FC UTA Arad facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
UTA Arad

Full name	Asociația Fotbal Club UTA Arad
Nickname(s)	Bătrâna Doamnă (The Old Lady) Textiliștii (The Textile Workers)
Short name	UTA
Founded	18 April 1945; 80 years ago (1945-04-18) as IT Arad 2013; 12 years ago (2013) (refounded) as UTA Bătrâna Doamnă
Ground	Francisc von Neuman
Ground Capacity	12,700
Owners	UTA Supporters Association Arad Municipality
Chairman	Florian Voinea
Head coach	Mircea Rednic
League	Liga I
2023–24	Liga I, 7th of 16
Home colours Away colours

Asociația Fotbal Club UTA Arad (Romanian pronunciation: [ˈuta aˈrad]), commonly known as UTA Arad or simply UTA (Uzina Textilă Arad; lit. Textiles Factory of Arad), is a Romanian professional football club based in the city of Arad, Arad County that competes in the Liga I.

The team was founded in 1945 as IT Arad, and has won six national titles and two Cupa României. Domestically, UTA is one of the most successful Romanian sides of the 20th century, sharing with Chinezul Timișoara the record for the most title wins by a club not from Bucharest, earning it the nickname Campioana Provinciei ("Provincial Champion"), a record which ended after the conclusion of the 2020–21 season when CFR Cluj claimed its seventh Liga I trophy. UTA Arad's decline began with a transfer to the second division in 1979, after which it rarely appeared in the top flight before being dissolved in 2014. UTA Arad was eventually promoted from the Liga IV and managed to return to the Liga I in 2020.

The team plays in red and white uniforms at the new Francisc von Neuman Stadium, which was opened in 2020. UTA holds a long-standing rivalry with neighbouring SSU Politehnica Timișoara, with whom it contests the West derby.

History

1945–1965

The team was founded under the name ITA Arad by the owner of the Arad Textile Company, Francisc von Neuman, on 18 April 1945. The colors of the club (white – red) were inspired by Arsenal's colors, as Neuman was a fan of the team.

The first football match of the newly established team was on 27 May 1945 against Banatul Sânnicolau Mic, score 2–3.

UTA Arad team in 1946–47.

On 1 September 1946 on the occasion of the match between ITA Arad and Ciocanul București, score 1–0, took place the inauguration of the stadium in Arad, Francisc von Neuman Stadium.

József Pecsovszky (left) won three league titles with UTA Arad.

The club's logo when it was known as Flamura Roșie Arad (1950–1957).

1965–1975

Flavius Domide spent almost his entire career with UTA from 1966 to 1979.

In the 1970–71, the team took fourth place and participated again in the European Champion Clubs' Cup, eliminating the trophy holder at that time, Feyenoord, after a 1–1 at Rotterdam and 0–0 in Arad.

UTA Arad, champions of Romania (1969–70).

In the 1971–72 season the team became vice-champion of Romania and participated in the UEFA Cup, reaching the quarterfinals after overtaking Austria Salzburg (4–1, 1–3), Zagłębie Wałbrzych (1–1, 2–1) and Vitória Setúbal (3–0, 0–1). They were eliminated in the quarter-finals by Tottenham Hotspur; the first game was at home where they lost 2–0. The second leg at away at White Hart Lane in London was a 1–1 draw, however this was not enough and Arad were knocked out 3–1 on aggregate.

1975–2013

The team's decline started in the 1975–76 season, and after it placed 17th in the 1978–79 season, it was reassigned to Divizia B.

Mircea Petescu, captain of UTA's golden team of the 1970s.

After two years in the second division (third place in 1979–80 and ninth in 1980–81), UTA returned to Divizia A under the technical leadership of coach Ştefan Czako, but failed to last for more than a year, and was sent back to the second division after occupying only 17th place in Divizia A at the end of the 1981–82 season.

Between 1984 and 1991, UTA occupied the following positions in the third Series of Divizia B: 13th in 1984–85, 4th in 1985–86, 10th in 1986–87, 3rd in 1987–88, 2nd in 1988–89, 2nd in 1989–90, 5th in 1990–91. It also placed in the second Series of Divizia B: 2nd in 1991–92 and 1st in 1992–93.

