel Munteanu
(most national caps – 134) or Gheorghe Hagi
(most goals scored for Romania
– 35; most appearances of a Romanian player in the European cups – 93).
at the moment.
The football department however, in order to comply with UEFA
rules, separated and turned private in 1998, owned and financed by a non-profit organization called AFC Steaua București, chaired by businessman Viorel Păunescu.
In January 2003, the club turned public, under the leadership of investor and current politician George Becali
, who had already purchased 51% of the society's shares and later on acquired the rest to become owner of the club. At present Becali has no official link to the club, as he gradually renounced his shares. However, the facts that the current shareholders, that include several nephews of his, are people loyal to him and that he is still in charge of Steaua are obvious. An unofficial explanation for this situation is represented by the heavy amount of unpaid taxes added up by the former governing company, AFC Steaua București, whose payment towards the tax authority was avoided this way by transferring its assets to the new-formed company, with the old association going on liquidation bankruptcy.
George Becali
is currently a highly controversial person, whose involvement in the life of the club and the team has often been described as authoritarian and dictatorial by both the media and the fans. Such decisions as threatening to sell the Steaua brand towards the tax authority following a scandal of unpaid taxes, using the club to promote the New Generation Christian Democrat Party, which he runs, banning Queen
music from being played during stadium events on grounds of Freddie Mercury
's sexual orientations and also various coach sackings (culminating with the one of Gheorghe Hagi
) are only few of the reasons of a certain current state of resentment on behalf of the majority of fans towards Becali.
comedy show Mondenii often airs sketches parodying Steaua owner George Becali
, the players and other representatives around the club. Pro TV
series La bloc aired an episode in which characters Nelu and Costel are displayed as representing Steaua in a parking lot match against two other neighbours representing Dinamo.
Several other examples from music can be attributed as Steaua-related. Apart from club anthems played throughout time by Marcel Pavel
, Bere Gratis, Gaz pe Foc, an album was released in 2006 as a compilation by Mircea Vintilă, Chicanos, Bogdan Dima and several other artists. Delikt and Ultras are two former hip hop
bands whose members ranked the defunct Armata Ultra' brigade and would always show up displaying fan materials. Also, Voltaj, in their song 'MSD2', make reference to the fans in the line Poți să fii câine sau poți fi stelist (You can be a dog or you can be a Steaua fan).
One of the most famous pop-culture references about the club is the association with Scooter
s song Maria, first sung spontaneously in 2003 by the fans in Peluza Nord after the team would score. Ever since, it has been adopted as an unofficial club anthem and is being played at the stadium at every match, sung together by the supporters. Nonetheless, the song is beginning to lose popularity, mainly because it has become too commercial and many fans do not feel bonded with it any more.
:
Cupa României:
Supercupa României:
:
European Super Cup / UEFA Super Cup:
UEFA Cup / UEFA Europa League:
European Cup Winners' Cup / UEFA Cup Winners' Cup
:
:
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...
n professional football club
Football team
A 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...
based 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....
. They are the most successful Romanian football team in European competitions as well in the Romanian Liga I
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"...
(23 championship wins). They became the first East European team to win the UEFA Champions League
UEFA Champions League
The 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...
being victorious in the 1986 European Cup final
European Cup 1985-86
The 1985–86 European Cup was the 31st season of UEFA's premier club football tournament, the European Cup. The European Champion Clubs' Cup was won by Steaua Bucharest on penalties in a final against Barcelona...
. They have played again the final of the 1988/1989 Champions League edition. Steaua is the only team from Eastern Europe
Eastern Europe
Eastern Europe is the eastern part of Europe. The term has widely disparate geopolitical, geographical, cultural and socioeconomic readings, which makes it highly context-dependent and even volatile, and there are "almost as many definitions of Eastern Europe as there are scholars of the region"...
to achieve such performances.
The club is historically known as the Romanian Army sports club. The football department separated, however, in 1998. At the moment, its only direct link to the Army is their home ground, Stadionul Ghencea
Stadionul Ghencea
Ghencea Stadium , is a football stadium in Bucharest, Romania, home of Ministry of National Defence of Romania. It was inaugurated on 9 April 1974. It was the home of Steaua Bucureşti until 2011.Tătaru was the first player to score on the new stadium...
, property of the Ministry of National Defence.
Steaua has spent all its history in the country's top-flight league, and has finished below the sixth spot for only five times. They have finished fifth in the last season. Initially, the club played in the colors of the Romanian tricolour
Flag of Romania
The national flag of Romania is a tricolour with vertical stripes: beginning from the flagpole, blue, yellow and red. It has a width-length ratio of 2:3....
- blue, yellow and red - but yellow soon lost its importance, and the team became associated with the red and blue colors . Recently, away kits have begun to reintegrate the yellow color.
History
Steaua was founded on 7 June 1947, at the initiative of several officers of the Romanian Royal House. The establishment took place following a decree signed by General Mihail LascărMihail Lascar
Mihail Lascăr was a Romanian General during World War II, and Minister of Defense from 1946 to 1947.After graduating from the Infantry Officer School in 1910 with the rank of 2nd lieutenant, he fought in the Second Balkan War and in World War I, being promoted to major...
, High Commander of the Romanian Royal Army. The club's first name was ASA București (Asociația Sportivă a Armatei București – Army Sports Association). It was formed as a sports society with seven initial sections, including football, coached by Coloman Braun-Bogdan
Coloman Braun-Bogdan
Coloman Braun-Bogdan was a Romanian football midfielder and football manager.Born in Arad, Arad County, which was at the time part of Austria-Hungary, he made a name for himself as one of the best Romanian midfielders of the interwar period...
. ASA was renamed CSCA (Clubul Sportiv Central al Armatei – Central Sports Club of the Army) in 1948 and CCA (Casa Centrală a Armatei – Central House of the Army) in 1950.
In 1949, CSCA won its first trophy, the Romanian Cup
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...
, defeating CSU Cluj 2–1 in the final. Under the name of CCA, the club managed to win three Championship
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"...
titles in a row in 1951
Divizia A 1951
-Final classification:-Top scorers:*Gheorghe Vaczi - IC Oradea - 22 goals-References:...
, 1952
Divizia A 1952
-Final classification:-Top scorers:*Titus Ozon - Dinamo Bucuresti - 17 goals-References:...
and 1953
Divizia A 1953
-Final classification:-Top scorers:*Titus Ozon - Dinamo Bucuresti - 13 goals1 Dissolved-References:...
, along with their first Championship-Cup Double in 1951. During the 1950s, the so-called CCA Golden Team became nationally famous. In 1956, the national team of Romania
Romania national football team
The Romania national football team is the national football team of Romania and is controlled by the Romanian Football Federation.Romania is one of only four national teams, the other three being Brazil, France, and Belgium, that took part in the first three World Cups.However, after that...
, composed exclusively of CCA players, took on Yugoslavia in Belgrade and won 1–0. During the same year, CCA, coached by Ilie Savu
Ilie Savu
Ilie Savu was a Romanian football player who played as a goalkeeper and was also the first ever goalkeeper to play for Steaua Bucureşti.- Player career :...
, was the first Romanian team to enterprise a tournament in England where they achieved noteworthy results against the likes of Luton Town
Luton Town F.C.
Luton Town Football Club is an English professional football club based since 1905 at Kenilworth Road, Luton, Bedfordshire. The club currently competes in the fifth tier of English football, the Conference National, for the third consecutive season during the 2011–12 season.Formed in 1885, it was...
, Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
, Sheffield Wednesday
Sheffield Wednesday F.C.
Sheffield Wednesday Football Club are a football club based in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, who are currently competing in the Football League One in the 2011-12 season, in England. Sheffield Wednesday are one of the oldest professional clubs in the world and the fourth oldest in the...
and Wolverhampton Wanderers
Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club that represents the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region. They are members of the Premier League, the highest level of English football. The club was founded in 1877 and since 1889 has played at...
.
At the end of 1961 CCA changed its name once again to CSA Steaua București
CSA Steaua Bucuresti
CSA Steaua Bucureşti is a Romanian sports society from Bucharest, Romania run by the Ministry of National Defence of Romania. It is the most successful club in Romania in terms of international and overall trophies...
(Clubul Sportiv al Armatei Steaua – Army Sports Club Steaua). The club's new name translates The Star and was adopted because of the presence of a red star
Red star
A red star, five-pointed and filled, is an important ideological and religious symbol which has been used for various purposes, such as: state emblems, flags, monuments, ornaments, and logos.- Symbol of communism :...
, symbol of most East-European Army clubs, on their crest. A poor period of almost two decades followed in which the club claimed only three championships (1967–68
Divizia A 1967-68
-Final classification:-Top scorers:*Mihai Adam - Universitatea Cluj - 15 goals...
