AFC Unirea Slobozia

Association football club in Slobozia

Football club

Unirea Slobozia

Full name| Asociația Fotbal Club Unirea 04 Slobozia
Nickname(s)|

* Galben-albaștrii (The Yellow-Blues)
* Slobozenii (The People from Slobozia)
* Ialomițenii (The People from Ialomița)

Short name| Unirea
Founded| 1955; 70 years ago (1955)
as Combil Slobozia
2004; 21 years ago (2004) (refounded)
as Unirea 04 Slobozia
Ground| 1 Mai
Capacity| 6,000
Owners| Slobozia Municipality
Ialomița County Council
Chairman| Ilie Lemnaru
Head coach| Adrian Mihalcea
League| Liga I
2023–24| Liga II, 1st of 20 (promoted)

Home colours

Away colours

|

Current season

Asociația Fotbal Club Unirea 04 Slobozia, (Romanian pronunciation: [uˈnire̯a sloboˈzi.a]), commonly known as Unirea Slobozia or simply as Unirea, is a Romanian professional football club based in Slobozia, Ialomița County, which competes in the Liga I, the top tier of the Romanian football.

The team was founded in 1955 and reestablished in 2004, being for the most part of its history a participant in the third division of the Romanian football. Unirea Slobozia has also spent several seasons in the second division, first in the early 1980s and then between 2012 and 2015, when also obtained 3rd place, the best ranking in the competition until then. Unirea promoted for the first time in history in first division at the end of the 2023–24 season.

"The Yellow-Blues" play their home games at the Stadionul 1 Mai, which can host 6,000 spectators.

## History

[edit]

The club was founded in 1955 under the name Combil Slobozia, being under the tutelage of Combil (the Ialomița Combine for the production and industrialization of pork meat) and played fifteen seasons in the Regional and County Championships, having during this period several names such as Avântul, Voința and Energia.[1]

In the 1969–70 season, Energia promoted to Divizia C winning the Ialomița County Championship and the promotion play-off against ITA București, the Bucharest Municipal champion (0–0 at home and 2–1 away).

Meanwhile, the club was taken over by the Slobozia Chemical Combine - Amonil and, after promotion to third division was renamed as Azotul Slobozia. Azotul continued to play in third division, being overall a mid-table team and finishing twice on 3rd position, in 1974–75 season and 1975–76 season, and 2nd in the 1978–79 season.

In the 1979, the club was renamed as Amonil Slobozia spent the following seasons in Divizia C, finishing 2nd in 1979–80, 9th in 1980–81 and 7th in 1981–82.

In the summer of 1982, the club was renamed as Unirea Slobozia, and under the guidance of Ion Păciulete, took the 1st place in Seria IV of the 1982–83 season promoting for the first time in Divizia B. The squad was composed of following players: Dumitru Soare, Ion Ionescu, Titel Tache, Săndel Drăguț, Dan Cristea, Vasile Borș, Radu Gogan, Gh. Mateiu, N. Nicolae, Gh. Nicolae, Lazăr, Ion Lupu, Păun, Liviu, Nini Vintilă, Constantinescu and I. Damaschin.[1]

In the first season in the second division, Unirea strengthened with players such as Gheorghe Tătaru, as player-coach, L. Toader, Cr.Niță, V. Jercălău, Marian Ene, Hadadea, Marchidan, V.Petrescu, G. Simionov, but Unirea have a bad run, finishing on 17th place relegating back to the third division.[1]

The following season, Unirea finished 11th out of 16, tied on points with four other teams, securing their third division status at goal difference.

Unirea achieved promotion to Divizia B at the end of 1985–86 season, detaching in the last two rounds after a spectacular duel with Sportul 30 Decembrie. The team managed by Constantin Dinu was composed among others from following players: D. Soare, Suciu, Șoltuz, S. Drăguț, R. Gogan, D. Cristea, I. Țanicoiu, M. Ene, I. Iordache, Dumitru, I. Lupu, I. Constantin (34 goals), N. Vintilă, Păun and Dănilă.[2]

In the 1986–87 season, managed by Nicolae Dumitru as head coach in the first part of the season and Emanoil Hașoti in the second part, Unirea reinforced with new players such as M.Istrate, M. Dinu, Ad. Cîrîc, H. Mihale, C. Gache, C. Prepeliță, V. Roșu, S. Bătrâneanu and Cr. Mustacă, was ranked 7th in Series I. The stay in second division lasted only two seasons, as in the 1987–88 season ”Ialomițenii” finished 16th in its series being relegated to Divizia C.

