CS Pandurii Târgu Jiu

Association football club in Târgu Jiu

Not to be confused with ACS Viitorul Târgu Jiu.

Football club

Pandurii Târgu Jiu

Full name| Clubul Sportiv Pandurii Lignitul Târgu Jiu
Nickname(s)|

* Alb-albaștrii (The White and Blues)
* Minerii (The Miners)
* Gorjenii (The Gorj County People)

Short name| Pandurii
Founded| 1 February 1962
Dissolved| 20 October 2022
Ground| Tudor Vladimirescu
Capacity| 12,518
2022–23| Liga IV, Gorj County, 13th (withdrew)
Website| Club website

Home colours

Away colours

|

Current season

Clubul Sportiv Pandurii Lignitul Târgu Jiu (Romanian pronunciation: [ˌklubul sporˈtiv panˈdurij liɡˈnitul ˌtɨrɡu ˈʒiw]), commonly known as Pandurii Târgu Jiu or simply Pandurii, was a Romanian football club based in Târgu Jiu, Gorj County, which last competed in the Liga IV.

Founded in 1962 following the merger of Flacăra-Unirea Târgu Jiu and CIL Târgu Jiu,[1] the team's best performances were finishing as Liga I runners-up in the 2012–13 season and playing a League Cup final in 2015. Gorjenii qualified for the first time for a European competition in the 2013–14 campaign, when they reached the group stages of the UEFA Europa League.

The colours of Pandurii Târgu Jiu were white and blue, and they played their home games at the Tudor Vladimirescu Stadium, which has a seating capacity of 12,518.

## History[edit]

Chart of yearly table positions of Pandurii Târgu Jiu in the national leagues.

### Founding and lower divisions (1962–2005)[edit]

Pandurii Târgu Jiu was founded in August 1962, after the merger of the two big rivals from the town, Flacăra-Unirea Târgu Jiu and CIL Târgu-Jiu. The club entered the fourth division of Romanian football, with a strong objective, to promote immediately in the third division. And the target was reached, Pandurii gaining the promotion to Divizia C in June 1963. Their first game in this division was played on 1 September 1963, against Siderurgistul Hunedoara. Pandurii won by a big margin, 6–0, goals scored by Chițu (12'), Nelu Băloi (35'), Melinte (53', 80') and Vasilescu (83', 85').

In the first years, Pandurii finished constantly in the first half of the standings, so the club decided to attack a promotion to Divizia B. In the 1976–77 season, with a young team and with Titus Ozon as coach, the dream came true. Pandurii dominated the competition, climbed from the first stages on top of the standings and won the promotion to the second division. But this level was a much bigger hat to wear for Pandurii, who relegated the next season back to Divizia C.

The following years, the team changed frequently the division, promoting to Divizia B and relegating after a few years. They played in Divizia B between 1979 and 1983 then between 1986 and 1991. After a decade in Divizia C, in 2000 the team promoted again in the second league, and in 2004 finished second, behind Sportul Studențesc.

### Beginning years in the top league (2005–2011)[edit]

The performance from the last seasons was an incentive for the management who decided to push for the first presence of Pandurii in Divizia A. With Emil Săndoi as coach, and with a young group of players like Tiberiu Lung and Sorin Vintilescu but also with some experienced players like, Florin Popete, Robert Vancea and Romulus Buia, the team won the promotion.

It was difficult to maintain its position in Divizia A, and Pandurii finished their first season in the 15th place, right below the relegation line. But the Romanian Football Federation decided at the end of the season not to give Sportul Studențesc their licence for the following year, and kept instead the first team under the line, Pandurii. With the bullet dodged, the management decided to enforce the team, so the relegation shouldn't be a problem.

Alexandru Păcurar, Ciprian Vasilache and Liviu Mihai were brought, and the team finished 11th in the 2006–07 season. They kept their position at the middle of the table for the next seasons.

In 2010, they finished below the line but avoided the relegation after the withdrawal of Internațional Curtea de Argeș, team that ended tenth but the owner decided to disband the club. With a lot of players from Internațional Curtea de Argeș like Vlad Chiricheș, Mihai Pintilii, and Dan Nistor, Pandurii were 13th the following season.

