FC Steaua Bucureşti

infobox football club
current = FC Steaua Bucureşti season 2008–09


fullname = Fotbal Club Steaua Bucureşti
short name = Steaua
nickname = "Roş-Albaştrii" (The Red and Blues)
"Militarii" (The Army Men)
"Magica Steaua" (Magic Steaua)
"Viteziştii" (The Speedsters)
founded = 7 June 1947
ground = Steaua,
Bucharest, Romania
capacity = 27,557
record attendance =
owner = flagicon|ROM George Becali
chairman = flagicon|ROM Valeriu Argăseală
ceo =
manager = flagicon|Romania Marius Lăcătuş
asst manager = flagicon|Italy Massimo Pedrazzini
league = Liga I
season = 2007–08
position = Liga I, 2nd
website = http://www.steauafc.com
shirtsupplier = Nike
shirtsponsors = CitiBank
pattern_la1 = _blueborder
pattern_b1 = _red_stripes
pattern_ra1 = _blueborder
leftarm1 = FF0000
body1 = 0000DD
rightarm1 = FF0000
shorts1 = 0000DD
socks1 = 0000DD
pattern_la2 = _blueborder
pattern_b2 = _collarblue
pattern_ra2 = _blueborder
leftarm2 = DFFF00
body2 = DFFF00
rightarm2 = DFFF00
shorts2 = DFFF00
socks2 = DFFF00

dablink|This article is about the football club. For the sports club, see
CSA Steaua Bucureşti

FC Steaua Bucureşti is a Romanian professional football club from Ghencea,south-west Bucharest. They are the most successful Romanian football team ever in European competitions as well in the Romanian Liga I (23 championship wins).They became the first east European team to win the UEFA Champions League being victorious in the 1986 European Cup final.

The club is historically known as the Romanian Army sports club. The football department separated, however, in 1998. At the moment, its only direct link to the Army is their home ground, Stadionul Ghencea, property of the Ministry of National Defence.

History

"Steaua" was founded on 7 June 1947, at the initiative of several officers of the Romanian Royal House. The establishment took place following a decree signed by General Mihail Lascăr, High Commander of the Romanian Royal Army. The club's first name was ASA Bucureşti ("Asociaţia Sportivă a Armatei Bucureşti" – "Army Sports Association"). It was formed as a sports society with seven initial sections, including football, coached by Coloman Braun-Bogdan. [Dida, Alexandru (21–12–2001), "Steaua fotbalului românesc", Pro TV Magazin, nr.51/IV, pp.62–63] ASA was renamed CSCA ("Clubul Sportiv Central al Armatei" – "Central Sports Club of the Army") in 1948 and CCA ("Casa Centrală a Armatei" – "Central House of the Army") in 1950. [Dida, Alexandru (21–12–2001), "Steaua fotbalului românesc", Pro TV Magazin, nr. 51/IV, pp.62–63]

In 1949, CSCA won its first trophy, the Romanian Cup, defeating CSU Cluj 2–1 in the final. Under the name of CCA, the club managed to win three Championship titles in a row in 1951, 1952 and 1953, along with their first Championship-Cup Double in 1951. During the 1950s, the so-called "CCA Golden Team" became nationally famous. [Brancu, Constantin (1994), "Din culisele supercampioanei", Tempus, p.5–8, ISBN 973–95993–1–1] In 1956, the national team of Romania, comprised exclusively of CCA players, took on Yugoslavia in Belgrade and won 1–0. [cite web

url=http://www.steauafc.com/nou/index.php?lang=en&cat=istorie_detalii&an=1956
title=History
work=SteauaFC.com
accessdate=2007-06-10

] Dead link|date=January 2008 During the same year, CCA, coached by Ilie Savu, was the first Romanian team to enterprise a tournament in England where they achieved noteworthy results against the likes of Luton Town FC, Arsenal FC, Sheffield Wednesday FC and Wolverhampton Wanderers FC. [cite web

url=http://www.fcsteaua.ro/index/section/articles/article/3666
title=Steaua Anglicană
work=FCSteaua.ro
accessdate=2007-07-07

]

"' ("Clubul Sportiv al Armatei Steaua" – "Army Sports Club Steaua"). [cite web

url=http://www.steauafc.com/nou/index.php?cat=istorie_detalii&an=1961
title=Istorie
work=SteauaFC.com
accessdate=2007-07-07

] Dead link|url=http://www.steauafc.com/nou/index.php?cat=istorie_detalii&an=1961|date=January 2008 The club's new name translates "The Star" and was adopted because of the presence of a red star, symbol of most East-European Army clubs, on their crest. A poor period of almost two decades followed in which the club claimed only three championships (1967–68, 1975–76, 1977–78). Instead, the team won nine national cup trophies, for which matter they gained the nickname of "cup specialists". [cite news

url=http://www.fcsteaua.ro/index/section/articles/article/3562
title= Cupa Romaniei: STEAUA - Otelul Galati
work=FCSteaua.ro
author=Nastase, Catalin
accessdate=2007-08-27

] Also during this period, on 9 April 1974, Steaua's current ground, Stadionul Ghencea, was inaugurated with a friendly match opposing OFK Beograd. [cite web

url=http://www.stadiumguide.com/ghencea.htm
title=Ghencea Stadion
work=StadiumGuide.com
accessdate=2007-06-10

] Up to that date, Steaua had played its home matches on either two of Bucharest's largest multi-use stadia, "Republicii" [cite news

url=http://old.jurnalul.ro/articol_69415/fost_simbol.html
title=Fost simbol
work=Jurnalul Naţional
author=Alexe, Anca
accessdate=2007-07-07

] Dead link|date=January 2008 and "23 August". [cite news

url=http://www.fcsteaua.ro/index/section/articles/article/4306
title=Steaua si Templul din Ghencea
work=FCSteaua.ro
author=Ardeleanu, Constantin
accessdate=2007-09-01

]