The promotion was immediate, Unirea, under the leadership of coach Vasile Dobrău, won the Series IV of Divizia C in the following campaign. Also, ”Slobozenii” managed to reach the quarter-finals of Cupa României passing two first division teams, Universitatea Cluj 1–0 in the first round and FC Bihor Oradea 2–0 in the second round, being eliminated by Steaua București 1–3. The squad was composed among other players from M. Istrate, Matei, S. Drăguț, I. Țanicoiu, Ad. Cîrîc, Nedelciu, I. Iordache, Ioniță, Paraschiv, C. Prepeliță, Proșteanu, Vlase, Mîndru, N. Vintilă, Piștalu, Costin, Gh.Iovănescu, I. Constantin.[3]

Former logo, used until 2024.

In the early 2000s, the club encountered financial issues and was dissolved, being re-founded in 2004 as AFC Unirea 04 Slobozia.

The new entity also reached the second tier of the Romanian football league system, where it spent three years between 2012 and 2015. In the 2013–14 season, the team obtained a third place in its series, behind top flight regulars Politehnica Iași and Rapid București.

Unirea Slobozia played again in the Romanian second league in the 2020–21 season till of the end of 2023–24 season, when Slobozia finished on the 1st place and promoted for the first time in history in Liga I.

## Honours

[edit]

Liga II

* Winners (1): 2023–24

Liga III

* Winners (5): 1982–83, 1985–86, 1988–89, 2011–12, 2019–20
* Runners-up (3): 1978–79, 1979–80, 2010–11

Liga IV – Ialomița County

* Winners (3): 1969–70, 1997–98

## Players

[edit]

### First team squad

[edit]

As of 9 January 2025[4]

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

| No. | Pos. | Nation  | Player

|
|
|

1  | GK |  AUT | Stefan Krell
2  | MF |  ROU | Andrei Dorobanțu
4  | DF |  ROU | Ionuț Dinu
5  | MF |  URU | Ariel López
6  | MF |  ROU | Paul Antoche
7  | FW |  ROU | Laurențiu Vlăsceanu
8  | MF |  ROU | Ionuț Coadă
9  | FW |  ROU | Filip Ilie
10  | DF |  ROU | Adrian Toma (Captain)
11  | FW |  FRA | Jordan Gele
12  | GK |  MDA | Denis Rusu (3rd captain)
15  | DF |  MEX | Paolo Medina
17  | FW |  GUI | Sekou Camara
| No. | Pos. | Nation  | Player

|
|
|

18  | MF |  UKR | Dmytro Yusov
20  | MF |  ROU | Ovidiu Perianu (on loan from FCSB)
21  | DF |  ROU | Florinel Ibrian (Vice-captain)
22  | MF |  ROU | Mihăiță Lemnaru
23  | FW |  ROU | Cristian Bărbuț
27  | MF |  ROU | Ștefan Pacionel
29  | DF |  ROU | Daniel Șerbănică
30  | MF |  ROU | Florin Purece
60  | DF |  UKR | Dmytro Pospyelov
77  | MF |  CRO | Adnan Aganović
86  | GK |  ROU | Ștefan Georgescu
98  | FW |  CMR | Christ Afalna
-- | FW |  ROU | Marius Lupu

### Out on loan

[edit]

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

| No. | Pos. | Nation  | Player

|
|
|

-- | GK |  ROU | Ștefan Ciupercă (to Recolta Gheorghe Doja)
-- | DF |  ROU | Raul Iancu (to Recolta Gheorghe Doja)
| No. | Pos. | Nation  | Player

|
|
|

-- | FW |  ROU | Viorel Gîrbăcea (to Recolta Gheorghe Doja)
-- | FW |  ROU | Alexandru Eavaz (to CSM Fetești)

## Club officials

[edit]

### Board of directors

[edit]

| Role  | Name

|

Owners  |  Slobozia Municipality
Ialomița County Council
President  |  Constantin Prepeliță
Executive President  |  Ilie Lemnaru
Sporting director  |  Laurențiu Radu
Head of Youth Center  |  Ion Ionescu
Team Manager  |  Marian Nohai

### Current technical staff

[edit]

| Role  | Name

|

Head coach  |  Adrian Mihalcea
Assistant coaches  |  Enache Costea
Romeo Soare
Goalkeeping coach  |  Dănuț Harnagea
Fitness coaches  |  Bogdan Hetco
Club Doctor  |  Adrian Motoacă
Masseur  |  Gabriel Basarab
Store man  |  Andrei Vizireanu

## League history

[edit]