, 1975–76
Divizia A 1975-76
-Final classification:-Top scorers:*Dudu Georgescu - Dinamo Bucuresti - 31 goals...
, 1977–78
Divizia A 1977-78
-Final classification:-Top scorers:*Dudu Georgescu - Dinamo Bucureşti - 24*Anghel Iordanescu - Steaua Bucureşti - 19*Marcel Raducanu - Steaua Bucureşti - 18*Marin Radu - FC Argeş Piteşti - 15*Ladislau Brosovschi - UT Arad - 13...
). Instead, the team won nine national cup trophies, for which matter they gained the nickname of cup specialists. Also during this period, on 9 April 1974, Steaua's current ground, Stadionul Ghencea
Stadionul Ghencea
Ghencea Stadium , is a football stadium in Bucharest, Romania, home of Ministry of National Defence of Romania. It was inaugurated on 9 April 1974. It was the home of Steaua Bucureşti until 2011.Tătaru was the first player to score on the new stadium...
, was inaugurated with a friendly match opposing OFK Beograd
OFK Beograd
Omladinski fudbalski klub Beograd, commonly referred to as OFK Beograd , is a football club from Belgrade, Serbia, more precisely from the Karaburma urban neighborhood. It currently is the oldest team playing in the Serbian SuperLiga. The name means "Youth Football Club Belgrade" in Serbian...
. For a long time, whether it was called ASA, CSCA, CCA or Steaua, the team has evolved over hundreds of stadiums across the country or abroad. But on each of them was considered, however, host. Mention further five of these arenas, indicating that the choice was made either by importance "sentimental" matches played here, or after the historic value of their. Stadiums that temporarily moved the team ("Giulești", "Unirea" or "Dinamo"), even if it was considered the host team, were not included: Stadionul Venus
Stadionul Venus
Venus Stadium was a multi-use stadium in Bucharest. It was the home ground of Venus Bucharest. It held 15,000 people.Venus arena was inaugurated in 1931 as a field dedicated only to football. One of the oldest and most truthful leaders of the club, Alexandru Eladescu, sold a forest, private...
, Stadionul ONEF ("ANEF"), Stadionul Republicii
Stadionul Republicii
Stadionul Republicii, was a multi-use stadium in Bucharest, Romania. It was used mostly for football matches. The stadium was able to hold 28,026 spectators at its height and originally opened in 1948...
, Stadionul Național and Stadionul Steaua.
| 1989 European Cup Final 1989 European Cup Final The 1989 European Cup Final was a football match held at the Camp Nou in Barcelona, Spain on 24 May 1989, that saw Milan of Italy defeat Steaua Bucureşti of Romania 4–0. Two goals each from Marco van Basten and Ruud Gullit gave the Italian side their third victory in the competition.-Match... starting lineup. |
| 1986 European Cup Final 1986 European Cup Final The 1986 European Cup Final was a football match held at the Estadio Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán, Seville, on 7 May 1986, that saw Steaua Bucureşti of Romania defeat Barcelona of Spain in an extraordinary penalty shoot out, after 120 minutes of play could not separate the two sides... starting lineup. |
Under the leadership of coaches Emerich Jenei
Emerich Jenei
Emerich Jenei or Imre Jenei is a Romanian former football player and coach...
and Anghel Iordănescu
Anghel Iordanescu
Anghel Iordănescu is a Major General and former Romanian football striker, currently a politician. In 2007 Iordănescu retired from football, and the following February, after his predecessor resigned, he became a member of the Romanian Senate, sitting on the Social Democratic Party benches.-Career...
, Steaua had an impressive Championship run in the 1984–85
Divizia A 1984-85
-Final classification:-Top scorers:*Gheorghe Hagi- Sportul Studenţesc - 20*Victor Piturca - Steaua Bucureşti - 19*Rodion Camataru - Universitatea Craiova - 18*Mircea Sandu - Sportul Studenţesc - 17*Dudu Georgescu - Gloria Buzau - 16...
season, which they won after a six-year break. Subsequently, they were the first Romanian team to make it to a European Cup final, which they won in front of FC Barcelona
FC Barcelona
Futbol Club Barcelona , also known as Barcelona and familiarly as Barça, is a professional football club, based in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain....
on penalties
Penalty shootout (football)
A penalty shoot-out, referred to as kicks from the penalty mark in the Laws of the Game, is the FIFA official term for a method used in association football to decide which team progresses to the next stage of a tournament following a tied game...
(2–0 thanks to goalkeeper Helmuth Duckadam
Helmuth Duckadam
Helmuth Robert Duckadam is a retired Romanian footballer who played as a goalkeeper.He was dubbed "the hero of Seville" due to his heroics in the 1986 European Cup Final, won by his main club, Steaua Bucureşti...
succeeding to save all four penalties taken by the Spaniards), after a goalless draw. Steaua therefore became the first Eastern-European team to claim the title of European champions. An additional European Super Cup
European Super Cup
The UEFA Super Cup is an annual football game between the reigning champions of the two cup competitions organized by UEFA: the UEFA Champions League and the UEFA Europa League...
was won in 1987 in front of SK Dinamo Kiev. Steaua remained at the top of European football for the rest of the decade, managing one more European Cup semifinal in 1987–88
European Cup 1987-88
The season 1987–88 of the European Cup football club tournament was won for the first time by PSV on penalties in the final against two-times winners Benfica...
and one more European Cup final in 1989
1989 European Cup Final
The 1989 European Cup Final was a football match held at the Camp Nou in Barcelona, Spain on 24 May 1989, that saw Milan of Italy defeat Steaua Bucureşti of Romania 4–0. Two goals each from Marco van Basten and Ruud Gullit gave the Italian side their third victory in the competition.-Match...
(lost 4–0 to AC Milan). This happened next to their four additional national titles (1985–86, 1986–87, 1987–88, 1988–89) and four national cups (1984–85
Divizia A 1985-86
-Final classification:-Top scorers:...
, 1986–87
Divizia A 1986-87
-League table:-Positions by round:-Results:...
, 1987–88
Divizia A 1987-88
-League table:-Positions by round:-Results:...
, 1988–89
Divizia A 1988-89
-League table:-Positions by round:-Results:...
). Furthermore, from June 1986 to September 1989, Steaua ran a record 104-match undefeated streak in the championship, setting a world record for that time and a European one still standing.
The 1989 Romanian Revolution led the country towards a free open market and, subsequently, several players of the 1980s team left for other clubs in the West. After a short pull-back, a quick recovery followed and Steaua managed a six consecutive championship streak between 1992–93
Divizia A 1992-93
-Final classification:-Top scorers:*Ilie Dumitrescu - Steaua Bucureşti - 24*Ilie Stan - Steaua Bucureşti - 20*Dorinel Ionel Munteanu - Dinamo Bucureşti - 15-References:*...
and 1997–98
Divizia A 1997-98
-League table:||rowspan=10|-Positions by round:-Results:...
to equalise the 1920s performance of Chinezul Timișoara
Chinezul Timisoara
Chinezul Timişoara was a football club, which played both in the Hungarian and the Romanian championship during its existence. It was based in Timişoara, Romania .-History:...
and also three more cups in 1995–96, 1996–97 and 1998–99. At international level, they also managed to make it to the UEFA Champions League
UEFA Champions League
The 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 stage three years in a row between 1994–95
UEFA Champions League 1994-95
The 1994–95 UEFA Champions League was the 40th edition of UEFA's premier European club football tournament, and the third since its rebranding as the UEFA Champions League. The tournament was won by Ajax of the Netherlands with a late goal in the final against defending champions Milan of Italy...
and 1996–97
UEFA Champions League 1996-97
The 1996–97 UEFA Champions League was the 42nd edition of UEFA's premier European club football tournament, the fifth since its rebranding as the UEFA Champions League, and the last involving only clubs that were champions of their domestic leagues. The tournament was won by Borussia Dortmund in a...
, remaining, at the moment, the only team in Romania to have participated in this competition.
In 1998, the football club separated from CSA Steaua and changed their name for the final time to FC Steaua București (Fotbal Club Steaua – Football Club Steaua), being led by Romanian businessman Viorel Păunescu. Păunescu performed poorly as a president and soon the club was plunged into debt. George Becali, another businessman, was offered the position of vice-president, in hope that he would invest money in the club. Becali eventually purchased the majority share in 2002 and turned the governing company public in January 2003.
