FCSB

RomaniaEst. 1947Arena Națională

Europa League#27 · 2W-1D-5L · 7 pts

FCSB (Fotbal Club STEAUA București) is a Romanian professional football club based in Bucharest, founded in 1947 as ASA București (Asociația Sportivă a Armatei). The club was originally established as the sports club of the Romanian Army and quickly became one of the most successful teams in Romanian football history. In 1961, the club was renamed CSA Steaua București, under which name it achieved its greatest successes on both domestic and international stages. The club's golden era came in the 1980s under coach Emerich Jenei, culminating in their historic European Cup victory in 1986. FCSB became the first Eastern European team to win the European Cup when they defeated Barcelona 2-0 in the final in Seville, with goalkeeper Helmuth Duckadam becoming a legend by saving four consecutive penalties in the shootout during the semi-final against Anderlecht. This triumph was followed by reaching the European Cup final again in 1989, where they lost to AC Milan. Domestically, the club has been incredibly successful, winning numerous Liga I titles and Romanian Cups, establishing themselves as one of the 'big three' clubs in Romanian football alongside Dinamo București and Rapid București. The club underwent significant changes in 1998 when it was privatized and sold to businessman Gigi Becali. However, this led to complex legal disputes over the club's name, colors, and history. In 2003, the Romanian Army attempted to reclaim the Steaua name and brand, leading to prolonged legal battles. The situation became more complicated when in 2014, the club was forced to change its name from FC Steaua București to FC FCSB following a court ruling that awarded the Steaua name and identity to CSA Steaua București, a club founded by the Romanian Army. Despite these naming controversies, FCSB continued to compete in Romania's top division and maintained its position as one of the country's leading clubs. The team has continued to participate in European competitions, though without matching the spectacular success of the 1980s. FCSB's recent years have been marked by efforts to rebuild and reclaim their status as a dominant force in Romanian football. The club has invested in youth development and has worked to maintain competitive squads capable of challenging for domestic titles and making respectable showings in European tournaments. The naming dispute remains one of the most complex and controversial issues in Romanian football, with fans and media often still referring to the club by its historic Steaua name, despite the legal changes. The club's identity crisis has been a source of ongoing debate and confusion, both domestically and internationally. Throughout these challenges, FCSB has maintained a passionate fanbase and continues to play an important role in Romanian football. The club's supporters, known for their loyalty and dedication, have stood by the team through various organizational changes and continue to dream of a return to the glory days of European success.