FC Caracal (2004)

This article is about the football club named FC Caracal between 2004-2013. For the club founded in 1924 and dissolved in 2004, which also used the name FC Caracal, see FC Progresul Caracal.

FC Caracal

Full name	Fotbal Club Caracal
Founded	1949
Dissolved	2013
Ground	Various
Capacity	12,000
Home colours Away colours

Fotbal Club Caracal was a Romanian professional football club from Caracal, Olt County. The club's best period was in the early 90s when Electroputere Craiova, as it was called then, played four consecutive seasons in the Romanian first league. The best ranking was obtained in the 1991–92 season when finished 3rd and qualified to UEFA Cup.

History

Amid the rapid industrialization of Craiova in the early 1950s, a distinct football identity began to take shape, closely linked to the newly established Electroputere plant. Founded in 1949, the team—originally known as Metalul Craiova—was made up largely of workers from the factory.

While their initial performances in the regional championship were unremarkable, the team soon gained attention for its dynamic playing style and growing fanbase. Notable players from this era included Marin Năstase, Rici Smarandache, Constantin Monțescu, Dumitru Grigorescu, Nicolae Razga, Vasile Constantin, and Dumitru Hecher.

The 1950 season reflected the team's unpredictable nature: after three consecutive defeats, a series of four straight victories followed, leading to a final 5th place finish.

Renamed Metalul Electroputere, the team saw fluctuating results in the following years. In 1956, after a modest campaign, relegation to the city championship occurred, followed by a name change to Energia Electroputere. Under the guidance of coach Lambru Dunăreanu, a revival began. After a 3rd-place finish in the 1958–59 season, Electroputere went on to win the Craiova Regional Championship in the 1959–60 season. However, promotion to Divizia B was missed, with a 3rd-place finish behind Aurul Brad and Chimia Govora in the promotion play-off held in Ploiești.

A merger with the football section of CFR Craiova led to the formation of CFR Electroputere, which took over the railway club’s spot in Divizia B for the 1960–61 season. However, the presence in the second tier proved short-lived, ending with relegation after just one season. However, the presence in the second tier proved short-lived, ending with relegation after just one season, finishing 13th in Series II.

In the following years, the team resumed activity under the name Electroputere, competing in the Oltenia Regional Championship while maintaining the ambition to reach the national divisions. At that time, the squad included Țecu Smarandache, Ion Belu, Vasile Vrejotis, Octavian Romeo, Venus Ciocîlteu, Ștefan Anghel, Matei Constantin, Stelian Chilom, Nici Constantin, Ion Drăgan, and Ion Militaru. After finishing 2nd in the 1961–62 season, a 3rd-place finish in the 1962–63 campaign secured promotion to the newly re-established Divizia C. Among the team members during this period were also Nicolae Stere, Vică Oprea, Lili Popescu, and Virgil Resciuc..

Over the next five seasons, Electroputere competed in the West Series of Divizia C, finishing 10th in 1963–64, 6th in 1964–65, 4th in 1965–66, and 3rd in 1966–67. With the arrival of Nicolae Oțeleanu as head coach, the team achieved promotion to Divizia B after winning the West Series in the 1967–68 season. The squad during that successful campaign included Gh. Spinghel, Marin Bădici, Marian Terpovici, Nicu Constantin, Stelian Chilom, Emanoil Păunescu, Alexandru Stănescu, Marin Dașcu, Mihai Gavrilă, Iulian Popa, Marin Florescu, Matei Constantin, Firică Bulfan, George Sterie, Dan Cosci, Marin Bărbuț, Iulian Bălosu, Victor Niculescu, Virgil Resciuc, Dumitru Lovin, Cornel Chesnoiu, Constantin Țîră, Ion Nemțuc, and Constantin Nica.

In the middle of the 2003–04 season, Extensiv changed its name to FC Craiova, but with no connection to the FC Craiova that existed between 1940 and 1949.

In 2004 the club was moved to Caracal and renamed FC Caracal.

FC Caracal ended the 2012–13 season in second place, but after years of poor management and bad decisions, the club was dissolved in the summer of 2013.

Chronology of names

Name	Period
Metalul Craiova	1949–1956
Energia Electroputere Craiova	1957–1958
Electroputere Craiova	1958–1960
CFR Electroputere Craiova	1960–1961
Electroputere Craiova	1961–1998
Extensiv Craiova	1998–2003
FC Craiova	2003–2004
FC Caracal	2004–2013

Honours

Liga II

• Winners (2): 1990–91, 1998–99
• Runners-up (2): 1996–97, 1997–98

Liga III

• Winners (3): 1967–68, 1984–85, 1989–90
• Runners-up (6): 1979–80, 1980–81, 1981–82, 1982–83, 2008–09, 2012–13

Dolj Regional Championship:

• Winners (1): 1959–60
• Runners-up (1): 1961–62

Electroputere Craiova in Europe

Competition	S	P	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD
UEFA Europa League / UEFA Cup	1	2	0	0	2	0	10	– 10
Total	1	2	0	0	2	0	10	– 10

Recent seasons

Season	Name	Division	Position
1990–91	Electroputere Craiova	Liga II	1st
1991–92	Electroputere Craiova	Liga I	3rd
1992–93	Electroputere Craiova	Liga I	6th
1993–94	Electroputere Craiova	Liga I	14th
1994–95	Electroputere Craiova	Liga I	15th
1995–96	Electroputere Craiova	Liga II	8th
1996–97	Electroputere Craiova	Liga II	2nd
1997–98	Electroputere Craiova	Liga II	2nd
1998–99	Extensiv Craiova	Liga II	1st
1999–00	Extensiv Craiova	Liga I	18th
2000–01	Extensiv Craiova	Liga II	5th
2001–02	Extensiv Craiova	Liga II	4th
2002–03	Extensiv Craiova	Liga II	8th
2003–04	FC Craiova	Liga II	9th
2004–05	FC Caracal	Liga II	9th
2005–06	FC Caracal	Liga II	9th
2006–07	FC Caracal	Liga II	7th
2007–08	FC Caracal	Liga II	17th
2008–09	FC Caracal	Liga III	2nd
2009–10	FC Caracal	Liga III	10th

Notable former players

The footballers mentioned below have played at least 1 season for the club and also played in Liga I for another team.

• Sorin Cârțu
• Adrian Ilie
• Sabin Ilie
• Silviu Lung
• Ionel Dănciulescu
• Gheorghe Ciurea
• Mircea Bornescu
• Ionel Gane
• Eugen Neagoe
• Lucian Cotora
• Silvian Cristescu
• Mirel Rădoi

Former managers

• Rudolf Bürger (1951–1952)
• Nicolae Oțeleanu (1967–1968)
• Haralambie Eftimie (1974)
• Gheorghe Dungu (1974–1975)
• Ștefan Coidum (1975–1977)
• Sorin Cârțu (1987–1988)
• Marian Bondrea (1989–1992)
• Sorin Cârțu (1993)
• Ioan Sdrobiș (1996–1997)
• Sorin Cârțu (1997)
• Marian Bondrea (1997–1998)
• Grigore Sichitiu (1998–1999)
• Sorin Cârțu (1998–2002)
• Nicolae Ungureanu (2004–2006)
• Nicolae Negrilă (2006)
• Iordan Eftimie (2006)
• Emil Vlăduț (2007)
• Nicolae Ungureanu (2007)
• Florin Cioroianu (2007–2008)
• Daniel Mogoșanu (2008–2009)
• Gheorghe Ciurea (2009)
• Daniel Mogoșanu (2009–2010)