Because of his controversial character, he has been contested by the majority of Steaua fans. The team qualified for the UEFA Cup
UEFA Cup
The UEFA Europa League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1971 for eligible European football clubs. It is the second most prestigious European club football contest after the UEFA Champions League...
group stage in the 2004–05
UEFA Cup 2004-05
The 2004–05 UEFA Cup season was won by CSKA Moscow, coming from behind in the final against Sporting Clube de Portugal. It was the first win by a Russian side in any European competition, and was even more impressive considering that the final was held at the José Alvalade Stadium, the home of...
season and further on became the first Romanian team to make it to the European football spring since 1993
UEFA Cup Winners' Cup 1992-93
The season 1992–93 of the European Cup Winners' Cup was won by Parma in the final against Royal Antwerp. Both were first time finalists in the competition, and Antwerp were the last Belgian side to reach a European final up to the present day...
(also Steaua's performance). The next season, they reached the UEFA Cup semi-finals in 2005–06
UEFA Cup 2005-06
The UEFA Cup 2005–06 season was won by Sevilla FC, beating Middlesbrough FC in the final. It was the first victory for Sevilla in a European competition, and the first appearance by Middlesbrough in a European final. The final took place at Philips Stadion, in Eindhoven, Netherlands. The match was...
, where they were eliminated by Middlesbrough FC thanks to a last minute goal and thereafter qualified for the following UEFA Champions League
UEFA Champions League
The 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...
seasons after a ten year break. In the 2007–08 season Steaua have qualified again in the group stage of UEFA Champions League
UEFA Champions League
The 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...
.
Nationally, they gained two titles in 2004–05
Divizia A 2004-05
The 2004-05 season of the Divizia A began in July 2004 and ended in June 2005. Steaua Bucureşti became champions on 11 June 2005.-Promoted:These teams were promoted from the Divizia B at the start of the season:* Politehnica Iaşi...
and 2005–06
Divizia A 2005-06
The 2005/06 season of the Divizia A began in August 2005 and ended in June 2006. Steaua Bucureşti became champions on 7 June 2006.-Promoted:These teams were promoted from Divizia B at the beginning of the season:* FC Vaslui...
and the Romanian Super Cup in 2006, the latter being the club's 50th trophy in its 59 year history.
Historical controversies
Several controversies exist regarding Steaua's past and its ownership by the Romanian Army before the 1989 Romanian Revolution, such as the club's establishment, its activity exclusively inside the Liga ILiga 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"...
, means of transferring players and involvement of the Ceaușescu family
Ceausescu family
Nicolae Ceauşescu, who led Romania from 1965 to 1989, had a large family, several members of which wielded influence in Communist Romania. Below are given outlines of his immediate family members' lives, with links to those who have separate articles about them....
in the life of the team during the 1980s.
The club was founded as ASA București, by the Romanian Royal Army, on 7 June 1947. Debates regarding this issue relate to Romania's form of government, confronting the arguments that, on one hand, the government was mostly communist and on the other hand that the country was still a constitutional monarchy
Constitutional monarchy
Constitutional monarchy is a form of government in which a monarch acts as head of state within the parameters of a constitution, whether it be a written, uncodified or blended constitution...
, with the king serving as the High Commander of the Romanian Army. Nevertheless, at the beginning of their first season, even though supposing to attend a play-off for 2nd league promotion, Carmen București was disbanded out of political reasons, its place in the first league being occupied therefore by ASA. Subsequently, the team never relegated and is currently one of the 2 teams to have only played inside the first league, along with FC Dinamo 1948 București.
The means players would transfer to the club link to the organization of sporting activities inside former Communist countries. As of 1947, the new Communist government instituted norms stating that every sports association was to be linked to a certain form of trade union or governmental institution. As professional football was therefore abolished, players would move between teams as arrangements between the clubs' governing institutions, and not as regular market economy transactions. Being the club of the Army, several young gifted players would often be tempted by Steaua to join their ranks, having the advantages of better conditions ensured by the club, the opportunity of a more productive career, and also, among other, of being exempted from the compulsory military stage. Gheorghe Hagi
Gheorghe Hagi
Gheorghe Hagi is a former Romanian footballer. He was famous for his passing, close control, long shots and was regarded as one of the best attacking midfielders in Europe during the 1980s and 1990s and is considered the greatest Romanian footballer of all time...
was borrowed this way from FC Sportul Studențesc
Sportul Studentesc
Sportul Studenţesc is a Romanian football club that was established in 1916 . The Bucharest club has won the Balkans Cup once and its best result in the Romanian league is a 2nd place in 1986...
for the 1987 European Super Cup
European Super Cup
The UEFA Super Cup is an annual football game between the reigning champions of the two cup competitions organized by UEFA: the UEFA Champions League and the UEFA Europa League...
match with SK Dinamo Kiev and afterwards continued, at his will, to play for Steaua, despite his former club's opposition. However, another famous example is also the one of Gheorghe Popescu
Gheorghe Popescu
Gheorghe Gică Popescu is a former Romanian footballer who played as a defender, and was a key part of the Romania national team in the 1990s. He played for a string of European clubs in an illustrious career that saw him amass many honours...
, transferred in 1988 from FC 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...
, apparently without the club's or player's consent and who returned to his former club after one season.
Approximately during the second half of the 1980s and also last years of the Communist regime in Romania, dictator Nicolae Ceaușescu
Nicolae Ceausescu
Nicolae Ceaușescu was a Romanian Communist politician. He was General Secretary of the Romanian Communist Party from 1965 to 1989, and as such was the country's second and last Communist leader...
's adoptive son Valentin was involved in the life of the team. In spite of allegations of favouring the club nationally by transferring the best players in the country and of facilitating its five-title consecutive winning streak by arrangements with referees or opposing teams, Valentin Ceaușescu
Valentin Ceausescu
Valentin Ceaușescu is a Romanian physicist.Valentin is the son of former President of Romania Nicolae Ceaușescu and his wife, Elena Ceaușescu...
stated in a recent interview that he had done nothing else than to protect his favourite team from Dinamo București's sphere of influence, ensured by the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Relatively little is known, however, at the moment about Valentin Ceaușescu's role in Steaua's history. Claims of him being involved in the life of the team using unethical methods have yet to be proven, and, as a consequence, the topic is still subject to discussion.
Crest and colours
As communists assumed total control of the country on 30 December 1947, the Royal Army was transformed into the People's Army and ASA automatically with it. Being inspired by the Red Army
Red Army
The Workers' and Peasants' Red Army started out as the Soviet Union's revolutionary communist combat groups during the Russian Civil War of 1918-1922. It grew into the national army of the Soviet Union. By the 1930s the Red Army was among the largest armies in history.The "Red Army" name refers to...
, the new Ministry of Defence decided to create a crest for the club, along with the change of name to CSCA, consisting in an A-labeled red star
Red star
A red star, five-pointed and filled, is an important ideological and religious symbol which has been used for various purposes, such as: state emblems, flags, monuments, ornaments, and logos.- Symbol of communism :...
(symbol of the Red Army) on a blue disc.
Two years later, the change of name to CCA brought with it a new crest consisting of the same red star labeled CCA surrounded by a crown of laurel. The all-present star motif on the crest finally had its saying over the new name of Steaua as up 1961. It was opted for a badge which, redesigned, remains up to this day the club's symbol: the red and blue striped background with a golden star in the middle, to symbolize to Romanian tricolour flag. The shape for the emblem was redesigned in 1974, once the team moved to Stadionul Ghencea
Stadionul Ghencea
Ghencea Stadium , is a football stadium in Bucharest, Romania, home of Ministry of National Defence of Romania. It was inaugurated on 9 April 1974. It was the home of Steaua Bucureşti until 2011.Tătaru was the first player to score on the new stadium...
.
Following the 1989 Romanian Revolution, the Army decided to break all links to the defunct communist regime, so, in 1991, CSA Steaua had a last change of crest with an eagle also present on the Ministry of Defence coat of arms and also on Romania's. As FC Steaua appeared in 1998, the club added two yellow stars on top of the CSA Steaua badge signifying its 20 titles of champions won, along with the Fotbal Club specification.
2003 was the year of the last change of crest, decided by the new Board of Administration run by George Becali, which was a return to the old emblem of 1974–1991, redesigned with the two yellow stars on top.
During their first season, 1947–48, Steaua wore yellow and red striped shirts with blue shorts, to symbolize Romania's tricolour flag.
Starting with the following season and with the Army's change of identity from the Royal Army to the People's Army, the yellow was gradually given up, so that the official colours remained, up to this day, the red and the blue.
Steaua has never had a standard playing kit. However, the most widely used throughout time was the combination of red shirts, blue shorts and red socks. Other variants have been all-red, all-blue and also shirts in vertical red and blue stripes during the 1960s and 1970s. Other kit colours have very rarely been used. Exceptions were the 1986 European Cup Final
1986 European Cup Final
The 1986 European Cup Final was a football match held at the Estadio Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán, Seville, on 7 May 1986, that saw Steaua Bucureşti of Romania defeat Barcelona of Spain in an extraordinary penalty shoot out, after 120 minutes of play could not separate the two sides...
in which Steaua wore, for the only time in their history, an all-white kit, the 1999–00 away kit (yellow and red), the 2005–06 third kit (yellow and black)and the 2008–09 away kit (all yellow).
