CS Pandurii Târgu Jiu

Pandurii
Full name Clubul Sportiv Pandurii Lignitul Târgu Jiu
Nickname(s) Alb-Albaştrii (The White and Blues)
Minerii (The Miners)
Gorjenii (The People from Gorj County)
Founded 1963 (1963)
Ground Municipal
Ground Capacity 20,054
Owner Târgu Jiu Municipality
Chairman Narcis Răducan
Manager Edward Iordănescu
League Liga I
2014–15 Liga I, 9th
Website Club home page

Clubul Sportiv Pandurii Lignitul Târgu Jiu (Romanian pronunciation: [ˈklubul ˈsportiv ˈlignitul ˌtɨrɡu ˈʒiw], "Târgu Jiu Lignite Pandurs Sports Club") is a Romanian professional football club based in Târgu Jiu, Gorj County, that plays in Liga I. Pandurii Târgu Jiu is the fourth Romanian club that represents the country in the European Club Association.

The team's colors are white and blue.

History

Founding

Pandurii Târgu Jiu was founded in August 1963, 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 Studențesc.

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 Studențesc 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 Internațional Curtea de Argeș, team that ended tenth but the owner decided to disband the club. With a lot of players from Internațional Curtea de Argeș like Vlad Chiricheș, Mihai Pintilii, and Dan Nistor, Pandurii were 13th the following season.

First ever European participation

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.[1]

Recent history

In the 2014–15 Cupa Ligii, the team reached the first ever final of a cup by defeating Dinamo București (2–1,1–3) in the cup semifinal, they lost it to FCSB, on 20 May at the Arena Naţională stadium.

On April 6, Pandurii defeated for the first time Romanian giants Petrolul Ploiești at the Stadionul Ilie Oană, one of the best stadiums in Romania.

On july 13 they became the first team to won a match in Liga I, with the new play-off, play-out format after the other matches ended with draw. On February 6 they secured the participation in play-off with a win over ASA 2013 Târgu Mureș.

In the summer of 2015 Pandurii became a member of the European Club Association.

Honours

Domestic

League

Liga I

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, 1999–00
Runners-up (2): 1975–76, 1983–84

Cups

Runners-up (1): 2014–15

Other Performances

Domestic

European

Liga I history

Season League Pos. Notes
2005/06 Divizia A 15
2006/07 Liga I 11
2007/08 Liga I 12
2008/09 Liga I 11
2009/10 Liga I 15
2010/11 Liga I 13
2011/12 Liga I 7
2012/13 Liga I 2 Qualified for the 2013–14 UEFA Europa League
2013/14 Liga I 7
2014/15 Liga I 9
2015/16 Liga I Ongoing

UEFA club coefficient rankings

As of 26 june 2015.[2]
Pos. Team Points
212Greece Olympiacos Volou FC7380
213Norway Tromsø IL7375
214Romania Pandurii7259
215Croatia RNK Split7200
216Israel Hapoel Kiryat Shmona7200

Hall of Fame

European best results

Liga 1 best results

European record

1R: First round, 2Q: Second qualifying round, 3Q: Third qualifying round, PO: Play-off round

Season Competition Round Opponent Home Away Aggregate
2013–14 UEFA Europa League 2Q Estonia Levadia Tallinn 4–0 0–0 4–0
3Q Israel Hapoel Tel Aviv 1–1 2–1 3–2
PO Portugal Braga 0–1 2–0 2–1
Group E Italy Fiorentina 1–2 0–3 4th place
Ukraine Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk 0–1 1–4
Portugal Paços de Ferreira 0–0 1–1
Competition Matches W D L GF GA
UEFA Europa League 12 3 4 5 12 13

Current squad

As of 11 February 2016

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

No. Position Player
1 Romania GK David Lazar
2 Portugal DF Vasco Fernandes
4 Romania MF Adrian Ropotan
5 Romania MF Valentin Munteanu
6 Serbia DF Nikola Vasiljević
7 Czech Republic MF Lukáš Droppa
8 Romania MF Mihai Răduț
9 Romania FW Ioan Hora
10 Romania MF Dan Nistor (Captain)
11 Romania MF Alexandru Ciucur
17 Romania MF Andrei Pițian
18 Romania DF Bogdan Ungurușan
19 Romania DF Cristian Săpunaru
No. Position Player
20 Romania DF Florin Acsinte
21 Brazil DF Erico
23 Romania DF Constantin Grecu
24 Croatia MF Filip Mrzljak
25 Romania DF Marian Pleașcă
26 Romania MF Viorel Nicoară
33 Romania GK Răzvan Stanca
52 Romania MF Alexandru Răuță
77 Romania MF Rodemis Trifu
80 Portugal GK Pedro Mingote
89 Romania MF Liviu Antal (on loan from Hapoel Tel Aviv)
99 Brazil FW Wellington
Bosnia and Herzegovina DF Gordan Bunoza

Club Officials

As of August 2015.[3]

Board of directors

Role Name
President Romania Narcis Răducan
Secretary Romania Mihai Stelescu
Team Manager Romania Adelin Şolea
Youth Center Director Romania Florin Bejinaru

Current technical staff

Role Name
Manager Romania Edward Iordănescu
Assistant Manager Romania Ionuț Stelescu
Assistant Manager Romania Alexandru Radu
Goalkeeping Coach Romania Bogdan Pârvu
Club Doctor Romania Ionuţ Pantiş
Medical Assistant Romania Iulian Mircea
Medical Assistant Romania Aurel Neacşu
Masseur Romania Eugen Cățelu
Masseur Romania Paul Ungureanu
Storeman Romania Constantin Tudor

Managers

References

  1. "Former winners learn group stage fates". UEFA. 30 August 2013.
  2. "UEFA club coefficient rankings". UEFA.
  3. "Staff". CS Pandurii Târgu Jiu (in Romanian).

External links

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