CS Pandurii Târgu Jiu

Pandurii Târgu Jiu
	File:Pandurii Târgu Jiu.png
Full name	Clubul Sportiv Pandurii Lignitul Târgu Jiu
Nickname(s)	Pandurii (Pandurs); Gorjenii;
Founded	1962
Ground	Tudor Vladimirescu
Capacity	9,200
President	Marin Condescu
Head coach	Cristian Pustai
League	Liga I
2012–13	Liga I, 2nd
Website	http://www.pandurii-tg-jiu.ro/
	Current season

Pandurii Târgu Jiu is a Romanian professional football club from Târgu Jiu, Gorj county. They play from 2006 in Liga I. The team's colours are blue and white and its home field is Tudor Vladimirescu Stadium in Târgu Jiu.

History

Pandurii Târgu Jiu was created in August 1962, after the merger of the two big rivals from the city, Flacăra-Unirea and CIL Târgu-Jiu. The team entered the fourth division of Romanian football, with a strong objective, to promote immediately in the third division. And the target was reached, in June 1963 Pandurii gaining the promotion to Divizia C. Their first game in this division was played on 1 September 1963, against Siderurgistul Hunedoara. Pandurii won by a big margin, 6-0, goals scored by Chițu (12), Nelu Băloi (35), Melinte (53 and 80) and Vasilescu (83 and 85).

In the first years, Pandurii finished constantly in the first half of the standings, so the club decided to attack a promotion to Divizia B. In the 1976-77 season, with a young team and with Titus Ozon as coach, the dream came true. Pandurii dominated the competition, climbed from the first stages on top of the standings and won the promotion to the second division. But this level was a much bigger hat to wear for Pandurii, who relegated the next season back to Divizia C.

The following years, the team changed frequently the division, promoting to Divizia B and relegating after a few years. They played in Divizia B between 1979-1983 then between 1986 and 1991. After a decade in Divizia C, the team promoted again in the second league in 2000, and in 2004 finished second, behind Sportul Studenţesc.

Promotion to Divizia A

The performance from the last seasons was an incentive for the management who decided to push for the first presence of Pandurii in Divizia A. With Emil Săndoi as coach, and with a young group of players like Tiberiu Lung and Sorin Vintilescu but also with some experienced players like, Florin Popete, Robert Vancea and Romulus Buia, the team won the promotion.

It was difficult to maintain its position in Divizia A, and Pandurii finished their first season in the 15th place, right below the relegation line. But the Football Federation decided at the end of the season not to give Sportul Studenţesc their licence for the following year, and kept instead the first team under the line, Pandurii. With the bullet dodged, the management decided to enforce the team, so the relegation shouldn't be a problem.

Alexandru Păcurar (Gloria Bistrița), Ciprian Vasilache (Rapid București) and Liviu Mihai (Farul Constanța) were brought, and the team finished 11th in the 2006-07 season. They kept their position at the middle of the table for the next seasons.

In 2010, they finished below the line but avoided the relegation after the withdrawal of Internaţional Curtea de Argeş, team that ended tenth but the owner decided to disband the club. With a lot of players took from Curtea de Argeş, Pandurii were 13th the following season.

In the 2011-12 season the team reached the highest place in history, finishing seventh. For a while, they were fifth and the fans hoped for a European place.

Current squad

As of 18 February 2013^[update]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.


No.	Pos.	Nation	Player
1	GK	ROU	David Lazar
2	DF	ROU	Alexandru Vlad
3	DF	CIV	Ousmane Viera (captain)
4	DF	ROU	Adrian Rusu
6	DF	ROU	Iulian Mamele
7	MF	ROU	Cosmin Băcilă
8	MF	ROU	Călin Cristea
9	FW	ROU	Alexandru Grigoraș
10	MF	ROU	Claudiu Voiculeț
12	GK	ROU	Adrian Horvat
14	FW	NGA	John Ibeh
16	MF	ROU	Dan Nistor


No.	Pos.	Nation	Player
17	MF	ROU	Viorel Nicoară (on loan from CFR Cluj)
18	DF	ROU	Bogdan Ungurușan
19	MF	ROU	Paul Anton
20	MF	ROU	Cornel Predescu
21	FW	FRA	Karim Boutadjine
23	DF	ROU	Ionuț Rada
25	DF	ROU	Marian Pleașcă
27	FW	ROU	Valentin Lemnaru
29	FW	SRB	Saša Popin
80	GK	POR	Pedro Mingote
99	FW	LTU	Deivydas Matulevičius

Out on loan

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.


No.	Pos.	Nation	Player
17	MF	ROU	Ciprian Brata (at Turnu Severin)
—	DF	ROU	Ionuț Tătaru (at Turnu Severin)
—	DF	ROU	Alin Buleică (at Universitatea Cluj)
—	MF	ROU	Alexandru Ciucur (at CSMS Iași)


No.	Pos.	Nation	Player
—	MF	ROU	Alexandru Avramescu (at Turnu Severin)
—	MF	ROU	Alexandru Dan (at Târgu Mureș)
—	MF	FRA	Emmanuel Mbella (at Botoșani)
—	FW	ROU	Sabin Lupu (at Baia Mare)