FC Petrolul Ploiești facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Petrolul Ploiești

Full name	Asociația Clubul Sportiv Petrolul 52
Nickname(s)	Găzarii (The Gasmen) Petroliștii (The Oilmen) Galben-albaștrii (The Yellow and Blues) Lupii galbeni (The Yellow Wolves)
Short name	Petrolul
Founded	31 December 1924; 100 years ago (1924-12-31) as FC Juventus București
Ground	Ilie Oană
Ground Capacity	15,073
Owner	Asociația Clubul Sportiv Petrolul 52
Chairman	Claudiu Tudor
Head coach	Mehmet Topal
League	Liga I
2023–24	Liga I, 11th of 16
Home colours Away colours Third colours

FC Petrolul Ploiești is a professional football club from Ploiești, Romania. The club is also known as Petrolul Ploiești or simply Petrolul. They play in the top Romanian football league, called Liga I.

The club started in 1924 in Bucharest as Juventus. It was formed when two other teams, Triumf and Romcomit, joined together. They won their first league title in the 1929–30 season. In 1952, the team moved to Ploiești, an industrial city. Five years later, they officially became Petrolul. After this move, they won three more national titles in 1957–58, 1958–59, and 1965–66. They have also won the Romanian Cup three times, most recently in 2012–13.

Petrolul first played in a European competition in the 1958–59 season. They have played in European tournaments 12 times in total. In recent years, the club faced financial problems and was dissolved in 2016. However, fans and former players quickly started a new club, which began playing in the fourth division.

The team's colors are yellow and dark blue. This is why their fans and players are often called "the Yellow Wolves." Petrolul plays its home games at the Ilie Oană Stadium, which can hold 15,073 people. Their biggest rival is Rapid București. They also used to have a local rivalry with Astra Giurgiu, which was based in Ploiești until 2012.

Club History

How the Club Started (1924–1952)

The team began in Bucharest in late 1924. Two clubs, Romcomit and Triumf, joined to form Juventus București. This new club quickly became famous in the capital city. Its badge showed a she-wolf, like the legend of Romulus and Remus founding Rome.

In their first season, led by president Ettore Brunelli, the team finished 4th in the Bucharest championship. They won their first game 3–0 against Colțea București. Before the next season, they played international friendly matches, winning against teams like Slavia Prague and Slavia Sofia.

Their first national title came six years after they started, in the 1929–30 season. They won the final 3–0 against Gloria Arad. After World War II, the club was promoted back to the top league. The club's name changed many times during this period, from Juventus to Distribuția, Petrolul, Competrol, Partizanul, and Flacăra.

Moving to Ploiești and Winning Titles (1952–1968)

Petrolul Ploiești's 1965–66 team, also known as Generația de Aur ("The Golden Generation").

In 1952, Flacăra București moved to Ploiești and changed its name. Coach Ilie Oană took over the team. In the 1957–58 season, the team became champions of Romania for the second time. This was also when they adopted their current name, Petrolul Ploiești.

In 1958, Petrolul played in the European Cup for the first time. They faced Wismut Karl Marx Stadt from East Germany. Petrolul won their second league championship in a row in the 1958–59 season.

On July 14, 1963, Petrolul player Constantin Tabarcea sadly passed away during a match. One week later, Petrolul won the 1962–63 Cupa României with a 6–1 victory. Before the game, they left a space open in their team photo to remember Tabarcea.

In 1965, coach Ilie Oană left to manage the national team. His assistant, Constantin Cernăianu, took his place. In his first season, Cernăianu led the club to its fourth league title in 1965–66. A famous moment happened on October 12, 1966, when Petrolul beat the English champions, Liverpool, 3–1 at home in a European match.

A Time of Challenges (1968–1990)

Mircea Dridea played in 273 league matches for Petrolul between 1956 and 1971.

After their successful period, Petrolul faced some tougher times. Even though they stayed in the top division for many years, they didn't win as many trophies. In 1974, the team was moved down to the second league, Divizia B. Many of their best players left.

The club tried hard to get back to the top league. In the 1976–77 season, Petrolul had a great year, winning 15 out of 17 matches and finishing first. However, they were relegated again in the 1977–78 season.

