FC UTA Arad

Full name	Fotbal Club UTA Arad
Nickname(s)	Bătrâna Doamnă (The Old Lady) Campioana Proviciei (Provincial Champions)
Founded	18 April 1945 as IT Arad
Ground	Motorul
Capacity	2,000
Owner	UTA Supporters Association
Manager	Laurențiu Roșu
League	Liga II
2015–16	Liga II, Seria II, 2nd
Website	Club home page
Home colours Away colours

Fotbal Club UTA Arad, commonly known as UTA Arad, or simply as UTA, is a Romanian professional football club based in the city of Arad, Arad County, currently playing in Liga II.

Founded in 1945 as IT Arad, they won the Liga I (known as Divizia A before 2006) six times and the Cupa României twice. Domestically, UTA can be considered one of the most successful Romanian clubs of the 20th century, with only three teams winning more championship titles during that period, Steaua, Dinamo and Venus, all from Bucharest. Recently, after a period of decline which started in 1979 with a relegation to the second league, the team was dissolved in 2014 due to the "faulty and irresponsible management of the club officials".^[1] With support from fans, a new team started its way back from Liga IV, the fourth level of Romanian league system, and was credited as the successor of the defunct club.^[2]

"The Old Lady" plays in red and white kits at the Motorul Stadium, as their traditional home ground, Francisc von Neumann, is under reconstruction since 2014.

History

The club's logo when it was known as Flamura Roşie Arad (1950–1957)

The club was founded in 1945 under the name of IT Arad (Industriile Textile Arad – Arad Textile Industries) under the ownership of baron Francisc von Neumann. Team colours: red-white. The beginning of the club's history was successful, between 1946–1954 the club won the championship 4 times (1946–47, 1947–48, 1950, 1954) and the cup twice (1947–48, 1953). A second period of success was during 1966–1970, when, under the coach Nicolae Dumitrescu III, they won another two titles (1968–69 and 1969–70) and played one Romanian cup final (1965–66). Also during this period they played in the European Cup, eliminating the defending champions Feyenoord in 1970. A period of decline started after 1975. At the end of 1978–79 season the club relegated for the first time in istory to the Divizia B In 1993 UTA returned to Divizia A, but only for a short time, because after two seasons, they were again to Divizia B. During the years, the club has changed its name a couple of times: ITA (1945–1949), Flamura Roșie Arad (1950–1957)and UTA Arad since 1958. There were e few variations on the same theme: FCM UTA (1984–1985, 1985–1986, 2006–2010), CSM UTA (1985, 1986–1995), FC UTA (1995–2006, 2010–2014) and ACS UTA Bătrâna Doamnă (2014–present) . Besides the titles won with the senior squad, the club has also won 5 titles one cup and one supercup with the junior squad (1957–58, 1958–59, 1967–68, 1995–1996, 2000–2001 titles) (2015–2016 cup)(2015–2016 supercup) .

Grounds

Stadionul Motorul.

Stadionul Francisc von Neumann (Old Stadium).

The club plays its home matches on Stadionul Motorul in Arad, because their stadium, Stadionul Francisc von Neumann, is under reconstruction.

Supporters

UTA supporters.

UTA also have a large group of supporters named Speta Ultra Rossa, Directivo Ultra, Rasa, Commando Hooligans and Red Skorpions.Now all of them are united under ARAD 1945. Their main rivalry is with the supporters of Poli Timişoara, and have a friendship with fans of Corvinul Hunedoara (currently supporting FC Hunedoara) ^[3]

Rivalries

UTA's most important rivalry is with Politehnica Timişoara. The match between them, Derby-ul Vestului (The West Derby), has been the leading Romanian football encounter in the last 65 years, as UTA and Poli are the two most successful football teams from the west of the country.

Another rivalry is shared with FC Bihor Oradea, also known as The West Derby.

Honours

Domestic

Leagues

• Liga I/Divizia A
  • Winners (6): 1946–47, 1947–48, 1950, 1954, 1968–69, 1969–70
  • Runners-up (1): 1971–72
• Liga II/Divizia B
  • Winners (3): 1980–81, 1992–93, 2001–02
  • Runners-up (6): 1982–83, 1988–89, 1989–90, 1991–92, 1998–99, 2015–16
• Liga III/Divizia C
  • Winners (1): 2014–15
• Liga IV Arad/Divizia D
  • Winners (1): 2013–14

Cups

• Cupa României
  • Winners (2): 1947–48, 1953
  • Runners-up (2): 1950, 1965–66
• Arad County Phase
  • Winners (1) 2013–14

European

• UEFA Champions League/European Cup
  • Best result: Second round 1970–71
• UEFA Europa League/UEFA Cup
  • Best result: Quarter-finals 1971–72
• Balkans Cup
  • Best result: Group stage 1966–67

European record

Competition	S	P	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD
Balkans Cup	1	6	1	0	5	4	12	– 8
UEFA Champions League / European Cup	2	6	0	2	4	3	17	– 14
UEFA Europa League / UEFA Cup	2	10	3	2	5	13	14	– 1
Total	5	22	4	4	14	20	43	– 23

