CFR Cluj
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| CFR Cluj | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | Societatea Sportivă CF CFR 1907 Cluj |
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| Founded | 1907 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Ground | CFR Stadium, Cluj-Napoca |
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| Capacity | 8,500 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chairman |  Iuliu Mureşan |
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| Manager |  Cristiano Bergodi |
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| League | Liga I | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2005-06 | Divizia A, 5th | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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CFR Cluj is a Romanian football club from the city of Cluj-Napoca. It is currently playing in Liga 1, Romania's top football league.
In 2005, the club received much attention, both at home and abroad, for its commendable performance in the Intertoto Cup. CFR Cluj reached the final stage of that competition (the first Romanian club to accomplish this) after having knocked out Atletico Bilbao and Saint Etienne. Eventually, CFR lost the final game to the French team of RC Lens.
CFR Cluj finished 5th in the 2005/2006 season, thus matching its past best ever performance -- in 1972/1973.
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[edit] History
[edit] Early years
The club was founded in 1907, when the city of Cluj was part of Austria-Hungary. The club’s original Hungarian name was Kolozsvári Vasutas Sport Club (K.V.S.C.) and represented the railway workers' team. From 1907 to 1910, the team played in the Municipal Championship of Kolozsvár (today Cluj-Napoca). However, the club did not have any notable achievements during this time.
In 1910, K. V. S. C. won the newly organized Championship of Transylvania. The club consistently finished second place in that competition between 1911 and 1914, a competition that was interrupted because of the First World War. After the war the club changed its name to C.F.R. Cluj, which went on to win two regional titles, in 1918-1919 and 1919-1920.
Notable players from CFR’s early years were Boga, Halasz, Basga, Szilaghi, Vegh, Hegh, Kabuzovsky, Kinizsi II, Nagy, Ujvari, Takacs I, Curteanu, Barabas, Takacs II, Tosson, Heresz, Micu, Deak, Neagu, Oros, Olteanu, Moraru, Radu, Sandor, Merceanu, Kronstadter, Szaniszlo, and Juhasz.
Between 1934 and 1936, CFR played two seasons in Divizia B, ranking sixth in 1934-1935 and eighth in 1935-1936. Unfortunately, in 1936 CFR was relegated to the third league, where the team played for two seasons. The team finished the first season in the second place and ranked fourth after the second season.
After the dissolution of Romania's third league (due to The Second World War), CFR played in the regional championship. After the Second World War, CFR played for one season in the third league, earning promotion. In the 1946-47 season, the team merged with another local club, Ferar Cluj, and played in Divizia A for the very first time. Unfortunately, the Cluj lasted only two years in the first league and would not play in the first league for another twenty years.
In 1960,another merger with Rapid Cluj resulted in C.S.M. Cluj. In 1964, the team’s name was changed to Clujeana. In that same year the club’s junior team won the national championship. Three years later, the team’s name was reversed yet again to CFR Cluj.
[edit] 1969-1976
In 1969, CFR finished first in Divizia B with forty points, five more than their rival, Politehnica Timişoara. The conclusive game of that season was the tie with Politehnica (1-1). Politehnica had a 1-0 lead at half-time, but CFR came back with a fine header from Soos.
During the summer of 1969, CFR Cluj advanced to Divizia A under the leadership of coach Dr. Constantin Rădulescu, or "Jumate", as his friends called him in his youth. Rădulescu was originally from southern Romania, but he was grew to manhood in the stern atmosphere of Transylvania. Before coaching, he had played for C.F.R. and another well-known local team, Universitatea Cluj, during the 1940s.
Dr. Constantin Rădulescu used the following players in the 1968-69 championship: Nagel, Lengyel, Hasmasan-Tegean, Dragomir, Soos, Manu, Gocan-Roman, V. Alexandru, Stancelm, Visan, Petru Emil-Mazurachis, Zanea, M. Bretan, Balas, R. Petrescu, Marian Popescu, Pona, and Strat. The team was generally young, and Rădulescu was an attack-minded coach who used an offensive 4-3-3 formation.