Under the leadership of coaches Emerich Jenei and Anghel Iordănescu, Steaua had an impressive Championship run in the 1984–85 season, which they won after a six-year break. Subsequently, they were the first Romanian team to make it to a European Cup final, which they won in front of FC Barcelona on penalties (2–0 thanks to goalkeeper Helmuth Duckadam succeeding to save all four penalties taken by the Spaniards), after a goalless draw. Steaua therefore became the first Eastern-European team to claim the title of European champions. An additional European Super Cup was won in 1987 in front of SK Dinamo Kiev. Steaua remained at the top of European football for the rest of the decade, managing one more European Cup semifinal in 1987–88 and one more European Cup final in 1989 (lost 4–0 to AC Milan). This happened next to their four additional national titles (1985–86, 1986–87, 1987–88, 1988–89) and four national cups (1984–85, 1986–87, 1987–88, 1988–89). Furthermore, from June 1986 to September 1989, Steaua ran a record 104-match undefeated streak in the championship, setting a world record for that time and a European one still standing. [cite web

url=http://www.rsssf.com/miscellaneous/unbeaten.html#leag
title=Unbeaten in the Domestic League
work=RSSSF.com
accessdate=2007-06-10

]

The 1989 Romanian Revolution led the country towards a free open market and, subsequently, several players of the 1980s team left for other clubs in the West. After a short pull-back, a quick recovery followed and Steaua managed a six consecutive championship streak between 1992–93 and 1997–98 to equalise the 1920s performance of Chinezul Timişoara [cite web

url=http://www.rsssf.com/tablesr/roemchamp.html
title=Romania - List of Champions
work=RSSSF.com
accessdate=2007-07-07

] and also three more cups in 1995–96, 1996–97 and 1998–99. At international level, they also managed to make it to the UEFA Champions League group stage three years in a row between 1994–95 and 1996–97, remaining, at the moment, the only team in Romania to have participated in this competition.

In 1998, the football club separated from CSA Steaua and changed their name for the final time to FC Steaua Bucureşti ("Fotbal Club Steaua" – "Football Club Steaua"), [cite news

url=http://www.ziua.ro/display.php?id=8354&data=1998-05-29
title=Politica mineaza sportul românesc
work=Ziua
author= Besutiu, Andrei
accessdate=2007-06-10

] being led by Romanian businessman Viorel Păunescu. Păunescu performed poorly as a president and soon the club was plunged into debt. [cite news

url=http://www.9am.ro/stiri-revista-presei/Sport/20015/Conducatorii-vor-plati-cu-averea-datoriile-cluburilor
title=Conducatorii vor plati cu averea datoriile cluburilor
work= 9am.ro
author=Petrache, Bogdan & Predan, Cristian
accessdate=2007-07-07

] George Becali, another businessman, was offered the position of vice-president, in hope that he would invest money in the club. Becali eventually purchased the majority share in 2002 and turned the governing company public in January 2003. [cite web

url=http://www.evenimentul.ro/articol/planurile-lui-becali.html
title=Planurile lui Becali
work=Evenimentul
accessdate=2007-06-11

]

Because of his controversial character, he has been contested by the majority of Steaua fans. [cite news

url=http://www.realitatearomaneasca.ro/content.php?c=articole&id_categorie=12&articol_id=1681&p=9&article=suporterii+echipei+steaua+au+protestat+impotriva+patronului+clubului
title=Suporterii echipei Steaua au protestat impotriva patronului clubului
work=Realitatea Românească
author=Necula, Simona
accessdate=2007-07-07

] The team qualified for the UEFA Cup group stage in the 2004–05 season and further on became the first Romanian team to make it to the European football spring since 1993 (also Steaua's performance). The next season, they reached the UEFA Cup semi-finals in 2005–06, where they were eliminated by Middlesbrough FC thanks to a last minute goal and thereafter qualified for the following UEFA Champions League seasons after a ten year break. In the 2007–08 season Steaua have qualified again in the group stage of UEFA Champions League. Nationally, they gained two titles in 2004–05 and 2005–06 and the Romanian Super Cup in 2006, the latter being the club's 50th trophy in its 59 year history. [cite web

url=http://www.hotnews.ro/stiri-arhiva-1166529-steaua_cucerit_50_lea_trofeu_din_istoria_clubului.htm
title=Steaua a cucerit al 50-lea trofeu din istoria clubului
work=HotNews.ro
accessdate=2007-07-07

]

Historical controversies

Several controversies exist regarding Steaua's past and its ownership by the Romanian Army before the 1989 Romanian Revolution, such as the club's establishment, its activity exclusively inside the Liga I, means of transferring players and involvement of the Ceauşescu family in the life of the team during the 1980s.

The club was founded as "ASA Bucureşti", by the Romanian Royal Army at the suggestion of a Russian Red Army general, on 7 June 1947 [Dida, Alexandru (21–12–2001), "Steaua fotbalului românesc", Pro TV Magazin, nr.51/IV, pp.62–63] , at which time Romania's form of government was the constitutional monarchy with a communist government. Nevertheless, at the beginning of their first season, even though supposing to attend a play-off for 2nd league promotion, at the order of the government, "Carmen Bucureşti"'s was exclused out from the championship and its place in the 1st league was taken by ASA. [cite web

url=http://www.romaniansoccer.ro/clubs_2/carmen_bucuresti/carmen_bucuresti.shtml
title=Carmen Bucureşti
work=romaniansoccer.ro
accessdate=2007-09-04

] Subsequently, the team never relegated and is currently one of the 3 teams to have only played inside the first league, along with FC Dinamo 1948 Bucureşti and FC Politehnica Timişoara.

