FC Viitorul Constanța

Viitorul Constanța
Full name Fotbal Club Viitorul Constanța
Nickname(s) Puștii lui Hagi (Hagi's Kids)
Short name Viitorul
Founded 2009 (2009)
Ground Viitorul
Capacity 4,554
Owner Gheorghe Hagi
Chairman Pavel Peniu
Manager Gheorghe Hagi
League Liga I
2017–18 Liga I, 4th
Website Club website

Fotbal Club Viitorul Constanța (Romanian pronunciation: [vi.iˈtorul konˈstant͡sa]), commonly known as Viitorul Constanța, or simply as Viitorul, is a Romanian professional football club based in Ovidiu, Constanța County, currently playing in the Liga I.

Founded in 2009 by former Romanian international Gheorghe Hagi, the club is particularly known for promoting young talents from its academy,[1] hence the nickname "Hagi's Kids". Viitorul had its first major success in 2017, when they became the first club from the region of Dobruja to win the national title.[2]

The team plays its home matches in blue and black kits at the Stadionul Viitorul, situated a few kilometres north of the city of Constanța.

History

Former logo, now used by Viitorul II and youth teams only.

Founding and early years (2009–2012)

Viitorul Constanța was founded in the summer of 2009 and enrolled in the Liga III, the third tier of the Romanian football league system, after acquiring the playing rights of CSO Ovidiu. It has been owned since its creation by former Romanian international Gheorghe Hagi.[1][3]

During the team's first season in Romanian football, they achieved promotion to the 2010–11 Liga II in round 33 after a fierce battle with ACS Berceni towards the end of the campaign. In the 2011–12 Liga II, Viitorul finished second in the standings and were promoted to the top-flight the following season.

Ascent in the first league (2012–)

Viitorul Constanța's players in August 2017.

In the 2012–13 season, Viitorul Constanța made its first appearance in the Liga I in the club's history. With 8 victories, 12 draws, and 13 defeats, they finished 13th place with 36 points thereby avoiding relegation. The club had notable victories against Steaua București (5–2) and Dinamo București (3–2), however, Viitorul continued to be an ever-present in relegation battles for the following two campaigns.

In 2016, Viitorul qualified for the championship play-offs by finishing in the 5th place, thus earning a spot in the third qualifying round of the UEFA Europa League and being drawn against Belgian side Gent. In their first European match, they were defeated 0–5 at the Ghelamco Arena.

On 13 May 2017, Viitorul Constanța managed to win the Liga I after a 1–0 home victory over CFR Cluj; the first major trophy in their history which also ensured qualification for the UEFA Champions League.[2] With the average age of the squad being 22.2 years, "Hagi's Kids" were the season's youngest league champion in Europe.[4][5] In the third qualifying round of the Champions League, after a 1–0 win against APOEL at home, Viitorul once again suffered a harsh away defeat (0–4 a.e.t.).

Youth program

Viitorul Constanța is best known for developing young players in Romania and possesses the top youth facilities of any club in the country.[6]

Grounds

During 2009–12 Viitorul played its Liga III and Liga II home matches on the old local stadium in Ovidiu. After the promotion to the Liga I it played its first 3 home matches on the Oțelul Stadium in Galați and afterwards it moved on the Farul Stadium in Constanța, with a capacity of 15,500 people all on seats. In the summer of 2013 it moved to play its home matches in Chiajna on the Concordia Stadium. They returned to Ovidiu on the Stadionul Viitorul in the summer of 2015.

Honours

Leagues

Cups

Players

First team squad

As of 16 September 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 Romania GK Paul Șerban
2 Romania DF Virgil Ghiță
3 Romania DF Robert Neciu
4 Romania DF Srdjan Luchin
5 Romania MF Sebastian Mladen
6 Netherlands DF Bradley de Nooijer
7 Romania FW Alexandru Mățan
8 Romania MF Carlo Casap
9 Romania FW Mihai Voduț
10 Romania MF Ianis Hagi (Captain)
11 Romania MF Ionuț Vînă
12 Romania GK Valentin Cojocaru
13 Romania FW Denis Drăguș
15 Romania DF Bogdan Țîru (Vice-Captain)
16 Romania MF Vlad Achim
17 Romania MF Andrei Ciobanu
No. Position Player
18 Spain MF Dani López
19 Romania DF Constantin Dima
21 Romania MF Paul Iacob
22 Romania DF Robert Băjan
25 Russia MF Amir Natkho
26 Romania FW Vlad Chera
27 Romania MF Radu Boboc
30 Cape Verde DF Mailson Lima
31 Romania GK Alexandru Buzbuchi
91 Romania MF Alexi Pitu
93 Romania MF Andrei Artean
96 France MF Lyes Houri
97 Romania FW Alexandru Stoica
98 Romania DF Marius Leca
99 Romania DF Tudor Băluță

Other players under contract

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

No. Position Player
20 Romania FW Robert Răducanu
23 Romania MF Cosmin Tucaliuc
28 Romania FW Alexandru Pop
29 Romania DF Gabriel Nedelea
No. Position Player
35 Romania FW Dimciu Halep
42 Romania FW Andrei Zete
43 Romania MF Maximilian Popa
48 Romania MF Florian Haita

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
19 Romania DF Robert Hodorogea (to Voluntari)
32 Romania DF Paul Acasandrei (to Axiopolis Cernavodă)
33 Romania DF Tiberiu Căpușă (to Universitatea Cluj)
34 Romania DF Alexandru Sabangeanu (to Farul Constanța)
36 Romania MF Raul Vidrăsan (to ASU Politehnica Timișoara)
40 Romania FW Cezar Mihalache (to Argeș Pitești)
41 Romania DF Darius Grosu (to Afumați)
44 Romania FW Romeo Bănică (to ASU Politehnica Timișoara)
45 Romania GK Cosmin Dur-Bozoancă (to Universitatea Cluj)
47 Romania MF Andreas Iani (to Farul Constanța)
98 Romania MF Doru Dumitrescu (to Universitatea Cluj)
— Moldova GK Sebastian Agachi (to Pucioasa)
— Romania GK Cătălin Căbuz (to Hermannstadt)
— Romania GK Ionuț Gurău (to Gloria Buzău)
No. Position Player
— Romania GK Rareș Micu (to Medgidia)
— Romania GK Haralambie Mociu (to Medgidia)
— Romania GK Rareș Murariu (to ASU Politehnica Timișoara)
— Romania GK Árpád Tordai (to Petrolul Ploiești)
— Romania DF Mădălin Androne (to Gloria Buzău)
— Romania DF Szabolcs Kilyen (to Mioveni)
— Romania DF Dan Panait (to Concordia Chiajna)
— Romania DF Ciprian Perju (to Afumați)
— Romania DF Andrei Rusu (to Medgidia)
— Romania DF Nicholas Suflaru (to Medgidia)
— Romania MF Giani Gherghiceanu (to Alexandria)
— Romania MF Mihai Ene (to Petrolul Ploiești)
— Romania MF Robert Grecu (to Petrolul Ploiești)
— Romania MF Rareș Oană (to Sporting Liești)

Club officials

Records and statistics

European Cups history

Season Competition Round Opponent Home Away Aggregate
2016–17 UEFA Europa League 3Q Belgium Gent 0–0 0–5 0–5
2017–18 UEFA Champions League 3Q Cyprus APOEL 1–0 0–4 (a.e.t.) 1–4
UEFA Europa League PO Austria Red Bull Salzburg 1–3 0–4 1–7
2018–19 UEFA Europa League 1Q Luxembourg Racing FC 0–0 2–0 2–0
2Q Netherlands Vitesse 2–2 1–3 3–5
Notes
  • 1Q: First qualifying round
  • 2Q: Second qualifying round
  • 3Q: Third qualifying round
  • PO: Play-off round

European cups all-time statistics

As of 2 August 2018
Competition S P W D L GF GA GD
UEFA Europa League 38134617−11
UEFA Champions League 1210114−3
Total410235721−14

References

  1. 1 2 "Gheorghe Hagi creating a new legacy for Romanian football". World Soccer. 22 March 2015. Retrieved 14 October 2015.
  2. 1 2 "Bucurie fără margini la Ovidiu! Hagi și căpitanul Benzar au ridicat trofeul. Sărbătoare şi la vestiar" [Boundless joy at Ovidiu! Hagi and captain Benzar lifted the trophy. Party in the locker room too] (in Romanian). Digi Sport. 13 May 2017. Retrieved 14 May 2017.
  3. ↑ "Gheorghe and Ianis Hagi building the future of Romanian football at Viitorul". ESPN. 26 August 2015. Retrieved 14 October 2015.
  4. ↑ "ANALIZĂ Viitorul lui Hagi, pe cale de a reuși imposibilul în fotbal. Constănțenii pot deveni sâmbătă cea mai tânără campioană din Europa, cu o medie de vârstă incredibilă!" [Hagi's Viitorul, on the road of managing the impossible in footbal. The Constanța People can become the youngest champion of Europe of Sunday, with an incredible average age!] (in Romanian). Dolce Sport. 11 May 2017. Retrieved 28 June 2017.
  5. ↑ "Viitorul, cea mai tânără campioană din Europa" [Viitorul, the youngest champion of Europe] (in Romanian). Sibiu 100%. 19 May 2017. Retrieved 28 June 2017.
  6. ↑ "'Whatever I do, I am still only the son of Hagi'". The Times. 12 October 2015. Retrieved 14 October 2015.
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