In the 1969-1970 first league championship, CFR made its debut with a victory (2-0) over ASA Târgu-Mureş. The next few games did not go as well. Apart from a 1-0 win over Politehnica Iaşi, there were losses to Steaua Bucharest (1-3) and Dinamo Bucharest (0-2). Unfortunately, these and other defeats were a factor in the team's downhill slide. However, the following spring CFR bounced back with a win over ASA Târgu Mureş (1-0), after a lovely goal from Octavian Ionescu, and managed to avert relegation. In the 1969-70 season, CFR’s line-up looked, more or less, as follows: Moldovan - Lupu, Dragomir, Soos, Roman, Cojocaru, M. Bretan, Tegean, Visan, O. Ionescu, Szoke.
At the beginning of CFR’s second season in Divizia A, Rădulescu was replaced by Eugen Iordache as head coach. During his tenure, CFR did not do well, so that Rădulescu was swiftly brought back. Even so, CFR Cluj found itself again at the bottom of the table before the winter break. The spring of 1971 was somewhat better, although CFR struggled again to avoid relegation. CFR's last game of that season, against UT Arad, was a memorable one. CFR led 1-0 at half-time. UTA, however, managed to overturn the match after having scored twice. Nonetheless, the persistence of the players from Cluj was rewarded with a late goal, tying the game at 2-2. UT Arad went on to play in the European Cups, but, most importantly, CFR avoided relegation.
The 1971-1972 season started off badly for CFR. Losses to Dinamo Bucharest (1-3); Crişul Oradea (0-1, after a last-minute penalty kick), and Jiul Petroşani (1-2 after two regretable own-goals) meant CFR's demise after the first round of the championship -- the team finished at the bottom, with seven points. CFR’s retour was spectacular, although inconsistent at times. The team won some important games, such as a 1-0 with Universitatea Craiova and a 3-0 with Petrolul Ploieşti. By the end of the season, however, CFR was again struggling to stay in Divizia A. CFR was tied at half-time after having led with 2-0 in their game against Politehnica Iasi. In the second half, two late goals from Ionescu and Petrescu saved the team from relegation. When Rădulescu and his players got back home to Cluj, 3,000 fans turned out to celebrate their feat.
During the summer of 1972, CFR made a transfer of utmost importance. Mihai Adam, from Universitatea Cluj, was traded for Soos. Mihai Adam had been twice Romania's top goalscorer, and was considered one of the best Romanian players of his generation. He and the rest of the team would make the 1972-73 season the most glorious in CFR’s history. The team achieved its highest ranking ever in Romanian football -- fifth in Divizia A. Several important results concluded a great season, including a 2-0 victory against Rapid Bucharest, a 2-2 draw against Sportul Studenţesc Bucharest, and another draw, 1-1, with Steaua Bucharest. Additionally, the stadium that CFR continues to use even today was built in 1973. To celebrate completion of the stadium, CFR Cluj played a friendly against Cuba. The game ended in a 2-1 victory for CFR.
The 1973-74 season was a rather bad one for CFR, as it barely saved itself from relegation, ranking 14th at the end of the season. The only notable achievement of that season was Mihai Adam’s third title as Romania's top goal-scorer who, even though he was 33 years old, scored 23 goals.
The 1974-75 season was much like the one before: CFR struggled to avoid relegation, achieving its objective all the while.
The 1975-76 season marked CFR’s relagation and its last season in Divizia A during the 20th Century. The problem was that the team was very old, with most of its players in their thirties.
[edit] 1976-2002
During the 1977-78 season, CFR tried to make a comeback and play in the first league again. Unfortunately, the team managed to finish only second in Divizia B, after FC Baia Mare. Four years later CFR slid further down, into the third division (Divizia C). From then on, the team would alternate between the second and third leagues. In 1983, CFR played in Divizia B under its ever loyal coach, Dr. Constantin Rădulescu.
In the 1990s CFR struggled financially and found itself more than once on the brink of bankruptcy. Nevertheless, several very talented players were raised, including Cristian Dulca, Attila Piroska, Cristian Coroian, and Alin Minteuan.
[edit] 2002-to present
In January 2002 a new sponsor, Arpad Paszkany, head of S.C. ECOMAX M.G., founded the new commercial sport society, with ECOMAX M.G. as primary shareholder.