The means players would transfer to the club links to the organization of sporting activities inside former Communist countries. As of 1947, the new Communist government instituted norms stating that every sports association was to be linked to a certain form of trade union or governmental institution. [cite web

url=http://www.romaniansoccer.ro/clubs_2/unirea_tricolor_bucuresti/unirea_tricolor_bucuresti.shtml
title=Unirea Tricolor Bucureşti
work=romaniansoccer.ro
accessdate=2007-09-04

] As professional football was therefore abolished, players would move between teams as arrangements between the clubs' governing institutions, and not as regular market economy transactions. Being the club of the Army, several young gifted players would often be tempted by Steaua to join their ranks, having the advantages of better conditions ensured by the club, the opportunity of a more productive career, but also, among other, of being exempted from the compulsory military stage. [cite news
url=http://www.hotnews.ro/articol_55370-Achizitii-record-pentru-Steaua.htm
title=Achizitii record pentru Steaua
work=hotnews.ro
author=Mihai Calin, Cristian Munteanu
date=2006-09-05
accessdate=2007-09-04 ] Gheorghe Hagi was borrowed this way from FC Sportul Studenţesc for the 1987 European Super Cup match with SK Dinamo Kiev and afterwards continued, at his will, to play for Steaua, despite his former club's opposition. [cite web

url=http://www.azi.ro/arhive/2006/03/25-26/sport.htm
title=Hagi, pentru prima dată adversar al Stelei
work=azi.ro
accessdate=2007-09-05

] However, another famous example is also the one of Gheorghe Popescu, transferred in 1988 from FC Universitatea Craiova, apparently without the club's or player's consent and who returned to his former club after one season. [cite web

url=http://www.kickeronline.ro/Fotbal-intern/3571.html
title=EXCLUSIV/ Gica Popescu - Fuga de la Steaua
work=kickeronline.ro
accessdate=2007-09-05

]

Approximately during the second half of the 1980s and also last years of the Communist regime in Romania, dictator Nicolae Ceauşescu's adoptive son Valentin was involved in the life of the team. In spite of allegations of favouring the club nationally by transferring the best players in the country and of facilitating its five-title consecutive winning streak by arrangements with referees or opposing teams, Valentin Ceauşescu stated in a recent interview that he had done nothing else than to protect his favourite team from Dinamo Bucureşti's sphere of influence, ensured by the Ministry of Internal Affairs. [cite web

url=http://www.ceausescu.org/ceausescu_texts/valentin_mega_interview_ro.html
title='Mega-interviu' cu Valentin Ceausescu
work=Ceausescu.org
accessdate=2007-06-15

] Relatively little is known, however, at the moment about Valentin Ceauşescu's role in Steaua's history. Claims of him being involved in the life of the team using unethical methods have yet to be proven, and, as a consequence, the topic is still subject to discussion.

Crest and colours

ASA Bucureşti was founded by the Royal Army on 7 June 1947, [Dida, Alexandru (21–12–2001), "Steaua fotbalului românesc", Pro TV Magazin, nr.51/IV, pp.62–63] at which date the club had no official crest.

As communists assumed total control of the country on 30 December 1947, [cite news
url=http://www.cs.kent.edu/~amarcus/Mihai/romanian/diverse/mirceaionitiu.html
title=Mircea Ionnitiu : "30 decembrie 1947"
work=Kent State University
author=Mircea Ionnitiu
date=2003-10-22
accessdate=2007-07-07 ] the Royal Army was transformed into the People's Army and ASA automatically with it. Being inspired by the Red Army, the new Ministry of Defence decided to create a crest for the club, along with the change of name to CSCA, consisting in an A-labeled red star (symbol of the Red Army) on a blue disc. [cite web
url=http://www.steauafc.com/nou/index.php?lang=en&cat=istorie_detalii&an=1948
title=History
work=SteauaFC.com
accessdate=2007-07-07 ] Dead link|date=January 2008

Two years later, the change of name to CCA brought with it a new crest comprised of the same red star labeled CCA surrounded by a crown of laurel. [cite web
url=http://www.steauafc.com/nou/index.php?cat=istorie_detalii&an=1950
title=History
work=SteauaFC.com
accessdate=2007-07-07 ] Dead link|date=January 2008 The all-present star motif on the crest finally had its saying over the new name of "Steaua" as up 1961. [cite web
url=http://www.steauafc.com/nou/index.php?cat=istorie_detalii&an=1961
title=History
work=SteauaFC.com
accessdate=2007-07-07 ] Dead link|date=January 2008 It was opted for a badge which, redesigned, remains up to this day the club's symbol: the red and blue striped background with a golden star in the middle, to symbolize to Romanian tricolour flag. [cite web
url=http://www.steauafc.com/nou/index.php?cat=istorie_detalii&an=1974
title=History
work=SteauaFC.com
accessdate=2007-07-07 ] Dead link|date=January 2008 The shape for the emblem was redesigned in 1974, once the team moved to Stadionul Ghencea. [cite web
url=http://www.steauafc.com/nou/index.php?cat=arhiva_foto&cauta=1969
title=Photo Archive
work=SteauaFC.com
accessdate=2007-07-07 ] Dead link|date=January 2008

Following the 1989 Romanian Revolution, the Army decided to break all links to the defunct communist regime, so, in 1991, CSA Steaua had a last change of crest with an eagle also present on the Ministry of Defence coat of arms and also on Romania's. As FC Steaua appeared in 1998, the club added two yellow stars on top of the CSA Steaua badge signifying its 20 titles of champions won, along with the "Fotbal Club" specification.

2003 was the year of the last change of crest, decided by the new Board of Administration run by George Becali, which was a return to the old emblem of 1974–1991, redesigned with the two yellow stars on top.

During their first season, 1947–48, Steaua wore yellow and red striped shirts with blue shorts, to symbolize Romania's tricolour flag. [cite news
url=http://www.fcsteaua.ro/forum/lofiversion/index.php/t5171.html
title=Collection 1947-07-21 – 1947-08-21
work=Sportul Romînesc
author=Various authors
date=2004-10-23
accessdate=2007-10-31 ] Starting with the following season and with the Army's change of identity from the Royal Army to the People's Army, the yellow was gradually given up, so that the official colours remained, up to this day, the red and the blue.

Steaua has never had a standard playing kit. However, the most widely used throughout time was the combination of red shirts, blue shorts and red socks. Other variants have been all-red, all-blue and also shirts in vertical red and blue stripes during the 1960s and 1970s. [cite web
url=http://www.steauafc.com/nou/index.php?cat=arhiva_foto
title=Arhiva foto
work=steauafc.com
accessdate=2007-08-12 ] Dead link|date=January 2008 Other kit colours have very rarely been used. Exceptions were the 1986 European Cup Final in which Steaua wore, for the only time in their history, an all-white kit, the 1999–00 away kit (yellow and red) , the 2005–06 third kit (yellow and black)and the 2008–09 away kit (all yellow).

