2002-present: Awakening and Glory

In January 2002 Árpád Pászkány, a local tycoon, became the new owner of the club. Bringing in many new players, as well as a new coach (Gheorghe Cioceri), C.F.R. easily earned promotion to the second league.

Below: The team that earned promotion to Divizia A for the first time in 28 years.

During the 2002-2003 season, even more players were brought in, including Florin Dan, Sorin Oncica, and Mihaita Szekely. Thus, nobody was surprised when the team finished in sixth spot. That same season, C.F.R. had a superb run in the Romanian Cup, eliminating first league sides Sportul Studentesc and FC Brasov, but losing in the final sixteen to FC National.

Above: CFR - Universitatea Derby 2002.

The summer of 2003 was very important for C.F.R. as further players were transferred. Among them were Catalin Bozdog, Adrian Anca, Laur Astilean, Cristian Turcu, and Sabin Piglisan. C.F.R. Cluj began the season superbly, reaching and holding first position. Then the club's owner, Árpád Pászkány, became involved in a public scandal, in which Pászkány accused several referees of corruption. This conundrum plagued the team and ended up in head coach Gheorghe Cioceri's dismissal. C.F.R. lost several consecutive games before the scandal blew away. By this time it had become clear that a change was needed. 

Above: CFR fans in 2003.

So, during the winter break promotion expert Aurel Sunda was appointed as head coach. In the spring of 2004, Sunda's team had a nearly perfect run, winning fourteen out of fifteen games, with only one draw. One round before the season's end, C.F.R. was one point behind leaders Jiul Petrosani. All this changed when Jiul was held to a 0-0 draw by Gaz Metan Medias. This, along with C.F.R.'s categorical 3-0 victory, was one of the most crucial moments for the club in the 21st Century. Thus, C.F.R. Cluj advanced to the first league for the first time in twenty-eight years. The winning squad that season was as such: Sabin Paglisan, Emil Stef, Mircea Rus, Sabin Goia, Dorin Toma, Laur Astilean, Cosmin Vasiie, Sorin Oncica, Florin Dan, Catalin Bozdog, Cristian Turcu, Adrian Anca, Mircea Stanciu, Cosmin Tilinca, Paul Ghenti, Sergiu Ghiorma, Svetozar Mijin, and Gabriel Bacnean.

Below: The team and club officials in 2004 on the eve of their comeback.

C.F.R. Cluj's first year in Divizia A since 1976 was spectacular, yet very inconsistent. In the summer of 2004, C.F.R. transferred many talented players, including Vasile Jula, Radu Marginean, Robert Roszel, and Cristian Panin. The club finished sixth after the first half of the 2004-2005 championship, a great accomplishment for a newly promoted team. In September 2004 one of the most memorable games ever played in Cluj took place. C.F.R. defeated, at home, then reigning champions Dinamo Bucharest. The final score was 4-2, after four spectacular goals by Adrian Anca and Sorin Oncica.

Above: CFR fans in 2003

However, the second half of the championship proved disappointing as the team gathered only twelve points after fifteen games. The team still finished eleventh, though, hence avoiding relegation.

The summer of 2005 brought some extraordinary changes to C.F.R. Cluj. The club's executives signed up the team for the UEFA Intertoto Cup. This would be C.F.R.'s first-ever European adventure. The European campaign began well. The team qualified for the second round of the tournament after two victories against Lithuanian side Vetra Vilnius (3-2 and 4-1).

Also, the Romanian international Dorinel Munteanu came to C.F.R. from Steaua Bucharest. Munteanu would have the double role of player-coach. His first game produced one of C.F.R.'s greatest successes. C.F.R. Cluj defeated Atletico Bilbao (1-0) during the second round of the 2005 UEFA Intertoto Cup. Cosmin Tilinca scored the only goal of the match with a brilliant header from just inside the box. C.F.R. then lost at Bilbao (0-1), but still qualified to the next round after defeating Athletico in a tense penalty shootout.

Left: CFR coach Aurel Sunda (2003-2005)

Munteanu's team played the next game at Cluj, against French club A.S. St. Etienne. Even though the match ended in a 1-1 draw Cluj player Adrian Anca played one of the greatest games in his lifetime. Anca hit the crossbar with a header early in the game, and Cosmin Tilinca pushed the ball into the net from the rebound. Anca then went on to earn a penalty, but did not score. Moreover, he then hit a second crossbar in the latter half of the fixture. The away game, in France, was also an eventful game for C.F.R. Cluj. The game began well, as Cristian Coroian scored from a penalty kick, produced by Adrian Anca. The second half went by less smoothly. Julien Sable managed to score for St. Etienne, tying the game at 1-1. Then followed C.F.R. player Laszlo Balint's elimination. However, a Cosmin Tilinca goal gave the team a new hope, a hope fulfilled at the end of a memorable match, tied up by the French in the very last minute. And so the match ended in a 2-2 draw. Due to this, C.F.R. went on to the next qualifying stage because of the away goals rule.