### Ascent and first European participation (2011–2013)[edit]

Period  | Name[2]

|

1963–1965  | Pandurii Târgu Jiu
1965–1970  | Victoria Târgu Jiu
1970–1973  | Pandurii Târgu Jiu
1973–1975  | Cimentul Târgu Jiu
1975–1976  | Cimentul Victoria Târgu Jiu
1976–1985  | Pandurii Târgu Jiu
1985–1988  | Gloria Pandurii Târgu Jiu
1988–2022  | Pandurii Târgu Jiu

In the 2011–12 season the team reached the highest place in history, finishing seventh. For a while, they were fifth and the fans hoped for Europa League.

The following season saw Pandurii finishing as Liga I runners-up for the first time ever, qualifying for the 2013–14 UEFA Europa League, the club's first ever European participation. After defeating Levadia Tallinn, Hapoel Tel Aviv and Braga, Pandurii entered the Group stage, being drawn into Group E with F.C. Paços de Ferreira, FC Dnipro and ACF Fiorentina.[3]

### Achieving performance (2013–2017)[edit]

On 10 March 2015, with Edward Iordănescu as coach Pandurii defeated FC Dinamo București in the semi-finals of the new established competition Cupa Ligii, to qualify for their first ever cup final. On their way to play the final they beat one of the Romanian giants FC Petrolul Ploiești at Ilie Oană Stadium. In the final FC Steaua București beat Pandurii at Arena Națională stadium but with a controversial penalty in the beginning of the match.

In the 2015–16, season of Liga I Pandurii had many achievements along the season with the same coach and players like UEFA Europa League winner Cristian Săpunaru, Dan Nistor, Ioan Hora and Mihai Răduț and Narcis Răducan as president. In April 2015 they became the first team to win a match in Liga I with the new play-off, play-out system. On 6 February 2016, they secured both a place in the competition play-offs and a place in a European competition next year with a victory with ASA 2013 Târgu Mureș. During this season they had the most matches without a defeat, about 10 games. At the end of the season, Pandurii finished on the podium as third-place qualifying for the second time in UEFA Europa League, but this time in the third qualifying round.

### Back to the lower leagues (2017–2022)[edit]

Although the team had a fairly good start for the season 2016–17, with players like Lucian Sânmărtean or George Țucudean coming at the club, and playing in the summer against Maccabi Tel Aviv F.C. in Europa League, problems occurred in the second half of the season. The main sponsor started having problems and for this reason they did not fund the team anymore. Many players have left the team so the young players from the second team were brought to the first team along with other players from elsewhere. Unfortunately after 12 seasons in Liga 1 Pandurii relegated for the first time since the 2005 promotion but fought to avoid it until the last round.

For the 2017–18 Liga II, Pandurii has been prepared with some players promoted from the second team or from the youth teams and moved to Motru until the new stadium was completed in 2019.

In the wake of the 2020–21 Liga II season, Pandurii relegated in Liga III for the first time after 21 years.

## Ground[edit]

Main article: Stadionul Tudor Vladimirescu

The club play its matches at the new Tudor Vladimirescu Stadium, opened in 2019.

## Honours[edit]

### Domestic[edit]

Honour  | Season(s)

|

Liga I | Runners-up | 2012–13
Third place | 2015–16
Liga II | Winners | 2004–05
Runners-up | 2003–04
Liga III | Winners | 1976–77, 1978–79, 1985–86, 1999–2000
Runners-up | 1975–76, 1983–84
Liga IV – Gorj County | Winners | 1962–63
Cupa Ligii | Runners-up | 2014–15

### Youth[edit]

Honour  | Season(s)

|

Cupa României U17 | Winners | 2015–16
Supercupa României U17 | Runners-up | 2016

## Rankings[edit]

This is the UEFA club's coefficient as of 1 November 2018:[4]

Pos.  | Team  | Points

|
|

304 |  Universitatea Craiova | 3.190
305 |  Dinamo București | 3.190
306 |  Pandurii Târgu Jiu | 3.190
307 |  Politehnica Iași | 3.190
308 |  Târgu Mureș | 3.190

