Club Sportiv Universitatea Craiova is a Romanian professional football club based in Craiova, Dolj County, competing in Liga I, the top tier of Romanian football. It plays its home matches at Ion Oblemenco Stadium, which has a capacity of 30,983.

+ Chronology of namesNamePeriodUNSR Craiova1948–1950CSU Craiova1950–1953Știința Craiova1953–1962CSO Craiova1962–1963Știința Craiova1963–1966Universitatea Craiova1966–1991Universitatea Craiova2013–present

Founded in 1948 as the football section of the CSU Craiova sports organisation, it remained within the university sports structure until 1991, when its league place was taken over by FC U Craiova following privatisation.

After a period of organisational changes and the dissolution of FC U Craiova, the sports club reactivated its football section in 2013. The current entity claims the honours of the historical Universitatea Craiova side, a status recognised by several court rulings and the Liga Profesionistă de Fotbal, though disputed by a separately re-established FC U Craiova.

Universitatea Craiova won five national league titles and eight Cupa României trophies, and reached the semi-finals of the 1982–83 UEFA Cup and the quarter-finals of the 1981–82 European Cup, becoming the first Romanian club to reach a UEFA competition semi-final.

Seasons The beginning The football section was initially formed under the name UNSR (Uniunea Națională a Studenților din România, ) Craiova and enrolled in the county championship. The first official match was played at Filiași, aganinst CFR Filiași on 5 September 1948, with the Students losing 3–6. The team, led by head coach Nicolae Polojinski, wore white-and-blue shirts and was composed of Dumitrescu – Rădulescu, Mihăilă I, Carli – Ozon, Mihăilă II – Sabin, Ilie, Bădescu, Tudor, and Serghi.

1950 season The football section changed its name from UNSR Craiova to CSU Craiova, the same name as its parent club. The early squads coached by Nicolae Polojinski included, among others, Mihai Vulpe (goalkeeper), Ion Popescu, Mihai Zorilă, Constantin Stănculescu, Petre Brebenaru, Gheorghe Florigoanță, Gheorghe Șerbu, Zbîrcea I, Zbîrcea II (defenders), Aurică Bratu, Naum Cricitoiu, Ion Florigoanță, Rădulescu, Firu (midfielders), Gheorghe Florescu, Liviu Borosan, Emilian Dilă, and Aurel Cumpănașu (forwards).

1951 season CSU Craiova recorded a 6–0 victory over Constructorul Craiova in what was also the club’s first official appearance in Cupa României. The goals were scored by Firu (3), Borosan, Emilian Dilă, and Dreșcă.

1953 season The club was renamed Știința Craiova. The team reached the Round of 32 of Cupa României, where it was eliminated by Spartac București after a 2–2 draw after extra time (1–1 at full-time), with the away team advancing according to the competition rules. The squad featured Stoica, Dreșcă, Rizu, Pîrvuleț, Anuțescu, Dan Popescu, Dumitru Popescu, Firu, Babarada, Emilian Dilă, and Jean Pădureanu.

1954 season

Coached by Nicolae Oțeleanu, Știința once again reached the Round of 32 in Cupa României, before narrowly losing 0–1 to Locomotiva Timișoara on 11 August 1954. They also won the Craiova Regional Championship and qualified for the promotion tournament.

Competing in Series II, held in Arad between 31 October and 14 November 1954, Știința lost 1–2 to Metalul 108 Cugir, defeated Flamura Roșie Râmnicu Vâlcea 2–0, drew 0–0 with Flacăra București, and then beat Metalul 113 Plopeni 2–1 and Metalul Oțelul Roșu 2–0. Finishing first with a record of three wins, one draw, and one defeat (7–3 goal difference, 7 points), the Students secured promotion to Divizia B for the first time in the club's history.

1955 season

Știința competed in Series I of Divizia B, finishing 12th, with a record of 24 matches, 6 wins, 6 draws, and 12 losses (21–33, 18 points), resulting in relegation to the newly re-established Divizia C. The squad included Stoica, Urucu, Vulpe, Dreșcă, Rizu, Pîrvuleț, Razga, Dumitrescu, Ciulava, Anuțescu, Briac, N. Dan, Nicolae Lambru, Căpitanu, Buldur, Ioniță, D. Popescu, V. Popescu, Valeriu Lupu, Firu, Babarada, Jean Pădureanu, Pantelimon, Traian Iliescu, Coicea, and Matei.

