CA Oradea

CA Oradea

Full name	Clubul Atletic Oradea
Short name	CAO
Founded	1910
Dissolved	1963
Ground	Municipal
Home colours Away colours

Clubul Atletic Oradea was a football club based in Oradea, in western Romania. It was founded in 1910 and it soon became one of the best teams in the country. The club was dissolved in 1963.

History

Before the World War I, the club activated only on a local and a regional level. Between 1920 and 1932 it competed in the regional championship, winning it a couple of times, in 1924 and 1925. From 1932 onwards, the divisionary level was introduced and the club took part in it. Their best performance was achieved in 1924 when they reached the national final where they faced Chinezul Timişoara, but lost 1-4.

During the 1932-1940 period they played for six seasons in Liga I (1932–1938) and two seasons in Liga II (1938–1940).

During World War II, the team played in the Hungarian Championship under the name Nagyváradi Atlétikai Club (NAC) and won one title at the end of the 1943-1944 season. CA Oradea is one of two football clubs who played and won national championships in two countries; the other one is SK Rapid Wien.

After the war, CAO was renamed Libertatea, and played in the Liga I. In 1948 it changed its name once again, to IC Oradea, and under this name it won the Romanian championship at the end of the 1948-49 season. After this title, the club (from 1951 Progresul) made 5 consecutive appearances in Liga I, after which in 1954 it was relegated to Liga II.

Progresul succeeded to advance from the Second Division and played in the First Division.

Another performance was obtained in 1955, when the club reached the Romanian Cup final but lost, only to win it one year later.

In 1958 the team was relegated to Liga II, changed its name to CS Oradea, and Crişana in 1961 (with no connection to the old Crişana Oradea), and one year later succeeded to advance once again to Liga I. A short joy, because in 1963 it was relegated again and with this, the team disappeared.

Afterwards, the football in Oradea was carried on by FC Bihor Oradea.

The most famous players that wore the white-green jersey were Francisc Ronnay, Iuliu Bodola and Elemér Berkessy.

Famous players

Romanian football portal

• Elemér Berkessy
• Iuliu Bodola
• Gyula Lóránt
• Francisc Rónnay
• Nicolae Simatoc
• Gheorghe Váczi
• Mircea David
• Iosif Petschovschi

Honours

Liga I:

• Winners (1): 1948–49
• Runners-up (2): 1923–24

Liga II:

• Winners (2): 1955, 1961–62
• Runners-up (1): 1938–39

Romanian Cup:

• Winners (1): 1956
• Runners-up (1): 1955

Hungarian National Championship I:

• Winners (1): 1943-44
• Runners-up (1): 1942-43