ACS Poli Timișoara

Beginnings of Politehnica Timișoara (1921–1945)

The club was founded in 1921 by the Polytechnic University of Timișoara under the name Societatea Sportiva Politehnica.^[3]

Its initial aim was to provide an opportunity for university students to work on their fitness within a competitive environment. The logistics of the sport proved problematic, as there were limited financial means available. Thanks to contributions gathered from university professors and employees, the club bought their first football kits, with white-black vertical stripes, and rented the "Patria" football stadium. It wasn't until 1928 that the club developed its own training grounds, "Politehnica", which were built by volunteers. Players for the team were chosen on merit from the pool of Timișoara students and high-schoolers, who trained after school hours during the week and played football on weekends. The football landscape in the city was already developed at that time, with CAT, RGMT and Chinezul dominating locally.

After spending three years in the District Championships II, Politehnica won promotion to the first tier in 1924, by defeating Kadima Timișoara. The club became established in the years to come, even finishing 2nd in the 1926–27 District Championships I, when Politehnica lost out to Chinezul by a single point, who were one of Romania's most famous football names at the time. However, the competitive level could not be easily sustained by a university club, as it was subject to the inflow and outflow of players conditioned by their student status. After a decline towards the end of the decade, the low-point came at the beginning of the 1930s, between 1931–1933, when due to insufficient material resources, Politehnica had to suspend its football activities. It reappeared in 1934 but remained a modest club, with mid-table classifications in the District Championships I, as well as the Divizia C and Divizia B, once they were founded. As war beckoned, the national championships were suspended and all football activities reduced to friendly matches and the "Cupa Eroilor" (1943–44).

Until the second World War, Politehnica was far from the number one Timișoara football club. Chinezul and then Ripensia won multiple Romanian championship, whereas the students's club failed to achieve similar results.^[4] It did, however, propel several players to the Romania national football team, with the likes of Sfera, Ignuţa, Deheleanu, Chiroiu, Pop, Protopopescu and Sepi all wearing the national jerseys.^[5]

Establishment as one of the city's most representative clubs (1945–1991)

With Romania under a communist regime, these decades were a challenge for Politehnica, as the club represented an educational instiution of the highest tier. The numerous promotions and relegations between the first two national leagues were contrasted by the two Romanian cups won and the club's first forays into international football.

Politehnica was first promoted to Romanian top league, the Divizia A, in 1948,^[6] and played under the name CSU Timișoara in the first season.^[7] Shortly thereafter (from 1950^[8]), the club was renamed Știința Timișoara, in line with the desired nomenclature of the times. In spite of suffering its first relegation in 1951,^[9] the decade was an unusually consistent one, with the club returning swiftly to the top division ^[10] and staying there until the season 1959.^[11] The high-point of the Ştiinţa years was winning the 1957–58 Romanian Cup, a 1–0 victory against Progresul București,^[12] with the club finishing joint first in the league in the same season, but losing out on goal difference.

The next decade saw the club struggle to remain in the first league, particularly towards the end of the 60s. However, it was then that the club's modern identity started taking shape. Firstly, in 1963, the largest stadium in Timişoara was completed. It was initially named "1 Mai", honoring the socialist workers' day, before being renamed several times in the 90s and finally settling on Stadionul Dan Păltinişanu. Secondly, the club reverted to its previous name of Politehnica Timișoara^[13] in 1966 and went to play during the next five decades on the then-erected stadium.

When Politehnica returned to the first league in 1973, after struggling to win promotion for several years, it went on to celebrate one of its best streaks in the top flight. With the likes of Emeric Dembrovschi and Dan Păltinişanu in the team, who both played for Romania and went on to become some of the most capped players in the club's history, and under the management of prof. Ion V. Ionescu, Politehnica lost that season's cup final. After managing a third place in the league with manager Angelo Niculescu in 1978, Politehnica took part in a continental competition for the first time. It was the 1978–79 UEFA Cup, where Poli defeated MTK Budapest (2–0 and 1–2), before going down to Honved Budapest (2–0 and 0–4) in the second round.^[14]

The club remained steady and managed to win it's second cup trophy the following season, by beating Steaua București with 2–1, after extra time.^[12] Politehnica thereby qualified for the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup, where it managed to eliminate Celtic Glasgow (1–0 and 1–2), before being defeated by West Ham United (1–0 and 0–4) in second leg.^[15] In spite of losing another Romanian Cup final in 1981, the club qualified once more for the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup, where they lost to Leipzig 2–5 on aggregate.^[15]

After being relegated in 1983, Politehnica yo-yo-ed between Divizia A and the Divizia B, with promotions in 1984,^[16] 1987,^[17] 1989^[18] and relegations in 1986^[19] and 1988.^[20] Fans ironically called this period as the 'ABBA years'. As the Romanian Revolution, which started in Timisoara, signalled the end of an era, Politehnica managed to grab it's most impressive result yet in European competitions, by eliminating Atlético Madrid (2–0 and 0–1) in the 1990–91 UEFA Cup.^[21]

Privatization and detachment from the Polytechnic University (1991–2001)

By state order, all public institutions were forced to relinquish and reorganize any owned sports clubs in 1991, to effectively privatize them. As a result, alongside the newly organized football club appeared a non-profit association, AFC Politehnica Timișoara.^[22] The latter, consisting of previous club players and staff, was mandated with owning and protecting the club records and intellectual property.^[23]

The club's swan song near the top of Romanian football for the next decade was to be the 1991-92 season. Poli finished 5th and also reached the Romanian Cup final, only to lose it on penalties against Steaua București. The consequent participation in the 1992–93 UEFA Cup, saw the club draw against Real Madrid (1–1 in Timișoara), before being defeated in the return leg (0–4).^[21] Politehnica lost several key players in the years after the forced privatization, which slowly lead to the team's downfall. In fewer than twenty four months from their draw against Real, the club was relegated to the Divizia B in 1994.^[24] Despite a fast return to the first league in 1995,^[25] Poli failed to consolidate their position and were soon relegated once more after the 1996–97 season.^[26]

An inability to rebound lead to mounting financial pressures. The club was temporarily owned by a Timișoara based businessman between 1998 and 2000, before the local authorities accepted the bid of an Italian investor, Claudio Zambon, to take over Politehnica.^[27] Despite an initial financial outlay, Poli finished 15th and was relegated to the third league, Divizia C, where it had last played in 1938. To avoid such an outcome, Zambon and the local authorities struck a deal with a league two club, Dacia Pitești, and purchased their license to participate in the Divizia B. After failing to earn promotion to top flight, the 2001-02 season posed an insurmountable challenge for Politehnica. Zambon's departure following disagreements with the local authorities meant the club found itself in dire financial straits. Forced to use mostly youth players, Politehnica finished the season dead last, with one win and four draws to its name, but negative eight points in the standings, due to unpaid debts. Once again the club was bound to be relegated to the third division.^[28]

Identity crisis, glory years and downfall (2002–2012)

In 2002, AEK Bucharest were promoted to Liga I, Romanian football's top division, for the first time,^[29] whereupon Anton Doboș, the team's owner, moved it to Timișoara. It was renamed Politehnica AEK Timișoara, and received the full support of local authorities and Politehnica fans. However, the team was on the verge of relegation after only one year.^[30] Poli was able to maintain the Divizia A spot after winning a play-off against Gloria Buzău.^[31] The club consolidated during the next season, finishing on a safe mid-table position. Moreover, starting with the 2004–05 season, the team changed its name to FCU Politehnica Timișoara, trying to reestablish its former identity.^[32]

Mid-season, Politehnica changed ownership once more. Former president Anton Doboș stayed on at the club for another year in a new position, while Balkan Petroleum Ltd., owned by Marian Iancu, took full charge. Significant investments in the transfer market transformed the club overnight, as it received the nickname "EuroPoli" for its newly found ambitions to reach the top of Romanian football. Results steadily improved, but a leap to the Liga 1 podium proved elusive until 2008-09, when Politehnica finished runner-up, a feat repeated two seasons later.

After the takeover by Marian Iancu, a dispute for the proprietary rights for the club name, colors and records arose. After prolonged litigation, Politehnica was forced to change its name to FC Timișoara, following a decision by the Court of Arbitration for Sport. It was deemed that the colors and records dating before 2002 were lost in favor of former owner Politehnica Timișoara, Claudio Zambon. The Italian had struck a deal with AFC Politehnica, the non-profit association which owned said proprietary items, when he left Timișoara during the 2001-02 season.^[33]

At the end of 2007–08 Liga I, FC Timișoara returned tot European competitions, qualifying for the UEFA Cup.^[34] It was the first time in sixteen years that a team from Timișoara had achieved European qualification. The team was eliminated by Partizan Belgrade in the first round by an aggregate score of 1–3.^[35]

In 2008–09, Timișoara finished the season in 2nd place, qualifying the 3rd preliminary round of the 2009–10 UEFA Champions League.^[36] The team defeated the reigning UEFA Cup champions Shakhtar Donetsk, but they were eliminated from the competition during the Playoff Round with an aggregate score of 0–2 by German club VfB Stuttgart. In the 2009–10 UEFA Europa League Group A, FC Timișoara finished in last place, after Anderlecht, Ajax and Dinamo Zagreb.^[35]

After the 2009–10 Liga I, fifth placed team FC Timișoara were drawn in the third qualifying round of the Europa League against MyPa from Finland, which they surpassed 5–4 on aggregate, after a spectacular comeback from three goals down in the second leg. However, in the play-off round they were drawn against Manchester City and were defeated twice in both legs, 0–1 and 0–2.^[35]

In November 2010, the Romanian Court of Appeal returned Politehnica's name, colors and records to FC Timișoara.^[37] Due to rules that forbid changes of team names during a season, the team used the name FC Timișoara until the end of 2010–11 season.

Despite finishing second in the 2010–11 Liga I, the team was relegated to Liga II after the club failed to meet the requirements for obtaining the necessary licence to play in the first division.^[38] They played in the 2011–12 Liga II under the name of PolitehnicaTimișoara, and gained promotion back to the Liga I but were again denied the licence and were dissolved in September 2012. ACS Recaș was moved to Timișoara and was renamed ACS Poli Timișoara .

Rebirth as ACS Poli Timișoara and recent years (2012–)

In the summer of 2012, ACS Recaș, a club recently promoted to the Liga II, was moved to Timișoara and renamed ACS Poli Timișoara^[39][40] after the dissolution of FC Politehnica Timișoara.^[41] Valentin Velcea continued as head coach,^[42] while the roster consisted mostly of the core ACS Recaș players and several current and ex-players from FC Politehnica.^[43] Since its conception, the club has been primarily financed by the local authorities,^[44][45][46] as Timișoara mayor Nicolae Robu has insisted control should not be forfeited to private investors.^[47]

The club initially required consent from the owner of insolvent FC Politehnica, Marian Iancu, to use the historic badge, history, records and colours, as these had been bequeathed for a 25-year period.^[48] In December 2012, it was announced that ACS Poli has received these free of charge^[49] and that it could use them starting the following season.^[50] However, due to the complications of the legal formalities and because of the FC Politehnica's debts, the team kept on playing under the ACS Poli name and using black/white/yellow for their official kits instead of the traditional purple colour.^{[51][52][53][54]} This changed in the 2015–2016 season, as the club received temporary right to make use of the historic colours.^[55] As of February 2016, it was announced that the club is now the sole and full owner of all the rights pertaining to and deriving from the Politehnica Timișoara brand and records, following a court decision which nullified the original agreement between the founding club and record holders, and Marian Iancu's insolvent club.^[1]

From a competitive perspective, the club has achieved two promotions to the Liga I, while also being relegated once. Its rivalries with FC Steaua București and FC Dinamo București have endured, as the home matches against both teams keep drawing in above average crowds.^{[56][57][58][59]}

The team played in top-tier Liga I for the 2015-16 season but financial problems led to a 13th-placed finish and automatic relegation. They were reprieved, however, after Rapid București failed to obtain a license. The next season also started with point deductions and Timișoara escaped automatic relegation in the last minute of the last matchday. They qualified for the relegation play-off, which they won 5-2 on aggregate against UTA Arad to retain their top-tier status. Next season was another struggle and the club suffered a reversal of fortunes as they were relegated by courtesy of a goal scored late in the last matchday.

Leagues

• Liga I
  • Runners-up (2): 2008–09, 2010–11
• Liga II
  • Winners (12): 1947–48, 1952, 1959–60, 1964–65, 1972–73, 1983–84, 1986–87, 1988–89, 1994–95, 2001–02, 2011–12, 2014–15 (record)
  • Runners-up (3): 1943–44, 1970–71, 2012–13

Cups

• Romanian Cup
  • Winners (2): 1957–58, 1979–80
  • Runners-up (6): 1973–74, 1980–81, 1982–83, 1991–92, 2006–07, 2008–09
• Cupa Ligii
  • Runners-up (1): 2016–17

First team squad

As of 2 October 2018

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

No. Position Player 1 GK Mădălin Smaranda 2 DF Denis Haruț 3 MF Sergiu Românu 4 MF Flavius Toboșaru 5 MF Cosmin Bîrnoi 6 DF Igor Basić 7 FW Saibou Keita 8 MF David Pop 9 DF Daniel Filip 10 MF Dorin Codrea 11 FW Denis Golda 12 GK Mario Contra 14 DF Santiago Rudolf