## Records and statistics[edit]

### Domestic[edit]

* Liga I seasons: 12
* Liga I play-offs seasons: 1
* Liga I longest unbeaten run: 10 (2015–16)
* Place 30 out of 98 teams in Liga I all-time table
* Cupa României best result: Semi-finals (2006–07)
* Cupa Ligii seasons: 3
* The most successful team from Gorj County

### European[edit]

* UEFA Europa League seasons: 2
* UEFA Europa League best result: Group Stages (2013–14)
* UEFA Europa League biggest win: 4–0 vs. Levadia Tallinn (2013–14)

### League history[edit]

| Season | Tier | Division | Place | Cupa României

|
|
|
|

2021–22 | 3 | Liga III (Seria VII) | 4th (R) |
2020–21 | 2 | Liga II | 19th (R) | Third Round
2019–20 | 2 | Liga II | 19th | Third Round
2018–19 | 2 | Liga II | 15th | Fourth Round
2017–18 | 2 | Liga II | 14th | Fourth Round
2016–17 | 1 | Liga I | 13th (R) | Round of 16
2015–16 | 1 | Liga I | 3rd | Round of 16
2014–15 | 1 | Liga I | 9th | Quarter-finals
2013–14 | 1 | Liga I | 7th | Quarter-finals
2012–13 | 1 | Liga I | 2nd | Round of 16
2011–12 | 1 | Liga I | 7th | Quarter-finals
2010–11 | 1 | Liga I | 13th | Round of 16
2009–10 | 1 | Liga I | 15th | Round of 32
2008–09 | 1 | Liga I | 11th | Quarter-finals
| Season | Tier | Division | Place | Cupa României

|
|
|
|

2007–08 | 1 | Liga I | 12th | Quarter-finals
2006–07 | 1 | Liga I | 11th | Semi-finals
2005–06 | 1 | Divizia A | 15th | Round of 16
2004–05 | 2 | Divizia B (Seria II) | 1st (C, P) | Round of 32
2003–04 | 2 | Divizia B (Seria II) | 2nd | Round of 32
2002–03 | 2 | Divizia B (Seria II) | 12th |
2001–02 | 2 | Divizia B (Seria II) | 9th |
2000–01 | 2 | Divizia B (Seria II) | 6th | Round of 32
1999–00 | 3 | Divizia C | 1st (C, P) | Round of 32
1998–99 | 3 | Divizia C | 5th |
1991–92 | 3 | Divizia C | 11th (R) |
1990–91 | 2 | Divizia B (Seria II) | 16th (R) |
1989–90 | 2 | Divizia B (Seria II) | 14th |

### European Cups history[edit]

Notes

* 1Q: First qualifying round
* 2Q: Second qualifying round
* 3Q: Third qualifying round
* PO: Play-off round

Season  | Competition  | Round  | Opponent  | Home  | Away  | Aggregate

|
|
|
|
|
|

2013–14 | UEFA Europa League | 2Q |  Levadia Tallinn | 4–0  | 0–0  | 4–0
3Q |  Hapoel Tel Aviv | 1–1  | 2–1  | 3–2
PO |  Braga | 0–1  | 2–0 (aet)  | 2–1
Group E |  Fiorentina | 1–2  | 0–3  | 4th
Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk | 0–1  | 1–4
Paços de Ferreira | 0–0  | 1–1
2016–17 | UEFA Europa League | 3Q |  Maccabi Tel Aviv | 1–3  | 1–2  | 2–5

### European cups all-time statistics[edit]

As of August 2016
Competition  |  S  |  P  |  W  |  D  |  L  |  GF  |  GA  |  GD

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

UEFA Europa League | 2 | 14 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 14 | 19 | −5
Total | 2 | 14 | 3 | 3 | 8 | 14 | 19 | −5

## 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 more than 100 caps for CS Pandurii Târgu Jiu.

For a list of all former and current CS Pandurii Târgu Jiu players with a Wikipedia article, see Category:CS Pandurii Târgu Jiu players.

