Cupa României Explained

Current:2024–25 Cupa României
Region:Romania
Number Of Teams:202
Domestic Cup:Supercupa României
Qualifier For:UEFA Europa League
Broadcasters:Digi Sport
Orange Sport
Prima Sport
Website:cuparomaniei.frf.ro
Organiser:Romanian Football Federation

The Cupa României (English: Romanian Cup) is a football cup competition for Romanian teams which has been held annually since 1933–34, except during World War II. It is the country's main cup competition, being open to all clubs affiliated with the Romanian Football Federation (FRF) and the county football associations regardless of the league they belong to. Currently, the winner of the competition is granted a place in the UEFA Europa League qualifiers and plays the Supercupa României.

Most finals have been held at the Stadionul Național (formerly known as "23 August"), and occasionally at other stadiums in Bucharest. During the construction of the new Stadionul Național, the final was staged each year in a different major city of the country. In 2007, the final was held in Timișoara at the Dan Păltinișanu stadium, this being the second occasion when the last game was played outside Bucharest (the first occurrence took place in 1989, when Brașov hosted the event). Then, the next three finals were staged in Piatra Neamț, Târgu Jiu, Iași and again in Brașov.

The competition has been dominated by Bucharest-based teams, the most successful performers being FCSB with 23 trophies, followed by Rapid București and Dinamo București with thirteen each. The record for the most consecutive Cups won is held by Rapid București, who won the Romanian Cup 6 times in a row, between 1937 and 1942.

Sponsorship

On 22 July 2005, FRF and Samsung Electronics signed a one-year sponsorship deal. The name of the competition was changed to Cupa României Samsung.[1]

On 9 October 2006, FRF and Ursus Breweries (part of the SABMiller group) signed a sponsorship agreement for the next three seasons. Ursus Breweries changed the name of the competition to Cupa României Timișoreana, after the Timișoreana beer brand.[2] [3]

On 16 May 2016, FRF announced the rebranding of competition and the signing of contracts with new sponsors such as Kaufland, UPC Broadband and Stanleybet.[4] [5]

On 20 October 2017, FRF announced that the new main sponsor of the competition is the betting company Casa Pariurilor.[6]

Competition format

The competition has undergone minor changes in format over the years. The following format came in use in the 2009–10 season. The main differences between the current system and the last one are the dates at which rounds take place, and the two-legged format of the semifinals.[7]

County phase

The competition at this phase is organized by the county football associations. Forty-two teams (one from each county) advance to the next phase.

National phase

The competition at this phase is organized by the Romanian Football Federation (FRF). For the first five rounds, teams are paired using geographical criteria in order to avoid long travel distances. The teams from a lower division or with a lower ranking in the last league season host the games.

Starting with this round a seeding system is used for the draw, as follows:

Teams from pot A are paired with teams from pot C, then the eight remaining pot C teams are paired with pot B teams, with the lower league clubs hosting the games. The four remaining pot B teams will play each other, with the host club determined by means of a draw.

Every year, based on the national and international football calendar, FRF's executive committee may choose a two-leg or one-leg system for the round of 16, quarterfinals and semifinals.[8] Games at these stages are, when played using a one-leg system, hosted by a neutral venue. The final is held at a pre-established venue, normally in Bucharest.

Results of the Finals

See main article: List of Cupa României finals.

Performances

Performance by club

Since its establishment, the Cupa României has been won by 23 clubs. Teams shown in italics are no longer in existence. Additionally, if two or more teams are tied with the same number of trophies, the one that achieved the performance first is ranked above the others.

ClubWinnersRunners-upWinning years
FCSB1948–49, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1955, 1961–62, 1965–66, 1966–67, 1968–69, 1969–70, 1970–71, 1975–76, 1978–79, 1984–85, 1986–87, 1987–88,[9] [10] 1988–89, 1991–92, 1995–96, 1996–97, 1998–99, 2010-11, 2014–15, 2019-20
Rapid București1934–35, 1936–37, 1937–38, 1938–39, 1939–40, 1940–41, 1941–42, 1971–72, 1974–75, 1997–98, 2001–02, 2005–06, 2006–07
Dinamo București1958–59, 1963–64, 1967–68, 1981–82, 1983–84, 1985–86, 1989–90, 1999–00, 2000–01, 2002–03, 2003–04, 2004–05, 2011-12
Universitatea Craiova1976–77, 1977–78, 1980–81, 1982–83, 1990–91, 2017–18, 2020–21
CFR Cluj2007–08, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2015–16
Petrolul Ploiești1962–63, 1994–95, 2012–13
Ripensia Timișoara1933–34, 1935–36
UTA Arad1947–48, 1953
Politehnica Timișoara1957–58, 1979–80
Sepsi OSK2021–22, 2022–23
CFR Turnu Severin1942–43
Metalul Reșița1954
Progresul Oradea1956
Progresul București1959–60
Arieșul Turda1960–61
Universitatea Cluj1964–65
Chimia Râmnicu Vâlcea1972–73
Jiul Petroșani1973–74
FC U Craiova 1948
Gloria Bistrița1993–94
Astra Giurgiu2013–14
Voluntari2016–17
Viitorul Constanța2018–19
Corvinul Hunedoara2023–24
Sportul Studențesc București
Unirea Tricolor București
Baia Mare
Oțelul Galați
CAM Timișoara
Venus București
CFR Timișoara
Flacăra Mediaș
Energia Câmpia Turzii
Dinamo Obor București
Siderurgistul Galați
Dinamo Pitești
Foresta Fălticeni
Constructorul Galați
CSU Galați
Olimpia Satu Mare
Bacău
Dacia Unirea Brăila
Rocar București
Farul Constanța
Unirea Urziceni
Vaslui
Hermannstadt

Performance by city

The following table sorts cities by the number of Cups won by local teams. Bucharest, hosting the three most decorated sides in the competition and having staged the majority of the Cup finals, is by far the most prolific city.