Between 1995 and 2002, UTA occupied the following positions in the 2nd Series of Divizia B: 5th in 1995–96, 13th in 1996–97, 11th in 1997–98, 2nd in 1998–99, 6th in 1999–2000, 7th in 2000–01 and 1st in 2001–02.

In the summer of 1999, UTA Arad disputed a play-off match at Alba Iulia against Rocar București for promotion in Divizia A, a match in which it lost 0–2. Coach Francis Tisza organised the following team: Pap – Diaconescu, Botiş, G. Radu (50' Ciubăncan), Găman (76' Baciu), Panin – Todea, Almaşan, Zaha – Mariş, Cl.Drăgan (69' Turcan).

Nicolae "Coco" Dumitrescu (left), former player and manager of UTA.

UTA Arad did not play in this league because after an assignment agreement with Liberty Salonta, UTA took the place of Liberty in Liga I and vice versa in the Liga III.

Thus, the team qualified in Liga I for the 2006–07 season. After club president Nicolae Bara signed with coach Marius Lăcătuş and under his leadership, UTA occupied the 12th place at the end of the season.

In August 2013, businessman Adrian Marțian took over Giovanni Catanzariti's majority stake, promising the financial recovery of the club and bringing back the good results, but by November he lost the support of the supporters and Flavius Domide asked him to leave the club to competent people from Arad.

Another team, supported by a part of UTA fans, called UTA Bătrâna Doamnă, was founded in 2013 by former player Marius Ţucudean. It was enrolled in Liga IV instead of UTA II and received the logo, the record and the colors of UTA from UTA Supporter Club in March 2014, becoming officially UTA Arad. The Liga II team had to change their name to FC UTA SA. At the end of the 2013–14 season of Liga II, UTA SA was excluded from the championship by FRF for not attending two matches and relegated to the 6th League, where it did not sign up and was dissolved.

2013–present

UTA Bătrâna Doamnă, promoted in the Liga III at the end of the season after a promotion play-off match against Hunedoara County champion Retezatul Hațeg, won 2–0.

After only one season in the Liga III, the club was promoted back to the Liga II after finishing first in the fourth Series of the league, four points ahead of Nuova Mama Mia Becicherecu Mic.

In their first season after returning to the Liga II, UTA, now known as UTA Bătrâna Doamnă finished second in the second Series of the championship and qualified for a Liga I promotion play-off against Dunărea Călărași and Voluntari. It eliminated Dunărea Călărași 5–4 on aggregate, but lost 1–3 against Voluntari and remained for another season in the Liga II.

In the 2016–17 season, UTA finished third and qualified again for a promotion play-off against Poli Timișoara, one of Politehnica Timișoara successors, and ASU Politehnica Timișoara. UTA lost to both teams (1–2, 1–3).

In the summer of 2017, FRF has officialized that UTA Bătrâna Doamnă changed its name back to FC UTA Arad being the official and legal successor of the old club.

Grounds

The new Stadionul Francisc von Neumann

UTA Arad plays its home matches at the Stadionul Francisc von Neuman. Ranked as a UEFA Category 4 stadium, it can host UEFA Europa League semi-finals and UEFA Champions League group stage matches.

The first match at the stadium was a Liga I game played between UTA Arad and Voluntari, which ended in a goalless draw. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the game was played without spectators.

The first match with spectators was the 2021 women's Romanian Cup final between U Olimpia Cluj and Heniu Prundu Bârgăului, which ended with a 1–0 win in extra-time for the Cluj team.

The first international game played on the arena was the friendly goalless draw between UTA Arad and Kolubara Lazarevac.

Honours

Domestic

Chart of UTA Arad's league performance 1946–2017.

