FC Botoșani

FC Botoșani
Full name Fotbal Club Botoșani
Nickname(s)
  • Botoșănenii (The Botoșani People)
Short name Botoșani
Founded 2001 (2001)
Ground Municipal
Ground Capacity 12,000
Owner Valeriu Iftime
Chairman Cornel Șfaițer
Coach Costel Enache
League Liga I
2016–17 Liga I, 10th
Website Club website

Fotbal Club Botoșani (Romanian pronunciation: [botoˈʃanʲ]), commonly known as FC Botoșani or simply Botoșani, is a Romanian professional football club based in the city of Botoșani, Botoșani County, currently playing in the Liga I.

In 2013, FC Botoșani became the first club from the county to be promoted to the Liga I, the highest level of the Romanian football league system.[1] It made its first European appearance in the 2015–16 season, when they were eliminated by Legia Warsaw in the UEFA Europa League third qualifying round after previously defeating FC Tskhinvali.

Botoșănenii play in predominantly white home kits, while the away equipment is generally blue.

History

Before FC Botoșani

Before World War II, the main local team was Venus. After the war, the team was successively named Flamura Roșie, Textila and Unirea, and played mostly in the regional championship and the third division (Divizia C) without significant performances. In 1973, the team was renamend CS Botoșani. It won their series in the 1974–75 Divizia C and promoted for the first time to Divizia B, but only for a year. The team played again in Divizia B in the 1977–78 season, but was again relegated.[1]

In the summer of 1979, CS Botoșani promoted for the third time to Divizia B, and at the end of the 1979–80 season, they obtained the highest position of 3rd; that had heretofore not been reached by any football team from Botoșani. After that performance, the team declined, occupying places in the middle of the league, reaching in the ending of '80s near relegation.

One of the most famous Romanian players, Nicolae Dobrin, ended his career at CS Botoșani. He played for the team in the 1985–86 season and was also the team manager.

CS Botoșani remained in Divizia B for 11 seasons, the most seasons spent by a football team from Botoșani. After that, at the ending of 1989–90 season the team was relegated to Divizia C. In 1993, the team was relegated to the county division and disbanded.[1]

There was also a Unirea Botoșani team that played between 1998 and 2000. The team merged with Poli Iași, who played in Divizia C under the name Poli Unirea Iași.[1]

Founding and early years (2001–2013)

The new Fotbal Club Botoșani was founded in 2001 by Salavastru and Sfaițer, with support from the local council, and started in Divizia C. In the summer of 2004, the team promoted to Divizia B.

In 2005 the president of the Administration Council, Valeriu Iftimie, took over the main projects of the club after the French model. Therefore, the first team played in Divizia B, the second team, formed with youngsters, played in the third league. Also, the club has a centre for children and youths who are prepared for the future of the first team.[1]

Since the 2005–06 season, the matches of FC Botoșani were transmitted live on the radio, on "Radio AS". Until the beginning of the season, not even a radio station transmitted live. FC Botoșani participated in the second division of the Romanian football for nine consecutive seasons. In the 2005–06 season it finished on the 4th place, which was the highest position obtained until the 2012–13 season, when FC Botoșani won the series and promoted for the first time in Liga 1.[1]

Promotion to the first division and recent history (2013–)

The main objective for the 2013–14 season was to avoid relegation. At the start of the season, FC Botoșani was the only first league team that had only Romanian players. The team had a great start in their first Liga I season, leading the table after six round and being undefeated in the first seven games. FC Botoșani made their debut in Liga I on 21 July 2013, in a 0–0 draw against CFR Cluj, with eight newcomers in a top tier level of the starting eleven and played the most of the match with nine-man as Ciprian Dinu received a red card in the ninth minute. The next matchday, on 26 July, saw FC Botoșani netting their first Liga I victory, in a 2–1 away win over Gaz Metan Mediaș. On 25 August, FC Botoșani beat 1–0 FC Vaslui to record their first ever home win in the top tier. However, after this record, Botoșani had a poor run and manager Cristian Popovici was sacked, letting the team on the 12th place, two points above relegation. Leontin Grozavu was named manager and lead the team to a tough fight to avoid relegation. The end of the season found them in eighth place.

FC Botoșani started the next season with two important victories against Astra Giurgiu and Dinamo București, teams that fought for the championship title. At the end of the season they qualified for the first time ever in 2015–16 season of UEFA Europa League, because CFR Cluj, Petrolul Ploiești, CS U Craiova and Dinamo București failed to obtain UEFA licences.[2] After a 4–4 draw with Viitorul Constanța, Botoșani again finished in eighth place.

On 2 July 2015, FC Botoșani made their debut in European competitions, in the first qualifying round of UEFA Europa League in a 1–1 tie against Spartaki Tskhinvali in the first leg in Botoșani. In the second leg in Georgia, FC Botoșani netted their first European victory in a 3–1 win over Tskhinvali to advance in the further round, playing against Legia Warsaw in the second round.

Stadium

FC Botoșani plays its home matches at the Municipal Stadium, located near the centre of the city.

Support

The ultras of FC Botoșani are organized under the name of Dark Hooligans, Renegații and BT Pride. The main rivalry of Botoșani is with Foresta Suceava, but they developed a recent rivalry with CSM Politehnica Iași.

Honours

Domestic

Leagues

Players

First team squad

As of 7 August 2017

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 Alberto Cobrea (Captain)
3 Romania DF Andrei Burcă
4 Romania DF George Miron
5 Romania DF Florin Plămadă
7 Romania MF Laurențiu Buș
8 Romania MF Claudiu Juncănaru
11 Romania MF Olimpiu Moruțan
12 Romania GK Eduard Pap
13 Romania FW Róbert Elek
14 Nigeria FW Benjamin Kuku
15 Romania FW Alexandru Târnovan
16 Romania DF Răzvan Tincu
17 Romania MF Stelian Cucu
No. Position Player
18 Romania DF Bogdan Ungurușan
19 Romania DF Andrei Patache
21 Argentina FW Esteban Ciaccheri (on loan from Rangers de Talca)
24 Argentina MF Jonathan Rodríguez
25 Romania MF Sebastian Chitoșcă
28 Romania MF Mihai Roman
29 Romania MF Marian Târșa
30 Romania DF Nicolae Mușat
37 Romania MF Mihai Bordeianu
44 Romania FW Daniel Popa (on loan from Dinamo București)
80 Romania MF Lóránd Fülöp
92 Romania MF Tiberiu Serediuc

Out on loan

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

No. Position Player
22 Romania GK Raul Avram (at Știința Miroslava)
99 Romania DF Andrei Chindriș (at Știința Miroslava)
No. Position Player
— Romania MF Alexandru Corban (at Știința Miroslava)

Club officials

European Cups history

Season Competition Round Club Home Away Aggregate
2015–16 UEFA Europa League First qualifying round Georgia (country) Spartaki Tskhinvali 1–1 3–1 4–2
Second qualifying round Poland Legia Warsaw 0–3 0–1 0–4

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Istorie" [History] (in Romanian). FC Botoșani. Retrieved 8 April 2017.
  2. ↑ "Cine va reprezenta Liga 1 in cupele europene: FC Botosani, in Europa League" [Who will represent Liga 1 in European cups: FC Botosani in Europa League]. hotnews.ro (in Romanian). 25 May 2015. Retrieved 22 June 2015.
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