In the next round, C.F.R. Cluj easily overcame Zalgiris Vilnius, 2-1 in Lithuania and 5-1 at home.

Left: CFR - Poli Iasi 2005

For the final fixtures of the 2005 UEFA Intertoto Cup, C.F.R. Cluj's opponent was yet another French squad RC Lens. The first game, at Cluj, ended in a 1-1 draw, with both sides having scored from free kicks. Cristian Turcu scored for C.F.R. The second game was played at Lens, in front of thirty thousand fanatical French fans. Unfortunately, the Romanian players showed signs of exhaustion and conceded three goals. Still, player-coach Dorinel Munteanu managed to score a consolation goal from a beautiful long-range free kick in the 89th minute. Thus, C.F.R.’s Intertoto adventure came to a disappointing, but rewarding conclusion.

C.F.R. Cluj finished 5th at the end of the 2005-2006 season, tying their best finish in 1972-1973. Although, home results were very inconsistent, the team achieved a remarkable away record. The team that season was: Martin Tudor (Petru Turcas) – Cristian Panin, Vasile Jula, Zoran Milosevic (Dorin Toma), Casian Miclaus – Alin Minteuan, Dorinel Munteanu, Cristian Coroian (Florin Dan) – Cosmin Tilinca, Adrian Anca, Romeo Surdu.

Left: Steaua Bucharest - CFR 1-0, 2005

During the 2006-2007 season, there occurred major changes at the club. Dorinel Munteanu resigned as player-coach, and was replaced by Italian Cristiano Bergodi. Foreign players from Western Europe and South America were transferred. Partnerships were signed with Portuguese team Benfica Lisbon, Argentinean side Lanus, and Ivory Coast club AJ Abidjan. Near the end of the season, second-placed C.F.R. had an eight-point lead on Steaua Bucharest. However, due to Cluj’s poor results, as well as Steaua’s scandalous wins, the club squandered its lead and lost the chance to play in the Champions League. Be that as it may, third place would still be a honourable spot to finish in, but only a single obstacle remained: Rapid Bucharest. In the stunning direct fixture at Cluj, Rapid scored first. However, two identical goals in the same minute from Brazilian striker “Didi” overturned the score line. Rapid scored an early equalizer in the second half through Ianis Zicu, but to no avail. C.F.R. pressed and Portuguese forward Antonio Semedo scored after a lovely through ball from young prospect Ciprian Deac, making the final score 3-2. Thus, C.F.R. finished in third position and qualified for the UEFA Cup for the very first time. 

Right: CFR - Dinamo Bucharest 2-1, October 2006. Both of CFR's goals were scored by Romeo Surdu, the player on the left.

By the beginning of the 2007-2008 season the squad was mostly composed of foreigners, a first in Romanian football. Also, the board hired a veteran Romanian coach: Ioan Andone. Andone had already won three cups and a championship with Dinamo Bucharest, and it was his experience that was to prove so vital in the coming season.

Along with new signings Niklas Sandberg, Emmanuel Culio, Cristian Fabbiani, Gabriel Muresan, and Eugen Trica, Andone’s objective was to win the Romanian championship. The season started disappointingly with wins at Otelul Galati and Universitatea Craiova, but draws at home to main rivals Steaua Bucharest and Politechnica Timisoara. The match with Politechnica ended in a 2-2 draw after a spectacular game, with Cluj striker Didi not being able to score in added time from two meters distance. 

Then, a disaster occurred. C.F.R.’s UEFA Cup fixture at home with Cypriot side Anorthosis Famagusta ended in a blistering 1-3 defeat. This, coupled with a 0-0 draw in Cyprus, led to C.F.R.’s earlier-than-expected elimination from the UEFA Cup. Nevertheless, the team bounced back and continued to win game after game in Liga 1. With a powerful offence, and an efficient defence, C.F.R. went undefeated in the championship until the fixture at Timisoara in the 19^th round of play! 

The winter break appeared to signal several excellent transfers for the team. Swedish international Mikael Dorsin and Canadian international Lars Hirschfeld were signed from Norwegian side Rosenborg BK, a team that had participated in the Champions’ League that fall. Along with Argentines Sixto Peralta, Diego Ruiz, and Sebastian Dubarbier, Andone’s squad appeared almost invincible. 

However, most of the new signings did not adapt to the conditions in Romanian football, and hence did not impress. Due to such uninspired transfers, C.F.R. found itself trembling for the title. At one point, Steaua even managed to snatch first place. Still, in the end the Cluj players proved themselves able to withstand the pressure, and coupled with a poor result from Steaua in their derby with Dinamo, won the title. Fittingly, the last game of the season was a 1-0 victory away at long-time city rivals Universitatea Cluj, with captain Cadu scoring from a penalty kick. This tremendous domestic triumph was not to go alone, though. Four days after winning the league, C.F.R. also won the Romanian Cup after defeating Unirea Urziceni in a tense 2-1 final.

        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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