FC Politehnica Iaşi

Football club infobox
clubname = Politehnica Iaşi


fullname = Fotbal Club Politehnica Iaşi | nickname =
founded = 1945
ground = Emil Alexandrescu,
Iaşi
capacity = 12,500
chairman = flagicon|Romania Gheorghe Nichita
manager = flagicon|Romania Ionuţ Popa
league = Liga I
season = 2007-08
position = Liga I, 11th
pattern_la1=|pattern_b1=_3whitestripes|pattern_ra1=
leftarm1=0000FF|body1=0000FF|rightarm1=0000FF|shorts1=0000FF|socks1=FFFFFF| pattern_la2=|pattern_b2=|pattern_ra2=
leftarm2=FF8C00|body2=FF8C00|rightarm2=FF8C00|shorts2=FF8COO|socks2=FF8C00

FC Politehnica Iaşi (also known as Poli Iaşi) is a football club from Iaşi, Romania currently playing in Liga I, the top Romanian football league. Its colours are blue and white. Its home is the Emil Alexandrescu Stadium in Iaşi.

History

Politehnica was established in 27 April 1945, and has its current name since 1967. Politehnica alternated between Romania's second and first leagues; they were present in the Divizia A in 1960/61, 1962-1967, 1968-1972, 1973-1981, 1982-1990, 1995/96, and also from 2004 onwards. In 2001, after relegating for the first time in Divizia C (Romanian third Division), Politehnica merged with another local club, Unirea 2000, and got the official, though less known, name "Poli Unirea". In 2004, the first season in Divizia A after nine years of absence, the team switched back to its old name, FC Politehnica Iaşi.

2004/05 season

The start of the 2004/05 season was disastrous, the team winning only two points in eight rounds. After manager Vasile Simionaş was replaced with Ionuţ Popa, Politehnica won the following fixture away against would-be champions Steaua Bucureşti, Adrian Cristea scoring the only goal of the match. The team gradually lifted itself from the bottom of the table, finally finishing 9th with 38 points.

In the Romanian Cup they were elimitated in the first round (sixteen-finals) by UT Arad with 1-0.

2005/06 season

The 2005/06 season was a relatively good one for the Iaşi-based team, whose objective was to avoid relegation. They narrowly lost both matches against the future champions Steaua and the away match with runners-up Rapid Bucureşti, all with the score of 1-0, after three penalty kicks. They also lost 2-0 against Dinamo Bucureşti at home, after a better first half and some controversial decisions by the referee. However, they drawed away against a weakened Dinamo team, after a second-half goal by Daniel Rednic. Politehnica Iaşi eventually finished 10th with 39 points.

In the Romanian Cup they reached the quarter-finals, eliminating Unirea Dej (2-0) and FC Vaslui (2-1 AET) in the progress. They were eliminated by Rapid after a last-minute goal and after the referee disallowed a controversial goal scored in the second half by Politehnica.

During the season Politehnica experienced major financial problems, which resulted in the impossibility to buy better players for the team and difficulties encountered in receiving the club license necessary for playing in the 2006/07 season in Liga I. The license was finally obtained after the efforts made by chairman and mayor of Iaşi Gheorghe Nichita.

2006/07 season

Politehnica Iaşi started the season with the same financial problems, resulting in only four players joining the team in the pre-season break and many salaries and debts paid late. In addition, the conflict between Gheorghe Nichita and Iaşi prefect Radu Prisăcaru concerning public funding of the club and interference by the press spiced up the atmosphere. Despite all odds, Politehnica kept itself between the top six teams after the first 12 matches and was unbeaten for eight consecutive matches (seven in Liga I and one cup match), drawing at home with Steaua (1-1), Rapid and FCU Politehnica Timişoara (0-0). A negative run followed with one point in seven league matches and was followed by a 4-0 away victory against local rivals Ceahlăul Piatra Neamţ. Politehnica finally finished 13th with 40 points.

The team qualified for the second time in a row in the quarter-finals of the Romanian Cup, disposing of Universitatea Cluj (2-1) and Farul Constanţa (1-0), however, they were eliminated by Poli Timişoara, score 1-2.

Current squad

"As of August 9 2008"

Famous players

* Daniel Pancu
* Laurenţiu Roşu
* Bogdan Stelea
* Vasile Simionaş
* Adrian Cristea
* Mihai Romila
* "Coco" Deleanu
* Vasile Iordache
* Constantin Matei
* Aurelian Cuperman
* Adrian Ambrosie
* Juan Apostu

Rivalries with other clubs

Rivalry with FC Vaslui
The rivalry between the 2 Moldavian teams is well known all over Romania. The security measures when a game between the two is held are very high.
With Vaslui 72 km south of Iaşi, many natives of Vaslui choose to continue their studies at one of the many universities located in Iaşi.The football rivalry started in the 2001/02 season, when both teams were in Liga III. With only one promotion place up for grabs, Politehnica Iasi prevailed, while FC Vaslui would have finished second, but were deducted 10 points after leaving the field of play in their away match against Ceahlăul Piatra Neamţ B-team. [ [http://www.rsssf.com/tablesr/roem02.html 2001/2002 Romanian football season] ]
History repeated itself two years later, when the teams fought in Liga II for the only promotion place available. Again, Politehnica Iasi got the upper hand. [ [http://www.rsssf.com/tablesr/roem04.html 2003/2004 Romanian football season] ]

References

External links

* [http://www.politehnicaiasi.ro/ Politehnica Iaşi official site]
* [http://www.liga1.ro/teaminfo.php/9/ Politehnica Iaşi - Liga 1]
* [http://www.politehnicaiasi.com/ Politehnica Iaşi unofficial site]
* [http://www.poliiasi.com/ Poli Iaşi news site]