The 2008–09 home kit, different from the previous seasons, consists in vertical-striped red and blue shirts with blue shorts and socks, while the away strip is all-yellow. Various combinations of these kits also occur.
Steaua's kit is currently manufactured by Nike
Nike, Inc.
Nike, Inc. is a major publicly traded sportswear and equipment supplier based in the United States. The company is headquartered near Beaverton, Oregon, which is part of the Portland metropolitan area...
, which was contracted in 2002, after a long partnership with adidas
Adidas
Adidas AG is a German sports apparel manufacturer and parent company of the Adidas Group, which consists of the Reebok sportswear company, TaylorMade-Adidas golf company , and Rockport...
. In 1988, Steaua was the first football team from Romania to display the name of a Western company, Ford. Several other sponsors succeeded thereafter: Castrol
Castrol
Castrol is a brand of industrial and automotive lubricants which is applied to a large range of oils, greases and similar products for most lubrication applications...
, Philips
Philips
Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. , more commonly known as Philips, is a multinational Dutch electronics company....
, CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
, Bancorex (initially BRCE), Dialog (currently Orange
Orange SA
Orange is the brand used by France Télécom for its mobile network operator and Internet service provider subsidiaries. It is the fifth largest telecom operator in the world, with 210 million customers . The brand was created in 1994 for Hutchison Telecom's UK mobile phone network, which was...
), BCR
Banca Comerciala Româna
Banca Comercială Română , a member of Erste Group, is a universal bank serving both retail and corporate clients. BCR is the most important financial services provider in Romania, managing assets worth over EUR 16 billion. BCR is the most valuable Romanian financial brand...
and RAFO. As of September 2007, the club's new shirt sponsor is CitiFinancial
Citigroup
Citigroup Inc. or Citi is an American multinational financial services corporation headquartered in Manhattan, New York City, New York, United States. Citigroup was formed from one of the world's largest mergers in history by combining the banking giant Citicorp and financial conglomerate...
, with a one-year contract valuing EUR 1.3 million.
UEFA Club Rankings
This is the current UEFA Club Rankings, including season 2009-10.Last update: 12 May 2010
| Rank | Team | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 36 |  Spain EspanyolRCD Espanyol Reial Club Deportiu Espanyol de Barcelona is a sports club based in Barcelona, Spain. It is best known for its football team. Espanyol currently play in the Estadi Cornellà-El Prat with seats for 40,500 spectators. It was inaugurated on 2 August 2009... |
53.951 |
| 37 |  Germany VfB StuttgartVfB Stuttgart Verein für Bewegungsspiele Stuttgart 1893 e. V., commonly known as VfB Stuttgart, is a German sports club based in Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg. The club is best known for its football team, which has participated in all but two Bundesliga seasons... |
52.841 |
| 38 |  Switzerland BaselFC Basel Fussball Club Basel 1893, widely known as FC Basel is a Swiss football club based in Basel. They are one of the most successful clubs in Swiss football, having won the Swiss Super League 14 times, the third most for any Swiss club. They were most successful in the late 1960s and 1970s, winning the... |
48.675 |
| 39 |  Netherlands AZ Alkmaar |
48.309 |
| 40 |  Romania Steaua București |
47.898 |
| 41 |  France Lille OSCLille OSC LOSC Lille Métropole is a French association football club based in Lille. The club was founded in 1944 as a result of a merger and currently play in Ligue 1, the first division of French football. Lille plays its home matches at the Stade Lille-Metropole in nearby Villeneuve-d'Ascq. In 2012, the... |
46.748 |
| 42 |  England Everton F.C.Everton F.C. Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football... |
44.371 |
| 43 |  Turkey Galatasaray S.K.Galatasaray S.K. (football team) Galatasaray Anonim Şirketi is a Turkish football club, part of the Galatasaray S.K. multi-sport club of Istanbul. Galatasaray is a major sports club in Turkey, holding 17 Turkish Super League titles and the highest number of Turkish Cups.... |
43.890 |
| 44 |  Ukraine Dinamo Kiev |
42.910 |
Stadium
Steaua played its three first matches in history at the defunct Venus stadiumStadionul Venus
Venus Stadium was a multi-use stadium in Bucharest. It was the home ground of Venus Bucharest. It held 15,000 people.Venus arena was inaugurated in 1931 as a field dedicated only to football. One of the oldest and most truthful leaders of the club, Alexandru Eladescu, sold a forest, private...
. Opened in 1931, the venue had previously been in the property of Venus București
Venus Bucuresti
Venus București was a Romanian football club based in Bucharest, nicknamed Negrii due to their all black shirts. Before being dissolved by the Communist authorities, Venus was the most successful football club in Romania, winning eight Liga I championships.The club's colours were black and white,...
, a club disbanded in 1949. After the ground's demolition through order of the Communist regime, Steaua had played its home matches on either two of Bucharest's largest multi-use stadia, Republicii
Stadionul Republicii
Stadionul Republicii, was a multi-use stadium in Bucharest, Romania. It was used mostly for football matches. The stadium was able to hold 28,026 spectators at its height and originally opened in 1948...
(built in 1926 and put down in 1984 to make room for the erection of the Casa Poporului
Palace of the Parliament
The Palace of the Parliament in Bucharest, Romania is a multi-purpose building containing both chambers of the Romanian Parliament. According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the Palace is the world's largest civilian administrative building, most expensive administrative building, and...
) and 23 August (built in 1953). Of these two, 23 August (current Național) was mostly used when two matches between Bucharest clubs were scheduled in the same matchday or for important European matches, while Republicii for regular matches inside the championship.
Steaua used to play its home matches at the Stadionul Ghencea
Stadionul Ghencea
Ghencea Stadium , is a football stadium in Bucharest, Romania, home of Ministry of National Defence of Romania. It was inaugurated on 9 April 1974. It was the home of Steaua Bucureşti until 2011.Tătaru was the first player to score on the new stadium...
, a football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
stadium
Stadium
A modern stadium is a place or venue for outdoor sports, concerts, or other events and consists of a field or stage either partly or completely surrounded by a structure designed to allow spectators to stand or sit and view the event.)Pausanias noted that for about half a century the only event...
situated in South-Western Bucharest. Part of Complexul Sportiv Steaua, it was inaugurated on 9 April 1974 when Steaua played a friendly match against OFK Beograd
OFK Beograd
Omladinski fudbalski klub Beograd, commonly referred to as OFK Beograd , is a football club from Belgrade, Serbia, more precisely from the Karaburma urban neighborhood. It currently is the oldest team playing in the Serbian SuperLiga. The name means "Youth Football Club Belgrade" in Serbian...
, at which time it was the first football-only stadium ever built in Communist Romania, with no track and field facilities.
The original capacity was 30,000 on benches. A general renovation occurred in 1991. This included installing seats, which dropped the capacity to 28,139, inaugurating a floodlighting system and erecting a VIP personal box section.
After a second renovation, in 2006, which included refurbishing the turf, Ghencea) was able to host UEFA Champions League
UEFA Champions League
The 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...
events, being a third category arena according to the UEFA classification system
UEFA Stadia List
UEFA stadium categories are categories for football stadia laid out in the UEFA Stadium Infrastructure Regulations. Using these regulations, stadiums are rated as category one, two, three, or four in ascending ranking order. These categories replaced the previous method of ranking stadiums on one...
. Lately, there have been talks for increasing the capacity to either 45,000 or 60,000.
Romania
Romania national football team
The Romania national football team is the national football team of Romania and is controlled by the Romanian Football Federation.Romania is one of only four national teams, the other three being Brazil, France, and Belgium, that took part in the first three World Cups.However, after that...
was also a tenant. The first game played by the national team at Ghencea was in March 1977 against Turkey
Turkey national football team
The Turkey national football team represents Turkey in association football and is controlled by the Turkish Football Federation, the governing body for football in Turkey. They are affiliated with UEFA...
. 59 other games have been played ever since, the last one occurring in October 2006 against Belarus
Belarus national football team
The Belarus national football team represents Belarus in association football and is controlled by the Football Federation of Belarus, the governing body for football in Belarus. Belarus' home ground is Dinamo Stadium in Minsk...
. Also, several matches from the 1998 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship
1998 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship
The UEFA U-21 Championship 1998, which spanned two years , had 46 entrants. Before the quarter-finals stage, Romania were chosen as the hosts of the final stages, consisting of four matches in total....
, including the final, have been hosted by the arena.