Romania

* Paul Anton
* Alin Chibulcutean
* Vlad Chiricheș
* Liviu Ciobotariu
* Constantin Grecu
* Ovidiu Herea
* Ioan Hora
* Alexandru Maxim
* Dan Nistor
* Daniel Orac
* Mihai Pintilii
* Victor Pițurcă
* Marian Pleașcă

Romania

* Florin Popete
* Mihai Răduț
* Adrian Ropotan
* Adrian Rusu
* Lucian Sânmărtean
* Cristian Săpunaru
* Răzvan Stanca
* Iulian Ștefan
* George Țucudean
* Bogdan Ungurușan
* Robert Vancea
* Claudiu Voiculeț

Bosnia and Herzegovina

* Adnan Gušo
* Stojan Vranješ

Brazil

* Cardoso

Congo

* Armel Disney

Cyprus

* Paraskevas Christou

Czech Republic

* Lukáš Droppa

Ivory Coast

* Constant Djakpa
* Ousmane Viera

Lithuania

* Deivydas Matulevičius

Nigeria

* Christian Obodo

Portugal

* Pedro Mingote
* Vasco Fernandes

Slovenia

* Jaka Štromajer

|
|
|

## Notable former managers[edit]

For a list of all former and current CS Pandurii Târgu Jiu managers with a Wikipedia article, see Category:CS Pandurii Târgu Jiu managers.

* Ilie Balaci
* Sorin Cârțu
* Petre Grigoraș
* Marin Ion
* Edward Iordănescu
* Eugen Neagoe
* Titus Ozon
* Emil Săndoi

## References[edit]

1. ^ "De 50 de ani "Panduri"! Gorjenii sărbătoresc jumătate de secol prin lansarea unei sigle aniversare" ["Pandurs" for 50 years! The Gorj people celebrate half a century by launching an anniversary crest]. ProSport (in Romanian). 16 October 2012. Archived from the original on 13 August 2016. Retrieved 26 July 2016.
2. ^ "Evolutia denumirilor echipelor de-a lungul anilor". Archived from the original on 9 October 2017. Retrieved 5 December 2018.
3. ^ "Former winners learn group stage fates". UEFA. 30 August 2013. Archived from the original on 17 September 2013. Retrieved 13 September 2013.
4. ^ "UEFA Team Ranking 2018". Archived from the original on 18 March 2019. Retrieved 1 November 2018.

## External links[edit]

* Official website
* Club profile on UEFA.com

* v
* t
* e

Clubul Sportiv Pandurii Lignitul Târgu Jiu

Teams|

* Pandurii Târgu Jiu
* Pandurii II Târgu Jiu

General information|

* Players
* Managers
* Europe

Stadium|

* Tudor Vladimirescu
* Tudor Vladimirescu (1963)

Links to related articles

* v
* t
* e

2023–24 Liga III

Seria I|

* Aerostar
* Bucovina
* CSM Bacău
* CSM Vaslui
* Darabani
* Foresta
* FC Bacău
* Miroslava
* Rapid Brodoc
* Șomuz

Seria II|

* Braniștea
* Dacia Unirea
* Focșani
* Hamangia
* Ianca
* Liești
* Limpeziș
* Metalul Buzău
* Râmnicu Sărat
* Șuțești

Seria III|

* Afumați
* Agricola
* Axiopolis
* Clinceni
* Dunărea Călărași
* Fundulea
* Gloria Băneasa
* Înainte
* Recolta
* Voluntari II

Seria IV|

* ARO Muscelul
* Blejoi
* CS Dinamo
* Dunărea Giurgiu
* Flacăra
* Păulești
* Plopeni
* Popești-Leordeni
* Pucioasa
* Tricolorul

Seria V|

* Câmpulung Muscel
* Ciucaș
* Curița
* Kids Tâmpa
* KSE
* Odorheiu Secuiesc
* Olimpic Cetate
* Sepsi II
* SR Brașov
* Zărnești

Seria VI|

* Bascov
* Cetatea
* Cozia
* Curtișoara
* Dăești
* Horezu
* Potcoava
* Râmnicu Vâlcea
* Roșiori
* Vedița

Seria VII|

* Deva
* Craiova 1948 II
* Filiași
* Ghiroda
* Gilortul
* Jiul Petroșani
* Lupac
* Șimian
* Turceni
* Universitatea II

