History of Universitatea Craiova (football)
Generally considered the same entity with the old club, FC U continued its tradition for the next two decades, but was reorganised several times and retroactively deemed an unofficial successor.
Most notably, under the ownership of Adrian Mititelu [ro], FC Universitatea was disaffiliated by the Romanian Football Federation in 2012, following their temporary banishment since July 2011, and consequently retired from every competition.
In 2013, the sports club refounded its football department,[2] which asserts the history and trophies of the original Universitatea Craiova.
CS Universitatea Craiova has in truth been backed up by some court orders and the Liga Profesionistă de Fotbal, but the record remains subject of legal dispute with the also reestablished FC U team and uncertainty persists.
[8] Under the coordination of the Ministry of Public Education and of the National Union of Students in Romania, the football team UNSR Craiova (Uniunea Națională a Studenților din România) was formed and enrolled in the county championship.
This 'historical act' was 'signed' by the head coach Nicolae Oțeleanu and following players: Dumitrescu, Vasilescu, Geleriu, Lungan, Deliu, Bărbulescu, Tetea, Ganga, Anton, Lovin, Onea, Vişan, Stanciu, Papuc, C.Stesnescu, A.Stenescu.
The end of the next season found Știința ranked 8th, in the middle of the standing, and they were already putting the first bases of a team able to issue claims to the title.
[11] Craiova started the 70's with a team built around Ion Oblemenco and with players of a certain value as: Petre Deselnicu, Teodor Țarălungă, Lucian Strâmbeanu or Dumitru Marcu, among others.
This season remained in the history as the season of the birth of the nickname: "the Champion of a Great Love", a nickname created by the poet Adrian Păunescu, a big fan of the team from Bănie, he named Dinamo only as the champion of the country, indicating somewhat the suspicious circumstances, in which it was said, that Craiova lost the title.
The achievement was more fabulous as Dinamo was considered as a spoiled team of the communist regime, which often influenced the results as well and also after the last season's incidents, Universitatea was increasingly seen as a representative of the people, of the simple man, in the struggle with the communist regime, of pure football and football played on the pitch against the one dominated by arrangements and influences, so the Champion of a Great Love phrase has gained increasing power, including in the years to come.
[13] The historical squad that won the first title was coached by Constantin Cernăianu and Constantin Oțet and had the following players included: Oprea, Manta – Niculescu, Bădin, Deselnicu, Velea, Strâmbeanu, Ivan, Niță, Balaci, Berneanu, Țarălungă, Oblemenco, Bălan, Pană, Boc, Ștefănescu, Marcu, Stăncescu, Kiss, Chivu, Negrilă and Constantinescu.
[8] Followed a 1974–75 season that brought the first UEFA European Cup presence, a double match against Swedish team Åtvidaberg, lost 3–4 on aggregate, but a decent 3rd place at the end of the championship.
With the generation exchange made, Universitatea continued to impress in 1978 by defending his Romanian Cup trophy, won a year ago, this time against Olimpia Satu Mare and a 6th place in the league.
Squad: Boldici, Lung – Negrilă, Tilihoi, Ștefănescu, Ungureanu, Balaci, Beldeanu, Crişan, Donose, Cămătaru, Geolgău, Cârțu, Irimescu, Purima and Ciupitu – coaches Valentin Stănescu and Ion Oblemenco.
[8] In this formula Universitatea made a great UEFA Cup campaign by eliminating Wiener SC and Leeds United until was hardly stopped in the third round by German side Borussia Mönchengladbach, 1–2 on aggregate.
Under the management of Constantin Oțet and Nicolae Ivan the white and blues took out important names in European football, such as Fiorentina (Serie A runners-up), Bordeaux and Kaiserslautern.
Popescu, Mogoşanu, Ciurea, Olaru, Cristescu, Zamfir, Badea, Pigulea, Agalliu, Craioveanu and Neagoe were the last players that have kissed the championship trophy.
On 14 August 2013, CS Universitatea Craiova was provisionally affiliated to the Romanian Football Federation, following complications with licensing file.
The comeback brought an important opponent in the third qualifying round of the UEFA Europa League, Italian side A.C. Milan, Craiova leaving the competition after 0–3 on aggregate.