SeasonLeague Tables for each season may be obtained by clicking on the respective year. The team played in Divizia A/Liga I between 1964-65 and 1991-92, and since 2014-15. Tables for each season may be obtained by clicking on the respective year. The team played in Divizia B/Liga II in 1955, between 1957-58 and in 2013-14. Tables for each season may be obtained by clicking on the respective year. The team played in Divizia C/Liga III in 1956.CupaRomânieiEurope Other competitions Top goalscorersDivisionPos.Pl.WDLGFGAPtsName(s)Goals1956Divizia C3rd221156261427p1957-58Divizia C1st241545461734p1958-59Divizia B13th267613305120p1959-60Divizia B10th2610412332924p1960-61Divizia B2nd261259422229p1961-62Divizia B4th261178402629p1962-63Divizia B5th26989494126R161963-64Divizia B1st261286452732p1964–65Divizia A11th269413314022R32Sfârlogea151965–66Divizia A8th269710233825R32 Eftimie41966–67Divizia A3rd261349383230R16Oblemenco171967–68Divizia A11th2611114283123R16 Oblemenco 91968–69Divizia A7th3014313454731R32Balkans CupGSOblemenco191969–70Divizia A4th3013710403733R32Balkans CupGSOblemenco191970–71Divizia A6th3012810293232R32Fairs CupR64Oblemenco121971–72Divizia A8th3013512423531R32Oblemenco201972–73Divizia A2nd301596543639R32Oblemenco211973–74Divizia A1st342059633745R32UEFA CupR32Bălan191974–75Divizia A3rd3415910513239FEuropean CupR32Oblemenco171975–76Divizia A6th34131011413236SFUEFA CupR64Oblemenco201976–77Divizia A3rd341699543641C Balaci 111977–78Divizia A6th3414713433435CCup Winners' CupR16 Balaci 121978–79Divizia A4th34151811402538QFCup Winners' CupR32Cămătaru131979–80Divizia A1st3417107663144SFUEFA CupR16Cămătaru171980–81Divizia A1st342149723346CEuropean CupR32Cămătaru231981–82Divizia A2nd342059672845R16European CupQFCârţu191982–83Divizia A2nd342068662946CUEFA CupSFCârţu191983–84Divizia A3rd341879572743R16UEFA CupR64Cămătaru171984–85Divizia A4th3417512614639FUEFA CupR16Cămătaru181985–86Divizia A3rd342068653646QFCup Winners' CupR16Bâcu251986–87Divizia A5th34111310403435QFUEFA CupR32Săndoi51987–88Divizia A5th3416414615136QFUEFA CupR64Ciurea151988–89Divizia A5th3415613525236R32Balkans CupGSSăndoi61989–90Divizia A3rd341969562744SFPavel Badea81990–91Divizia A1st342266742650CUEFA CupR32Săndoi, Ciurea131991–92Divizia A4th3414119382839SFEuropean CupR32Ciurea9 1992–13 Not involved in any competitions2013–14Liga II1st322075482367R64Curelea92014–15Liga I5th3414119403453QFLeague CupPOBawab92015–16Liga I8th4015916454454R32League CupPONuno Rocha82016–17Liga I5th3615714444052SFLeague CupPOIvan92017–18Liga I3rd3617127513663CEuropa LeagueQR3Mitriță12 Top scorers shown in italics with number of goals scored in bold are players who were also top scorers in Liga I that season.

Overall Seasons spent at Level 1 of the football league system: 31 Seasons spent at Level 2 of the football league system: 8 Seasons spent at Level 3 of the football league system: 2 Seasons spent in regional leagues: 6

Key

Key to league: Pos. = Final position Pl. = Played W = Games won D = Games drawn L = Games lost GF = Goals scored GA = Goals against Pts = Points

Key to rounds: C = Champion F = Final (Runner-up) SF = Semi-finals QF = Quarter-finals R16/R32 = Round of 16, round of 32, etc. 1R/2R = First round, second round, etc. 1Q/2Q = First qualifying round, second qualifying round, etc. QR = Qualifying rounds GS = Group stage PO = Play-off round

ChampionsRunners-up

References