The stadium, built through order of the Ministry of National Defence inside a former military base and was long used by CSA Steaua
CSA Steaua Bucuresti
CSA Steaua Bucureşti is a Romanian sports society from Bucharest, Romania run by the Ministry of National Defence of Romania. It is the most successful club in Romania in terms of international and overall trophies...
.
Support
The largest concentration of fans are 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....
, notably in areas adjacent to the arena, covering the whole southern half of Bucharest, a city geographically divided by the Dâmbovița River
Dâmbovița River
Dâmbovița is a river in Romania. It has its sources in the Făgăraş Mountains, on the Curmătura Oticu. The upper reach of the rivers, upstream of the confluence with the Boarcăşu River is also known as Izvorul Oticului River or Oticu River....
. Also, the club has an important fan base inside the country, where several towns are renowned for counting vast majorities of Steaua supporters, and outside the borders, among Romanian emigrants.
The Steaua Ultras
Ultras
Ultras are a type of sports fans renowned for their fanatical support and elaborate displays. They are predominantly European followers of football teams...
movement began in 1995, when the bases of Armata Ultra (AU), the first Ultras group from Bucharest (and second in Romania after Politehnica Timișoara's Commando Viola Ultra Curva Sud), were set. The group quickly,reached an impressive number of members, but, in 2001, they dissolved due to internal problems. Currently Steaua's supporters are divided into several groups, most of them located at the Peluza Nord (North End) (Tineretului Korps, Nucleo, Insurgenții, Armata 47 Vest, Roosters,Shadows etc.), with some other ones taking their place at the Peluza Sud (South End) (Ultras, Stil Ostil, Glas, Vacarm, Banda Ultra, Hunters, South Boys, Outlaws, ERA).
More recently, as of 2006, the supporters have formed their own official association, called AISS (Asociația Independentă a Suporterilor Steliști – Steaua Supporters' Independent Association). AISS was formed as a legal entity with its stated goals of protecting the interests and image of Steaua supporters, as well as identifying and promoting the club's perennial values.
A heavy debated topic about the fans is the one related to racism
Racism
Racism is the belief that inherent different traits in human racial groups justify discrimination. In the modern English language, the term "racism" is used predominantly as a pejorative epithet. It is applied especially to the practice or advocacy of racial discrimination of a pernicious nature...
. Stemmed from their rivalry with FC Rapid București, whose fans are often envisioned as Roma ethnics, the issue degenerated on certain situations in several incidents between factions of supporters of Steaua and Rapid. Also, the UEFA Champions League 2005–06
UEFA Champions League 2005-06
The 2005–06 UEFA Champions League was the 51st staging of UEFA's premier European club football tournament, the UEFA Champions League, and the 14th since it was rebranded from the European Cup in 1992. 74 teams from 50 football associations took part, starting with the first qualifying round played...
qualifying match against Shelbourne FC, resulted in a one-matchday pitch suspension for Steaua during the same European season, after racial chants were heard from the crowd.
Lately, crowd turbulence has been one of the club's main problems. During the last three seasons, 11 Liga I
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"...
matchday suspensions and one in the UEFA Cup
UEFA Cup
The UEFA Europa League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1971 for eligible European football clubs. It is the second most prestigious European club football contest after the UEFA Champions League...
have been dictated against the Ghencea-based club out of reasons such as crowd trouble, racial chants or torch lighting.
In 2009, UEFA ordered Steaua to play two home games of the Europa League behind closed doors
Behind closed doors (football)
The term "Behind Closed Doors" is used in several sports, primarily association football, to describe matches played where spectators are not allowed in the stadium to watch...
due to their fans displaying racist banners in a second qualifying round match against Hungarian side Ujpest
Újpest
Újpest may refer to:*Újpest, a district of Budapest, Hungary.*Újpest FC, a football team based in Újpest....
.
Steaua's most important rivalry is the one against FC Dinamo 1948 București. Marele Derby
Eternal derby (Romania)
The Eternal Derby, , also called The Romanian Derby, and the Great Derby, is a match between the fierce rivals Steaua and Dinamo, the biggest and most popular football clubs in Romania....
(The Great Derby) has been the leading Romanian football encounter in the last 60 years, as Steaua and Dinamo are the two most successful football teams in the country. With 41 titles won altogether (Steaua–23; Dinamo–18), the two clubs have won 23 of the last 26 seasons. It is also a match between the former clubs of the Romanian Army (Steaua) and the Ministry of Internal Affairs (Dinamo). Several clashes between different factions of supporters have often occurred and still occur inside and outside the stadium. The heyday was reached before a match kick-off in 1997, when Dinamo's fans set a sector of Stadionul Ghencea
Stadionul Ghencea
Ghencea Stadium , is a football stadium in Bucharest, Romania, home of Ministry of National Defence of Romania. It was inaugurated on 9 April 1974. It was the home of Steaua Bucureşti until 2011.Tătaru was the first player to score on the new stadium...
's Peluza Sud, where they were assigned, on fire. Between October 1991 and April 2000, Steaua counted 19 undefeated official matches in front of their rivals, both in the championship and the cup. Just as well, a period of 17 years and 7 months has been recorded in which Dinamo did not manage to win away against Steaua in the domestic league.
The second most important rivalry is the one with FC Rapid București. Several matches in the last years between Steaua and Rapid have also ended in serious clashes between fans. Rivalry has become even fiercer since Steaua outpassed Rapid in an all-Romanian quarter final of the UEFA Cup 2005–06
UEFA Cup 2005-06
The UEFA Cup 2005–06 season was won by Sevilla FC, beating Middlesbrough FC in the final. It was the first victory for Sevilla in a European competition, and the first appearance by Middlesbrough in a European final. The final took place at Philips Stadion, in Eindhoven, Netherlands. The match was...
season. The local sports newspapers said that the 2 teams were linked up in this quarter final by the line of the number 41 tram which links the Ghencea Stadium to the Valentin Stanescu Stadium.
Milder and historical rivalries are also with non-Bucharest teams such as 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...
, Politehnica Timișoara
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...
, Petrolul Ploiești and 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...
.
Statistics and records
Steaua currently boasts itself with the most impressive pedigree in Romania. With 62 seasons spent in Liga ILiga 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"...
, they are one of only two teams to have played only in the first national league, along with Dinamo București (61 seasons). At the same time, the club is the current record holder for the number of national championships (23), national cups (20) and national super cups (5). Between 1993 and 1998, their run of six consecutive national titles won equaled the one of Chinezul Timișoara
Chinezul Timisoara
Chinezul Timişoara was a football club, which played both in the Hungarian and the Romanian championship during its existence. It was based in Timişoara, Romania .-History:...
from the 1920s. Internationally, they are the only Romanian club to have won continental trophies (the European Champions Cup
UEFA Champions League
The 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...
in 1986 and the European Super Cup
European Super Cup
The UEFA Super Cup is an annual football game between the reigning champions of the two cup competitions organized by UEFA: the UEFA Champions League and the UEFA Europa League...
in 1987) and to have played in the final of the European Cup (in 1986
European Cup 1985-86
The 1985–86 European Cup was the 31st season of UEFA's premier club football tournament, the European Cup. The European Champion Clubs' Cup was won by Steaua Bucharest on penalties in a final against Barcelona...
and 1989
European Cup 1988-89
The season 1988–89 of the European Cup football club tournament was won for the first time since 1969, and third time overall, by AC Milan comfortably in the final against former winners Steaua Bucureşti...
).
For three years and three months (June 1986 – September 1989), Steaua counted a number of 104 unbeaten matches in the league, establishing, at that moment, a world record and a European one still standing. Also inside the national league, they counted 112 matches between November 1989 and August 1996 of invincibility at Stadionul Ghencea in Liga I. Their run of 17 straight wins in 1988 is another record, equal to the one held by Dinamo as of one year later.
Tudorel Stoica
Tudorel Stoica
Tudorel Stoica is a retired Romanian footballer who played as a central midfielder.-Club career:...
is the player with the most appearances for Steaua in Liga I, a record unlikely to be broken in the nearby future, as none of the current players have entered the top 10 so far. The club's all-time top scorer in the league is Anghel Iordănescu
Anghel Iordanescu
Anghel Iordănescu is a Major General and former Romanian football striker, currently a politician. In 2007 Iordănescu retired from football, and the following February, after his predecessor resigned, he became a member of the Romanian Senate, sitting on the Social Democratic Party benches.-Career...
with 146 goals, a record that also looks solid, out of the same reason as above-mentioned. Other records are currently owned by former players such as Dorinel Munteanu
Dorinel Munteanu
Dorinel 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...
(most national caps – 134) or Gheorghe Hagi
Gheorghe Hagi
Gheorghe Hagi is a former Romanian footballer. He was famous for his passing, close control, long shots and was regarded as one of the best attacking midfielders in Europe during the 1980s and 1990s and is considered the greatest Romanian footballer of all time...