CityCupsWinning clubs
BucharestFCSB (24), Dinamo (13), Rapid (13), Progresul (1)
CraiovaUniversitatea Craiova (6), U Craiova 1948 (2)
ClujCFR (4), Universitatea Cluj (1)
TimișoaraFC Politehnica (2), Ripensia (2)
PloieștiPetrolul (3)
AradUTA (2)
Sfântu GheorgheSepsi Sfântu Gheorghe (2)
OradeaClub Atletic (1)
PetroșaniJiul (1)
BistrițaGloria (1)
Drobeta-Turnu SeverinCFR (1)
ReșițaMetalul (1)
TurdaArieșul (1)
Râmnicu VâlceaChimia (1)
GiurgiuAstra (1)
VoluntariVoluntari (1)
OvidiuViitorul (1)

Records

[11] [12] [13]

+ Top five goalscorers
PlayerClubGoals
1 Florea VoineaSteaua București, Prahova Ploiești40
2 Gyula BarátkyRapid București, Crișana Oradea37
3 Ionel DănciulescuElectroputere Craiova, Dinamo București, Steaua București35
4 Ion AlecsandrescuSteaua București, CA Câmpulung Moldovenesc34
5 Ștefan DobayRipensia Timișoara33

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Cupa și Supercupa României – Samsung. Gazeta de Nord-Vest. ro. 2005-07-23. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20080514163557/http://www.gazetanord-vest.ro/arhiva/2005/iulie/23iul/index_files/page0006.html. 2008-05-14. 26 October 2015.
  2. News: Tudor. Diana. Cum au ajuns Bergenbier, Timisoreana si Burger titulari pe terenul de fotbal. Ziarul Financiar. ro. 2007-07-04. 26 October 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20080511155908/http://www.zf.ro/articol_126922/cum_au_ajuns_bergenbier__timisoreana_si_burger_titulari_pe_terenul_de_fotbal_.html. 2008-05-11.
  3. Web site: Parteneriat FRF-Timișoreana . . ro . 2010-02-23 . 26 October 2015 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20151122071837/http://www.frf.ro/stiri/parteneriat-frf---timioreana.html . 2015-11-22 .
  4. Web site: FOTO Cupa României s-a rebranduit – Cum arată noul logo și noile medalii ale competiției. GSP.ro. 23 August 2017.
  5. Web site: Federația Română de Fotbal lansează noul brand al Cupei României, cu ocazia finalei numărul 78 a competiției. FRF. 23 August 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20180206224357/http://cuparomaniei.frf.ro/stiri/federatia-romana-de-fotbal-lanseaza-noul-brand-al-cupei-romaniei-cu-ocazia-finalei-numarul-78-a-competitiei-id19353.html. 6 February 2018. dead.
  6. Web site: Casa Pariurilor este noul sponsor al Ligii 2 și al Cupei României. Casa Pariurilor is the new sponsor of Liga II and Romanian Cup. FRF. ro. 20 October 2017. 20 October 2017. 24 December 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171224035624/http://frf.ro/comunicate/comunicate-frf/casa-pariurilor-este-noul-sponsor-al-ligii-2-si-al-cupei-romaniei-id23098.html. dead.
  7. Web site: Regulament . Romanian Football Federation . ro . 20 March 2008 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120210221831/http://www.info.frf.ro/index.php?articol=225 . February 10, 2012 .
  8. Web site: Regulamentul de desfasurare a activitatii fotbalistice . https://web.archive.org/web/20080516210406/http://www.frf.ro/?c=52&a=23 . dead . 2008-05-16 . Romanian Football Federation . ro . 20 March 2008 .
  9. Web site: Romanian Cup: Season 1987-1988. Romanian Soccer History & Statistics. The goal of Balint was anulated because of off-side, at signalling of assistant referee George Ionescu. Steaua retired from the field (after the command of Valentin Ceaușescu, the son of president Nicolae Ceaușescu) but Romanian Federation of Football offered the Cup to Steaua București. In 1990, Steaua renounced at this trophy because it was won unjust.. 26 October 2015.
  10. Web site: . Mircea Lucescu despre Steaua - Dinamo: 'Rivalitatea a existat mai mult între mine și Valentin Ceaușescu'. 1 March 2015. ro. Dolce Sport. Telekom Romania. 26 October 2015. 12 January 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150112235408/http://www.dolce-sport.ro/fotbal/fotbal-intern/steaua-dinamo-1988-cupa-mircea-lucescu-anghel-iordanescu-44101/. dead.
  11. News: Muresanu. Catalin. Toma. Razvan. La trântă cu recordurile și în Cupă!. 22 April 2011. ProSport. ro. 1 August 2022.
  12. Web site: Dănciulescu, cel mai bun marcator pentru Dinamo în Cupă . Adevarul.ro. Romanian . Danciulescu, the best scorer for Dinamo in the Cup. 22 April 2011 . 23 August 2022.
  13. Web site: Dănciulescu, cel mai bun marcator pentru Dinamo în Cupă. Click.ro. Romanian . Danciulescu, the best scorer for Dinamo in the Cup. 22 April 2011 . 23 August 2022.