Fotbal Club Politehnica Timișoara (), commonly known as Politehnica Timișoara or simply Poli Timișoara, was a Romanian
football
Football is a family of team sports that involve, to varying degrees, kick (football), kicking a football (ball), ball to score a goal (sports), goal. Unqualified, football (word), the word ''football'' generally means the form of football t ...
club from
Timișoara
Timișoara (, , ; , also or ; ; ; see #Etymology, other names) is the capital city of Timiș County, Banat, and the main economic, social and cultural center in Western Romania. Located on the Bega (Tisza), Bega River, Timișoara is consider ...
,
Timiș County
Timiș () is a county (''județ'') of western Romania on the border with Hungary and Serbia, in the historical regions of Romania, historical region of Banat, with the county seat at Timișoara. It is the westernmost and the largest county in Ro ...
, established in 1921
and dissolved in 2012. During its existence, the team won two
Cupa României
The Cupa României () is a Association football, football cup competition for List of football clubs in Romania, Romanian teams which has been held annually since 1933–34 Cupa României, 1933–34, except during World War II. It is the Romania ...
trophies and was twice runner-up in the
Liga I
Liga I (; ''First League''), also spelled as Liga 1 and officially known as SuperLiga for sponsorship reasons, is a professional association football league in Romania and the highest level of the Romanian football league system. Contested by 1 ...
. It amassed 49 seasons in the latter competition.
Named after and initially run by the
Polytechnic University of Timișoara, the club was founded in 1921 by mathematician
Traian Lalescu. After two decades spent in the regional leagues, Politehnica promoted to the top flight in 1948. It claimed its first trophy in the
1957–58 season, when it defeated
Progresul București in the national cup final. Internationally, "the White-Violets" made their
European debut in the
1978–79 UEFA Cup
The 1978–79 UEFA Cup was the eighth season of the UEFA Cup, the third-tier club football competition organised by UEFA. The final was played over two legs at the Red Star Stadium, Belgrade, Yugoslavia, and at the Rheinstadion, Düsseldorf, W ...
, when they went past
MTK Hungária in the first round.
Politehnica obtained its highest result in the national championship after finishing second in the
2008–09 Liga I
The 2008–09 Liga I was the ninety-first season of Liga I, the top-level football league of Romania. Season began on 26 July 2008 and ended on 10 June 2009. CFR Cluj were the defending champions.
Teams
Promoted
Teams promoted from Liga II at ...
. It repeated the performance in the
2010–11 season, but was relegated after not being able to obtain a new participation license due to unpaid debts, and was eventually dissolved in 2012.
Following Politehnica Timișoara's dissolution, two entities claimed to be its moral successors—
ACS Poli Timișoara
Asociația Club Sportiv Poli Timișoara (), commonly known as ACS Poli Timișoara, Poli Timișoara or simply ACS Poli, was a Romanian professional football club based in the city of Timișoara, Timiș County.
The team was founded in 2012, the ye ...
and
SSU Politehnica Timișoara
Societatea Sportivă Universitară Politehnica Timișoara (), commonly known as SSU Politehnica Timișoara, Politehnica Timișoara or simply Poli Timișoara, is a Romanian professional Association football, football Club (organization), club bas ...
. The Polytechnic University, the owner of the brand and all of FC Politehnica records, ceased these for free use to ACS Poli between 2012 and 2021, but then moved them to SSU Politehnica starting from 2021. SSU also inherited the old club's fanbase since inception.
History
Beginnings and lower leagues (1921–1945)
The club was founded in 1921 by the
Polytechnic University of Timișoara under the name Societatea Sportivă Politehnica.
Its initial aim was to provide an opportunity for university students to work on their fitness within a competitive environment. The logistics of the sport proved problematic, as there were limited financial means available. Thanks to contributions gathered from university professors and employees, the club bought their first football kits, with white-black vertical stripes, and rented the "Patria" football stadium. It was not until 1928 that the club developed its own training grounds, "Politehnica", which were built by volunteers. Players for the team were chosen on merit from the pool of Timișoara students and high-schoolers, who trained after school hours during the week and played football on weekends. The football landscape in the city was already developed at that time, with
CAT
The cat (''Felis catus''), also referred to as the domestic cat or house cat, is a small domesticated carnivorous mammal. It is the only domesticated species of the family Felidae. Advances in archaeology and genetics have shown that the ...