Players

First team squad

As of 15 September 2016

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

No. Position Player 1 GK Bogdan Miron (Fourth Captain) 12 GK Alexandru Barna 28 GK Sebastian Mara 2 DF Alin Gligor (Captain) 4 DF Rafael Iuga 5 DF Paul Copaci 8 DF Richard Filaret 14 DF Bogdan Burlă 15 DF Denis Lazăr 20 DF Norbert Polgar 22 DF Alexandru David 26 DF Alexandru Manea (Vice-Captain) 30 DF Daniel Celea 3 MF Marius Chindriș

No. Position Player 9 MF Cristian Andor 10 MF Dumitru Copil 13 MF Ionuţ Tănase 16 MF Robert Gîrbiță 17 MF Amir Jorza 18 MF Sorin Strătilă 19 MF Radu Ungurianu 21 MF Cristian Costin 23 MF Michel Vlad 24 MF Darius Covaci 27 MF Albert Stahl 7 FW Marius Curtuiuș (Third Captain) 11 FW Adrian Petre

Out on loan

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

No. Position Player — DF Beniamin Cotoc (on loan at Gloria L.T. Cermei) — DF David Petrache (on loan at Gloria L.T. Cermei) — DF Sergiu Aldan (on loan at Gloria L.T. Cermei) — DF Adrian Suslak (on loan at Gloria L.T. Cermei)

No. Position Player — MF Nichita Coșa (on loan at Gloria L.T. Cermei) — MF Raul Moraru (on loan at Gloria L.T. Cermei) — FW Daniel Bulza (on loan at Gloria L.T. Cermei)

Second team squad (UTA II)

As of 15 September 2016

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

No. Position Player — GK Emanuel Guia — GK Denis Mureșan — DF Raul Iova — DF Bruno Vasiu — DF Erich Wild (captain) — DF Răzvan Revesz — DF Flavius Rogojan — DF Antonio Savin — DF Beniamin Gabor — DF Dacian Zdrențan — DF Bruno Vasiu — DF Daniel Dan — MF Alexandru Lazăr — MF Gabriel Pop

No. Position Player — MF Andrei Brănişteanu — MF Eduard Varga — MF Valeriu Mager — MF Cristian Dobrean — MF Ovidiu Ghergar — MF Ovidiu Mandache — MF Ionuț Coadă — MF Claudiu Vasile — MF Cătălin Tarcea — FW Andrei Ghiunghiuș — FW Răzvan Țurcanu — FW Teodor Ignea — FW Dorin Toma

Club officials

Board of directors As of 27 August 2015.[4] Role Name Owner UTA Supporters Association President Florian Voinea General Director Codru Grădinariu Competitions Director Claudiu Drăgan Youth Center Coordonator Francisc Tisza Press Officer Radu Romanescu Social Media Department Sergiu Giurgiu

Current technical staff As of 10 October 2016.[5] Role Name Head Coach Laurențiu Roșu Assistant Coach Cristian Todea Assistant Coach Nacho Martinez Goalkeeping Coach Dan Țapoș UTA II Head Coach Cristian Păcurar UTA II Head Coach Dan Oprescu UTA II Assistant Coach Adrian Ungur UTA II Goalkeeping Coach Vasile Sin Fitness Coach Nacho Martinez Physiotherapist Zsolt Nagy Masseur Nicolae Tomescu Masseur Ştefan Bicsky Doctor Roland Zsiros Kinetotherapist Stelian Tetulea

Notable former players

The footballers enlisted below have had international cap(s) for their respective countries at junior and/or senior level. Players whose name is listed in bold represented their countries at junior and/or senior level on through the time's passing. Additionally, these players have also had a significant number of caps and goals accumulated throughout a certain number of seasons for the club itself as well.

Romania Ladislau Brosovszky Ladislau Bonyhádi Iosif Petschovsky Mircea Petescu Gheorghe Váczi Gheorghe Gornea Imre Jenei Flavius Domide Helmuth Duckadam Marcel Coraş

Romania Bogdan Mara Cristian Ianu Ion Pârcălab Lucian Dronca George Țucudean Cristian Panin Cristian Todea Cristian Bălgrădean Ioan Hora Sorin Botiş Ali Calvin Tolmbaye

Cameroon Jérémie N'Jock Hungary Gyula Lóránt Serbia Nenad Kovačević Nigeria John Ibeh Croatia Predrag Pocuca Argentina Maximiliano Laso Portugal Bruno Simao Edson Silva Sousa

Famous managers

Coloman Braun Nicolae „Coco” Dumitrescu Gheorghe Boruga Ionuț Popa Zoltan Opata

Ion Moldovan Petre Steinbach Ion "Jackie" Ionescu Zoltan Blum Augustin Juhasz

References

1. "Despre noi" [About us]. FC UTA Arad (in Romanian).
2. "Membrii cu drept de vot în SCU, inclusiv Bara, au decis: drepturile federative trec la UTA Bătrâna Doamnă care va deveni UTA Arad!" [Members with voting rights in SCU, including Bara, decided: federative rights are passed to UTA Bătrâna Doamnă, which will become UTA Arad!]. Sport Arad (in Romanian). 16 March 2014.
3. http://www.ultras-tifo.net/photo-news/3000-corvinul-uta-arad-22-11-2014.html
4. "UTA Arad" (in Romanian). uta-arad.ro. 2015-08-01. Retrieved 2015-08-01.
5. "UTA Arad" (in Romanian). uta-arad.ro. 2015-08-01. Retrieved 2015-08-01.

External links

• Official website
• Official Facebook profile
• Club profile on UEFA's official website