FCM UTA Arad - History

History

The club was founded in 1945 under the name of IT Arad (Industriile Textile Arad - Arad Textile Industries) under the ownership of baron Francisc von Neumann. Team colours: red-white.

The beginning of the clubs history was the most successful in performances and this because a lot of valuable players were in the squad. So, between 1946-1954 the club won the championship 4 times (1946-47, 1947-48, 1950, 1954) and the cup twice (1947-48, 1953). Coaches Francisc Dvorsák and Coloman Braun-Bogdan benefited during this period of a lot of international and famous players, such as: Al. Márky, Gyula Lóránt, A. Páll, I. Reinhardt, Sándor Mészáros, Gh. Băcuţ I, Ad. Kovács, A. Mercea, L. Bonyhádi, I. Petschowski, M. Tóth III, M. Vass, Z. Farmati, I. Stiebinger, N. Dumitrescu III, Justin Apostol, I. Nicşa, I. Catranici, Fr. Kiss, G. Szűcs, Gh. Lupeş, J. Kapás, M. Carpineţ, G. Serfőző, N. Popa, Gh. Váczi, R. Duşan, G. Bíró, I. Don, S. Bojtos, L. Băcuţ II.

A second period, which was full outstanding performances, was during 1966-1970, when, under the coach Nicolae Dumitrescu III, they imposed their supremacy in the championship and in the European cups. They won another two titles (1968-69 and 1969-70) and played one Romanian cup final (1965-66). Also during this period they played in the European Cup, succeeding an outstanding performance in September 1970 when they eliminated the defending champions Feyenoord from the race. Players used during this period: C. Weichelt, G. Birău, D. Chivu, Hr. Meţcaş, I. Igna, V. Jac, Em. Flănuţ, N. Pantea, F. Domide, M. Ţîrlea, M. Axente, Gh. Gornea, I. Bătrâna, A. Bákos, Şt. Czakó, I. Petschowski, J. Pozsony, I. Şchiopu, M. Petescu, I. Lefter, I. Moţ, V. Sima, L. Brosovsyki, Fl. Dumitrescu, T. Brîndescu, I. Atodiresei, V. Bodea, A. Kun II, E. Móricz, P. Regep, O. Dembrovszki, M. Vidac, D. Kalinin, P. Popovici.

A third period, longer in time, but this time, not upwards, but downwards, started after 1975. Furthermore, at the end of the 1978-79 season the club relegated for the first time in history to the Divizia B, registering until 1993 a modest evolution. Despide such a decline, the squad numbered a lot of valuable players, such as: Şt. Kukla, Şt. Gáll, D. Ologeanu, S. Colnic, C. Uilecan, M. Coraş, E. Schepp, L. Nedelcu II, S. Iorgulescu, M. Jivan, D. Gáspár, L. Giurgiu, D. Cura, I. Bîtea, H. Duckadam, L. Bubela, M. Leac, I. Bódi, Em. Hirmler, M. Ţîrlea II, Gh. Váczi II, C. Găman, Fr. Tisza, S. Vuia, J. Csordas, I. Nagy, R. Nagy.

In 1993 UTA comes back to the Divizia A, but only for a short time, because after two seasons, it relegates back to the Divizia B and enters a cloudy period, performance wise, with few perspectives to evade from the competitional anonymity. Players used during this period: L. Ivan, A. Papp, M. Sinescu - L. Dronca, Al. Gaica, F. Lingurar, Ad. Lucaci, G. Neagu, R. Negrilă, D. Nini, F. Petre, M. Plişca, Cl. Riviş, M. Ţucudean - Călin Mariş, Ad. Negrău, Cr. Puskás, Ad. Slave, D. Târţău, M. Ţîrlea II, Ad. Ungur.

The general balance of the divisionay presences is as following: 38 seasons in the Liga I (1946–1979, 1981–1982, 1993–95, 2002–03, 2006–2008) and 24 seasons in the Liga II (1979–1981, 1982–1993, 1995–2002, 2003–2006, 2008–present).

During the years, the club has changed its name a couple of times: IT Arad (1945–1949), Flamura Roşie Arad (1950–1957) and UTA Arad since 1958. There were e few variations on the same theme: FCM UTA (1984–1985, 1985–1986, 2006–2010), CSM UTA (1985, 1986–1995) and FC UTA (1995–2006, 2010–Present).

Besides the titles won with the senior squad, the club has also won 5 titles with the junior squad (1957–58, 1958–59, 1967–68, 1995–1996, 2000–2001).

Within the club a series of fotball personalites activated, such as: Baron von Neumann (the clubs founder), Gh. Ivan, Em. Gherghel, Al. Dan, Fl. Domide, M. Bretoteanu, M. Florea, Al. Paniţ, L. Josan, E. Kresner, I. Petroveanu, Iosif Grozav, D. Vătran, Ion Popa, Dan Ologeanu, M. Lupaş, T. Gherlea.