,
RGMT and
Chinezul Timișoara
Chinezul Timișoara was a football club that played both in the Romanian and the Hungarian championship during its existence. It was based in Timișoara, Romania (at the time of foundation Temesvár, Austria-Hungary).
History
The club was establ ...
dominating locally.
[
After spending three years in the District Championships II, Politehnica won promotion to the first tier in 1924, by defeating Kadima Timișoara. In 1926, Austrian coach of Italian origin, Tony Cargnelli came to train CAT, but he also worked as a volunteer for Politehnica, thus becoming the first coach of the club.] He managed both clubs including when they played against each other, after Politehnica's 3–0 win over CA from 1927 in the District Championships I, the ''Universul'' newspaper wrote: "The people of Timișoara
Timișoara (, , ; , also or ; ; ; see #Etymology, other names) is the capital city of Timiș County, Banat, and the main economic, social and cultural center in Western Romania. Located on the Bega (Tisza), Bega River, Timișoara is consider ...
had the opportunity to see a beautiful game between two teams that each in their own way showed what they owed to the joint coach Cargnelli".[ Cargnelli finished the 1926–27 District Championships I with CA on the fifth place and with Politehnica on the second with 23 points, just one below first place Chinezul Timișoara who qualified to the ]national championship
A national championship(s) is the top achievement for any sport or competition, contest within a league of a particular nation or nation state. The title is usually awarded by contests, ranking systems, stature, ability, etc. This determines the be ...
.[ The club became established in the years to come, even finishing 2nd in the 1926–27 District Championships I, when Politehnica lost out to Chinezul by a single point, who were one of Romania's most famous football names at the time. However, the competitive level could not be easily sustained by a university club, as it was subject to the inflow and outflow of players conditioned by their student status. After a decline towards the end of the decade, the low-point came at the beginning of the 1930s, between 1931 and 1933, when due to insufficient material resources, Politehnica had to suspend its football activities.][ It reappeared in 1934 but remained a modest club, with mid-table classifications in the District Championships I, as well as the ]Divizia C
The Liga 3, most often spelled as Liga III, is the third level of the Romanian football league system. It was founded in 1936 and was called Divizia C until 2006. An exception was the seasons 1992–93 to 1996–97, in which the league was call ...
and Divizia B
The Liga 2, most commonly spelled as Liga II, is the second level of the Romanian football league system. The league changed its name from Divizia B just before the start of the 2006–07 football season. It is currently sponsored by Casa Pariu ...
, once they were founded. As war beckoned, the national championships were suspended and all football activities reduced to friendly matches and the "Cupa Eroilor" (1943–44).
Until the second World War, Politehnica was far from the number one Timișoara football club. Chinezul and then Ripensia won multiple Romanian championships, whereas the students' club failed to achieve similar results. It did, however, propel several players to the Romania national football team
The Romania national football team () represents Romania in men's international Association football, football, and is administered by the Romanian Football Federation (), also known as FRF. They are colloquially known as ''Tricolorii'' ("the T ...
, with the likes of Sfera
SFera is a science fiction society from Zagreb, Croatia. It was founded in 1976, thus marking the beginnings of organized science fiction fandom in the region.
SFera is the official organizer of SFeraKon, an annual Croatian science fiction conve ...
, Ignuţa, Deheleanu, Chiroiu, Pop
Pop or POP may refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media
* Pop music, a musical genre
Artists
* POP, a Japanese idol group now known as Gang Parade
* Pop! (British group), a UK pop group
* Pop! featuring Angie Hart, an Australian band
Album ...
, Protopopescu and Sepi
The State Company for Industrial Investments (, SEPI) is a Spanish state-owned holding company that is characterized as a sovereign wealth fund. It is part of the Ministry of Finance.
SEPI was preceded by the Instituto Nacional de Industria (IN ...
all wearing the national jerseys.
Becoming one of the city's notable clubs (1945–1991)
With Romania under a communist regime, these decades were a challenge for Politehnica, as the club represented an educational institution of the highest tier. The numerous promotions and relegations between the first two national leagues were contrasted by the two Romanian cups won and the club's first forays into international football.[
Politehnica was first promoted to Romanian top league, the ]Divizia A
Liga I (; ''First League''), also spelled as Liga 1 and officially known as SuperLiga for sponsorship reasons, is a professional association football league in Romania and the highest level of the Romanian football league system. Contested by 1 ...
