Clubul Sportiv Pandurii Lignitul Târgu Jiu is a Romanian professional football club based in Târgu Jiu, Gorj County, that plays in Liga I.
The team's colors are white and blue.
History
Founding
Pandurii Târgu Jiu was founded in August 1962, after the merger of the two big rivals from the town, Flacăra-Unirea Târgu Jiu and CIL Târgu-Jiu. The club entered the fourth division of Romanian football, with a strong objective, to promote immediately in the third division. And the target was reached, Pandurii gaining the promotion to Divizia C in June 1963. Their first game in this division was played on 1 September 1963, against Siderurgistul Hunedoara. Pandurii won by a big margin, 6-0, goals scored by Chițu (12'), Nelu Băloi (35'), Melinte (53', 80') and Vasilescu (83', 85').
In the first years, Pandurii finished constantly in the first half of the standings, so the club decided to attack a promotion to Divizia B. In the 1976-77 season, with a young team and with Titus Ozon as coach, the dream came true. Pandurii dominated the competition, climbed from the first stages on top of the standings and won the promotion to the second division. But this level was a much bigger hat to wear for Pandurii, who relegated the next season back to Divizia C.
The following years, the team changed frequently the division, promoting to Divizia B and relegating after a few years. They played in Divizia B between 1979-1983 then between 1986 and 1991. After a decade in Divizia C, in 2000 the team promoted again in the second league, and in 2004 finished second, behind Sportul Studenţesc.
Promotion to the top division
The performance from the last seasons was an incentive for the management who decided to push for the first presence of Pandurii in Divizia A. With Emil Săndoi as coach, and with a young group of players like Tiberiu Lung and Sorin Vintilescu but also with some experienced players like, Florin Popete, Robert Vancea and Romulus Buia, the team won the promotion.
It was difficult to maintain its position in Divizia A, and Pandurii finished their first season in the 15th place, right below the relegation line. But the Romanian Football Federation decided at the end of the season not to give Sportul Studenţesc their licence for the following year, and kept instead the first team under the line, Pandurii. With the bullet dodged, the management decided to enforce the team, so the relegation shouldn't be a problem.
Alexandru Păcurar, Ciprian Vasilache and Liviu Mihai were brought, and the team finished 11th in the 2006-07 season. They kept their position at the middle of the table for the next seasons.
In 2010, they finished below the line but avoided the relegation after the withdrawal of Internaţional Curtea de Argeş, team that ended tenth but the owner decided to disband the club. With a lot of players took from Internaţional Curtea de Argeş, Pandurii were 13th the following season.
In the 2011-12 season the team reached the highest place in history, finishing seventh. For a while, they were fifth and the fans hoped for Europa League. The following season saw Pandurii finishing as Liga I runners-up for the first time ever, qualifying for the 2013–14 UEFA Europa League, the club's first ever European participation. After defeating Levadia Tallinn, Hapoel Tel Aviv and Braga, Pandurii entered the Group stage, being drawn into Group E.[2]
Honours
Liga I:
- Winners (0):
- Runners-up (1): 2012–13
Liga II:
- Winners (1): 2004–05
- Runners-up (1): 2003–04
Liga III:
- Winners (4): 1976–77, 1978–79, 1985–86, 1999–2000
- Runners-up (2): 1975–76, 1983–84
Cupa României:
- Winners (0):
- Best result: Semifinals in 2006–07
Current squad
- As of 4 February 2014[3]
Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
Out on loan
Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
Personnel
- As of September 2013.[4]
Hall of Fame
European best results
- SC Braga - Pandurii (0-2), 29 August 2013
Liga I best results
- Pandurii - Rapid (2-0), September 2012
- Pandurii - CFR Cluj (2-1), 23 September 2012
- Pandurii - Dinamo (2-0), 21 April 2013
European record
1R: First round, 2Q: Second qualifying round, 3Q: Third qualifying round, PO: Play-off round
Managers
- Unknown (1962–01)
 Gabriel Zahiu (2001)- Emil Săndoi (2001–02), (July 1, 2003–Aug 28, 2005)
- Viorel Hizo (Sept 10, 2005–April 16, 2006)
- Nicolae Ungureanu (April 17, 2006–June 30, 2006)
- Eugen Neagoe (July 1, 2006–Dec 14, 2007)
- Gabriel Zahiu (interim) (Dec 14, 2007–Dec 28, 2007)
 Joaquim Teixeira (Dec 28, 2007–March 3, 2008)- Eugen Neagoe (March 6, 2008–Sept 26, 2008)
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- Sorin Cârţu (Sept 27, 2008–Nov 1, 2009)
- Liviu Ciobotariu (Oct 2, 2009–March 18, 2010)
- Sorin Cârţu (March 2010–May 10)
- Florin Bejinaru (interim) (May 11, 2010–June 24, 2010)
- Marius Baciu (June 2010–July 10)
- Ionuţ Badea (July 19, 2010–Oct 2, 2010)
- Petre Grigoraș (Oct 3, 2010–Jan 15, 2013)
- Cristian Pustai (Jan 20, 2013–present)
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Notable former players
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- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Brazil
- Côte d'Ivoire
- Nigeria
- Serbia
- Slovenia
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References
External links
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| Playing in the
round of 32 | |
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| Eliminated in the
group stage | |
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| Eliminated in the
play-off round | |
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| Eliminated in the
third qualifying round | |
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| Eliminated in the
second qualifying round | |
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| Eliminated in the
first qualifying round | |
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Current season
Levadia Tallinn
Hapoel Tel Aviv
Fiorentina
Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk
