FC Caracal (2004)
Fotbal Club Caracal was a Romanian professional football club from Caracal, Olt County. The club's best period was in the early 90s when Electroputere Craiova, as it was called then, played four consecutive seasons in the Romanian first league. The best ranking was obtained in the 1991–92 season when finished 3rd and qualified to UEFA Cup.[1]
History
Amid the rapid industrialization of Craiova in the early 1950s, a distinct football identity began to take shape, closely linked to the newly established Electroputere plant. Founded in 1949, the team—originally known as Metalul Craiova—was made up largely of workers from the factory.[2]
While their initial performances in the regional championship were unremarkable, the team soon gained attention for its dynamic playing style and growing fanbase. Notable players from this era included Marin Năstase, Rici Smarandache, Constantin Monțescu, Dumitru Grigorescu, Nicolae Razga, Vasile Constantin, and Dumitru Hecher.[2]
The 1950 season reflected the team's unpredictable nature: after three consecutive defeats, a series of four straight victories followed, leading to a final 5th place finish.[2]
Renamed Metalul Electroputere, the team saw fluctuating results in the following years. In 1956, after a modest campaign, relegation to the city championship occurred, followed by a name change to Energia Electroputere. Under the guidance of coach Lambru Dunăreanu, a revival began. After a 3rd-place finish in the 1958–59 season, Electroputere went on to win the Craiova Regional Championship in the 1959–60 season. However, promotion to Divizia B was missed, with a 3rd-place finish behind Aurul Brad and Chimia Govora in the promotion play-off held in Ploiești.[2]
A merger with the football section of CFR Craiova led to the formation of CFR Electroputere, which took over the railway club’s spot in Divizia B for the 1960–61 season. However, the presence in the second tier proved short-lived, ending with relegation after just one season. However, the presence in the second tier proved short-lived, ending with relegation after just one season, finishing 13th in Series II.[2]
In the following years, the team resumed activity under the name Electroputere, competing in the Oltenia Regional Championship while maintaining the ambition to reach the national divisions. At that time, the squad included Țecu Smarandache, Ion Belu, Vasile Vrejotis, Octavian Romeo, Venus Ciocîlteu, Ștefan Anghel, Matei Constantin, Stelian Chilom, Nici Constantin, Ion Drăgan, and Ion Militaru. After finishing 2nd in the 1961–62 season, a 3rd-place finish in the 1962–63 campaign secured promotion to the newly re-established Divizia C. Among the team members during this period were also Nicolae Stere, Vică Oprea, Lili Popescu, and Virgil Resciuc..[2]
Over the next five seasons, Electroputere competed in the West Series of Divizia C, finishing 10th in 1963–64, 6th in 1964–65, 4th in 1965–66, and 3rd in 1966–67. With the arrival of Nicolae Oțeleanu as head coach, the team achieved promotion to Divizia B after winning the West Series in the 1967–68 season. The squad during that successful campaign included Gh. Spinghel, Marin Bădici, Marian Terpovici, Nicu Constantin, Stelian Chilom, Emanoil Păunescu, Alexandru Stănescu, Marin Dașcu, Mihai Gavrilă, Iulian Popa, Marin Florescu, Matei Constantin, Firică Bulfan, George Sterie, Dan Cosci, Marin Bărbuț, Iulian Bălosu, Victor Niculescu, Virgil Resciuc, Dumitru Lovin, Cornel Chesnoiu, Constantin Țîră, Ion Nemțuc, and Constantin Nica.[2]
In the middle of the 2003–04 season, Extensiv changed its name to FC Craiova, but with no connection to the FC Craiova that existed between 1940 and 1949.
In 2004 the club was moved to Caracal and renamed FC Caracal.
FC Caracal ended the 2012–13 season in second place, but after years of poor management and bad decisions, the club was dissolved in the summer of 2013.[3]
Chronology of names
| Name [4] | Period |
|---|---|
| Metalul Craiova | 1949–1956 |
| Energia Electroputere Craiova | 1957–1958 |
| Electroputere Craiova | 1958–1960 |
| CFR Electroputere Craiova | 1960–1961 |
| Electroputere Craiova | 1961–1998 |
| Extensiv Craiova | 1998–2003 |
| FC Craiova | 2003–2004 |
| FC Caracal | 2004–2013 |
Honours
- Winners (3): 1967–68, 1984–85, 1989–90
- Runners-up (6): 1979–80, 1980–81, 1981–82, 1982–83, 2008–09, 2012–13
Electroputere Craiova in Europe
| Competition | S | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UEFA Europa League / UEFA Cup | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 10 | – 10 |
| Total | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 10 | – 10 |
Recent seasons
| Season | Name | Division | Position |
| 1990–91 | Electroputere Craiova | Liga II | 1st |
| 1991–92 | Electroputere Craiova | Liga I | 3rd |
| 1992–93 | Electroputere Craiova | Liga I | 6th |
| 1993–94 | Electroputere Craiova | Liga I | 14th |
| 1994–95 | Electroputere Craiova | Liga I | 15th |
| 1995–96 | Electroputere Craiova | Liga II | 8th |
| 1996–97 | Electroputere Craiova | Liga II | 2nd |
| 1997–98 | Electroputere Craiova | Liga II | 2nd |
| 1998–99 | Extensiv Craiova | Liga II | 1st |
| 1999–00 | Extensiv Craiova | Liga I | 18th |
| 2000–01 | Extensiv Craiova | Liga II | 5th |
| 2001–02 | Extensiv Craiova | Liga II | 4th |
| 2002–03 | Extensiv Craiova | Liga II | 8th |
| 2003–04 | FC Craiova | Liga II | 9th |
| 2004–05 | FC Caracal | Liga II | 9th |
| 2005–06 | FC Caracal | Liga II | 9th |
| 2006–07 | FC Caracal | Liga II | 7th |
| 2007–08 | FC Caracal | Liga II | 17th |
| 2008–09 | FC Caracal | Liga III | 2nd |
| 2009–10 | FC Caracal | Liga III | 10th |
Notable former players
The footballers mentioned below have played at least 1 season for the club and also played in Liga I for another team.
Former managers
Rudolf Bürger (1951–1952)- Nicolae Oțeleanu (1967–1968)
- Haralambie Eftimie (1974)
- Gheorghe Dungu (1974–1975)
- Ștefan Coidum (1975–1977)
- Sorin Cârțu (1987–1988)
- Marian Bondrea (1989–1992)
- Sorin Cârțu (1993)
- Ioan Sdrobiș (1996–1997)
- Sorin Cârțu (1997)
- Marian Bondrea (1997–1998)
- Grigore Sichitiu (1998–1999)
- Sorin Cârțu (1998–2002)
- Nicolae Ungureanu (2004–2006)
- Nicolae Negrilă (2006)
- Iordan Eftimie (2006)
- Emil Vlăduț (2007)
- Nicolae Ungureanu (2007)
- Florin Cioroianu (2007–2008)
- Daniel Mogoșanu (2008–2009)
- Gheorghe Ciurea (2009)
- Daniel Mogoșanu (2009–2010)
References
- ^ "Povestea rivalității fotbalistice în Craiova" [The story of football rivalry in Craiova]. welovesport.ro. 1 June 2021. Archived from the original on 12 March 2024. Retrieved 12 March 2024.(in Romanian)
- ^ a b c d e f g Gheorghe Rădulescu, Alexandru Firescu și Nicolae Opriș, Fotbalul craiovean de-a lungul anilor (Craiova football over the years) – Editura Scrisul Românesc 1981.
- ^ "FC Caracal nu s-a înscris în Liga a III-a" [FC Caracal did not inscribe to League III]. liga2.prosport.ro. 17 July 2013. Archived from the original on 2 June 2024. Retrieved 2 June 2024.(in Romanian)
- ^ "Evoluția denumirilor echipelor de-a lungul anilor" [Evolution of team names over the years]. romaniansoccer.ro. Archived from the original on 9 October 2017. Retrieved 18 October 2023.(in Romanian)