Seria VIII|

* Bihor Oradea
* Gloria Lunca-Teuz
* Ineu
* Lipova
* Pecica
* Peciu Nou
* Periam
* Phoenix Buziaș
* Poli Timișoara
* Socodor

Seria IX|

* Gloria
* Industria
* Mediaș
* Metalurgistul
* MSE 1898
* Reghin
* Ungheni
* Unirea Alba Iulia
* Universitatea Alba Iulia
* Viitorul CJ

Seria X|

* CSM Olimpia
* Lotus
* Minaur
* Ocna Dej
* Olimpia MCMXXI
* Sănătatea
* Sântandrei
* Sighetu Marmației
* Victoria Carei
* Zalău

* v
* t
* e

Liga III seasons

* 1936–37
* 1937–38
* 1938–39
* 1939–40
* 1940–41
* 1941–42
* 1942–43
* 1943–44
* 1944–45
* 1945–46
* 1946–47
* 1947–48
* 1948–49
* 1950
* 1951
* 1952
* 1953
* 1954
* 1955
* 1956
* 1957–58
* 1958–59
* 1959–60
* 1960–61
* 1961–62
* 1962–63
* 1963–64
* 1964–65
* 1965–66
* 1966–67
* 1967–68
* 1968–69
* 1969–70
* 1970–71
* 1971–72
* 1972–73
* 1973–74
* 1974–75
* 1975–76
* 1976–77
* 1977–78
* 1978–79
* 1979–80
* 1980–81
* 1981–82
* 1982–83
* 1983–84
* 1984–85
* 1985–86
* 1986–87
* 1987–88
* 1988–89
* 1989–90
* 1990–91
* 1991–92
* 1992–93
* 1993–94
* 1994–95
* 1995–96
* 1996–97
* 1997–98
* 1998–99
* 1999–2000
* 2000–01
* 2001–02
* 2002–03
* 2003–04
* 2004–05
* 2005–06
* 2006–07
* 2007–08
* 2008–09
* 2009–10
* 2010–11
* 2011–12
* 2012–13
* 2013–14
* 2014–15
* 2015–16
* 2016–17
* 2017–18
* 2018–19
* 2019–20
* 2020–21
* 2021–22
* 2022–23
* 2023–24
* 2024–25

* v
* t
* e

Liga I

Clubs|

| 2023–24|

* Botoșani
* CFR Cluj
* Dinamo București
* Farul Constanța
* FCSB
* FC U Craiova
* Hermannstadt
* Oțelul Galați
* Petrolul Ploiești
* Politehnica Iași
* Rapid București
* Sepsi OSK
* Universitatea Cluj
* Universitatea Craiova
* UTA Arad
* Voluntari