(most goals scored for Romania
Romania national football team
The Romania national football team is the national football team of Romania and is controlled by the Romanian Football Federation.Romania is one of only four national teams, the other three being Brazil, France, and Belgium, that took part in the first three World Cups.However, after that...
– 35; most appearances of a Romanian player in the European cups – 93).
Ownership
Steaua has always been known as the club of the Romanian Army, who founded it in 1947 as a sports society. The Army continues to own the society, called CSA Steaua BucureștiCSA Steaua Bucuresti
CSA Steaua Bucureşti is a Romanian sports society from Bucharest, Romania run by the Ministry of National Defence of Romania. It is the most successful club in Romania in terms of international and overall trophies...
at the moment.
The football department however, in order to comply with UEFA
UEFA
The 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....
rules, separated and turned private in 1998, owned and financed by a non-profit organization called AFC Steaua București, chaired by businessman Viorel Păunescu.
In January 2003, the club turned public, under the leadership of investor and current politician George Becali
Gigi Becali
George Becali is a controversial Romanian politician and businessman, mostly known for his involvement in the Steaua Bucureşti football club.He has been a Member of the European Parliament since June 2009.-Biography:...
, who had already purchased 51% of the society's shares and later on acquired the rest to become owner of the club. At present Becali has no official link to the club, as he gradually renounced his shares. However, the facts that the current shareholders, that include several nephews of his, are people loyal to him and that he is still in charge of Steaua are obvious. An unofficial explanation for this situation is represented by the heavy amount of unpaid taxes added up by the former governing company, AFC Steaua București, whose payment towards the tax authority was avoided this way by transferring its assets to the new-formed company, with the old association going on liquidation bankruptcy.
George Becali
Gigi Becali
George Becali is a controversial Romanian politician and businessman, mostly known for his involvement in the Steaua Bucureşti football club.He has been a Member of the European Parliament since June 2009.-Biography:...
is currently a highly controversial person, whose involvement in the life of the club and the team has often been described as authoritarian and dictatorial by both the media and the fans. Such decisions as threatening to sell the Steaua brand towards the tax authority following a scandal of unpaid taxes, using the club to promote the New Generation Christian Democrat Party, which he runs, banning Queen
Queen (band)
Queen are a British rock band formed in London in 1971, originally consisting of Freddie Mercury , Brian May , John Deacon , and Roger Taylor...
music from being played during stadium events on grounds of Freddie Mercury
Freddie Mercury
Freddie Mercury was a British musician, singer and songwriter, best known as the lead vocalist of the rock band Queen. As a performer, he was known for his flamboyant stage persona and powerful vocals over a four-octave range...
's sexual orientations and also various coach sackings (culminating with the one of Gheorghe Hagi
Gheorghe Hagi
Gheorghe Hagi is a former Romanian footballer. He was famous for his passing, close control, long shots and was regarded as one of the best attacking midfielders in Europe during the 1980s and 1990s and is considered the greatest Romanian footballer of all time...
) are only few of the reasons of a certain current state of resentment on behalf of the majority of fans towards Becali.
Steaua in popular culture
As Steaua is currently the most popular football team in Romania, a good number of musicians or TV and film directors have inspired themselves from ideas linked to the Ghencea-based club. Popular reference, however, appeared only after the 1989 Romanian Revolution, as before, mass-media programmes were mostly being controlled by the former communist regime. The 2002 Romanian film Furia depicts scenes in which Steaua and Dinamo gangs of supporters are fighting on the streets after a direct match between the two sides. Prima TVPrima TV
Prima TV is a Romanian commercial TV channel, famous mainly for the Cronica Cârcotaşilor show and various reality shows.-Start:Prima TV was launched as one of the first commercial television stations in Romania in December 1997...
comedy show Mondenii often airs sketches parodying Steaua owner George Becali
Gigi Becali
George Becali is a controversial Romanian politician and businessman, mostly known for his involvement in the Steaua Bucureşti football club.He has been a Member of the European Parliament since June 2009.-Biography:...
, the players and other representatives around the club. Pro TV
Pro TV
Launched in December 1995, Pro TV reaches almost 99% of Romania’s 21.5 million people and has 48% of its broadcast schedule comprising locally-produced programs...
series La bloc aired an episode in which characters Nelu and Costel are displayed as representing Steaua in a parking lot match against two other neighbours representing Dinamo.
Several other examples from music can be attributed as Steaua-related. Apart from club anthems played throughout time by Marcel Pavel
Marcel Pavel
Marcel Pavel is a popular singer in Romania. His singing talents brought him to the top of the Romanian charts more than once. In 2002 Marcel was elected as The best male voice. His first hit was "Frumoasa mea" by Ovidiu Komornyc. His latest album is "Te vreau langa mine"...
, Bere Gratis, Gaz pe Foc, an album was released in 2006 as a compilation by Mircea Vintilă, Chicanos, Bogdan Dima and several other artists. Delikt and Ultras are two former hip hop
Hip hop
Hip hop is a form of musical expression and artistic culture that originated in African-American and Latino communities during the 1970s in New York City, specifically the Bronx. DJ Afrika Bambaataa outlined the four pillars of hip hop culture: MCing, DJing, breaking and graffiti writing...
bands whose members ranked the defunct Armata Ultra' brigade and would always show up displaying fan materials. Also, Voltaj, in their song 'MSD2', make reference to the fans in the line Poți să fii câine sau poți fi stelist (You can be a dog or you can be a Steaua fan).
One of the most famous pop-culture references about the club is the association with Scooter
Scooter (band)
Scooter are a German hard dance band founded in Hamburg, who have sold over 25 million records and earned over 80 gold and platinum awards. Scooter are considered the most successful single-record German act with 23 top ten hits. The band is currently composed of members H.P. Baxxter, Rick J....
s song Maria, first sung spontaneously in 2003 by the fans in Peluza Nord after the team would score. Ever since, it has been adopted as an unofficial club anthem and is being played at the stadium at every match, sung together by the supporters. Nonetheless, the song is beginning to lose popularity, mainly because it has become too commercial and many fans do not feel bonded with it any more.
Domestic
Liga ILiga 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 (23) (record): 1951, 1952, 1953, 1956, 1959–60, 1960–61, 1967–68, 1975–76, 1977–78, 1984–85, 1985–86, 1986–87, 1987–88, 1988–89, 1992–93, 1993–94, 1994–95, 1995–96, 1996–97, 1997–98, 2000–01, 2004–05, 2005–06
- Runners-up (13): 1954, 1957–58, 1962–63, 1976–77, 1979–80, 1983–84, 1989–90, 1990–91, 1991–92, 2002–03, 2003–04, 2006–07, 2007–08
Cupa României:
- Winners (22) (record): 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, 1991–921992 Cupa României FinalThe 1992 Cupa României Final was the 54th final of Romania's most prestigious cup competition. The final was played at the Stadionul Regie in Bucharest on 24 June 1992 and was contested between Divizia A sides Steaua Bucureşti and Politehnica Timişoara. The cup was won by Steaua on penalties.-Match...
, 1995–961996 Cupa României FinalThe 1996 Cupa României Final was the 58th final of Romania's most prestigious cup competition. The final was played at the Stadionul Naţional in Bucharest on 28 April 1996 and was contested between Divizia A sides Steaua Bucureşti and Gloria Bistriţa. The cup was won by Steaua.-Match details...
, 1996–971997 Cupa României FinalThe 1997 Cupa României Final was the 59th final of Romania's most prestigious cup competition. The final was played at the Stadionul Naţional in Bucharest on 4 June 1997 and was contested between Divizia A sides Steaua Bucureşti and Naţional Bucureşti. The cup was won by Steaua.-Match details...
, 1998–991999 Cupa României FinalThe 1999 Cupa României Final was the 61st final of Romania's most prestigious cup competition. The final was played at the Stadionul Naţional in Bucharest on 16 June 1999 and was contested between Divizia A sides Steaua Bucureşti and Rapid Bucureşti. The cup was won by Steaua on penalties.-Match...
, 2010–112011 Cupa României FinalThe 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... - Runners-up (7): 1953, 1963–64, 1976–77, 1979–80, 1983–84, 1985–86, 1989–90
Supercupa României:
- Winners (5) (record): 1994, 1995, 1998, 20012001 Supercupa României2001 Supercupa României was the 5th edition of Romania's season opener cup competition, Supercupa României. The match was played in Bucharest at Stadionul Naţional on 2 March 2002, and was contested between Divizia A title holders, Steaua and Cupa României champions, Dinamo. The super cup final was...