The 2008–09 home kit, different from the previous seasons, consists in vertical-striped red and blue shirts with blue shorts and socks, while the away strip is all-yellow. Various combinations of these kits also occur.

Steaua's kit is currently manufactured by Nike, which was contracted in 2002, after a long partnership with adidas. [cite web
url=http://www.adevarul.ro/articole/steaua-renunta-la-adidas-pentru-nike/7896
title=Steaua renunta la Adidas pentru Nike
work=adevarul.ro
accessdate=2007-08-12 ] In 1988, Steaua was the first football team from Romania to display the name of a Western company, Ford. [cite web
url=http://www.iaa.ro/Articole/Analize/Steaua-ca-brand/Print-37.html
title=Steaua ca brand
work=iaa.ro
accessdate=2007-08-12 ] Several other sponsors succeeded thereafter: Castrol, Philips, CBS, Bancorex (initially BRCE), Dialog (currently Orange), BCR and RAFO. As of September 2007, the club's new shirt sponsor is CitiFinancial, with a one-year contract valuing EUR 1.3 million. [cite news
url=http://www.prosport.ro/index.php?section=articole&screen=index&id=59098
title=CU CITIFINANCIAL PE TRICOURI
work=ProSport
author=Flintoaca, Diana
date=2004-09-18
accessdate=2007-09-18 ]

Stadium

Steaua played its three first matches in history at the defunct "Venus" stadium. [cite web

url=http://www.steauafc.com/nou/index.php?cat=noutati&id=4507
title= La fluier…drepti! Din obisnuinta…..
work=SteauaFC.ro
accessdate=2007-08-26

] Dead link|date=January 2008 Opened in 1931, the venue had previously been in the property of ASC Venus Bucureşti, a club disbanded in 1949. [cite web

url=http://www.romaniansoccer.ro/clubs_2/venus_bucuresti/venus_bucuresti.shtml
title=Venus Bucureşti
work=romaniansoccer.ro
accessdate=2007-08-27

] After the ground's demolition through order of the Communist regime, Steaua had played its home matches on either two of Bucharest's largest multi-use stadia, "Republicii" (built in 1926 and put down in 1984 to make room for the erection of the Casa Poporului) [cite news

url=http://old.jurnalul.ro/articol_69415/fost_simbol.html
title=Fost simbol
work=Jurnalul Naţional
author=Alexe, Anca
accessdate=2007-07-07

] Dead link|date=January 2008 and "23 August" (built in 1953). Of these two, 23 August (current "Lia Manoliu") was mostly used when two matches between Bucharest clubs were scheduled in the same matchday or for important European matches, while Republicii for regular matches inside the championship. [cite news

url=http://www.evz.ro/article.php?artid=257135#
title=Pastele in vremea comunismului
work=Evenimentul Zilei
author=Bumbeş, Mihai
accessdate=2007-07-07

] Dead link|date=January 2008

Steaua currently plays its home matches at the Stadionul Ghencea, a football stadium situated in South-Western Bucharest. Part of "Complexul Sportiv Steaua", it was inaugurated on 9 April 1974 when Steaua played a friendly match against OFK Beograd, [cite web

url=http://www.stadiumguide.com/ghencea.htm
title=Ghencea Stadion
work=StadiumGuide.com
accessdate=2007-06-10

] at which time it was the first football-only stadium ever built in Communist Romania, with no track and field facilities. [cite web

url=http://www.steauafc.com/nou/index.php?lang=ro&cat=stadion
title=Stadion
work=SteauaFC.com
accessdate=2007-07-07

] Dead link|date=January 2008

The original capacity was 30,000 on benches. A general renovation occurred in 1991. This included installing seats, which dropped the capacity to 28,139, [cite web

url=http://en.uclcityguide.uefa.com/?m24Action=STADIUM&m24Id=50065&m24Tooltip=1
title=UEFA Stadium Guide
work=uefa.com
accessdate=2007-07-17

] inaugurating a floodlighting system [cite web

url=http://www.steauafc.com/nou/index.php?cat=stadion
title=Stadion
work=SteauaFC.com
accessdate=2007-08-04

] Dead link|url=http://www.steauafc.com/nou/index.php?cat=stadion|date=January 2008 and erecting a VIP personal box section.

After a second renovation, in 2006, which included refurbishing the turf, Ghencea is one of the two stadia in Romania (along with Stadionul Dr. Constantin Rădulescu [cite web

url=http://www.onlinesport.ro/stiri/fotbal/fotbal-intern/liga-1/dinamo/23417/dinamo-trebuie-sa-revina-pe-stadionul-national-in-uefa.htm
title=Dinamo trebuie sa revina pe Stadionul National in UEFA
work=onlinesport.ro
accessdate=2007-09-04

] ) qualified to host UEFA Champions League events, being a third category arena according to the UEFA classification system. [cite web

url=http://sport.kappa.ro/stiri/dinamo-nu-vrea-in-ghencea/stire_88260.html
title=Dinamo nu vrea in Ghencea
work=Ziua
accessdate=2007-08-04

] Lately, there have been talks for increasing the capacity to either 45,000 or 60,000. [cite news

url=http://www.prosport.ro/index.php?section=articole&screen=index&id=24914&pagina=0
title=60.000 de locuri?
work=prosport.ro
author=Stan, Sebastian
accessdate=2007-06-11

]

Romania is also a tenant. The first game played by the national team at Ghencea was in March 1977 against Turkey. 59 other games have been played ever since, the last one occurring in October 2006 against Belarus. [cite web

url=http://www.frf.ro/index.php?articol=31section=articole&screen=index&id=24914&pagina=0
title=Istoric - PALMARES ALL-TIME
work=frf.ro
accessdate=2007-07-07

] Also, several matches from the 1998 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship, including the final, have been hosted by the arena.