By the end of the 2001-2002 season, CFR was playing in Divizia B.
The summer of 2003 was very important for CFR as many new talented players were transferred. Among them -- Cătălin Bozdog, Adrian Anca, Cristian Turcu, and Sabin Piglisan. With these players and others, CFR managed to enter the first league after a spectacular season in Divizia B. CFR Cluj began the season superbly, holding first place for a while. Then the club's main sponsor, Arpad Paszkany, became involved in a public scandal, in which Paszkany accused several referees of corruption. This conundrum plagued the team and ended up in head coach Gh. Cioceri's dismissal. CFR lost several consecutive games before the scandal blew away. After the winter break, Gh. Cioceri was replaced by Aurel Sunda. In the spring of 2004, Sunda's team had a nearly perfect run, winning 14 out of 15 games, with only one draw. One round before the season's end, CFR was one point behind Jiul Petrosani who was in first place. All this changed when Jiul was held to a draw by Gaz Metan Mediaş. This, along with CFR's 3-0 victory, was one of the most crucial moments for the club in the 21st Century. Thus CFR Cluj advanced to the first league for the first time in 28 years.
CFR Cluj's first year in Divizia A since 1976 was spectacular, yet inconsistent. In the summer of 2004, CFR acquired many new players, including Vasile Jula and Radu Marginean.
CFR finished sixth after the first half of the 2004-2005 championship --a great accomplishment for a newly promoted team. It was during this time that CFR played one of its most amazing games ever, defeating, at home, Dinamo Bucharest. The final score was 4-2, after four spectacular goals by Adrian Anca (2) and Sorin Oncică (2).
However, the second half of the championship proved disappointing for CFR, as it gathered only 12 points after 15 games. The team finished 11th, though, avoiding relegation.
The summer of 2005 brought some extraordinary changes to CFR Cluj. The club's executives signed up the team for the UEFA Intertoto Cup. This would be CFR's first European adventure. CFR began well, qualifying for the second round after two victories against Vetra Vilnius (3-2 and 4-1).
Also, the Romanian international Dorinel Munteanu came to CFR from Steaua Bucharest. Munteanu would have the double role of player-coach. His first game produced one of CFR's greatest successes. CFR Cluj defeated Atletico Bilbao (1-0) during the second round of the 2005 UEFA Intertoto Cup. The only goal of the match was scored by Cosmin Tilinca, with a brilliant header. CFR then lost at Bilbao (0-1) but still qualified to the next round after a tense penalty shootout.
Munteanu's team played the next game at Cluj, against St. Etienne. Adrian Anca played one of the greatest games in his lifetime, even though the match ended in a 1-1 draw. Anca hit the crossbar with a header early in the game, and Cosmin Tilinca pushed the ball into the net from the rebound. Anca then went on to earn a penalty, but did not score. He then hit the crossbar a second time, in the second half. The away game, in France, was also an eventful game for CFR Cluj. The game ended in a 2-2 draw, so CFR went on to the next qualifying stage due to its away goals. The game began well for CFR, as Cristian Coroian scored from a penalty kick, earned by Adrian Anca. The second half went by less smoothly for CFR. Julien Sable managed to score for St. Etienne, tying the game at 1-1. Then followed CFR player Laszlo Balint's elimination. However, a Cosmin Tilinca goal gave the team new hope, a hope fulfilled at the end of a memorable match, tied up by the French in the very last minute.
In the next round, CFR Cluj easily disposed of Zalgiris Vilnius, 2-1 in Lithuania and 5-1 at home.
For the final match of the 2005 UEFA Interoto Cup, CFR Cluj's opponent was RC Lens. The first game, at Cluj, ended in a 1-1 draw, with both sides having scored from free kicks. Cristian Turcu scored for CFR. The second game was played at Lens, in front of 30,000 French fans. Unfortunately, the Romanian players showed signs of exhaustion and conceded three goals. The player-coach, Dorinel Munteanu, managed to regain some honour for his team with a beautiful goal from a free kick in the 89th minute. Thus ended CFR's Intertoto journey.
CFR Cluj finished 5th at the end of the 2005-2006 season,although its performance was somewhat inconsistent.