|

Former|

* Academica Clinceni
* ACS Poli Timișoara
* Argeș Pitești
* ASA Târgu Mureș
* Astra Giurgiu
* Aurul Brad
* Avântul Reghin
* Banatul Timișoara
* Brașovia Brașov
* Bukarester
* CA Oradea
* CAM Timișoara
* Carmen București
* Câmpulung Moldovenesc
* Ceahlăul Piatra Neamț
* Cercul Atletic București
* CFR Brașov
* CFR Timișoara
* Chindia Târgoviște
* Chimia Râmnicu Vâlcea
* Chinezul Timișoara
* Ciocanul București
* Colentina București
* Colțea București
* Colțea Brașov
* Concordia Chiajna
* Concordia Iași
* Corona Brașov
* Corvinul Hunedoara
* FC Craiova
* Craiovan Craiova
* Crișana Oradea
* CS Târgu Mureș
* CSM Reșița
* Dacia Unirea Brăila
* Dacia Vasile Alecsandri Galați
* Dermata Cluj
* Dragoș Vodă Cernăuți
* Dunărea Călărași
* Dunărea Galați
* Educația Fizică București
* Excelsior București
* Extensiv Craiova
* FC Bihor
* FC Brașov (1936)
* FCM Bacău
* FCM Târgoviște
* Ferar Cluj
* Foresta Fălticeni
* Fulgerul Chișinău
* Gaz Metan Mediaș
* Generala Craiova
* Gloria Arad
* Gloria Bistrița
* Gloria Buzău
* Gloria CFR Galați
* Hakoah Cernăuți [ro]
* Hermannstadt
* Inter Sibiu
* Internațional Curtea de Argeș
* Înțelegerea Oradea
* Jahn Cernăuți
* Jiul Petroșani
* Juventus București
* Maccabi Cernăuți
* Metalochimic București
* Metalul Câmpia Turzii
* Mihai Viteazul Chișinău
* Minaur Baia Mare
* Minerul Lupeni
* Mioveni
* Mureșul Târgu Mureș
* Olimpia Satu Mare
* Oltenia Craiova [ro]
* Olt Scornicești
* Oltul Slatina
* Olympia București
* Onești
* Otopeni
* Pandurii Târgu Jiu
* Phoenix Baia Mare
* Ploiești
* Politehnica Iași (1945)
* Politehnica Timișoara
* Prahova Ploiești
* Polonia Cernăuți
* Progresul București
* Ripensia Timișoara
* Rocar București
* Româno-Americană București
* Săgeata Năvodari
* Siderurgistul Galați
* Societatea de Gimnastică Arad [ro]
* Societatea Gimnastică Sibiu
* Societatea Sportivă Sibiu
* Sportul Studențesc
* Stăruința Oradea
* Suceava
* Șoimii Sibiu
* Târgu Mureș
* Turnu Severin
* UM Timișoara
* Unirea Alba Iulia
* Unirea Tricolor București
* Unirea Urziceni
* Uniunea Sportivă București
* Universitatea Cluj
* Vagonul Arad
* Vaslui
* Venus București
* Victoria Brănești
* Victoria București
* Victoria Cluj
* Victoria Iași
* Viitorul București
* Viitorul Constanța
* Voința Sibiu
* Vulturii Textila Lugoj

Competition|

* Winners
* Foreign players
* Romanian expatriate footballers
* Stadia
* Founding
* Broadcasters
* System

Statistics and awards|

* Record
* All-time table
* Clubs by major honors won
* Golden Boot

Associated competitions|

* Cupa României
* Supercupa României
* Cupa Ligii
* UEFA Champions League
* UEFA Europa League
* UEFA Europa Conference League
* UEFA Super Cup
* FIFA Club World Cup

* Category

* v
* t
* e

Liga I seasons

* 1909–10
* 1910–11
* 1911–12
* 1912–13
* 1913–14
* 1914–15
* 1915–16
* 1916–19
* 1919–20
* 1920–21
* 1921–22
* 1922–23
* 1923–24
* 1924–25
* 1925–26
* 1926–27
* 1927–28
* 1928–29
* 1929–30
* 1930–31
* 1931–32
* 1932–33
* 1933–34
* 1934–35
* 1935–36
* 1936–37
* 1937–38
* 1938–39
* 1939–40
* 1940–41
* 1941–46
* 1946–47
* 1947–48
* 1948–49
* 1950
* 1951
* 1952
* 1953
* 1954
* 1955
* 1956
* 1957–58
* 1958–59
* 1959–60
* 1960–61
* 1961–62
* 1962–63
* 1963–64
* 1964–65
* 1965–66
* 1966–67
* 1967–68
* 1968–69
* 1969–70
* 1970–71
* 1971–72
* 1972–73
* 1973–74
* 1974–75
* 1975–76
* 1976–77
* 1977–78
* 1978–79
* 1979–80
* 1980–81
* 1981–82
* 1982–83
* 1983–84
* 1984–85
* 1985–86
* 1986–87
* 1987–88
* 1988–89
* 1989–90
* 1990–91
* 1991–92
* 1992–93
* 1993–94
* 1994–95
* 1995–96
* 1996–97
* 1997–98
* 1998–99
* 1999–2000
* 2000–01
* 2001–02
* 2002–03
* 2003–04
* 2004–05
* 2005–06
* 2006–07
* 2007–08
* 2008–09
* 2009–10
* 2010–11
* 2011–12
* 2012–13
* 2013–14
* 2014–15
* 2015–16
* 2016–17
* 2017–18
* 2018–19
* 2019–20
* 2020–21
* 2021–22
* 2022–23
* 2023–24
* 2024–25

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template