The stadium, built through order of the Ministry of National Defence inside a former military base and was long used by CSA Steaua. [cite web

url=http://www.gazetadecluj.ro/fullnews.php?ID=3358
title=Zisu dă HG-uri
work=gazetadecluj.ro
accessdate=2007-08-09

] Dead link|url=http://www.gazetadecluj.ro/fullnews.php?ID=3358|date=January 2008 Currently, FC Steaua are the only tenants. Despite lobbying from the current FC Steaua Board of Administration, the venue is still under Romanian Army ownership, but has been leased on a 49 year-long period to the football club as of 2006. [cite web

url=http://www.9am.ro/stiri-revista-presei/Sport/30693/Ghencea-lui-Gigi-Becali
title=Stadionul Stelei va fi concesionat pe o jumatate de secol clubului de fotbal
work=9am.ro
accessdate=2007-08-09

]

Support

, with 9%. [cite web

url=http://www.ziarulcn.com/index.php?pid=article&aid=50999
title=42% dintre romani sunt stelisti
work=Ziarul
accessdate=2007-07-14

]

The largest concentration of fans are in Bucharest, notably in areas adjacent to the arena, covering the whole southern half of Bucharest, a city geographically divided by the Dâmboviţa River. [cite web

url=http://www.fcsteaua.ro/index/section/articles/article/2025
title=Armata le dadea papara...
work=FCSteaua.ro
accessdate=2007-07-07

] Also, the club has an important fan base inside the country, where several towns are renowned for counting vast majorities of Steaua supporters, and outside the borders, among Romanian emigrants.

The Steaua Ultras movement began in 1995, when the bases of Armata Ultra (AU), the first Ultras group from Bucharest (and second in Romania after FC Politehnica 1921 Ştiinţa Timişoara's "Commando Viola Ultra Curva Sud"), [cite web

url=http://www.fcsteaua.ro/index/section/articles/article/2084
title=Istoria ultra' incepe cu noi!
work=FCSteaua.ro
accessdate=2007-07-07

] were set. The group quickly reached an impressive number of members, but, in 2001, they dissolved due to internal problems. Currently Steaua's supporters are comprised of several groups, most of them located at the "Peluza Nord" (North End) (Sharks Ferentari, Tineretului Korps, Titan Boys, Nucleo, Gruppo Tei, Skins Berceni, Insurgenţii, Armata 47, Ultras Colentina, Gruppo Est Voluntari, Triada, Roosters,etc.), with some other ones taking their place at the "Peluza Sud" (South End) (Ultras, Stil Ostil, Glas, Vacarm, Banda Ultra, etc).

More recently, as of 2006, the supporters have formed their own official association, called AISS ("Asociaţia Independentă a Suporterilor Stelişti" – "Steaua Supporters' Independent Association"). AISS was formed as a legal entity with its stated goals of "protecting the interests and image of Steaua supporters", as well as "identifying and promoting the club's perennial values". [cite web

url=http://www.aiss.ro/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=26&Itemid=1
title=AISS va prezinta AISS.ro
work=aiss.ro
accessdate=2007-07-07

]

A heavy debated topic about the fans is the one related to racism. Stemmed from their rivalry with FC Rapid Bucureşti, whose fans are often envisioned as Roma ethnics, [cite web

url=http://www.roportal.ro/stiri/stirea-390451.htm
title=Steaua acuzata din nou de rasism
work=roportal.ro
accessdate=2007-09-06

] the issue degenerated on certain situations in several incidents between factions of supporters of Steaua and Rapid. [cite web

url=http://www.presaonline.com/stire/rapid-%EF%BF%BD-steaua--dusmanie-nula,16787.html
title=Rapid - Steaua / dusmanie nula
work=PresaOnline.com
accessdate=2007-06-14

] Also, the UEFA Champions League 2005–06 qualifying match against Shelbourne FC, resulted in a one-matchday pitch suspension for Steaua during the same European season, after racial chants were heard from the crowd. [cite web

url=http://www.hotnews.ro/stiri-arhiva-1210680-steaua_are_terenul_suspendat_pentru_meciul_valerenga.htm
title=Steaua are terenul suspendat pentru meciul cu Valerenga
workhotnews.ro
accessdate=2007-10-07

]

Lately, crowd turbulence has been one of the club's main problems. During the last three seasons, 11 Liga I matchday suspensions and one in the UEFA Cup have been dictated against the Ghencea-based club out of reasons such as crowd trouble, racial chants or torch lighting.

Steaua's most important rivalry is the one against FC Dinamo 1948 Bucureşti. Marele Derby ("The Great Derby") has been the leading Romanian football encounter in the last 60 years, as Steaua and Dinamo are the two most successful football teams in the country. [cite web

url=http://www.footballderbies.com/honours/index.php?id=105
title=Marele derby (the great derby)
work=footballderbies.com
accessdate=2007-07-07

] With 41 titles won altogether (Steaua–23; Dinamo–18), the two clubs have won 23 of the last 26 seasons. [cite web

url=http://www.rsssf.com/tablesr/roemchamp.html
title=Romania - List of Champions
work=rsssf.com
accessdate=2007-08-11

] It is also a match between the former clubs of the Romanian Army (Steaua) and the Ministry of Internal Affairs (Dinamo). Several clashes between different factions of supporters have often occurred and still occur inside and outside the stadium. The heyday was reached before a match kick-off in 1997, when Dinamo's fans set a sector of Stadionul Ghencea's "Peluza Sud", where they were assigned, on fire. [cite news

url=http://www.hotnews.ro/stiri-arhiva-1119827-armatele_fanatici_din_spatele_fotbalului.htm
title=Armatele de fanatici din spatele fotbalului
work=HotNews.ro
author=Dulamita, I., Dobre, F. & Popan, C.
accessdate=2007-06-14

] Between October 1991 and April 2000, Steaua counted 19 undefeated official matches in front of their rivals, both in the championship and the cup. Just as well, a period of 17 years and 7 months has been recorded in which Dinamo did not manage to win away against Steaua in the domestic league. [cite web

url=http://www.footballderbies.com/results/index.php?id=105
title=Marele derby (the great derby)
work=footballderbies.com
accessdate=2007-08-11

]

The second most important rivalry is the one with FC Rapid Bucureşti. Several matches in the last years between Steaua and Rapid have also ended in serious clashes between fans. [cite web

url=http://www.presaonline.com/stire/rapid-%EF%BF%BD-steaua--dusmanie-nula,16787.html
title=Rapid - Steaua / dusmanie nula
work=PresaOnline.com
accessdate=2007-06-14

] Rivalry has become even fiercer since Steaua outpassed Rapid in an all-Romanian quarter final of the UEFA Cup 2005–06 season. The local sports newspapers said that the 2 teams were liked up in this quarter final by the line of the number 41 tram which links the Ghencea Stadium to the Valentin Stanescu Stadium.

