Stadionul Giulești-Valentin Stănescu
Coordinates: 44°27′21.35″N 26°3′24.59″E / 44.4559306°N 26.0568306°E
 | |
| Former names | Potcoava Giuleştiului (Horseshoe of Giulesti) |
|---|---|
| Location | Bucharest, Romania |
| Owner | Ministry of Transport |
| Operator | Rapid Bucureşti |
| Capacity | 11,704, restricted from 19,100 Football (soccer) |
| Surface | Grass |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | 1936 |
| Opened | 10 June 1939 |
| Expanded | 1986–1996 |
| Architect | Gheorghe Dumitrescu (1936) |
| Tenants | |
|
Rapid Bucureşti (1939–present) Sportul Studențesc (2013) | |
Giuleşti-Valentin Stănescu Stadium is a football stadium in Bucharest, Romania and is the home stadium of Rapid Bucureşti.
The stadium is named after Valentin Stănescu, the coach that helped Rapid to win its first title, but it is still commonly known as the "Giuleşti Stadium", after the name of the neighborhood in which it is located. Landmarks near the stadium include Podul Grant, Giuleşti Theatre, Gara de Nord and the Grivița Railway Yards.
History
Construction started in the year 1936 and the stadium was inaugurated on 10 June 1939. At the time, it was the most modern stadium in Romania, a smaller replica of Arsenal's Highbury Stadium, with a capacity of 12,160 seats. Among the guests at the opening ceremony King Carol II of Romania, Prince Mihai of Romania and Prince Paul of Greece.
Replacement of the north stand was completed in the mid-1990s, increasing the capacity to 19,100 seats. The stadium was renovated again in 2003.
Since the summer of 2004 the stadium has been administered by Rapid Bucureşti. Its capacity is currently restricted to 11,704 seats due to safety concerns regarding parts of the stadium.
Romanian national football team
The following national team matches were held in the stadium:
| # | Date | Score | Opponent | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 28 April 2004 | 5–1 |  Germany | Friendly match |
| 2. | 4 September 2004 | 2–1 |  Finland | 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 3. | 26 March 2005 | 0–2 |  Netherlands | 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 4. | 3 June 2011 | 3–0 |  Bosnia and Herzegovina | UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying |