FC Bihor Oradea

FC Bihor Oradea

Full name	Fotbal Club Bihor Oradea
Nickname(s)	Roș-Albaștrii (The Red and Blues) Bihorenii (The People from Bihor County) Orădenii (The People from Oradea)
Founded	1958
Dissolved	2016
Ground	Iuliu Bodola
Ground Capacity	18,000
League	Liga II
2015–16	Liga II, Seria II, 13th (relegated)
Website	Club home page
Home colours Away colours

Fotbal Club Bihor Oradea (Romanian pronunciation: [biˈhor oˈrade̯a]) was a Romanian football club based in Oradea, founded in 1958.

History

FC Bihor Oradea continues the football tradition in Oradea after the dissolution of a much greater club, CA Oradea.

Early years

The club was founded under the name Crişul Oradea in 1958. It has a short activity in the city championship and then in the regional championship. In 1960 the team merged with the footwear factory "Solidarity" and, finishing first in the 1960–1961 regional championship, it promotes to the Divizia B after a play-off at Sinaia.

In 1961–1962 the team was renamed ASA Crişul, and finishes eleventh in the third series of the Divizia B, barely escaping relegation. The following season, 1962–1963, the club finished first in the series, and promoted for the very first time in history to the Divizia A. Coach L. Zilahi used the following players: Weichelt, Bucur, Pojoni, Boros, Şchiopu, Donciu, Al. Georgescu, Kun, Kuti, Curtu, Osan, Stanciu, Podaru, I. Pop, Bokos, I. Sandu, Manescu, Al. Iacob, Şovoială, Lenalt, Fr. Stilgerlbauer, R. Petschovschi.

Crişul played for three seasons in the first league: 1963–1964 (7th place), 1964–1965 (9th place) and 1965–1966 (13th place), then it relegated to the Divizia B where it played for two seasons, 1966–1967 (seventh place) and 1967–1968 (second place). In the summer of 1968 it qualified for the play-off, in Timișoara, for the promotion to the Divizia B. There it manages to secure a place in the first league, coach A. Fernbach-Ferenczi, achieving this performance with the following players: Buiuc, Catona, Balogh, Sărac, Serfozo, E. Naghi, Popovici, Dărăban, Sudi, Szucs, Tomeş, A. Naghi, A. Kun II, I. Kun, I. Harsani, Cociş, Ujlaki, Levai.

After another two seasons in the Divizia A, 1968–1969 (13th place) and 1969–1970 (15th place) it relegates, but returns the following season, 1970–1971, this time under the leadership of coach Ladisdlau Vald. The core team: Catona (Bologan) – Popovici (Sarac), Lucaci, Bulc, Balogh, Dărăban, Neşu, Szucs, Al. Naghi, Arnotchi, Şchiopu. Substitutes: Baumgartner, Cocoş, Ceauşu, Cociş, Ungur, Moţ. But again, after only one championship 1971–1972, 16th place relegation to the Divizia B comes. The club's highly oscillating behavior imposed a series of organizational measures. It was organized as a football club, thus, new renamed Fotbal Club Bihor began in 1972 fighting for the return in the first league.

It succeeds to do so (after three second places achieved in the championship editions 1972–1973 and 1973–1974) at the end of the 1974–1975 season. Coaches L. Vlad (first half of the championship), R. Cosmoc and Gh. Staicu (second half of the championship) have led to the final victory with the next "11": Albu – E. Naghi, Lucaci, Sărac, Popovici – Dărăban, A. Kun II, Florescu – Szucs, Aguda, C. Vlad.

Next, the team remained at an average level of behavior in the Divizia A, finishing 9th 1975–76 and 1976–1977, 14th 1977–1978 and 18th 1978–1979. The club management during this period, was provided by engineer Horea Cosma, as honorary president. Coaches: V. Blujdea, by mid-season 1977–1978, replaced by I. Reinhardt and Alex. Muta. Players used: Vidac, Albu – Z. Naghi, Gh. Dumitrescu, Lucaci, Popovici, M. Marian, Bigan, Dragoş, Naom, C. Georgescu, Ghergheli, Petrovici, Schwartzman, Lupău, V. Stoica, A. Kun II, Florescu şi Fildan.

In the summer of 1979 FC Bihor relegated back to Division B where it will be three editions of the championship (1979-1982), always on the brink of promotion, to be done by the end of 1981-1982 competition, this time under the leadership of Gheorghe Staicu.

Returned to the Divizia A the team managed to occupy 11th place in the 1982–83 Divizia A and 7th place in the 1983–84 Divizia A, in this latter year with the following organizational formula: Honorary Chairman: H. Cosma; Executive President. Ioan Naom; Organizer of Competitions: Romeo Paşcu ; coaches: Gh. Dărăban and Attila Kun (in the first part of the season), Attila Kun and Alex. Muta (in the second part). Squad: Liliac, Balasz, Dianu, Zare, Gh. Dumitrescu, Niţu, Tămaş, Biszok, Mureşan, Filip, Doru Nicolae, Grosu, Georgescu, Ile, Ion Gheorghe, Szucs, Nedelcu, Rosza, Kiss, Lazăr, Roateş.