Milder and historical rivalries are also with non-Bucharest teams such as FC Universitatea Craiova, FC Politehnica 1921 Ştiinţa Timişoara, FC Petrolul Ploieşti and CFM Universitatea Cluj. [cite web

url=http://www.fanatik.ro/liga_i_sectiune_2/articol_24640/lista_completa_cu_derby-urile_campionatului.html
title=Lista completa cu derbyurile campionatului
work=fanatik.ro
accessdate=2007-07-07

]

Statistics and records

Steaua currently boasts itself with the most impressive pedigree in Romania. With 60 seasons spent in Liga I, they are one of the three teams to have played only in the first national league, along with FC Dinamo 1948 Bucureşti (59 seasons) and FCU Politehnica 1921 Ştiinţa Timişoara (six seasons). At the same time, the club is the current record holder for the number of national championships (23), national cups (20) and national super cups (five). Between 1993 and 1998, their run of six consecutive national titles won equaled the one of Chinezul Timişoara from the 1920s. Internationally, they are the only domestic club to have won a European Cup (European Champions Cup in 1986 and the European Super Cup in 1987) and to have qualified inside a UEFA final (European Champions Cup in 1986 and 1989).

For three years and three months (June 1986 – September 1989), Steaua counted a number of 104 unbeaten matches in the league, establishing, at that moment, a former world record and a European one still standing. Also inside the national league, they counted 112 matches between November 1989 and August 1996 of unbeatability at Stadionul Ghencea in Liga I. Their run of 17 straight wins in 1988 is another record, equal to the one held by Dinamo as of one year later. [cite web

url=http://www.7plus.ro/?arhiva=27/02/2007&id=18159
title=Inter Milano a egalat recordul tandemului Steaua - Dinamo.
work=7plus.ro
accessdate=2007-09-03

]

Tudorel Stoica is the player with the most appearances for Steaua in Liga I, a record unlikely to be broken in the nearby future, as none of the current players have entered the top 10 so far. [cite web

url=http://www.steauafc.com/nou/index.php?cat=istorie
title=Prezente
work=steauafc.com
accessdate=2006-08-11

] Dead link|date=January 2008 The club's all-time top scorer in the league is Anghel Iordănescu with 146 goals, a record that also looks solid, out of the same reason as above-mentioned. [cite web

url=http://www.steauafc.com/nou/index.php?cat=istorie
title=Golgeteri
work=steauafc.com
accessdate=2006-08-11

] Dead link|date=January 2008 Other records are currently owned by former players such as Dorinel Munteanu (most national caps – 131) or Gheorghe Hagi (most goals scored for Romania – 35; most appearances of a Romanian player in the European cups – 93). [cite news

url=http://www.onlinesport.ro/stiri/fotbal/fotbal-intern/liga-1/steaua/22135/steaua-europeana.htm
title=Steaua Europeana
work=onlinesport.ro
author=Alin Huiu
accessdate=2006-08-11

] Gheorghe Hagi also holds a record for the third most expensive transfer abroad from the national league, with USD 4,300,000 paid by Real Madrid CF to Steaua in 1990. [cite web

url=http://www.romaniansoccer.ro/divizia_a/divizia_a.shtml
title=Liga I
work=romaniansoccer.ro
accessdate=2006-06-15

]

Ownership

Steaua has always been known as the club of the Romanian Army, who founded it in 1947 as a sports society. [Dida, Alexandru, "Steaua fotbalului românesc", Pro TV Magazin, nr.51/IV, pp.62–63] The Army continues to own the society, called CSA Steaua Bucureşti at the moment.

The football department however, in order to comply with UEFA rules, separated and turned private in 1998, owned and financed by a non-profit organization called "AFC Steaua Bucureşti", chaired by businessman Viorel Păunescu. [cite web

url=http://www.ziua.ro/display.php?id=8354&data=1998-05-29
title=Politica mineaza sportul românesc
work=Ziua
accessdate=2007-06-10

]

In January 2003, the club turned public, under the leadership of investor and current politician George Becali, who had already purchased 51% of the society's shares and later on acquired the rest to become owner of the club. Currently, Becali detains no official link to the club, as he gradually renounced his shares. However, the facts that the current shareholders, that include several nephews of his, [cite web

url=http://www.hotnews.ro/articol_34128-Gigi-Becali-si-a-vandut-toate-actiunile-de-la-Steaua-nepotilor-sai.htm
title=Gigi Becali si-a vandut toate actiunile de la Steaua nepotilor sai
accessdate=2007-09-06

] are people loyal to him and that he is still in charge of Steaua are obvious. [cite web

url=http://www.cancan.ro/2007-04-30/Cine-mai-conduce-Steaua.html
title=Cine mai conduce Steaua
accessdate=2007-06-11

] An unofficial explanation for this situation is represented by the heavy amount of unpaid taxes added up by the former governing company, AFC Steaua Bucureşti, whose payment towards the tax authority was avoided this way by transferring its assets to the new-formed company, with the old association going on liquidation bankruptcy. [cite news

url=http://www.evz.ro/article.php?artid=268867
title=Romanii platesc datoriile Stelei
work=evz.ro
author=Chican, Marius, Focseneanu, Dorin
accessdate=2007-09-06

]