During the 2006-2007 season, there occurred and continue to occur major changes at the club. Dorinel Munteanu resigned as player-coach, and was replaced by Cristiano Bergodi. Foreign players from Western Europe and South America were transferred. A partnership with Benfica Lisbon is now imminent. Whether these changes will be beneficial to the club remains to be seen.
CFR Cluj was a club founded and managed by hard-working and dedicated people. Even though the club languished financially throughout most of its history, through dedication and hard work CFR achieved a reputation for discipline and honesty.
History of CFR Cluj written by Alexandru Veresezan.
[edit] References
Early Years:
SCS CF CFR ECOMAX CLUJ. 22 August 2003. Istoric. Societatea Comercială Sportivă CF CFR ECOMAX CLUJ S. A. SA. [1]
1969-1976, 1976-2002:
Radulescu, Dr. Constantin. O Viata Inchinata Fotbalului. Cluj-Napoca, Romania: Casa de Editura Sarmis, 1994.
2002-Present:
SCS CF CFR ECOMAX CLUJ. 22 August 2003. Istoric. Societatea Comercială Sportivă CF CFR ECOMAX CLUJ S. A. SA. [2]
[edit] Team
[edit] Current first team squad
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[edit] Squad changes during 2006/07 season
In:
- Eduard Stancioiu from Sportul Studenţesc for 50,000 Euro
Viorel Frunza from FC Vaslui for 300,000 Euro
Andre de Souza Galiassi from Bolivar la Paz for 300,000 Euro
Miguel Angel Cuellar from Bolivar la Paz for 200,000 Euro
Anthony da Silva"Tony" from C.F. Estrela da Amadora for 400,000 Euro- Fredrico Martins Fredy from F.C. Paços de Ferreira for 300,000 Euro
- Ricardo Soares from F.C. Paços de Ferreira for 100,000 Euro
- Cleidimir Magalhaes Silva from F.C. Paços de Ferreira for 300,000 Euro
- Vitor Tiago de Freitas Fernandez from Sport Clube Maria da Fonte for 100,000 Euro
Out:
- Dorinel Munteanu to FC Arges Pitesti
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Dumitru Mitu to UT Arad -
Gyorgy Laszlo Balint to UT Arad for 90,000 Euro - Bogdan Cotolan to FC Vaslui as part of transfer fee for Viorel Frunza
- Răzvan Ţârlea to Politehnica Iaşi for 30,000 Euro
Svetozar Mijin to Politehnica Iaşi for 30,000 Euro- Zoran Milošević to FC Argeş Piteşti for 100,000 Euro
On Loan:
- Octavian Chihaia to FC Naţional Bucureşti until June 2007
- Sead Bruncević to Gloria Bistriţa until June 2007
- Radu Marginean to Gloria Bistriţa until June 2007
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Robert Roszel to Gloria Bistriţa until June 2007 
Gualberto Mojica to F.C. Paços de Ferreira until June 2007- Cosmin Tilincă to FC Farul Constanţa until June 2007
[edit] Notable former players
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[edit] All-time Dream Team
Martin Tudor - Cristian Dulca, Vasile Jula, Viorel Visan - Sorin Bretan, Marius Bretan, Dorinel Munteanu, Augustin Tegean - Adrian Anca, Octavian Ionescu, Mihai Adam
[edit] Club Information
Founded: 1907 as Kolozsvári Vasutas Sport Club (K.V.S.C.)
Address: Strada Republicii, no 109, Cluj-Napoca 400489
Telephone: 0040-264-598833
Fax: 0040-264-598831
Colours: White-Burgundy
Budget: €5,500,000
[edit] Club Executives
Financer: Arpad Paszkany
President: Iuliu Muresan
Vice-President: Constantin Dascalu
Vice-President: Emil Ciorea
Sport Director: Alexandru Matei
Secretary: Ioan Martin
Administrative Director: Ioan Pop
Press Officer: Sandu Mureşan
[edit] Team Leadership
- Head Coach Cristiano Bergodi
- Assistant Coach Zsolt Muzsnay
- Assistant Coach Roberto Rossi
- Goalkeeper Coach Horea Cirlan
- Medic Ovidiu Dragos
- Maseur Eugen Jascau
- Maseur Iosif Muresan
- Physiotherapist Gabor Bartha
[edit] Supporters
The ultras groups of CFR 1907 Cluj are Commando Gruia and KVSC. Commando Gruia currently has about 230 members, whereas KVSC has 100.
