1976-2002: Mediocrity and Near-Bankruptcy  

Above left: CFR in 1977. Center: Tegean in the late 1970s. Right: CFR - Steagul Rosu Brasov match review

During the 1977-78 season, C.F.R. tried to make a comeback and play in the first league again. Unfortunately, the team managed to finish only second in Divizia B, a single point behind FC Baia Mare.

Below: CFR - Victoria Calan 1978

Above left: CFR - FC Baia Mare 5-2 1978. Center: Tegean at CFR Stadium. Right: CFR in 1980.

A year later, who should come back as coach, but none other than Dr. Constantin Radulescu. At the winter break, C.F.R. was about to relegate to Divizia C. However, Radulescu accomplished yet another miracle and by the end of the season the team was safely out of the drop zone.

Below left: CFR in 1978. Right: CFR in 1980

Above: Octavian Albu in action in 1980.

The 1980-1981 season began very well. By the end of the first half of the championship, C.F.R. was in second place and promotion to the first tier seemed to be very close. During the winter break, the club participated in an international football tournament in Cluj. The results were: a 1-1 draw with Sloven Bratislava, a 1-0 win against Karl-Zeiss-Jena, and a loss 0-1 to rivals Universitatea Cluj. These results seemed to be very promising. 

Below left: CFR - Dacia Orastie 1980. Right: CFR - Sighet 1981.

Unfortunately, due to the lack of a winning mentality, as well as player indiscipline, the team had a disastrous spring campaign, finishing in eighth place overall. The next championship was to be even worse, as relegation to the third tier became a reality.

Above left: CFR in 1980. Right: The referees and players come out from the dressing rooms in Gruia.

The 1982-1983 spell was a memorable one. Former C.F.R. player and captain, Marius Bretan, led the team to second spot by the winter break, five points behind leaders Victoria Carei. This performance was not satisfactory in the eyes of the board, and Constantin Radulescu was brought back yet again. Results were even better during the spring, and yet near the end of the championship C.F.R. still found itself trailing Victoria Carei. The direct fixture between the two teams was to prove decisive. In front of 17,000 fans C.F.R. won 3-2 after being down at 0-1 and 1-2. Accordingly, the club earned promotion to the second league. The team at that time was: Panita, Ferestean, Olteanu, H. Popa, Olariu, Toth, A. Muresan, Tuta, Jucan, Pop, Rau, Furnea, O. Muresan, Tegean, Tatu, Sipos, Rus, I. Popa, Csudom, and Berindei.

* In 1985, the club’s junior team won the national championship under Szoher's leadership.

Above left: The bench in 1984. Right: A dramatic display in Gruia.

In addition, that year the army became involved in the management of the club, and C.F.R. became Steaua-C.F.R after a merger with the army's local team. This transformation was not to prove beneficial. Thus, due to Radulescu’s sudden departure as well as poor management, the team relegated back to the third league in 1984. Eventually, the club’s name reverted to C.F.R.

During the rest of the 1980s the pattern of promotions followed inevitably by relegations continued. Nevertheless, towards the end of the decade several talented footballers grew and played for C.F.R., including Trusca, Miszti, Vadana, Vasile Iepure, Octavian Albu, Valentin Berindei and Sorin Corpodean.

Below left: CFR in 1989 on the eve of the Romanian revolution. Right: CFR in 1992.

In the 1990s the club struggled financially and found itself more than once on the brink of bankruptcy. Nevertheless, several very talented players were again promoted, including Cristian Dulca, Attila Piroska, Alin Cazan, Sabin Paglisan, Ilie Lazar, Horea Carlan, Cristian Coroian, and Alin Minteuan. Despite very limited financial resources, Dr. Radulescu played a major part in helping many players to grow and mature as footballers and as people.

Above left: CFR in 1998. Above Right: CFR in 2000.

However, by 2001 C.F.R. found itself on the threshold of relegating to the fourth league, finishing tenth in Divizia C. The start of the 2001-2002 season, though, was promising. With Marius Bretan as coach, the team finished the autumn campaign near the top of the table.

        Next match:

Sept. 11/2010

7th Round 2010/11

Rapid - CFR Cluj  

Cluj-Napoca

Aug. 2 8/2010 

CFR Cluj-Pandurii

2-1

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