George Becali is currently a highly controversial person, whose involvement in the life of the club and the team has often been described as authoritarian and dictatorial by both the media and the fans. [cite news

url=http://www.gardianul.ro/2007/09/18/sport-c10/dictatura_in_ghencea_becali_nu_i_mai_inghite_pe_golanski_si_zaharia-s101196.html
title=Romanii platesc datoriile Stelei
work=gardianul.ro
author=Traciuc, Alexandru
accessdate=2007-09-25

] Such decisions as threatening to sell the Steaua brand towards the tax authority following a scandal of unpaid taxes, [cite news

url=http://www.netsport.ro/stiri/13/14048/Becali-vs-Bodu,-episod-final.html
title=Becali vs Bodu, episod final
work=netsport.ro
author=Stiopei, Paul
accessdate=2007-09-26

] using the club to promote the "New Generation Christian Democrat Party", which he runs, [cite news

url=http://www.evenimentul.ro/articol/png-doreste-atragerea-fanilor.html
title=PNG doreşte atragerea fanilor Steaua
accessdate=2007-09-26

] banning Queen music on the stadium on grounds of Freddie Mercury's sexual orientations [cite news

url=http://www.sportulromanesc.ro/becali,-in-razboi-cu-homosexualii-si-cu-freddie-mercury_4746.html
title=Becali, in razboi cu homosexualii si cu Freddie Mercury
accessdate=2007-09-26

] and also various coach sackings (culminating with the one of Gheorghe Hagi) [cite news

url=http://www.fcsteaua.ro/index/section/articles/article/4384
title= Hagi demisioneaza si produce socul
accessdate=2007-09-26

] are only few of the reasons of a certain current state of resentment on behalf of the majority of fans towards Becali.Fact|date=August 2008

Steaua in popular culture

As Steaua is currently the most popular football team in Romania, [cite web

url=http://www.ziarulcn.com/index.php?pid=article&aid=50999
title=42% dintre romani sunt stelisti
work=Ziarul
accessdate=2007-07-14

] a good number of musicians or TV and film directors have inspired themselves from ideas linked to the Ghencea-based club. Popular reference, however, appeared only after the 1989 Romanian Revolution, as before, mass-media programmes were mostly being controlled by the former communist regime. The 2002 Romanian film "Furia" depicts scenes in which Steaua and Dinamo gangs of supporters are fighting on the streets after a direct match between the two sides. [cite web

url=http://www.cinemagia.ro/movie.php?movie_id=3942&what=article&article_id=3286
title=Intamplari de la filmari...
work=cinemagia.ro
accessdate=2007-08-12

] Prima TV comedy show "Mondenii" often airs sketches parodying Steaua owner George Becali, the players and other representatives around the club. [cite web

url=http://preferate.net/view.php?id=6538
title=Mondenii - episodul 1 - secventa cu Gigi Becali si Banel Nicolita cu Gigi Becali de Mondenii
work=preferate.ro
accessdate=2007-08-12

] Pro TV series "La bloc" aired an episode in which characters Nelu and Costel are displayed as representing Steaua in a parking lot match against two other neighbours representing Dinamo.

Several other examples from music can be attributed as Steaua-related. Apart from club anthems played throughout time by "Marcel Pavel", "Bere Gratis", "Gaz pe Foc", an album was released in 2006 as a compilation by "Mircea Vintilă", "Chicanos", "Bogdan Dima" and several other artists. [cite web

url=http://www.dol.ro/Produse/Muzica/Compilatii/Compilatie_Forza_Steaua_CD_QI107077/index.asp
title=Compilatie, Forza Steaua (CD)
work=dol.ro
accessdate=2007-08-12

] "Delikt" and "Ultras" are two former hip hop bands whose members ranked the defunct Armata Ultra' brigade and would always show up displaying fan materials. Also, "Voltaj", in their song 'MSD2', make reference to the fans in the line "Poţi să fii câine sau poţi fi stelist" "(You can be a dog ['The Red Dogs' is a common nickname adopted by Dinamo's fans for their team.] or you can be a Steaua fan)". [cite web

url=http://www.versuri.ro/versuri/kiifk_voltaj+msd2.html
title=Versuri "Voltaj - Msd2"
work=versuri.ro
accessdate=2007-08-12

] Eventually, even though resented by some fans, [cite web

url=http://www.fcsteaua.ro/index/section/articles/article/2985
title=Protest impotriva manelelor cu si despre Steaua
work=fcsteaua.ro
accessdate=2007-08-12

] several manele singers occasionally inspire their lyrics from popular football teams in the country, including Steaua.

One of the most famous pop-culture references about the club is the association with "Scooter"'s song "Maria", first sung spontaneously in 2003 by the fans in Peluza Nord after the team would score. Ever since, it has been adopted as an unofficial club anthem and is being played at the stadium at every match, sung together by the supporters. Nonetheless, the song is beginning to lose popularity, mainly because it has become too commercial and many fans do not feel bonded with it any more. [cite web

url=http://www.fcsteaua.ro/index/section/articles/article/2870
title=Despre Scooter
work=fcsteaua.ro
accessdate=2007-08-12

]

Achievements

Domestic

*Liga I

:"Winners (23) (record):" 1951, 1952, 1953, 1956, 1959–60, 1960–61, 1967–68, 1975–76, 1977–78, 1984–85, 1985–86, 1986–87, 1987–88, 1988–89, 1992–93, 1993–94, 1994–95, 1995–96, 1996–97, 1997–98, 2000–01, 2004–05, 2005–06:"Runners-up (13):" 1954, 1957–58, 1962–63, 1976–77, 1979–80, 1983–84, 1989–90, 1990–91, 1991–92, 2002–03, 2003–04, 2006–07, 2007–08

*Cupa României:"Winners (20) (record):" 1948–49, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1955, 1961–62, 1965–66, 1966–67, 1968–69, 1969–70, 1970–71, 1975–76, 1978–79, 1984–85, 1986–87, 1987–88, [Steaua gave up the trophy in 1990 cite web
url=http://www.rsssf.com/miscellaneous/unb-steaua-104.html
title=Steaua's series of 104 matches unbeaten in the Divizia A
work=rsssf.com
date=2001-09-10
accessdate=2007-07-07 ] 1988–89, 1991–92, 1995–96, 1996–97, 1998–99:"Runners-up (7):" 1953–54, 1963–64, 1976–77, 1979–80, 1983–84, 1985–86, 1989–90