, in 1948, and played under the name CSU Timișoara in the first season. Shortly thereafter (from 1950), the club was renamed Știința Timișoara, in line with the desired nomenclature of the times. In spite of suffering its first relegation in 1951, the decade was an unusually consistent one, with the club returning swiftly to the top division and staying there until the season 1959. The high-point of the Ştiinţa years was winning the 1957–58 Romanian Cup, a 1–0 victory against Progresul București, with the club finishing joint first in the league in the same season, but losing out on goal difference.[
The next decade saw the club struggle to remain in the first league, particularly towards the end of the 60s. However, it was then that the club's modern identity started taking shape. Firstly, in 1963, the largest stadium in Timişoara was completed. It was initially named "1 Mai", honoring the socialist workers' day, before being renamed several times in the 90s and finally settling on Stadionul Dan Păltinişanu.][ Secondly, the club reverted to its previous name of ''Politehnica Timișoara''] in 1966 and went to play during the next five decades on the then-erected stadium.[
When Politehnica returned to the first league in 1973, after struggling to win promotion for several years, it went on to celebrate one of its best streaks in the top flight. With the likes of Emeric Dembrovschi and Dan Păltinişanu in the team, who both played for Romania and went on to become some of the most capped players in the club's history, and under the management of prof. Ion V. Ionescu, Politehnica lost that season's cup final. After managing a third place in the league with manager ]Angelo Niculescu
Angelo Niculescu (1 October 1921 – 20 June 2015) was a Romanian football player and manager. He is best remembered in Romania for being the national team's coach at the 1970 World Cup and for inventing the "temporizare" ("delaying") tactics ...
in 1978, Politehnica took part in a continental competition for the first time. It was the 1978–79 UEFA Cup
The 1978–79 UEFA Cup was the eighth season of the UEFA Cup, the third-tier club football competition organised by UEFA. The final was played over two legs at the Red Star Stadium, Belgrade, Yugoslavia, and at the Rheinstadion, Düsseldorf, W ...
, where ''Poli'' defeated MTK Budapest
Magyar Testgyakorlók Köre (Hungarian for "Hungarian Circle of Physical Practitioners") is a multi-sports club from Budapest, founded in 1888. It has sections for football, handball, basketball, volleyball, futsal, ice hockey, water polo, cycl ...
(2–0 and 1–2), before going down to Honved Budapest (2–0 and 0–4) in the second round.
The club remained steady and managed to win its second cup trophy the following season, by beating Steaua București with 2–1, after extra time. Politehnica thereby qualified for the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup
The UEFA Cup Winners' Cup was a European association football, football club competition contested annually by the winners of domestic cup competitions. The competition's official name was originally the European Cup Winners' Cup; it was renam ...
, where it managed to eliminate Celtic Glasgow
The Celtic Football Club, commonly known as Celtic (), is a professional Association football, football club in Glasgow, Scotland. The team competes in the Scottish Premiership, the top division of Scottish football league system, Scottish ...
(1–0 and 1–2), before being defeated by West Ham United
West Ham United Football Club is a professional Association football, football club based in Stratford, London, Stratford, East London, England. The club competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football league system, English f ...
(1–0 and 0–4) in second leg. In spite of losing another Romanian Cup final in 1981, the club qualified once more for the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup, where they lost to Leipzig
Leipzig (, ; ; Upper Saxon: ; ) is the most populous city in the States of Germany, German state of Saxony. The city has a population of 628,718 inhabitants as of 2023. It is the List of cities in Germany by population, eighth-largest city in Ge ...
2–5 on aggregate.
After being relegated in 1983, Politehnica yo-yo-ed between Divizia A and the Divizia B
The Liga 2, most commonly spelled as Liga II, is the second level of the Romanian football league system. The league changed its name from Divizia B just before the start of the 2006–07 football season. It is currently sponsored by Casa Pariu ...
, with promotions in 1984, 1987, 1989 and relegations in 1986 and 1988. Fans ironically called this period as the 'ABBA years'. As the Romanian Revolution, which started in Timișoara, signalled the end of an era, Politehnica managed to grab its most impressive result yet in European competitions, by eliminating Atlético Madrid
Club Atlético de Madrid, S.A.D. (; meaning "Athletic Club of Madrid"), commonly referred to as Atlético Madrid or simply Atlético, is a Spanish professional football club based in Madrid that plays in La Liga. The club play their home game ...