In 1982, after four years in the second league, Petrolul finally returned to Divizia A. The 1982–83 Divizia A season was exciting as they worked to avoid being relegated again. They went back down in 1983–84 but quickly promoted again. In 1987, they were relegated once more. However, in 1989, Petrolul was promoted back to Divizia A, ending a long period of ups and downs.

European Games and a Cup Win (1990–2002)

Petrolul squad that won the Romanian Cup in 1995.

After returning to the top division in 1989, Petrolul finished 4th in the 1989–90 Divizia A season. This allowed them to play in the UEFA Cup. They played against the Belgian club Anderlecht, but lost both games.

In 1991, the club briefly changed its name to FC Ploiești but changed it back to Petrolul Ploiești later. They had a tough season in 1992–93, barely avoiding relegation. However, in the 1993–94 season, they finished 5th, a much better result.

A big moment came in the 1994–95 season. Even though their league performance was average, Petrolul won the Romanian Cup! They beat their rivals, Rapid București, in a penalty shootout. This win qualified them for the 1995–96 UEFA Cup. In that European competition, they beat Wrexham from Wales but were later knocked out by Rapid Wien from Austria.

The late 1990s also saw a strong rivalry with Astra Ploiești, another team from the city.

Years in the Second Division (2002–2011)

In the early 2000s, Petrolul faced more challenges. In 2002, they were relegated to Divizia B. The city of Ploiești, which used to have two teams in the top league, was left with only Astra. Petrolul was promoted back to Divizia A in 2003 after just one season.

However, soon after, the club faced financial problems. To keep the club going, a merger was planned between Petrolul Ploiești and Astra Ploiești. Astra Ploiești changed its name to FC Petrolul Ploiești. This was a way to make sure the club's history and brand continued.

In the 2003–04 Divizia A season, Petrolul was relegated again. This started a difficult period for the club, with seven straight seasons in Liga II. They often came close to promotion but couldn't quite make it.

In 2006, the club decided to play home games at other stadiums because the old Ilie Oană Stadium needed repairs. Fans protested, wanting the team to return to their home ground and be owned by the city. The city of Ploiești took over the team in 2009. After several attempts, Petrolul finally won promotion from Liga II in the 2010–11 season. This promotion happened at the same time as the new Ilie Oană Stadium was opened, bringing great excitement to the fans.

Success and Financial Troubles (2011–2016)

Petrolul fans at the 2013 Romanian Cup Final in Bucharest

After returning to the top league, Petrolul had a good run. In the 2012–13 season, they finished third in the league and won the Romanian Cup for the third time. This earned them a spot in the 2013–14 UEFA Europa League. They beat teams like Víkingur Gøta and Vitesse Arnhem but were eventually knocked out by Swansea City.

In January 2014, the team signed famous Romanian players Adrian Mutu and Ianis Zicu. They also got a sponsorship from the car company Opel. Petrolul finished third in the Liga I again.

In the next European season, "the Yellow Wolves" played against Viktoria Plzeň from the Czech Republic. They won impressively but again missed out on the group stage after losing to Dinamo Zagreb. In late 2014, the club faced serious financial issues. This led to many important players leaving and a period of instability. In February 2015, the club went into administration, a process for financially troubled companies.

More players left in the summer of 2015, and coaches changed often. Petrolul ended up in last place in the league. Finally, in the summer of 2016, the team was declared bankrupt and stopped operating.

Starting Fresh and Recent Years (2016 onwards)

Petrolul Ploiești players taking a group photo before a home match against UTA Arad in the 2023–24 Liga I season

After the club went bankrupt in 2016, former club legends and fan groups quickly came together. They started a new club called ACS Petrolul 52 Ploiești and entered it into the Liga A Prahova, which is the fourth division of Romanian football. In 2017, a French company called Veolia became a financial partner.

In June 2017, the new club was able to use the old name, FC Petrolul Ploiești, by leasing the brand from the city. The team achieved back-to-back promotions, reaching the second division in 2018. After three tries, they finally returned to the Liga I in the 2021–22 season, winning the Liga II championship.

