CSU Alba Iulia (football)

This article is about the men's football team. For the women's basketball team, see CSU Alba Iulia (women's basketball). For men's rugby team, see CSU Alba Iulia (rugby union). For multi-sport club, see CSU Alba Iulia.

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]

CSU Alba iulia

Full name	Clubul Sportiv Universitatea Alba Iulia
Nickname(s)	Studenții (The students) Alba Iulienii (The people from Alba Iulia)
Short name	CSU Alba Iulia
Founded	2018; 6 years ago (2018)
Ground	Cetate / Pielarul
Capacity	18.000 / 500
Owner	University of Alba Iulia
Chairman	Marius Rotar
Manager	Alin Minteuan
League	Liga III
2023–24	Liga III, Seria IX, 4th
Website	https://csualbaiulia.ro/
Home colours Away colours Third colours

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

Liga IV – Alba County

• Winners (1): 2021–22
• Runners-up (1): 2019–20

Liga V – Alba County

• Winners (1): 2018–19

League history

Season Tier Division Place Notes Cupa României 2024–25 3 Liga III (Seria VII) TBD 2023–24 3 Liga III (Seria IX) 4th 2022–23 3 Liga III (Seria IX) 5th

Season Tier Division Place Notes Cupa României 2021–22 4 Liga IV (AB) 1st (C) Promoted 2019–20 4 Liga IV (AB) 2nd 2018–19 5 Liga V (AB) 1st (C) Promoted

References

1. "CSU Alba Iulia a promovat în Liga a 3-a! 11-2 în tur cu CSO Baraolt! Returul? Un simplu act de prezență!" [CSU Alba Iulia has promoted to the 3rd League!]. alba-sport.ro. 18 June 2022. Archived from the original on 10 April 2024. Retrieved 10 April 2024.(in Romanian)
2. "„Studenții" albaiulieni au promovat oficial în Liga a 3-a: CSO Baraolt – CSU Alba Iulia 1-7 (1-5)" [The "students" from Albaiulia have officially promoted to the 3rd League: CSO Baraolt - CSU Alba Iulia 1-7 (1-5)]. albaiuliainfo.ro. 25 June 2022. Archived from the original on 12 April 2024. Retrieved 12 April 2024.(in Romanian)
3. "Istoricul clubului" [Club history]. csualbaiulia.ro. Archived from the original on 10 April 2024. Retrieved 10 April 2024.(in Romanian)
4. "CSU Alba Iulia – lot spectaculos pentru Liga a V-a! Internaționalii F. Himcinschi și I. Neag, sub comanda lui Vasile Ursu!" [CSU Alba Iulia – spectacular batch for the 5th League! The internationals F. Himcinschi and I. Neag, under the command of Vasile Ursu!]. ziarulunirea.ro. 8 August 2018. Archived from the original on 10 April 2024. Retrieved 10 April 2024.(in Romanian)
5. "Liga a V-a S2 2018 - 2019". ajfalba.ro. Archived from the original on 10 April 2024. Retrieved 10 April 2024.(in Romanian)
6. "Stop joc în Alba! AJF a decis "înghețarea" Ligii a 4-a și a stabilit campioana și reprezentanta la barajul de promovare în Liga 3: "În actualele condiții, nu este posibil să jucăm"" [Stop playing in Alba! AJF decided to "freeze" the 4th League and established the champion and representative at the promotion dam in League 3: "In the current conditions, it is not possible to play"]. liga2.prosport.ro. 16 June 2020. Archived from the original on 23 June 2020. Retrieved 11 April 2024.
7. "Și județul Alba spune pas: Liga a 4-a nu se reia în condițiile impuse de FRF! Premieră negativă în ultimii 15 ani: AJF Alba fără reprezentantă la barajul pentru Liga 3" [And Alba County is taking a step back: Liga 4 will not resume under the conditions imposed by FRF! Negative premiere in the last 15 years: AJF Alba without a representative at the playoff for Liga 3]. liga2.prosport.ro. Archived from the original on 27 April 2021. Retrieved 12 April 2024.(in Romanian)
8. "CS Universitatea Alba Iulia și-a confirmat statutul și a câștigat Liga a 4-a Alba! Echipa este considerată un "El Dorado" în județul său. "Promovarea în Liga 3 este scopul nostru primordial"" [CS Universitatea Alba Iulia confirmed its status and won the 4th Alba League! The team is considered an "El Dorado" in its county. "Promotion to League 3 is our primary goal"]. liga2.prosport.ro. 3 June 2022. Archived from the original on 10 April 2024. Retrieved 10 April 2024.(in Romanian)
9. "CS Universitatea Alba Iulia a spulberat campioana din Covasna, CSO Baraolt, în manșa tur a barajului de promovare în Liga 3. Stadionul Cetate, martorul unui rezultat incredibil" [CS Universitatea Alba Iulia crushed the champion from Covasna, CSO Baraolt, in the first leg of the promotion bracket in League 3. Cetate Stadium, witness to an incredible result]. liga2.prosport.ro. 19 June 2022. Archived from the original on 12 April 2024. Retrieved 12 April 2024.(in Romanian)
10. "Primo biectiv îndeplinit pentru echipa de fotbal CS Universitar din Alba Iulia" [First goal achieved for the CS Universitar football team from Alba Iulia]. csualbaiulia.ro. 25 March 2024. Archived from the original on 18 April 2024. Retrieved 18 April 2024.(in Romanian)
11. "Din primăvară, CSM Unirea Alba Iulia – se mută pe „Minaur" Zlatna, iar CSU Alba Iulia – la Sebeș, pe „Pielarul"" [From spring, CSM Unirea Alba Iulia - moves to "Minaur" Zlatna, and CSU Alba Iulia - to Sebeș, on "Pielarul"] (in Romanian). ziarulunirea.ro. 19 February 2024. Retrieved 13 October 2024.

External links

• Official website
• CSU Alba Iulia on Facebook