(2–0 and 0–1) in the 1990–91 UEFA Cup
The 1990–91 UEFA Cup was the 20th season of the UEFA Cup, the secondary club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA). The final was played over two legs at San Siro, Milan, Italy, and at the Stadio ...
.
After privatisation (1991–2001)
By state order, all public institutions were forced to relinquish and reorganize any owned sports clubs in 1991, to effectively privatize them. As a result, alongside the newly organized football club appeared a non-profit association, AFC Politehnica Timișoara. The latter, consisting of previous club players and staff, was mandated with owning and protecting the club records and intellectual property.
The club's swan song near the top of Romanian football for the next decade was to be the 1991–92 season. Poli finished 5th and also reached the Romanian Cup final, only to lose it on penalties against Steaua București. The consequent participation in the 1992–93 UEFA Cup
The 1992–93 UEFA Cup was the 22nd season of Europe's then-tertiary club football tournament organised by UEFA. The final was played over two legs at Westfalenstadion, Dortmund, Germany, and at Stadio Delle Alpi, Turin, Italy. The competiti ...
, saw the club draw against Real Madrid
Real Madrid Club de Fútbol (), commonly referred to as Real Madrid, is a Spanish professional Football club (association football), football club based in Madrid. The club competes in La Liga, th ...
(1–1 in Timișoara), before being defeated in the return leg (0–4). Politehnica lost several key players in the years after the forced privatization, which slowly lead to the team's downfall. In fewer than twenty four months from their draw against Real, the club was relegated to the Divizia B
The Liga 2, most commonly spelled as Liga II, is the second level of the Romanian football league system. The league changed its name from Divizia B just before the start of the 2006–07 football season. It is currently sponsored by Casa Pariu ...
in 1994. Despite a fast return to the first league in 1995, Poli failed to consolidate their position and were soon relegated once more after the 1996–97 season.
An inability to rebound lead to mounting financial pressures. The club was temporarily owned by a Timișoara based businessman between 1998 and 2000, before the local authorities accepted the bid of an Italian investor, Claudio Zambon, to take over Politehnica.[ Despite an initial financial outlay, Poli finished 15th and was relegated to the third league, Divizia C, where it had last played in 1938. To avoid such an outcome, Zambon and the local authorities struck a deal with a league two club, Dacia Pitești, and purchased their license to participate in the Divizia B.][ After failing to earn promotion to top flight, the 2001–02 season posed an insurmountable challenge for Politehnica. Zambon's departure following disagreements with the local authorities meant the club found itself in dire financial straits.][ Forced to use mostly youth players, Politehnica finished the season dead last, with one win and four draws to its name, but negative eight points in the standings, due to unpaid debts. Once again the club was bound to be relegated to the third division.][
]
Identity crisis, glory years and downfall (2002–2012)
In 2002, AEK Bucharest were promoted to Liga I
Liga I (; ''First League''), also spelled as Liga 1 and officially known as SuperLiga for sponsorship reasons, is a professional association football league in Romania and the highest level of the Romanian football league system. Contested by 1 ...
, Romanian football's top division, for the first time, whereupon Anton Doboș, the club's owner, moved it to Timișoara.[ It was renamed Politehnica AEK Timișoara after merging with CSU Politehnica, a club owned and run by the Politehnica University, and received the full support of local authorities and white-purple fans. After a rocky first season, which required a spectacular relegation play-off against Gloria Buzău to avoid demotion, Poli AEK consolidated during the next season, finishing on a safe mid-table position. Moreover, starting with the 2004–05 season, the team changed its name to FCU Politehnica Timișoara, trying to reestablish its former identity.