No. Position Player 15 DF Cristian Bocșan 16 MF Mădălin Ciurariu 17 DF Cristian Melinte 18 DF Dušan Ivanov 19 FW Sebastian Velcotă 20 FW Giani Stere 22 DF Radu Motreanu 24 MF Nafi Iseini 27 FW Justice Opoku 28 FW Cristian Pădurariu 32 MF Andrej Mrkela 33 GK Constantin Moșoarcă 85 FW Octavian Drăghici (Captain)

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 41 FW Damir Totić (to Ghiroda) 43 MF Slagian Andreici (to Millenium Giarmata) 45 MF Narcis Popan (to Millenium Giarmata) 46 MF Lucian Oprea (to UTA Arad) — GK David Filip (to Șoimii Lipova) — GK Sebastian Ureche (to Dumbrăvița)

No. Position Player — DF Sinișa Sporin (to Millenium Giarmata) — MF Raul Cochințu (to Millenium Giarmata) — MF Eduard Codrean (to Millenium Giarmata) — MF Alexandru Dincă (to Millenium Giarmata) — MF Denis Dorobanțu (to Millenium Giarmata) — MF Remi Ochea (to Millenium Giarmata)

UEFA Champions League / European Cup

Season	Round	Country	Club	Home	Away	Aggregate
2009-10	Third qualifying round	Ukraine	Shakhtar Donetsk	0 – 0	2 – 2	(a) 2 – 2
	Play-off round	Germany	Stuttgart	0 – 2	0 – 0	0 – 2

UEFA Cup Winners' Cup / European Cup Winners' Cup

Season	Round	Country	Club	Home	Away	Aggregate
1980-81	First round	Scotland	Celtic	1 – 0	1 – 2	(a) 2 – 2
	Second round	England	West Ham United	1 – 0	0 – 4	1 – 4
1981-82	Preliminary round	East Germany	1. FC Lokomotive Leipzig	2 – 0	0 – 5	2 – 5

UEFA Europa League / UEFA Cup

Season	Round	Country	Club	Home	Away	Aggregate
1978-79	First round	Hungary	MTK Hungária FC	2 – 0	1 – 2	3 – 2
	Second round	Hungary	Budapest Honved FC	2 – 0	0 – 4	2 – 4
1990-91	First round	Spain	Atlético Madrid	2 – 0	0 – 1	2 – 1
	Second round	Portugal	Sporting CP	2 – 0	0 – 7	2 – 7
1992-93	First round	Spain	Real Madrid	1 – 1	0 – 4	1 – 5
2008-09	First round	Serbia	Partizan	1 – 2	0 – 1	1 – 3
2009-10	Group stage (A)	Netherlands	Ajax	1 – 2	0 – 0	4th place
		Croatia	Dinamo Zagreb	0 – 3	2 – 1
		Belgium	Anderlecht	0 – 0	1 – 3
2010-11	Third qualifying round	Finland	MYPA	3 – 3	2 – 1	5 – 4
	Play-off round	England	Manchester City	0 – 1	0 – 2	0 – 3

Most capped players

Appearances

Competitive, professional matches only. Only pertains to 2012 onwards.

As of 25 September 2017

	Name	Years	League	Cup	Other	Total
1	Cristian Bărbuț	2012–2017	120	11	2	133
2	Alin Șeroni	2012–2014; 2016-2018	102	10	2	114
3	Cristian Scutaru	2012–2017	100	9	1	110
4	Gabriel Cânu	2014–2018	96	7	2	105
5	Alexandru Popovici	2013-2017; 2018	94	10	1	105

Goalscorers

Competitive, professional matches only. Appearances, including substitutes, appear in brackets. Only pertains to 2012 onwards.

As of 21 July 2017

#	Name	Years	League	Cup	Other	Total	Ratio
1	Szabolcs Szekely	2012–2015	18 (57)	2 (2)	0 (0)	20 (59)	0.34
2	Pedro Henrique	2014-2017	16 (40)	2 (3)	2 (2)	20 (45)	0.44
3	Octavian Drăghici	2016–present	12 (53)	3 (8)	1 (1)	16 (63)	0.25
4	Cristian Bărbuț	2012–2017	13 (120)	1 (11)	1 (2)	15 (133)	0.11
5	Alexandru Popovici	2013–2017	12 (94)	2 (10)	0 (1)	14 (105)	0.13