FC Botoșani

Fotbal Club Botoșani (), commonly known as FC Botoșani or simply Botoșani, is a Romanian professional football club based in the city of Botoșani, Botoșani County, that competes in the Liga I.

In 2013, twelve years after being established, FC Botoșani became the first team from its county to be promoted to the top tier of the Romanian league system. It recorded its first European appearance in the 2015–16 UEFA Europa League season.

''Botoșănenii'' play in predominantly white home kits, while their away equipment is generally blue. Their home ground is the 7,782-seater Municipal stadium.

History

Predecessors

Before World War II, the main local team of the city of Botoșani was ''Venus''. After the war ended, 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 renamed ''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.

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.

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''.

Founding and early years (2001–2013)

The new Fotbal Club Botoșani was founded in 2001 by Salavastru and Sfaițer, with support from the local council, and started in Divizia C. 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.

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.

Promotion to the first division and recent history (2013–present)

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. 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.

FC Botoșani started the next 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 several clubs failed to obtain UEFA licences. After a 4–4 draw with Viitorul Constanța, Botoșani again finished in eighth place.

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 Spartaki Tskhinvali to advance to the next round, where they met Legia Warsaw.

After their first qualification in the championship play-offs, FC Botoșani finished the 2019–20 season on the 4th place, thus achieving their best Liga I performance and, once again, qualifying for UEFA Europa League after 5 years since their last participation. They netted a 2–1 away victory against Kazakh side Ordabasy in the first round, before eventually being eliminated by Shkëndija of North Macedonia after a 0–1 home loss in the second round.

Stadium

FC Botoșani plays its home matches at the Botoșani Municipal Stadium. It is located near the centre of the city, has a capacity of 7,782 seats and is equipped with an all-weather running track.

Support

The ultras of FC Botoșani are organized under the name of ''Dark Hooligans'', ''Renegații'' and ''BT Pride''.

Rivalries

The main rivalry of Botoșani is with Foresta Suceava, but they recently developed a rivalry with Politehnica Iași.

Honours

Domestic

Leagues

*Liga II
**Winners (1): 2012–13
*Liga III
**Winners (1): 2003–04
**Runners-up (1): 2001-02

Players

First team squad

Out on loan

Club officials

Board of directors

* Last updated: 6 September 2022
* Source:

Current technical staff

* Last updated: 11 December 2022
* Source:Technical staff
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Records and statistics

European Cups history

;Notes
* 1Q: First qualifying round
* 2Q: Second qualifying round
* 3Q: Third qualifying round
* PO: Play-off round

European cups all-time statistics

League history

Notable former players

The footballers enlisted below have had international cap(s) for their respective countries at junior and/or senior level and/or more than 50 caps for FC Botoșani.

;Romania
* Florin Acsinte
* Gabriel Vașvari
* Andrei Miron
* Ștefan Apostol
* Andrei Burcă
* Valeriu Bordeanu
* Mihai Bordeianu
* Laurențiu Buș
* Andrei Chindriș
* Marius Croitoru
* István Fülöp
* Lóránd Fülöp
* Cătălin Golofca
* Attila Hadnagy
* Olimpiu Moruțan
* Paul Papp
* Răzvan Tincu
* Nicolae Mușat
* Ciprian Dinu
* Vasile Curileac
* Stelian Cucu
* Florin Plămadă
* George Cârjan
* Alberto Cobrea
* Răzvan Oaidă
* Paul Batin
* Andrei Dumitraș
* Denis Haruț
* Bogdan Racovițan
* David Lazar
* Eduard Florescu
;Albania
* Enriko Papa
* Realdo Fili

;Argentina
* Jonathan Rodríguez
;Bulgaria
* Radoslav Dimitrov
* Plamen Iliev
;Cameroon
* Michael Ngadeu-Ngadjui
* Joyskim Dawa
;Croatia
* Marko Dugandžić
;Curaçao
* Quenten Martinus
;France
* Hamidou Keyta
* Hervin Ongenda
;Germany
* Reagy Ofosu
* Christopher Braun
;Greece
* Aristidis Soiledis
;Italy
* Diego Fabbrini
;Lithuania
* Deivydas Matulevičius
;North Macedonia
* Stefan Ashkovski
;Syria
* Mahmoud Al-Mawas

Notable former managers

* Liviu Ciobotariu
* Marius Croitoru
* Costel Enache
* Leontin Grozavu
* Cristian Pustai
* Cristian Popovici

References

External links

*
*

Club profile on UEFA's official website

Club profile on LPF's official website

{{DEFAULTSORT:Botosani

Football clubs in Botoșani County
Botoșani
Association football clubs established in 2001
Liga I clubs
Liga II clubs
Liga III clubs
2001 establishments in Romania