FC Unirea Alba Iulia

Unirea Alba Iulia (Romanian pronunciation: [uˈnire̯a ˌalba ˈjuli.a]) is a Romanian football team from Alba Iulia, Alba County, founded in 1924. They are currently playing in Liga II, Seria II. Among the greatest achievements the team has known, is a sixth place in the first league, season 2003-2004 and a Romanian Cup semifinal played in 1990-1991. The team colours are black and white, and the team stadium is called Stronghold (Cetate) and has a capacity of 18,000 seats.

History

Unirea Alba Iulia (Alba Iulia United) club was founded in the year 1924. In the beginning the team was called Unirea Mihai Viteazul Alba Iulia (Michael the Brave Alba Iulia United). After ten years, they managed to qualify and play in the second league where they managed to obtain the sixth place. They played in the second league until the year 1939 when they were relegated to the third league. In 1942, they returned to the second league where they played two seasons and then were relegated again. At the end of season 1946-1947 we find the team in the third league in a relegating position. From 1947 until 1970 the team plays in the regional championships, under the level of the first three leagues of Romanian professional football. In the year 1970 the team promotes to the third league. After nine seasons played in the third league, they managed to promote in the second league . In the season 1979-1980 the team finished in the first spot beyond the relegation line. They played another four years in the third league, after that, they promoted in the second league where they played for two years and were relegated again, and after another two years they promoted again. Between the years 1988-2003 they played in the second league . In the season 1993-1994 they placed themselves on the second position at only 7 points behind the first place FC Maramureş Baia Mare.

At the end of the 2002-2003 season of Divizia B, the team, which was renamed in the `90s Apulum Alba Iulia, manages to achieve the promotion to Liga I, where it plays for the very first time in its 80 year history. The coach who led the team was Aurel Şunda.

Having experienced players like Ovidiu Maier, Vasile Jercălău, Dan Găldeanu, Florin Cotora, they confirmed their value and managed to place themselves on the sixth place in the first league . In the next season the team will change a lot of coaches, Stelian Gherman, Alexandru Pelici, Gheorghe Mulţescu, Marcel Rusu, Alin Artimon, in the hope that the team will keep their position in the first league, but without success. After a very weak season in the second league, the team was relegated again, this time to the third league. In the summer of 2006, the management of the club buys a place in the second league from Oltchim Râmnicu Vâlcea. The team returns to the name of Unirea Alba Iulia (United Alba Iulia) and finishes the 2006-2007 and 2007-2008 seasons on 4th.

Honours

Romanian Cup

• Winners (0):, Best result: Semi-Finals 1990-91

Liga I:

• Winners (0):, Best finish: 6th place 2003-04

Liga II

• Winners (2): 2002-03, 2008-09
• Runners-up (1): 1993-94

Liga III

• Winners (3): 1978–79, 1983–84, 1987–88
• Runners-up (1): 1981–82

Stadium

The English translation of the name of the club's stadium is Citadel (Cetate), and it has a capacity of 18,000(7,000 sitting). The stadium was opened in 1982. For the moment the stadium belongs to the municipality, all investments are done with funds provided by it. The stadium has also a mini-hotel in which the players are accommodated, and also a running track.

Current squad

As of 14 December 2010

Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

References

• Romanian Soccer

External links

• Official website