CSM Unirea Alba Iulia

Clubul Sportiv Municipal Unirea Alba Iulia, commonly known as Unirea Alba Iulia (Romanian pronunciation: [uˈnire̯a ˌalba ˈjuli.a]), is a Romanian professional football club based in Alba Iulia, Alba County, founded in 1924 and currently playing in the Liga III.

CSM Unirea Alba Iulia

Full name	Clubul Sportiv Municipal Unirea Alba Iulia
Nickname(s)	Uniriștii Albaiulienii (The Alba Iulia People) Alb-negrii (The White and Blacks)
Short name	Unirea Alba Iulia
Founded	1924; 100 years ago (1924) as Unirea Mihai Viteazul 2014; 10 years ago (2014) (refounded)
Ground	Cetate
Capacity	18,000
Owners	Alba Iulia Municipality
Chairman	Mihai Dăscălescu
Manager	Alexandru Pelici
League	Liga III
2022–23	Liga III, Seria IX, 3rd
Website	Club website
Home colours Away colours

Among the greatest achievements of the team is a sixth place in the first league at the end of the 2003–04 season and a Romanian Cup semi-final played in 1991.

The team colours are black and white, and their stadium is called Cetate and has a capacity of 18,000 seats.

History

Name^[1]	Period
Unirea Mihai Viteazu	1924–1970
Unirea Alba Iulia	1970–1996
Apulum Alba Iulia	1996–2005
Unirea Alba Iulia	2005–present

Unirea Alba Iulia club was founded in 1924. In the beginning the team was called Unirea Mihai Viteazul Alba Iulia. After ten years, they managed to qualify and play in the second league where they managed to obtain the sixth place. They played in the second league until the year 1939 when they were relegated to the third league. In 1942, they returned to the second league where they played two seasons and then were relegated again. At the end of season 1946–1947 we find the team in the third league in a relegating position. From 1947 until 1970 the team plays in the regional championships, under the level of the first three leagues of Romanian professional football. In 1970 the team promotes to the third league. After nine seasons played in the third league, they managed to promote in the second league. In the season 1979–1980 the team finished in the first spot beyond the relegation line. They played another four years in the third league, after that, they promoted in the second league where they played for two years and were relegated again, and after another two years they promoted again. Between the years 1988–2003 they played in the second league. In the 1990–91 Cupa României edition the team reached the semi-finals and in the 1993–94 Divizia B season they placed themselves on the second position at only 7 points behind the first place FC Maramureş Baia Mare, both performances being obtained under coach Cornel Țălnar.^[2][3][4][5]

At the end of the 2002–2003 season of Divizia B, the team, which was renamed in the `90s Apulum Alba Iulia, manages to achieve the promotion to Liga I, where it plays for the very first time in its 80-year history. The coach who led the team was Aurel Șunda assisted by Alexandru Pelici.

Having experienced players like Ovidiu Maier, Vasile Jercălău, Dan Găldeanu, Florin Cotora, they confirmed their value and managed to place themselves on the sixth place in the first league. In the next season the team will change a lot of coaches, Stelian Gherman, Alexandru Pelici, Gheorghe Mulţescu, Marcel Rusu, Alin Artimon, in the hope that the team will keep their position in the first league, but without success. After a very weak season in the second league, the team was relegated again, this time to the third league. In the summer of 2006, the management of the club buys a place in the second league from Oltchim Râmnicu Vâlcea. The team returns to the name of Unirea Alba Iulia and finishes the 2006–2007 and 2007–2008 seasons on 4th.

The club withdrew from the 2012–13 Liga II season and ceased its activity for a year. In the summer of 2014 it enrolled in the Liga V for the 2014–15 season, after one season the club promoted in Liga IV.

On 25 August 2016, FRF invited the club to participate in the 2016–17 season of the Liga III. The club accepted.

In the summer of 2022, after being mathematically relegated to Liga IV but saved by the financial situation of other clubs, the team from Alba Iulia will continue to play in Liga III for another season, this time with the support of the municipality. The City Hall of Alba Iulia announced that in the Local Council on August 9, 2023 it was decided that AFC Unirea 1924 would be taken over and managed by Clubul Sportiv Municipal.

Stadium

 

Cetate Stadium in 2008.

The English translation of the name of the club's stadium is Citadel (Cetate), and it has a capacity of 18,000(7,000 sitting). The stadium was opened in 1982. For the moment the stadium belongs to the municipality, all investments are done with funds provided by it. The stadium has also a mini-hotel in which the players are accommodated, and also a running track.

Honours

Domestic

Leagues

• Liga I
  • Best finish 6th: 2003–04
• Liga II
  • Winners (2): 2002–03, 2008–09
  • Runners-up (1): 1993–94
• Liga III
  • Winners (3): 1978–79, 1983–84, 1987–88
  • Runners-up (1): 1981–82
• Liga IV – Alba County
  • Winners (2): 1968–69, 1969–70
• Liga V – Alba County
  • Winners (1): 2014–15

Cups

• Cupa României
  • Semi-finals: 1990–91

Players

First-team squad

As of 13 January 2024

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

No. Pos. Nation Player 1 GK   ROU Alexandru Stoian (on loan from Dinamo) 4 DF   ROU Ioan Grozav (Vice-Captain) 5 DF   ROU Emanuel Codrea 6 MF   ROU Alexandru Raicea 7 MF   ROU Andrei Roșu 8 MF   ROU Mario Boldea 10 MF   ROU Răzvan Fetița (Captain) 11 FW   ROU Darius Indrei 12 GK   ROU Andrei Raț 14 MF   ROU Călin Cristea 15 DF   ROU Paul Codrea