, 20062006 Supercupa RomânieiThe 2006 Supercupa României was the 9th edition of Romania's season opener cup competition. The match was played in Bucharest at Stadionul Naţional on 22 July 2006, and was contested between Divizia A title holders, Steaua and Cupa României champions, Rapid. Steaua won the trophy after a late goal... - Runners-up (3): 19991999 Supercupa RomânieiThe 1999 Supercupa României was the 4th edition of Romania's season opener cup competition. The match was played in Bucharest at Stadionul Naţional on 7 October 1999, and was contested between Divizia A title holders, Rapid and Cupa României champions, Steaua. Rapid won the trophy.-Match...
, 20052005 Supercupa RomânieiThe 2005 Supercupa României was the 8th edition of Romania's season opener cup competition. The match was played in Bucharest at Stadionul Cotroceni on 31 July 2005, and was contested between Divizia A title holders, Steaua and Cupa României champions, Dinamo. Dinamo won the trophy.-Match...
, 20112011 Supercupa României-Match details:-External links:...
European
European Cup / UEFA Champions LeagueUEFA Champions League
The 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...
:
- Winners (1): 1985–86
- Runners-up (1): 1988–89
- Semi-finalists (1): 1987–88
European Super Cup / UEFA Super Cup:
- Winners (1): 1986
UEFA Cup / UEFA Europa League:
- Semi-finalists (1): 2005–06
European Cup Winners' Cup / UEFA Cup Winners' Cup
UEFA Cup Winners' Cup
The UEFA Cup Winners' Cup was a football club competition contested annually by the most recent winners of all European domestic cup competitions. The cup is one of the many inter-European club competitions that have been organised by UEFA. The first competition was held in the 1960–61 season—but...
:
- Quarter-finalists (2): 1971–72, 1992–93
International
Intercontinental CupIntercontinental Cup (football)
The European/South American Cup, commonly referred to as the World Club Championship, Intercontinental Cup or Toyota Cup, was a football competition endorsed by UEFA and CONMEBOL, contested between the winners of the European Cup and the South American Copa Libertadores...
:
- Runners-up (1): 19861986 Intercontinental CupThe 1986 Intercontinental Cup was a football match played on 14 December 1986 between River Plate of Argentina, winners of the 1986 Copa Libertadores, and FC Steaua Bucureşti of Romania, winners of the 1985–86 European Cup. The match was played at the neutral venue of the National Stadium in Tokyo...
European record
| Competition | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FIFA Club World Cup FIFA Club World Cup The FIFA Club World Cup is a football competition between the champion clubs from all six continental confederations.The first FIFA Club World Championship took place in Brazil in January 2000... / Intercontinental Cup Intercontinental Cup (football) The European/South American Cup, commonly referred to as the World Club Championship, Intercontinental Cup or Toyota Cup, was a football competition endorsed by UEFA and CONMEBOL, contested between the winners of the European Cup and the South American Copa Libertadores... |
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | – 1 |
| UEFA Champions League UEFA Champions League The 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 Cup UEFA Champions League The 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... |
22 | 115 | 42 | 30 | 43 | 165 | 162 | |
| UEFA Cup Winners' Cup UEFA Cup Winners' Cup The UEFA Cup Winners' Cup was a football club competition contested annually by the most recent winners of all European domestic cup competitions. The cup is one of the many inter-European club competitions that have been organised by UEFA. The first competition was held in the 1960–61 season—but... / European Cup Winners' Cup UEFA Cup Winners' Cup The UEFA Cup Winners' Cup was a football club competition contested annually by the most recent winners of all European domestic cup competitions. The cup is one of the many inter-European club competitions that have been organised by UEFA. The first competition was held in the 1960–61 season—but... |
11 | 40 | 14 | 12 | 14 | 51 | 54 | – 3 |
| UEFA Europa League / UEFA Cup | 14 | 86 | 32 | 28 | 26 | 113 | 95 | |
| UEFA Super Cup / European Super Cup | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| Total | 49 | 243 | 89 | 70 | 84 | 330 | 312 |
Current squad
As of October 2011Out on loan
For recent transfers, see the "Transfers" section of 2011–12 FC Steaua București season.Board of directors
| Position | Name |
|---|---|
| Owner | George Becali |
| Honorary President | Viorel Păunescu |
| President | Helmuth Duckadam Helmuth Duckadam Helmuth Robert Duckadam is a retired Romanian footballer who played as a goalkeeper.He was dubbed "the hero of Seville" due to his heroics in the 1986 European Cup Final, won by his main club, Steaua Bucureşti... |
| General Director | Valeriu Argăseală |
Current technical staff
- As of 30 September 2011.
| Position | Name |
|---|---|
| Manager | Ilie Stan Ilie Stan Ilie Stan is a former Romanian football player and a football manager currently under contract with Romanian side Steaua.-External links:*... |
| Assistant manager | Eduard Iordănescu Eduard Iordănescu Eduard Iordănescu is a Romanian football coach and former player. He's the eldest son of former international player and coach Anghel Iordănescu.-Club career:... |
| Assistant manager | Gabriel Mărgărit |
| Director of football | Narcis Răducan Narcis Raducan Narcis Claudiu Răducan is a former Romanian football player, currently under contract with Steaua Bucuresti as sports director.-External links:*... |
| Goalkeeping coach | Constantin Dumitru |
| Fitness coach | Horea Codorean |
Notable players throughout history
Coach history
| Name | Period | Trophies | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic | International | ||||||||
| LI 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"... |
CR | SR | UCL UEFA Champions League The 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... |
UCWC UEFA Cup Winners' Cup The UEFA Cup Winners' Cup was a football club competition contested annually by the most recent winners of all European domestic cup competitions. The cup is one of the many inter-European club competitions that have been organised by UEFA. The first competition was held in the 1960–61 season—but... |
UEL | USC | |||
| Romania Coloman Braun-Bogdan Coloman Braun-Bogdan Coloman Braun-Bogdan was a Romanian football midfielder and football manager.Born in Arad, Arad County, which was at the time part of Austria-Hungary, he made a name for himself as one of the best Romanian midfielders of the interwar period... |
02.1948–05.1948 | ||||||||
| Romania Colea Vâlcov Colea Vâlcov Nicolae 'Colea' Vâlcov was a Romanian footballer and manager. He played for Venus Bucureşti.... |
08.1948–07.1949 | ||||||||
| Romania Francisc Rónay |
03.1950–11.1950 09.1953–11.1953 03.1954–06.1954 |
||||||||
| Romania Gheorghe Popescu Gheorghe Popescu I Gheorghe Popescu was a Romanian football player and also a manager. He began his career at 14 years. He used to play as a striker.As a player, Gheorghe Popescu I won, in 1949, the Romanian Cup... |
03.1951–08.1953 08.1958–07.1960 03.1962–07.1962 |
||||||||
| Romania Ilie Savu Ilie Savu Ilie Savu was a Romanian football player who played as a goalkeeper and was also the first ever goalkeeper to play for Steaua Bucureşti.- Player career :... |
09.1954–11.1955 1958 08.1964–06.1967 |
||||||||
| Romania Ștefan 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... |
03.1956–11.1956 | ||||||||
| Romania Angelo Niculescu Angelo Niculescu Angelo Niculescu is a former Romanian football manager. He was the coach of the Romania national football team during the 1970 FIFA World Cup.-External links:*... |
03.1958–06.1958 | ||||||||
| Romania Ștefan Onisie Stefan Onisie Ştefan Onisie was a Romanian football player who played as a central midfielder. He was a part of Steaua's Gold Team.- Player career :... |
09.1960–06.1961 08.1962–11.1963 08.1970–06.1971 |
||||||||
| Romania Eugen Mladin Eugen Mladin Eugen Mladin was a Romanian footballer and manager.-References:... |
08.1961–11.1961 | ||||||||
| Romania Gheorghe Ola Gheorghe Ola Gheorghe Ola was a Romanian footballer and manager.-References:... |
03.1963–07.1964 | ||||||||
| Romania Ștefan Covaci |
08.1967–07.1970 | ||||||||
| Romania Valentin Stănescu Valentin Stanescu Valentin Stănescu Was the manager of the football team Rapid Bucureşti.-Manager career:*1959-1963: Metalul Târgovişte *1963-1968: CFR Bucureşti... |
08.1971–12.1972 | ||||||||
| Romania Gheorghe Constantin |
03.1973–12.1973 08.1978–06.1981 |
||||||||