Both groups of fans support their teams greatly during home and away games. KVSC's slogan is "Incredibili şi Unici din Pasiune!", which translates roughly into "We are incredible and Unique because of our Passion!"
Commando Gruia was founded in 2002, and its slogan is "Un secol de traditie", which means "A century of tradition". This is of course referring to the club.
[edit] Records
Best Finish in First League: 5th place in 1972-73 and 2005-06
Greatest Victory: CFR Cluj - Oţelul Reşiţa 7-0 (July 9, 1947)
Greatest Loss: CFR Bucurest - CFR Cluj 12-2 (20.03.1949)
Player with Most Caps in First League: Marius Bretan 199
Player with Most Goals in First League: Mihai Adam 47
[edit] Performance in Romanian First League
1947-1948 (8th): 9 wins, 10 draws, 11 losses; Goals 48-42; Points 28
1948-1949 (11th): 9 wins, 5 draws, 12 losses; Goals 39-67; Points 23
1969-1970 (14th): 10 wins, 7 draws, 13 losses; Goals 29-45; Points 27
1970-1971 (14th): 9 wins, 8 draws, 13 losses; Goals 37-52; Points 26
1971-1972 (13th): 9 wins, 7 draws, 14 losses; Goals 27-37; Points 25
1972-1973 (5th): 11 wins, 11 draws, 8 losses; Goals 33-33; Points 33
1973-1974 (14th): 11 wins, 9 draws, 14 losses; Goals 40-53; Points 31
1974-1975 (15th): 11 wins, 10 draws, 13 draws; Goals 26-34; Points 32
1975-1976 (17th): 9 wins, 10 draws, 15 losses; Goals 30-39; Points 28
2004-2005 (11th): 9 wins, 9 draws, 12 losses; Goals 33-44; Points 36
2005-2006 (5th): 14 wins, 8 draws, 8 losses; Goals 36-27; Points 50
[edit] Stadium Information
CFR Cluj's stadium has a capacity of 10,000, of which 8,500 are seats and 1,500 standing-room only. The stadium itself, is divided into four sections. The field is currently being replaced with higher quality turf. This project is expected to be completed in October of 2006. There are also plans for a new wing of the stadium, which will be covered, and nightlights. All these plans are due to be started during the summer of 2007. If all goes according to plan, the CFR stadium will meet all of UEFA's regulations and will have a total capacity of about 20,000.
[edit] External links
- Official CFR 1907 Cluj website
- Unofficial CFR 1907 Cluj website
- Commando Gruia - CFR Cluj supporters
- KVSC - CFR Cluj supporters
- Romanian Football History and Statistics
- CFR Cluj - Liga 1 rankings
| CFR 1907 Cluj-Napoca - Current Squad |
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1 Curileac | 3 Ţârlea | 4 Panin | 5 Manuel Jose | 6 Miclăuş | 7 Coroian | 9 Anca | 10 Dan | 11 Chihaia | 12 Tudor | 13 Bucurică | 14 Minteuan | 15 Cadú | 16 Semedo | 17 Mijin | 18 Pedro Oliveira | 19 Tilincă | 21 Mojica | 22 Boroştean | 23 Deac | 24 Surdu | 25 Toma | 27 Balmoş | 28 Milošević | 29 Ambrus | 30 Jula | 31 Cotolan | 33 Ţurcaş | Manager: Bergodi |
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Romanian Liga 1 | |
| 2006/07 Season |
FC Argeş Piteşti | Ceahlăul Piatra Neamţ | CFR 1907 Cluj-Napoca | Dinamo Bucureşti | Farul Constanţa | Gloria Bistriţa | Jiul Petroşani | FC Naţional Bucureşti | Oţelul Galaţi | Pandurii Târgu-Jiu | FC Politehnica Iaşi | FCU Politehnica Timişoara | Rapid Bucureşti | Steaua Bucureşti | Unirea Urziceni | Universitatea Craiova | UT Arad | FC Vaslui | |
