FC Botoșani

FC Botoșani
Asociația 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: 5 October 2023
Source:
Current technical staff
Last updated: 5 October 2023
Source:
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
Ștefan Apostol
Paul Batin
Valeriu Bordeanu
Mihai Bordeianu
Andrei Burcă
Laurențiu Buș
George Cârjan
Andrei Chindriș
Alberto Cobrea
Marius Croitoru
Stelian Cucu
Vasile Curileac
Ciprian Dinu
Andrei Dumitraș
István Fülöp
Lóránd Fülöp
Attila Hadnagy
Denis Haruț
Cătălin Golofca
David Lazar
Andrei Miron
Olimpiu Moruțan
Nicolae Mușat
Răzvan Oaidă
Eduard Pap
Paul Papp
Andrei Patache
Florin Plămadă
Bogdan Racovițan
Mihai Roman I
Mihai Roman II
Răzvan Tincu
Gabriel Vașvari
Albania
Enriko Papa
Realdo Fili
Argentina
Jonathan Rodríguez
Bulgaria
Radoslav Dimitrov
Plamen Iliev
Cameroon
Joyskim Dawa
Michael Ngadeu-Ngadjui
Croatia
Marko Dugandžić
Curaçao
Quenten Martinus
France
Hamidou Keyta
Hervin Ongenda
Germany
Christopher Braun
Reagy Ofosu
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
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