FC Botoșani
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| Full name | Fotbal Club Botoșani | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname(s) |
Botoșănenii (The People from Botoșani County) | |||
| Founded | 2001 | |||
| Ground | Municipal | |||
| Capacity | 12,000 | |||
| Owner | Valeriu Iftime | |||
| Chairman | Cornel Șfaițer | |||
| Manager | Leontin Grozavu | |||
| League | Liga I | |||
| 2015–16 | Liga I, 9th | |||
| Website | Club home page | |||
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Fotbal Club Botoșani (Romanian pronunciation: [botoˈʃanʲ]), commonly known as FC Botoșani, or simply as Botoșani, is a Romanian professional football club based in Botoșani, currently playing in the Liga I. It is the first club from Botoșani County to be promoted to the first division.
The club's colours are red, white and blue. The home kit is predominantly white, while the away kit is generally blue.[1]
Predecessors
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]
The 1980s
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]
Unirea Botoșani
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]
History
The new Fotbal Club Botoșani was founded in 2001 by Salavastru and Sfaițer, with support from the local council, and started in Divizia C, Serie I. 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]
The seasons in Divizia B
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 Liga I and recent history
2013–14 season
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.
2014–15 season
FC Botoșani started the 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.
2015–16 season
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.
Supporters
The ultras of FC Botoșani are organized under the name of "Dark Hooligans", "Renegatii" and "BT Pride". The main rivalry of Botoșani is with Rapid CFR Suceava, but they developed a recent rivalry with CSMS Iași.
European record
| Season | Competition | Round | Club | Home | Away | Aggregate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015–16 | UEFA Europa League | First qualifying round |  Spartaki Tskhinvali |
1–1 | 3–1 | 4–2 |
| Second qualifying round |  Legia Warsaw |
0–3 | 0–1 | 0–4 |
Players
First team squad
- As of 15 October 2016[3]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Out on loan
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Club officials
Board of directors
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Current technical staff
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Honours
Domestic
League
- Winners (1): 2012–13
- Winners (1): 2003–04
Other Performances
Domestic
- Appearances in Liga I: 3
- Place 60 of 98 teams in Liga I All-time table
- Appearances in Cupa Ligii: 2
- Round of 16 of 2012–13 Cupa României and 2013–14 Cupa României
European
- Biggest European win: 3–1 Spartaki Tskhinvali. (2015–16)
- Appearances in European Competitions: 1
Managers
Costel Orac (2004–2005)- Cristian Popovici (Sept 15, 2009 – June 20, 2011)
- Marius Popescu (June 25, 2011 – Oct 29, 2011)
- Costel Orac (Nov 1, 2011 – Sept 12, 2012)
- Cristian Popovici (Sept 12, 2012 – Dec 2, 2013)
- Valeriu Bordeanu (caretaker) (Dec 2, 2013 – Jan 5, 2014)
- Leontin Grozavu (Jan 6, 2014 – Sept 14, 2015)
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Istorie" [History]. FC Botoșani (in Romanian).
- ↑ "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.
- ↑ "Echipă" [Squad] (in Romanian). Liga Profesionistă de Fotbal. Retrieved 15 September 2014.
- ↑ "FC Botoşani" (in Romanian). fcbotosani.ro. 2014-08-24. Retrieved 2014-08-24.