Financially difficulties looming, Politehnica changed ownership once more. Former president Anton Doboș stayed on at the club for another year in a new position, while Balkan Petroleum Ltd., owned by Marian Iancu, took full charge. Significant investments in the transfer market transformed the club overnight, as it received the nickname "EuroPoli" for its newly found ambitions to reach the top of Romanian football.][
During the takeover by Marian Iancu, a dispute regarding the proprietary rights for the club name, colors and records arose. After prolonged litigation, Politehnica was forced to change its name to FC Timișoara, following a decision by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.][ It was deemed that the colors and records dating before 2002 were lost in favor of former Politehnica Timișoara owner, Claudio Zambon.][ The Italian had struck a deal with AFC Politehnica, the non-profit association which owned said proprietary items, when he left Timișoara during the 2001–02 season.][
Results on the pitch improved immediately after the takeover, but a leap to the Liga 1 podium proved elusive until 2008–09, when Politehnica finished runner-up, a feat repeated two seasons later. The club did, however, rejoin European football the season before that by qualifying for the ]UEFA Cup
The asterisk ( ), from Late Latin , from Ancient Greek , , "little star", is a Typography, typographical symbol. It is so called because it resembles a conventional image of a star (heraldry), heraldic star.
Computer scientists and Mathematici ...
– sixteen years after its last appearance against Atletico Madrid. More European appearances followed, culminating with the qualification for the 3rd preliminary round of the 2009–10 UEFA Champions League. The team defeated the reigning UEFA Cup champions Shakhtar Donetsk
Football Club Shakhtar Donetsk () is a Ukrainian professional Association football, football club that was based in the city of Donetsk until 2014 when, due to the War in Donbas (2014–2022), War in Donbas, the club was forced to move to Lvi ...
, but were eliminated from the competition during the playoff round, which still meant the club would take part in the 2009–10 UEFA Europa League
The 2009–10 UEFA Europa League was the first season of the UEFA Europa League, Europe's secondary club football tournament organised by UEFA. The competition was previously known as the UEFA Cup, which had been in existence for 38 years.
Spai ...
group stage.
In November 2010, the Romanian Court of Appeal returned Politehnica's name, colors and records to FC Timișoara.[
Despite finishing second in the ]2010–11 Liga I
The 2010–11 Liga I was the ninety-third season of the top-level football league of Romania. The season commenced on 23 July 2010 and ended on 21 May 2011. A winter break where no matches were played was held between 11 December 2010 and 18 Fe ...
, the team was relegated to Liga II
The Liga 2, most commonly spelled as Liga II, is the second level of the Romanian football league system. The league changed its name from Divizia B just before the start of the 2006–07 Liga II, 2006–07 football season. It is currently Sponso ...
after the club failed to meet the requirements for obtaining the necessary licence to play in the first division.[ They played in the ]2011–12 Liga II
The 2011–12 Liga II was the 72nd season of the Liga II, the second tier of the Romanian football league system. The league structure had two series of 16 teams each. The first two teams in each series were promoted and the last three in each ser ...
under the name of Politehnica Timișoara, and gained promotion back to the Liga I
Liga I (; ''First League''), also spelled as Liga 1 and officially known as SuperLiga for sponsorship reasons, is a professional association football league in Romania and the highest level of the Romanian football league system. Contested by 1 ...
but were again denied the licence and were dissolved in September 2012.[ ]ACS Recaș
ACS or Acs may refer to:
Aviation
* ACS-3, the military version of Raybird-3, a Ukrainian UAV
* Aerial Common Sensor, a Lockheed Martin reconnaissance aircraft airframe for the US Army and Navy
* Air Cess, a cargo airline based in Sharjah, Unit ...
was moved to Timișoara
Timișoara (, , ; , also or ; ; ; see #Etymology, other names) is the capital city of Timiș County, Banat, and the main economic, social and cultural center in Western Romania. Located on the Bega (Tisza), Bega River, Timișoara is consider ...
and was renamed ACS Poli Timișoara
Asociația Club Sportiv Poli Timișoara (), commonly known as ACS Poli Timișoara, Poli Timișoara or simply ACS Poli, was a Romanian professional football club based in the city of Timișoara, Timiș County.
The team was founded in 2012, the ye ...
but the fans decided to support the amateur team ASU Politehnica Timișoara, considering ACS Poli Timișoara to be a fraud and a political maneuver.[
The ]Romanian Football Federation
The Romanian Football Federation (; FRF) is the governing body of football in Romania. They are headquartered in the capital city of Bucharest and affiliated with FIFA and UEFA since 1923 and 1955 respectively. The Federation organizes the men's ...
announced before the start of the 2021–22 Liga II
The 2021–22 Liga II (also known as 2021–22 Liga II Casa Pariurilor) was the 82nd season of the Liga II, the second tier of the Romanian football league system. A total of 20 teams contested the league.