Leagues

• Liga I
  • Winners (6): 1946–47, 1947–48, 1950, 1954, 1968–69, 1969–70
  • Runners-up (1): 1971–72
• Liga II
  • Winners (4): 1980–81, 1992–93, 2001–02, 2019–20
  • Runners-up (6): 1982–83, 1988–89, 1989–90, 1991–92, 1998–99, 2015–16
• Liga III
  • Winners (1): 2014–15
• Liga IV – Arad County
  • Winners (1): 2013–14

Cups

• Cupa României
  • Winners (2): 1947–48, 1953
  • Runners-up (2): 1950, 1965–66
• Cupa României – Arad County Phase
  • Winners (1): 2013–14
• Cupa Ligii
  • Runners-up (1): 1994

European

• UEFA Champions League / European Cup
  • Best result: Second round 1970–71
• UEFA Europa League / UEFA Cup
  • Best result: Quarter-finals 1971–72
• Balkans Cup
  • Best result: Group stage 1966–67

Players

First-team squad

No. Position Player 1 GK Robert Popa (on loan from FC U Craiova) 3 DF Kouya Mabea 4 DF Alexandru Benga (Captain) 6 DF Florent Poulolo 7 FW Andrei Dumiter 8 MF João Pedro (4th captain) 9 FW Jordan Kadiri 10 MF Andrej Fábry (3rd captain) 12 GK Aleksander Mitrović 14 MF Lamine Ghezali 15 DF Ibrahima Conté (Vice-captain) 17 FW Dániel Zsóri 18 MF Valentin Borcea 19 MF Valentin Costache 20 FW Agustín Vuletich

No. Position Player 21 MF Cristian Mihai 22 GK Dejan Iliev 23 MF Alessio Calotă 24 FW Eric Omondi 25 DF Ravy Tsouka 26 FW Adrian Dragoș 27 FW Raoul Cristea 28 FW Zé Pedro 29 DF Răzvan Trif 30 MF Benjamin Van Durmen 31 DF Cornel Râpă 33 GK Mario Popescu 77 MF Alexandru Cîmpanu (on loan from Universitatea Craiova) 94 DF Damien Dussaut 97 MF Denis Hrezdac

Out on loan

No. Position Player GK Cristian Blaga (to Corvinul Hunedoara) DF Alexandru Pătlăgică (to Jiul Petroșani) DF Marco Bota (to CSM Satu Mare) DF David Băloi (to Minaur Baia Mare) DF Ionuț Anișorac (to Dumbrăvița) DF Tudor Telcean (to Ceahlăul Piatra Neamț) DF Darius Iurasciuc (to Progresul Pecica) DF Gabriel Hara (to Progresul Pecica) MF Adelin Nica (to Bihor Oradea) MF Răzvan Olăroiu (to Progresul Pecica)

No. Position Player MF Răzvan Ristin (to Dumbrăvița) MF Mario Salka (to Progresul Pecica) MF Robert Vîlcu (to Metalul Buzău) MF Fabiano Cibi (to Dumbrăvița) MF Raul Popa (to CSM Slatina) MF Ahmet Ekmekci (to Dumbrăvița) FW Samir Borcea (to Progresul Pecica) FW Lucas Câmpan (to Corvinul Hunedoara) FW Vadim Kyrychenko (to Progresul Pecica)

Club officials

Board of directors Role Name Owners UTA Supporters Association Arad Municipality President UTA Supporters Association Claudiu Negru President Florian Voinea General Manager Attila Brosovszki Delegate Dorin Stana Team Manager Cristian Pilan Director of Competitions Claudiu Drăgan Youth Center Director Cristian Păcurar Youth Center Coordinator Ioan Herman Press Officer Radu Romanescu Social Media Department Sergiu Giurgiu Last updated: 31 July 2024

Current technical staff Role Name Head coach Mircea Rednic Assistant coaches Sorin Rădoi Ștefan Boroș Goalkeeping coach Dan Țapoș Fitness coach Ștefan Anghel Club doctor Darius Mihart Physiotherapists Călin Petrică Nicolae Tomescu Masseurs Dan Chiorean Dan Ifrim Last updated: 15 July 2024

European record

League history

Notable former players

The footballers enlisted below have had international caps for their respective countries at junior and/or senior level. Players whose name is listed in bold represented their countries at junior and/or senior level on through the time's passing. Additionally, these players have also had a significant number of caps and goals accumulated throughout a certain number of seasons for the club itself as well.

Notable former managers

See also

In Spanish: FC UTA Arad para niños