| Romania Constantin Teașcă Constantin Teasca Constantin Teaşcă also known as Titi Teaşcă was a Romanian football player and manager.Teasca was the manager of the Romania national football team in 1962 and 1967.He was the manager of Steaua Bucureşti from 1974 to 1975.... |
03.1974–06.1975 | ||||||||
| Romania Emerich Jenei Emerich Jenei Emerich Jenei or Imre Jenei is a Romanian former football player and coach... |
08.1975–06.1978 08.1983–05.1984 10.1984–10.1986 04.1991–12.1991 08.1993–04.1994 10.1998–04.2000 |
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| Romania Traian Ionescu Traian Ionescu Traian Ionescu was a former Romanian football player and manager.-Player:CCA/Steaua Bucureşti*Romanian League: 1**1951*Romanian Cup: 2**1948–49, 1950-Manager:Dinamo Bucureşti... |
08.1981–12.1981 | ||||||||
| Romania Constantin Cernăianu Constantin Cernaianu Constantin Cernăianu is a former Romanian football player and coach, now retired.He also coached in Bangladesh, and also worked with the Egypt football federation.-External links:*... |
11.1981–07.1983 | ||||||||
| Romania Florin Halagian Florin Halagian Florin Halagian is a former Romanian football player and manager of Armenian descent.On 25 March 2008 he was decorated by the president of Romania, Traian Băsescu for all activity and quality of football coach, for forming young generation on future champions with Ordinul "Meritul Sportiv" — ... |
09.1984–10.1984 | ||||||||
| Romania Anghel Iordănescu Anghel Iordanescu Anghel Iordănescu is a Major General and former Romanian football striker, currently a politician. In 2007 Iordănescu retired from football, and the following February, after his predecessor resigned, he became a member of the Romanian Senate, sitting on the Social Democratic Party benches.-Career... |
10.1986–06.1990 08.1992–06.1993 |
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| Romania Costică Ștefănescu Costica Stefanescu Costică Ştefănescu is a retired Romanian football player and coach. He spent the majority of his career at Universitatea Craiova, where he made a club record 378 appearances... |
08.1990–12.1990 | ||||||||
| Romania Bujor Hălmăgeanu Bujor Halmageanu Bujor Hălmageanu is a Romanian retired footballer and manager. He competed for his country at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, where Romania reached the quarter-finals.-References:... |
03.1991–04.1991 | ||||||||
| Romania Victor Pițurcă Victor Piturca Victor Piţurcă is a Romanian football manager and former player.-Club career:Piţurcă was one of the prolific strikers of Steaua Bucureşti, being one of the team's top scorers – he scored 137 goals in 174 league games... |
03.1992–06.1992 08.2000–06.2002 10.2002–06.2004 07.2010–08.2010 |
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| Romania Dumitru Dumitriu |
08.1994–06.1997 05.2005–06.2005 |
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| Romania Mihai Stoichiță Mihai Stoichita Mihai Stoichiţă is a Romanian football manager.- Coaching career :The Kuwait Football Association hired him in 2006 to coach its national football team. The one-year deal is believed to be worth between $300,000 and $460,000... |
08.1997–10.1998 09.2009–05.2010 |
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| Romania Cosmin Olăroiu Cosmin Olaroiu Aurelian Cosmin Olăroiu is a former Romanian football player and football manager.-Club career:As a player, Olăroiu's best-known clubs he played for are Universitatea Craiova and Naţional Bucureşti. However, he also played with success in K-League for Suwon Samsung Bluewings and helped the team to... |
08.2002–10.2002 03.2006–05.2007 |
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 Italy Walter ZengaWalter Zenga Walter Zenga is a retired Italian footballer and current manager. He is a long-time goalkeeper for the Italian national team and Internazionale. He also holds Romanian citizenship... |
08.2004–05.2005 | ||||||||
| Ukraine Oleh Protasov |
08.2005–12.2005 | ||||||||
| Romania Gheorghe Hagi Gheorghe Hagi Gheorghe Hagi is a former Romanian footballer. He was famous for his passing, close control, long shots and was regarded as one of the best attacking midfielders in Europe during the 1980s and 1990s and is considered the greatest Romanian footballer of all time... |
07.2007–09.2007 | ||||||||
| Italy Massimo Pedrazzini Massimo Pedrazzini Massimo Pedrazzini is an Italian football coach and former player, last in charge as Walter Zenga's assistant coach at Serie A club Palermo.- Player :... |
09.2007–10.2007 | ||||||||
| Romania Marius Lăcătuș Marius Lacatus Marius Mihai Lăcătuş is a Romanian retired football player and football coach. He is so far the most successful football player ever to play for Steaua Bucureşti... |
10.2007–10.2008 01.2009–05.2009 09.2010–03.2011 |
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| Romania Dorinel Munteanu Dorinel Munteanu Dorinel 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... |
10.2008–12.2008 | ||||||||
| Italy Cristiano Bergodi |
06.2009–09.2009 | ||||||||
| Romania Ilie Dumitrescu Ilie Dumitrescu Ilie Dumitrescu is a former Romanian football player and current coach, he last managed Steaua Bucureşti. A tricky forward, he shot to fame when his frontline partnership with Gheorghe Hagi and Florin Răducioiu led the Romania national football team to the 1994 FIFA World Cup quarterfinal,... |
08.2010–09.2010 | ||||||||
| Romania Sorin Cârțu Sorin Cârtu Sorin 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... |
03.2011–05.2011 | ||||||||
| Romania Gabriel Caramarin Gabriel Caramarin Gabriel Gheorghe Caramarin is a retired Romanian football player, and current assistant coach of Anorthosis Famagusta.... (caretaker) |
05.2011 | ||||||||
 Israel Ronny LevyRonny Levy Ronny Levy is a former Israeli international football player and now works as a manager. Levy was one of the best defensive midfielders in Israeli football while playing, and won championships with both Bnei Yehuda and Maccabi Haifa.... |
06.2011–09.2011 | ||||||||
| Romania Ilie Stan Ilie Stan Ilie Stan is a former Romanian football player and a football manager currently under contract with Romanian side Steaua.-External links:*... |
09.2011– | ||||||||
| Total | 1947– | 23 | 21 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 51 |
Presidents
| Name | Period |
|---|---|
| Romania Oreste Alecsandrescu |
1947–1948 |
| Romania Nicolae Petre Draga |
1948 |
| Romania Vasile Mesaroș |
1948–1949 |
| Romania Policarp Dovaăcescu |
1949 |
| Romania Alexandru Florescu |
1949–1951 |
| Romania Edgar Gâță |
1952–1953 |
| Romania Alexandru Florescu |
1953–1954 |
| Romania Ilie Savu Ilie Savu Ilie Savu was a Romanian football player who played as a goalkeeper and was also the first ever goalkeeper to play for Steaua Bucureşti.- Player career :... |
1954 |
| Romania Ștefan Alexiu |
1954–1958 |
| Romania Ioan Teodorescu |
1958–1961 |
| Romania Aurelian Budeanu |
1961–1964 |
| Romania Maximilian Pandele |
1964–1975 |
| Romania Gheorghe Drăgănescu |
1975–1980 |
| Romania Aurel Ion |
1980–1983 |
| Romania Cornel Oțelea |
1983–1984 |
| Romania Ioan Popescu |
1984–1985 |
| Romania Nicolae Gavrilă |
1985–1989 |
| Romania Constantin Tănase Constantin Tanase Constantin Tănase was a Romanian actor and writer for stage, a key figure in the revue style of theater in Romania.-Life:Born into a working-class family living in a peasant house in Vaslui, Romania... |
1989–1990 |
| Romania Nicolae Gavrilă |
1990–1991 |
| Romania Cornel Oțelea |
1991–1997 |
| Romania Cristian Gațu Cristian Gatu Cristian Gaţu is a former Romanian handball player who competed in the 1972 Summer Olympics and in the 1976 Summer Olympics. He has been the president of the Romanian Handball Federation since 1996.... |
1997–1998 |
| Romania Gheorghe Cernat |
1998–2000 |
| Romania Viorel Păunescu |
1998–2003 |
| Romania Mihai Stoica Mihai Stoica Mihai Stoica , commonly known as Meme Stoica or MM Stoica, is a former president of Oţelul Galaţi and former general manager of Unirea Urziceni. Since November 2010 until September 2011, Mihai Stoica was the manager of Steaua Bucureşti. He is currently the permanent co-host of some TV shows at... |
2002–2007 |
| Romania George Becali |
2003–2007 |
| Romania Marius Lăcătuș Marius Lacatus Marius Mihai Lăcătuş is a Romanian retired football player and football coach. He is so far the most successful football player ever to play for Steaua Bucureşti... |
2005–2007 |
| Romania Valeriu Argăseală |
2007–2010 |
| Romania Helmuth Duckadam Helmuth Duckadam Helmuth Robert Duckadam is a retired Romanian footballer who played as a goalkeeper.He was dubbed "the hero of Seville" due to his heroics in the 1986 European Cup Final, won by his main club, Steaua Bucureşti... |
2010– |
External links
Official websites- FC Steaua București at UEFAUEFAThe 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....