In the 2022–23 Liga I season, Petrolul finished eighth. In March 2023, a new owner, Marian Copilu, took control of the club. Petrolul finished the 2022–23 season in eighth place overall.

Home Stadium

The new Ilie Oană Stadium

Petrolul Ploiești plays its home games at the Ilie Oană Stadium. This stadium is rated as a UEFA Category 4 stadium. This means it can host big matches like UEFA Europa League semi-finals and UEFA Champions League group stage games.

The stadium opened in September 2011 and can hold 15,073 fans. It was built on the same spot where the old Ilie Oană Stadium stood, which was built in 1937. The stadium is named after Ilie Oană, who was the most important coach in Petrolul's history.

Stadium Firsts

• The very first match at the new stadium was a friendly game. It was played between former Petrolul Ploiești players who won the Romanian Cup in 1995 and a team of famous former Romanian international players, including Gheorghe Hagi. The international team won 4–3. Cristian Zmoleanu scored the first goal in the new stadium.
• Petrolul's first official match at the stadium was a Liga I game against Dinamo București on September 25, 2011. Dinamo won 5–1. Cosmin Moți scored the first official goal.
• The Romania national football team played its first official match at the Ilie Oană Stadium on March 29, 2015, against the Faroe Islands.

Fan Support

Petrolul supporters displaying a 3D choreography

Petrolul Ploiești has many loyal fans in Prahova County. Their strong support for the team is well-known in Romania, no matter how the team is doing.

The main group of super-fans is called Lupii Galbeni ("the Yellow Wolves"). They formed in 1996. There are also other fan groups like Peluza Latină ("The Latin Stand") and Peluza 1 Ilie Oană ("Peluza 1 Ilie Oană stand"). Other fan groups like Liga Suporterilor Constantin Tabarcea (LSCT) and Young Wolves are also very active. Before and during matches, fans sing the club's songs, which were written by George Nicolescu.

Petrolul Ploiești fans have also become friends with supporters of other clubs, including Oțelul Galați in Romania, and international clubs like Vitesse (Netherlands), Salernitana (Italy), and Genk (Belgium).

Club Rivalries

Petrolul Ploiești's biggest and oldest rival is Rapid București. They first played each other on November 11, 1931. This rivalry has stayed strong even when the teams were in different leagues. In the 1965–66 season, Petrolul won the league title while Rapid finished second. The next year, Rapid won its first national title at the old Ilie Oană Stadium. These events made the rivalry even stronger. Because it's the oldest active rivalry for Romanian teams, it's known as the Primvs derby, which means "first" or "foremost" in Latin.

Petrolul also had a local rivalry with Astra Giurgiu. Astra played in Ploiești until 2012, when it moved to Giurgiu. Even after Astra moved, the rivalry between the clubs continued.

Petrolul fans also don't like the other big teams from Bucharest, like FCSB and Dinamo. They sometimes chant against these teams even when they are not playing them directly.

Club Achievements

National Titles

Chart of Petrolul Ploiești's league performance 1933–2017.

Leagues

• Liga I
  • Winners (4): 1929–30, 1957–58, 1958–59, 1965–66
  • Runners-up (3): 1925–26, 1955, 1961–62
• Liga II
  • Winners (9): 1940–41, 1953, 1976–77, 1981–82, 1984–85, 1988–89, 2002–03, 2010–11, 2021–22
  • Runners-up (1): 1980–81
• Liga III
  • Winners (1): 2017–18
• Liga IV – Prahova County
  • Winners (1): 2016–17

Cups

• Cupa României
  • Winners (3): 1962–63, 1994–95, 2012–13
  • Runners-up (1): 1952
• Supercupa României
  • Runners-up (2): 1995, 2013
• Cupa României – Prahova County
  • Winners (1): 2016–17

Current Players

First-team squad

No. Position Player 1 GK Raul Bălbărău 2 DF Marian Huja (4th captain) 3 DF Alexandru Stănică 4 DF Paul Papp (3rd captain) 5 DF Valentin Țicu (Vice-captain) 6 MF Tommi Jyry 7 FW Gheorghe Grozav (Captain) 8 MF Alexandru Mateiu 9 FW Christian Irobiso (on loan from Al-Ula) 10 MF Mario Bratu 11 FW Herman Moussaki 12 GK Mihai Eșanu 14 FW Nana Akosah-Bempah 15 DF Hasan Jahić 17 MF Mihnea Rădulescu 19 FW Alexandru Tudorie 20 DF Sergiu Hanca