See also: Romanian football league system

| Season  | Tier  | Division  | Place  | Notes  | Cupa României

|
|
|
|
|

2024–25 | 1 | Liga I | TBD |  | Play-off round
2023–24 | 2 | Liga II | 1st (C) | Promoted | Play-off round
2022–23 | 2 | Liga II | 7th |  | Group Stage
2021–22 | 2 | Liga II | 6th |  | Round of 32
2020–21 | 2 | Liga II | 16th | Play-out winner | Third Round
2019–20 | 3 | Liga III (Seria II) | 1st (C) | Promoted | Third Round
2018–19 | 3 | Liga III (Seria II) | 4th |  | Fourth Round
2017–18 | 3 | Liga III (Seria II) | 3rd |  | Round of 16
2016–17 | 3 | Liga III (Seria II) | 5th |  | Third Round
2015–16 | 3 | Liga III (Seria II) | 4th |  | Fourth Round
2014–15 | 2 | Liga II (Seria I) | 11th | Relegated | Round of 32
2013–14 | 2 | Liga II (Seria I) | 3rd |  | Fourth Round
2012–13 | 2 | Liga II (Seria I) | 7th |  | Fourth Round
2011–12 | 3 | Liga III (Seria II) | 1st (C) | Promoted | Fourth Round
2010–11 | 3 | Liga III (Seria II) | 2nd |  | Round of 32
2009–10 | 3 | Liga III (Seria II) | 3rd |  |
| Season  | Tier  | Division  | Place  | Notes  | Cupa României

|
|
|
|
|

2008–09 | 3 | Liga III (Seria II) | 4th |  |
2007–08 | 3 | Liga III (Seria II) | 8th |  |
2006–07 | 3 | Liga III (Seria II) | 6th |  |
2005–06 | 3 | Divizia C (Seria II) | 7th |  |
2000–01 | 3 | Divizia C (Seria III) | 16th | Relegated |
1999–00 | 3 | Divizia C (Seria II) | 14th |  |
1998–99 | 3 | Divizia C (Seria II) | 12th |  |
1997–98 | 4 | Divizia D (IL) | 1st (C) | Promoted |
1993–94 | 3 | Divizia C (Seria II) | 19th | Relegated |
1992–93 | 2 | Divizia B (Seria I) | 18th | Relegated |
1991–92 | 2 | Divizia B (Seria I) | 9th |  |
1990–91 | 2 | Divizia B (Seria I) | 8th |  |
1989–90 | 2 | Divizia B (Seria I) | 13th |  |
1988–89 | 3 | Divizia C (Seria IV) | 1st (C) | Promoted |
1987–88 | 2 | Divizia B (Seria I) | 16th | Relegated |
1986–87 | 2 | Divizia B (Seria I) | 7th |  |

## Notable former players

[edit]

The footballers enlisted below have had international cap(s) for their respective countries at junior and/or senior level and/or significant caps for AFC Unirea Slobozia.

For a list of all former and current AFC Unirea Slobozia players with a Wikipedia article, see Category:AFC Unirea Slobozia players.

Romania

* Mihai Adăscăliței
* Christo Bolohan
* Cristian Coconașu
* Laurențiu Cristea
* Leonida Dobre
* Marian Florea
* Dumitru Gheorghe
* Viorel Gheorghe
* Ionuț Gurău
* Augustin Ivașcă
* Marius Jianu
* Marius Macare
* Liviu Mihai
* Adrian Mihalcea
* Emil Nanu
* Ciprian Perju
* Adrian Răduca
* Costel Roșu
* Ciprian Rus
* Iosif Damaschin
* Gheorghe Tătaru
* Leontin Toader
* Ștefan Petcu

## Former managers

[edit]

* Titus Ozon (1977–1978)
* Gheorghe Tătaru (1983–1984)
* Emanoil Hașoti (1987)
* Vasile Dobrău (1989–1990)
* Ion Cojocaru (2007)
* Marian Catană (2008–2009)
* Ion Răuță (2009–2010)
* Constantin Prepeliță (2010–2011)
* Ion Ionescu (2011–2012)
* Marin Dună (2012–2013)
* Adrian Mihalcea (2020–2022)
* Costel Enache (2022–2023)
* Adrian Mihalcea (2023–)
* Vladimir Marica
* Ion Păciulete

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c Mihai Ionescu & George Tudoran, Fotbal de la A la Z – Editura Sport-Turism 1984.
2. ^ "Noile promovate pe scena secundă" [The new promoted on the second stage] (PDF) (in Romanian). Sportul. 8 August 1986. p. 3\. Archived (PDF) from the original on 25 September 2024. Retrieved 25 September 2024 - via bibliotecadeva.eu.
3. ^ "Vă prezentăm noile promovate în Divizia B" [We present the new promoted in Divizia B] (PDF) (in Romanian). Sportul. 17 August 1989. p. 3\. Archived (PDF) from the original on 29 September 2024. Retrieved 29 September 2024 - via bibliotecadeva.eu.
4. ^ "AFC UNIREA 04 SLOBOZIA" (in Romanian). Liga Profesionistă de Fotbal. Retrieved 12 July 2024.

## External links

[edit]

* Official website
* AFC Unirea Slobozia on Facebook

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Asociația Fotbal Club Unirea Slobozia

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*[No.]: Number
*[Pos.]: Position
*[GK]: Goalkeeper
*[MF]: Midfielder
*[DF]: Defender
*[FW]: Forward
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