*Supercupa României:"Winners (5) (record):" 1993–94, 1994–95, 1997–98, 2000–01, 2005–06:"Runners-up (2):" 1998–99, 2004–05

European

*UEFA Champions League:"Winners (1):" 1985–86:"Runners-up (1):" 1988–89:"Semifinalists (1):" 1987–88

* UEFA Super Cup:"Winners (1):" 1986

* UEFA Cup:"Semifinalists (1):" 2005-06

International

* Intercontinental Cup:"Runners-up (1):" 1986

Players

"As of 22 August, 2008"

Current squad

Players out on loan

"For recent transfers, see the "Squad Changes" section of FC Steaua Bucureşti season 2008-09."

Reserves and youth team

Notable players throughout history

Manager history

*flagicon|ROM Coloman Braun-Bogdan (02.1948 - 05.1948)
*flagicon|ROM Colea Vâlcov (08.1948 - 07.1949)
*flagicon|ROM Francisc Ronnay (03.1950 - 11.1950)
*flagicon|ROM Gheorghe Popescu (03.1951 - 08.1953)
*flagicon|ROM Francisc Ronnay (09.1953 - 06.1954)
*flagicon|ROM Ilie Savu (09.1954 - 11.1955)
*flagicon|ROM Ştefan Dobay (03.1956 - 11.1956)
*flagicon|ROM Ilie Savu (1958)
*flagicon|ROM Angelo Niculescu (03.1958 - 06.1958)
*flagicon|ROM Gheorghe Popescu (08.1958 - 07.1960)
*flagicon|ROM Ştefan Onisie (09.1960 - 06.1961)
*flagicon|ROM Eugen Mladin (08.1961 - 11.1961)
*flagicon|ROM Gheorghe Popescu (03.1962 - 07.1962)
*flagicon|ROM Ştefan Onisie (08.1962 - 11.1963)
*flagicon|ROM Gheorghe Ola (03.1963 - 07.1964)
*flagicon|ROM Ilie Savu (08.1964 - 06.1967)
*flagicon|ROM Ştefan Kovacs (08.1967 - 07.1970)
*flagicon|ROM Ştefan Onisie (08.1970 - 06.1971)
*flagicon|ROM Valentin Stănescu (08.1971 - 12.1972)
*flagicon|ROM Gheorghe Constantin (03.1972 - 12.1973)
*flagicon|ROM Constantin Teaşcă (03.1974 - 06.1975)
*flagicon|ROM Emerich Jenei (08.1975 - 06.1978)
*flagicon|ROM Gheorghe Constantin (08.1978 - 06.1981)
*flagicon|ROM Traian Ionescu (08.1981 - 12.1981)
*flagicon|ROM Constantin Cernăianu (11.1981 - 07.1983)
*flagicon|ROM Emerich Jenei (08.1983 - 05.1984)
*flagicon|ROM Florin Halagian (09.1984 - 10.1984)
*flagicon|ROM Emerich Jenei (10.1984 - 10.1986)
*flagicon|ROM Anghel Iordănescu (10.1986 - 06.1990)
*flagicon|ROM Costică Ştefănescu (08.1990 - 12.1990)
*flagicon|ROM Bujor Hălmageanu (03.1991 - 04.1991)
*flagicon|ROM Emerich Jenei (04.1991 - 12.1991)
*flagicon|ROM Victor Piţurcă (03.1992 - 06.1992)
*flagicon|ROM Anghel Iordănescu (08.1992 - 06.1993)
*flagicon|ROM Emerich Jenei (08.1993 - 04.1994)
*flagicon|ROM Dumitru Dumitriu (08.1994 - 06.1997)
*flagicon|ROM Mihai Stoichiţă (08.1997 - 10.1998)
*flagicon|ROM Emerich Jenei (10.1998 - 04.2000)
*flagicon|ROM Victor Piţurcă (08.2000 - 06.2002)
*flagicon|ROM Cosmin Olăroiu (08.2002 - 10.2002)
*flagicon|ROM Ştefan Iovan (10.2002)
*flagicon|ROM Victor Piţurcă (10.2002 - 06.2004)
*flagicon|ITA Walter Zenga (08.2004 - 05.2005)
*flagicon|ROM Dumitru Dumitriu (05.2005 - 06.2005)
*flagicon|UKR Oleg Protasov (08.2005 - 3.2006)
*flagicon|ROM Cosmin Olăroiu (03.2006 - 05.2007)
*flagicon|ROM Gheorghe Hagi (07.2007 - 09.2007)
*flagicon|ITA Massimo Pedrazzini (09.2007 - 10.2007)
*flagicon|ROM Marius Lăcătuş (10.2007-)

References

External links

;Official websites
*ro icon en icon [http://www.steauafc.com/ SteauaFC.com] Official Club Website
*ro icon [http://www.lpf.ro/steaua.htm Steaua] at the official Liga I website
*en icon [http://www.uefa.com/footballeurope/club=50065/domestic.html/ Steaua] at the official UEFA website

;Fan websites
*ro icon [http://www.fcsteaua.ro/ FCSteaua.ro] Main Fans' Website
*ro iconen icon [http://www.suportersteaua.net/ SuporterSteaua.net] Supporters Forum
*ro icon [http://www.aiss.ro/ AISS.ro] AISS (Steaua Supporters' Independent Association)
*ro icon [http://www.steauaonline.com/ Steaua Bucuresti Online] Popular Fans' Website
*en icon [http://www.steaua.com/ Steaua.com] English-language fan website
*ro icon [http://www.stelisti.ro/ Stelisti.ro] Gazeta Sporturilor website dedicated to Steaua

;Statistics websites
*ro icon [http://www.labtof.ro/diviziaa/echipa/Steaua_Bucuresti/78/ Steaua all-time statistics]