It was the sixth Liga II season with a s ...
championship, that the Polytechnic University of Timișoara, the owner of the logo, history and all of Politehnica Timișoara's football records, approves the use of these by SSU Politehnica Timișoara
Societatea Sportivă Universitară Politehnica Timișoara (), commonly known as SSU Politehnica Timișoara, Politehnica Timișoara or simply Poli Timișoara, is a Romanian professional Association football, football Club (organization), club bas ...
.[ So from a legal point of view, from now on, this team will be considered as the official and legal successor of the old FC Politehnica Timișoara team.][
]
Support
Historically, Poli has been the most prominent football club in Timișoara after 1945, playing consistently in either the first or the second tier of Romanian football. Local rivalries with CFR Timișoara and UM Timișoara were relevant until the early 2000s. Afterwards, the former was relegated to a semi-professional status in the lower leagues and the latter was dissolved in 2008.
Nationally, Politehnica Timișoara's most important rivalries were the ones with Dinamo București A dynamo is a magnetic device originally used as an electric generator.
Dynamo or Dinamo may also refer to:
Places
* Dinamo (Moscow Metro), a station of the Moscow Metro, Moscow, Russia
* Dinamo (Yekaterinburg Metro), a station of the Yekaterin ...
and UTA Arad
Asociația Fotbal Club UTA Arad (), commonly known as UTA Arad or simply UTA (''Uzina Textilă Arad''; ), is a Romanian professional football club based in the city of Arad, Arad County that competes in the Liga I.
The team was founded in 1945 ...
. The cities of Timișoara and Arad are located in proximity of each other in the western part of Romania; Both cities also claim to be the first place where football was played in the country. Poli fans, which now support ASU Politehnica Timișoara, had a friendly relationship with the supporters of Rapid București
Rapid(s) or RAPID may refer to:
Hydrological features
* Rapids, sections of a river with turbulent water flow
* Rapid Creek (Iowa River tributary), Iowa, United States
* Rapid Creek (South Dakota), United States, namesake of Rapid City
Sport ...
and Borussia Mönchengladbach
Borussia Verein für Leibesübungen 1900 e.V. Mönchengladbach, better known as Borussia Mönchengladbach () and colloquially known as just Gladbach, is a professional Association football, football club based in Mönchengladbach, North Rhine-W ...
.[ ]
Honours
Domestic
*Liga I
Liga I (; ''First League''), also spelled as Liga 1 and officially known as SuperLiga for sponsorship reasons, is a professional association football league in Romania and the highest level of the Romanian football league system. Contested by 1 ...
**Runners-up (2): 2008–09, 2010–11
1 (one, unit, unity) is a number, numeral, and glyph. It is the first and smallest positive integer of the infinite sequence of natural numbers. This fundamental property has led to its unique uses in other fields, ranging from science to sp ...
*Liga II
The Liga 2, most commonly spelled as Liga II, is the second level of the Romanian football league system. The league changed its name from Divizia B just before the start of the 2006–07 Liga II, 2006–07 football season. It is currently Sponso ...
**Winners (10): 1947–48, 1952
Events January–February
* January 26 – Cairo Fire, Black Saturday in Kingdom of Egypt, Egypt: Rioters burn Cairo's central business district, targeting British and upper-class Egyptian businesses.
* February 6
** Princess Elizabeth, ...
, 1959–60, 1964–65, 1972–73
Year 197 ( CXCVII) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Magius and Rufinus (or, less frequently, year 950 ''Ab urbe condita''). The denomination 197 for this y ...
, 1983–84, 1986–87, 1988–89, 1994–95, 2011–12
**Runners-up: 1970–71
*Cupa României
The Cupa României () is a Association football, football cup competition for List of football clubs in Romania, Romanian teams which has been held annually since 1933–34 Cupa României, 1933–34, except during World War II. It is the Romania ...
**Winners (2): 1957–58, 1979–80
**Runners-up (6): 1973–74, 1980–81, 1982–83, 1991–92, 2006–07, 2008–09
European record
Notable wins
Players
Most capped players
Notable former players
Former managers
* Tony Cargnelli (1926–1927)
* Rudolf Bürger
Rudolf Bürger (31 October 1908 – 20 January 1980) was a Romanian international footballer and coach of German ethnicity.
He is one of a few men who participated in each of the three pre-World War II FIFA World Cups. At club level, he play ...
