CSU Alba Iulia (football)
Romanian association football club
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Clubul Sportiv Universitatea Alba Iulia, also known as CS Universitatea Alba Iulia, or simply as CSU Alba Iulia, is a Romanian football team based in Alba Iulia, Alba County, which currently plays in Liga III, the third tier of Romanian football, following their promotion at the end of the 2021–22 season.[1][2]
(The students)
Albaiulienii
(The people from Alba Iulia)
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| Full name | Clubul Sportiv Universitatea Alba Iulia | ||
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| Nicknames | Studenții (The students) Albaiulienii (The people from Alba Iulia) | ||
| Short name | CSU Alba Iulia | ||
| Founded | 2018 | ||
| Ground | Pielarul | ||
| Capacity | 500 | ||
| Owner | University of Alba Iulia | ||
| General manager | Aurelian Băbuțan | ||
| Head coach | Nicolae Ghişa | ||
| League | Liga III | ||
| 2024–25 | Liga III, Seria VII, 3rd | ||
| Website | https://csualbaiulia.ro/ | ||
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The team represents the football section of the multi-sport club CSU Alba Iulia, which also include athletics, women's basketball, men's rugby and powerlifting sections.[3]
History
CSU Alba Iulia was established in 2009, with the support of University of Alba Iulia, having three sport sections (athletics, basketball and rugby).[3] The football team was founded in 2018 and enrolled in Liga V – Alba County, the fifth tier of the Romanian football league system.[4]
Under the leadership of Vasile Ursu and with experienced players such as Ioan Neag and Fabian Himcinschi, CSU finished 1st in Series II at the end of the 2018–19 season, promoting to fourth league.[4][5]
The 2019–20 season was suspended in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with the university team in 2nd place, involved in the promotion battle, 5 points behind Ocna Mureș.[6]
The next season was also canceled in Alba County due to the numerous teams that did not meet the conditions of the medical protocol imposed by the Romanian Football Federation.[7]
In the 2021–22 season, with Mihai Manea as head coach, the team finished 1st and won the promotion play-offs against CSO Baraolt, the Covasna County champions, thrashing them 18–3 on aggregate (11–2 at home and 7–1 away).[8][9][1][2]
In the first season in Liga III, led by Manea, CSU managed to climb on 5th place in the play-out of Series IX after was finish 7th in the regular season.
The next season was better for the Students as managed to qualify for the play-off of Series IX, after a strong battle with Unirea Ungheni and fellow citizens from Unirea Alba Iulia.[10]
Grounds
Initially the team of the University Sports Club from Alba Iulia played its home matches at the Cetate Stadium in Alba Iulia, but since the spring of 2024 the team moved its home matches at Pielarul Sports Base in Sebeș.[11]
Honours
- Winners (1): 2018–19
Players
First team squad
- As of 10 September 2024
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Out on loan
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Club Officials
Board of directors
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Current technical staff
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League history
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