During 1983-1984, then until 1994, FC Bihor commuting between divisions A and B, but under the same name, the presence in the top of Divizia A is the end of 1989, when the team was ranked fourth, with great chances accede to the European Cups. On December 22, 1989 radical changes were made, directing the football from Oradea to other coordinates. It came to collapse in 1996 due to a catastrophic management, which has left the club relegated to the third division with a fortune of two players, the rest being sold.

In July 1996 the Borsi brothers, businessmen from Oradea, took over the reins of the club and within a few months he was reinstated, managing the revival of the football from Bihor County back in the second division, and even touching the performance of qualification in the last 8 Romanian Cup teams.

In 1998, the club was took over from the two brothers by another businessman, Viorel Ştiube, within 2 years the club knock on the doors of promotion to Divizia A but the objective was abandoned and the club reached the brink of relegation to the third division, than, it was took over by Bihor County Council, finishing on a satisfactory position.

Promotion after 12 years

In the 2000–01 Divizia B season, the club was took over by Marius Vizer, who started a project to bring in three years FC Bihor in the elite football. In his first season with Vizer as owner, FC Bihor finished fourth after a great return succeeded by the players an their coach Ioan Andone. In 2001–02 Divizia B team grabbed the last podium position after UTA Arad and FC Baia Mare and in 2002–03 Divizia B FC Bihor has made a step forward, being in the second position after Unirea Alba Iulia.

In those circumstances, Fotball Club Oradea (as it was called then), coached by Ionuț Popa and chaired by Ioan Lucian, qualify for the Divizia A play-off, a match against against Oţelul Galaţi. After the first round, FC Bihor lost 1-2, in Galați, but they took the revenge on the Municipal Stadium with 20,000 fans in the stands, beating Oţelul Galaţi with 3-1, the "golden goal" was scored by Bogdan Vrăjitoarea in overtime. Besides, all four goals in the double confrontation with Oţelul were scored by Bogdan Vrăjitoarea.

The squad: Rotaru - Fl. Lazăr, Zaha, Cr. Munteanu - Gado (Fele '62), Naidin (Fele '63), Dumitra (captain), Fl. Călin ('67 Lungan) Sfârlea - Csehi, Vrăjitoarea. Substitutions: Mârne - Dianu, Măuță and Siminic. They could not play because of an injury, Coţan and Keșerü. The game against Oţelul accounted for FC Bihor supporters as the most important and beautiful game supported by FC Bihor at home in the post-revolutionary history.

It also was the last game in which the audience was allowed to access in the second stand. The game observer match was very close to not allow disputing the match in the stadium because the capacity was exceeded. The stadium anouncer even made an appeal to supporters from the second stand to manifest without coming off the places which they occupy because there is a danger of collapse due to weight.

The adventure of FC Oradea in Divizia A was short-lived one. After a hesitant first part of the season dotted with extraordinary results, like that 1-1 from the first round against Rapid București (the defending champions at that time), but also unexpected defeats like FC Brașov - FC Oradea in the last round of the first part. One of the artisans of the promotion, coach Ionuț Popa, was dismissed. It was the "beginning of the end". The club management, from which Marius Vizer withdrew, leaving the responsibility to the local government, they decided to put in office the former coach of Steaua București, Dumitru Dumitriu, a move which proved to be unfortunate. In the first game of the second part, FC Oradea not gathered too many points and Dumitriu was dismissed. By the end of the season, FC Oradea failed to obtain the points necessary to maintain in Divizia A and were relegated after only one year in the big football.

Bankruptcy

FC Bihor has been declared bankrupt on 12 January 2016.

Chronology of names

Name	Period
Crişul Oradea	1958–1961
ASA Crişul Oradea	1961–1972
FC Bihor Oradea	1972–2002
FC Oradea	2002–2005
FC Bihor Oradea	2005–2016

Stadium

Stadionul Iuliu Bodola

The club played its home matches on Stadionul Iuliu Bodola in Oradea.

Supporters

FC Bihor has many supporters in Oradea and especially in Bihor County. The ultras group of FC Bihor Oradea it is known as Peluza Nord Oradea (PNO). FC Bihor supporters consider Olimpia Satu Mare supporters to be their allies, fans of both teams had the opportunity to support the other during matches.

Rivalries

The most important rivalry for FC Bihor is the one against UTA Arad. This derby it is known as The West Derby, name used also for other two rivalries: UTA Arad Vs. Politehnica Timişoara and FC Bihor Oradea Vs. Politehnica Timişoara. Apart from these two rivalries, against UTA Arad and Politehnica Timişoara, FC Bihor have also a rivalry against FCM Baia Mare and a local one against Luceafărul Oradea, also known as Oradea Derby.