(1942–1946)
* Ion Lăpușneanu
Ion "Jean" Lăpușneanu (8 December 1908 – 24 February 1994) was a Romanian Association football, football Goalkeeper (association football), goalkeeper.
Club career
Ion Lăpușneanu was born on 8 December 1908 in Bucharest, Romania, starting ...
(1948–1949)
* Vasile Deheleanu
Vasile Deheleanu (12 August 1910 – 30 April 2003) was a Romanian footballer who played in midfield and coach.
Club career
Vasile Deheleanu was born on 12 August 1910 in Temesvár, Austria-Hungary, growing up in the Mehala neighborhood. He ...
(1950)
* Rudolf Bürger
Rudolf Bürger (31 October 1908 – 20 January 1980) was a Romanian international footballer and coach of German ethnicity.
He is one of a few men who participated in each of the three pre-World War II FIFA World Cups. At club level, he play ...
(1950)
* Eugen Mladin (1954)
* Vasile Deheleanu
Vasile Deheleanu (12 August 1910 – 30 April 2003) was a Romanian footballer who played in midfield and coach.
Club career
Vasile Deheleanu was born on 12 August 1910 in Temesvár, Austria-Hungary, growing up in the Mehala neighborhood. He ...
(1955–1956)
* Dincă Schileru (1958)
* Vasile Deheleanu
Vasile Deheleanu (12 August 1910 – 30 April 2003) was a Romanian footballer who played in midfield and coach.
Club career
Vasile Deheleanu was born on 12 August 1910 in Temesvár, Austria-Hungary, growing up in the Mehala neighborhood. He ...
(1958–1959)
* Nicolae Reuter (1961)
* Vasile Gain (1961–1962)
* Coloman Braun-Bogdan (1962–1963)
* Nicolae Reuter (1963–1964)
* Colea Vâlcov
Nicolae 'Colea' Vâlcov (23 February 1909 – 31 March 1970) was a Romanian football player and manager.
Vâlcov was born in Bolgrad, Russian Empire. He was part of the famous offensive line of Venus București in the 1930s, together with his ...
(1964)
* Nicolae Godeanu (1967–1968)
* Stere Zeană (1968)
* Gheorghe Drăghiescu (1969)
* Ion V. Ionescu (1972–1975)
* Constantin Rădulescu (1975–1977)
* Angelo Niculescu
Angelo Niculescu (1 October 1921 – 20 June 2015) was a Romanian football player and manager. He is best remembered in Romania for being the national team's coach at the 1970 World Cup and for inventing the "temporizare" ("delaying") tactics ...
(1977–1979)
* Constantin Rădulescu (1979)
* Ion V. Ionescu (1980–1981)
* Marcel Pigulea (1981–1982)
* Cicerone Manolache
Cicerone "Cici" Manolache (16 May 1936 – 28 January 2024) was a Romanian footballer and manager who played as a forward and made four appearances for Romania's national team.
Club career
Manolache was born on 16 May 1936 in Păunești, Roma ...
(1982)
* Emerich Dembrovschi
Emeric Dembroschi (born 6 October 1945) is a retired Romanian football striker.
Club career
Emerich Dembrovschi was born on 6 October 1945 in Câmpulung la Tisa, Romania and started to play football in the Romanian lower leagues at Foresta Sig ...
(1983–1985)
* Ion Dumitru
Ion Dumitru (born 2 January 1950), commonly known as Liță Dumitru, is a Romanian former professional footballer, and manager who played as a midfielder, currently technical director at Liga II club Concordia Chiajna.
Career
A Romanian inter ...
(1985)
* Robert Cosmoc (1985–1986)
* Ion V. Ionescu (1986–1988)
* Constantin Rădulescu (1988–1991)
* Viorel Vișan
Viorel Vișan (born 21 January 1952) is a Romanian former footballer and manager.
He was mostly known for his spell as a player at Politehnica Timișoara with whom he won the 1979–80 Cupa României, scoring one goal in the final against St ...
(1991)
* Ion V. Ionescu (1991–1992)
* Constantin Rădulescu (1994–1996)
* Emerich Dembrovschi
Emeric Dembroschi (born 6 October 1945) is a retired Romanian football striker.
Club career
Emerich Dembrovschi was born on 6 October 1945 in Câmpulung la Tisa, Romania and started to play football in the Romanian lower leagues at Foresta Sig ...