No. Pos. Nation Player 16 MF   ROU Andrei Bârdea 17 MF   ROU Marius Sebaș 18 DF   ROU Vlăduț Stanciu (on loan from Dinamo) 19 DF   ROU Denis Ciaun (on loan from Poli Iași) 20 MF   ROU George Mâlnă 21 DF   ROU Darius Nistor (on loan from U Cluj) 22 MF   ROU Florin Istrate 28 MF   ROU Ionuț Frăsineanu 30 DF   ROU Tudor Vomir (on loan from U Cluj) 77 MF   ROU Raul Nistor (on loan from U Cluj)

Out on loan

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

No. Pos. Nation Player}

No. Pos. Nation Player

Club Officials

Board of directors Role Name Owners   Alba Iulia Municipality President   Mihai Dăscălescu Sporting Director   Raul Oargă Delegate   Ioan Vlad

Current technical staff Role Name Manager   Alexandru Pelici Assistant Coaches   Cosmin Corovei   Mircea Oprea   Marcel Rusu Goalkeeping Coach   Petre Clep Fitness Coach   Bogdan Ungureanu

League history

Season Tier Division Place Cupa României 2023–24 3 Liga III (Seria IX) TBD 2022–23 3 Liga III (Seria IX) 3rd 2021–22 3 Liga III (Seria IX) 9th First Round 2020–21 3 Liga III (Seria IX) 7th 2019–20 3 Liga III (Seria V) 12th 2018–19 3 Liga III (Seria IV) 12th Round of 32 2017–18 3 Liga III (Seria V) 6th 2016–17 3 Liga III (Seria IV) 11th 2015–16 4 Liga IV 8th 2012–13 2 Liga II (Seria II) 13th (R) 2011–12 2 Liga II (Seria II) 9th 2010–11 2 Liga II (Seria II) 11th 2009–10 1 Liga I 18th (R) Round of 32 2008–09 2 Liga II (Seria II) 1st (C, P) 2007–08 2 Liga II (Seria II) 4th 2006–07 2 Liga II (Seria II) 4th Round of 16 2005–06 2 Divizia B (Seria III) 13th

Season Tier Division Place Cupa României 2004–05 1 Divizia A 14th (R) Round of 32 2003–04 1 Divizia A 6th Quarter-finals 2002–03 2 Divizia B (Seria II) 1st (C, P) 2001–02 2 Divizia B (Seria II) 7th 2000–01 2 Divizia B (Seria II) 9th 1999–00 2 Divizia B (Seria II) 7th 1998–99 2 Divizia B (Seria II) 14th 1997–98 2 Divizia B (Seria II) 14th Round of 16 1996–97 2 Divizia B (Seria II) 16th 1995–96 2 Divizia B (Seria II) 15th 1994–95 2 Divizia B (Seria II) 6th 1993–94 2 Divizia B (Seria II) 2nd 1992–93 2 Divizia B (Seria II) 9th 1991–92 2 Divizia B (Seria II) 7th Round of 16 1990–91 2 Divizia B (Seria III) 7th Semi-finals 1989–90 2 Divizia B (Seria II) 3rd Round of 32

Managers

•   Octavian Cojocaru
•   Ioan Ilie
•   Gheorghe Borugă
•   Alin Artimon
•   Gheorghe Mulțescu
•   Marcel Rusu
•   Stelian Gherman
•   Adrian Falub
•   Blaž Slišković
•   Alexandru Pelici
•   Aurel Şunda
•   Octavian Grigore

References

1. "Evolutia denumirilor echipelor de-a lungul anilor".
2. "Cornel Ţălnar, la Unirea Alba Iulia! De la vară, ca şi manager general" [Cornel Ţălnar, at Unirea Alba Iulia! Starting from the summer, as general manager] (in Romanian). Ziarulunirea.ro. 17 January 2018. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
3. "FOTO-VIDEO: Unirea Alba Iulia, 30 de ani de la semifinala de poveste din Cupa României, cu Universitatea Craiova!" [PHOTO-VIDEO: Unirea Alba Iulia, 30 years since the story semifinal of the Romanian Cup, with the Universitatea Craiova!] (in Romanian). Ziarulunirea.ro. 29 May 2021. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
4. "Ioan Mărginean "Limoniu", fundașul de fier al Unirii Alba Iulia: "Cârțu a recunoscut că i-a trecut glonțul pe la ureche"" [Ioan Mărginean "Limoniu", the iron defender of Unirea Alba Iulia: "Cârțu admitted that the bullet went past his ear"] (in Romanian). Ziarulunirea.ro. 7 June 2021. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
5. "FOTO-VIDEO, Gică Bran: "Unirea Alba Iulia se lua la trântă cu oricine din Divizia A! Am dovedit cu Steaua și Craiova, în Cupă!"" [PHOTO-VIDEO, Gică Bran: "Unirea Alba Iulia was fighting with anyone from Division A! We proved it with Steaua and Craiova, in the Cup!"] (in Romanian). Ziarulunirea.ro. 9 June 2021. Retrieved 15 November 2021.

• Romanian Soccer

External links

• Official website