Seasons

1958–59 – Campionatul Orăşenesc 1st place 1959–60 – Campionatul Regional 1960–61 – Campionatul Regional 1st place, promoted to Divizia B, won the promotion play-off played at Sinaia 1961–62 – Divizia B 11th place, Seria III 1962–63 – Divizia B 1st place, Seria II, promoted to Divizia A 1963–64 – Divizia A 7th place 1964–65 – Divizia A 9th place 1965–66 – Divizia A 13th place, relegated to Divizia B 1966–67 – Divizia B 7th place, Seria II 1967–68 – Divizia B 2nd place, Seria II, promoted to Divizia A, won the promotion play-off played at Timişoara 1968–69 – Divizia A 10th place 1969–70 – Divizia A 15th place, relegated to Divizia B 1970–71 – Divizia B 1st place, Seria II, promoted to Divizia A 1971–72 – Divizia A 16th place, relegated to Divizia B 1972–73 – Divizia B 2nd place, Seria II 1973–74 – Divizia B 2nd place, Seria III 1974–75 – Divizia B 1st place, Seria III, promoted to Divizia A 1975–76 – Divizia A 9th place 1976–77 – Divizia A 9th place 1977–78 – Divizia A 14th place 1978–79 – Divizia A 18th place, relegated to Divizia B 1979–80 – Divizia B 2nd place, Seria III 1980–81 – Divizia B 4th place, Seria III 1981–82 – Divizia B 1st place, Seria III, promoted to Divizia A 1982–83 – Divizia A 11th place 1983–84 – Divizia A 7th place 1984–85 – Divizia A 10th place 1985–86 – Divizia A 18th place, relegated to Divizia B 1986–87 – Divizia B 4th place, Seria III 1987–88 – Divizia B 1st place, Seria III, promoted to Divizia A

1988–89 – Divizia A 7th place 1989–90 – Divizia A 10th place 1990–91 – Divizia A 17th place, relegated to Divizia B 1991–92 – Divizia B 5th place, Seria II 1992–93 – Divizia B 2nd place, Seria II 1993–94 – Divizia B 5th place, Seria II 1994–95 – Divizia B 12th place, Seria II 1995–96 – Divizia B 17th place, Seria II, relegated to Divizia C 1996–97 – Divizia C 7th place, Seria IV 1997–98 – Divizia C 1st place, Seria IV, promoted to Divizia B 1998–99 – Divizia B 6th place, Seria II 1999–00 – Divizia B 14th place, Seria II 2000–01 – Divizia B 4th place, Seria II 2001–02 – Divizia B 3rd place, Seria II 2002–03 – Divizia B 2nd place, Seria II, promoted to Divizia A, won the promotion play-off against Oţelul Galaţi 2003–04 – Divizia A 16th place, relegated to Divizia B 2004–05 – Divizia B 3rd place, Seria III 2005–06 – Divizia B 2nd place, Seria III, lost the promotion play-off against Unirea Urziceni and Forex Braşov 2006–07 – Liga II 13th place, Seria II 2007–08 – Liga II 8th place, Seria II 2008–09 – Liga II 10th place, Seria II 2009–10 – Liga II 9th place, Seria II 2010–11 – Liga II 2nd place, Seria II, promoted to Liga I but they were denied a licence for Liga I because of the debts 2011–12 – Liga II 8th place, Seria II 2012–13 – Liga II 7th place, Seria II 2013–14 – Liga II 9th place, Seria II 2014–15 – Liga II 10th place, Seria II 2015–16 – Liga II 13th place, Seria II, the club was dissolved and relegated.

Shirt sponsors and manufacturers

Period	Kit manufacturer	Period	Shirt partner
2003–2006	Erreà	2003–2006
2006–2007	Lotto	2006–2007
2007–2009	Nike	2007–2009
2009–2010	Sportika	2009–2011	AdePlast
2010–2011	Erreà
2011–2016	Joma	2011–2013	OK Liberty

Notable former players

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

For a list of all former and current FC Bihor Oradea players with a Wikipedia article, see Category:FC Bihor Oradea players.

Romania

• Cosmin Bărcăuan
• Cristian Cigan
• Zoltan Crișan
• Andrei Coroian
• Andrei Florean
• Ovidiu Hoban
• Claudiu Keșerü
• Gheorghe Liliac
• Adrian Mărkuș
• Zsolt Muzsnay

Romania

• Cristian Oros
• Marius Popa
• George Pușcaș
• Iosif Rotariu
• Alexandru Sătmăreanu
• Lajos Sătmăreanu
• Cosmin Vâtcă
• Anton Weissenbacher
• Ioan Zare

Macedonia

• Jurica Siljanoski

Famous managers

For a list of all former and current FC Bihor Oradea managers with a Wikipedia article, see Category:FC Bihor Oradea managers.

• Emerich Jenei
• Viorel Mateianu
• Iosif Rotariu
• Dumitru Dumitriu
• Marian Bondrea
• Gavril Balint
• Ioan Andone
• Lajos Détári

• Ionuț Popa
• Nicolae Manea
• Claudiu Niculescu
• Constantin Teaşcă
• Attila Kun
• Gheorghe Staicu
• Robert Cosmoc

Honours

Leagues

Liga II

• Winners (5): 1962–63, 1970–71, 1974–75, 1981–82, 1987–88
• Runners-up (8): 1967–68, 1972–73, 1973–74, 1979–80, 1992–93, 2002–03, 2005–06, 2010–11

Liga III

• Winners (1): 1997–98

External links

• Official website
• Fans website
• Fan website