(1996–1997)
* Victor Roșca (1997)
* Flavius Domide (1999)
* Mihai Zamfir (2000)
* George Ciorceri (2001)
* Basarab Panduru (2002)
* Gheorghe Mulțescu (2003)
* Viorel Vișan
Viorel Vișan (born 21 January 1952) is a Romanian former footballer and manager.
He was mostly known for his spell as a player at Politehnica Timișoara with whom he won the 1979–80 Cupa României, scoring one goal in the final against St ...
(2003)
* Basarab Panduru (2003–2004)
* George Ciorceri (2004)
* Gheorghe Mulțescu (2004)
* Călin Zanc (2004) (caretaker)
* Dumitru Dumitriu (2004)
* Cosmin Olăroiu
Cosmin Aurelian Olăroiu (born 10 June 1969) is a Romanian football manager and former player, who is currently the head coach of United Arab Emirates national team.
As a manager, he guided Steaua București to the Divizia A title and Romani ...
(2005)
* Gheorghe Hagi
Gheorghe Hagi (; born 5 February 1965) is a Romanian professional football manager and former player, who is currently the owner of Liga I club Farul Constanța. Deployed as an attacking midfielder, Hagi was considered one of the best players in ...
(2005–2006)
* Sorin Cârțu
Sorin Cârțu (born 12 November 1955) is a former football striker and football coach, currently honorary president at Liga I club Universitatea Craiova.
Cârțu won two Romanian Championships and four Romanian Cups with Universitatea Craiov ...
(2006)
* Iosif Rotariu
Iosif Rotariu (born 27 September 1962) is a Romanian former professional footballer who played as a midfielder.
He debuted in Divizia A with Politehnica Timișoara in 1981. He won the league championship with Steaua București in 1987, 1988, ...
(2006) (caretaker)
* Alin Artimon
Alin Artimon (born 31 August 1971 in Timișoara, Romania) is a former Romanian football player and current manager.
History
Artimon started his career at CSȘ Timișoara and played for the senior team of Politehnica Timișoara before joinin ...
(2006–2007)
* Iosif Rotariu
Iosif Rotariu (born 27 September 1962) is a Romanian former professional footballer who played as a midfielder.
He debuted in Divizia A with Politehnica Timișoara in 1981. He won the league championship with Steaua București in 1987, 1988, ...
(2007) (caretaker)
* Valentin Velcea (2007) (caretaker)
* Dušan Uhrin Jr.
Dušan Uhrin Jr. (born 11 October 1967) is a Czechs, Czech Association football, football manager. He is the son of Dušan Uhrin senior who is also a football manager.
Playing career
Dušan Uhrin Jr. played in his youth at Meteor Prague and Boh ...
(2007–2008)
* Gabi Balint (2008–2009)
* Valentin Velcea (2009) (caretaker)
* Ioan Sabău
Ioan "Neluțu" Ovidiu Sabău (born 12 February 1968) is a Romanian professional football manager and former player, currently in charge of Liga I club Universitatea Cluj.
Club career
Ioan Sabău, nicknamed ''Moțul'' after the people from Țar ...
(2009–2010)
* Vladimir Petrović (2010)
* Cosmin Contra
Cosmin Marius Contra (; born 15 December 1975) is a Romanian football manager and former player.
Primarily an attacking-minded right-back, he was also deployed as a midfielder. He played professionally in three countries his own notwithstanding ...
(2010)
* Dušan Uhrin Jr.
Dušan Uhrin Jr. (born 11 October 1967) is a Czechs, Czech Association football, football manager. He is the son of Dušan Uhrin senior who is also a football manager.
Playing career
Dušan Uhrin Jr. played in his youth at Meteor Prague and Boh ...
(2010–2011)
* Valentin Velcea (2011–2012)
See also
*FC Politehnica II Timișoara
FC Politehnica II Timișoara was the reserve squad of FC Politehnica Timișoara. It was founded in 2005, and dissolved in 2012.
In the sixteenths-finals phase of the Romanian Cup
Romanian may refer to:
*anything of, from, or related to the co ...
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Politehnica Timisoara
Defunct football clubs in Romania
Football clubs in Timiș County
University and college association football clubs in Romania
Association football clubs established in 1921
Association football clubs disestablished in 2012
1921 establishments in Romania
2012 disestablishments in Romania
Sport in Timișoara