No. Position Player 21 MF David Paraschiv 22 DF Denis Radu 23 MF Tidiane Keïta 24 DF Ricardinho 26 FW Vladimir Badea 27 MF Baiano 30 MF Cătălin Tolea 33 MF Victor Stancovici 36 MF Alin Boțogan 38 GK Lukáš Zima 44 MF Lucian Dumitriu 69 DF Yohan Roche 71 FW David Ilie 90 FW Iustin Răducan 97 MF Augustin Dumitrache 99 FW Raul Bucur GK Oscar Linnér

Players on Loan

No. Position Player GK Eduard Berbeacă (to Blejoi) DF Adrian Nicolae (to Metaloglobus București) DF Sebastian Guiu (to Blejoi)

No. Position Player DF Aris Oprea (to Plopeni) MF Mario Ioniță (to Unirea Ungheni) MF Alessio Tudor (to Băicoi)

Club Management

Board of Directors Role Name Owners Asociația Clubul Sportiv Petrolul 52 Executive President Claudiu Tudor Honorary President Mircea Dridea Vice-president Cristian Fogarassy Sporting Director Marian Dima Financial Consultant Mircea Dumitrache Team Manager Costel Ilie Press Officer Ionuț Pană Last updated: October 7, 2024 Source:

Current Coaching Staff Role Name Head coach Mehmet Topal Assistant coaches Florin Stângă Sanjin Alagić Cafer Kaynar Goalkeeping coach Cătălin Grigore Video Analyst İbrahim Menderes Fitness coaches Laurențiu Marinescu Pantelis Pantelopoulos Club doctor Mircea Miu Medical Assistant Răduță Ghioca Kinetotherapist Cosmin Scarlat Masseurs Ionuț Florescu Andrei Rușină Storeman Romeo Ivan Last updated: August 14, 2024 Source:

Team Kits and Sponsors

Petrolul mascot Lupino before a home game in March 2022

European Competition Record

Petrolul Ploiești has played in European club competitions organized by UEFA eight times. They have played in European competitions overall 12 times.

League Performance History

Famous Former Players

These players have played for their national teams or have played over 100 matches for FC Petrolul Ploiești.

Romania

Famous Former Coaches

Petrolul 2 Ploiești

Starting with the 2024-2025 season, Petrolul Ploiești will have a second team again. This team was created through a partnership between Petrolul Ploiești and Daniel Chirita, who owns the 4th league team Petrolul 95 Ploiești. The second team will play in the 3rd League at the Conpet stadium in Strejnic.

Women's Football

History of Women's Team

Since the 2020-2021 season, football clubs in Romania's 1st League must have women's football teams to get their license. They need to register at least 20 players for the U15 Women's National Championship. Clubs can also partner with an existing women's football club.

From the 2021-2022 season, 1st League clubs also need to have a women's team in the senior championship (1st, 2nd, or 3rd League). By the 2022-2023 season, clubs must have at least 20 U15 players and 15 U13 players, and a team in the National Senior Championship.

To meet these rules for the 2022-2023 season, Petrolul Ploiești partnered with ACS Student Sport Alba Iulia. This team played in the Women's 3rd League under the Petrolul Ploiești name. At the same time, coach Cristian Iordache started selecting players for senior and junior teams in Ploiești, who played friendly matches.

In the 2023-2024 season, the partnership with ACS Student Sport Alba Iulia ended. Petrolul Ploiești then started its own official women's football team, which played in the Women's 3rd League. For the 2024-2025 season, Petrolul Ploiești was invited to play in the Women's 2nd League after the leagues were reorganized.

Women's Team Kits and Sponsors

Women's Team Coaches

• 2022 Cristian Iordache

Women's Team League History

See also

In Spanish: Fotbal Club Petrolul Ploiești para niños