Paul
7th March 2006, 19:45
http://www.uefa.com/magazine/index.html -
Euro - File
As FC Steaua Bucuresti continue their bid to end their - and Romania's - 20-year wait for a European trophy this week, they could not have been given more evocative UEFA Cup Round of 16 opponents. For when they travel to Seville for the second leg of their tie with Real Betis Balompié next Thursday, they will be returning to the city where they experienced their finest two hours on 7 May 1986.
Greatest day
FC Barcelona had been comfortable favourites to win the European Champion Clubs' Cup final against Steaua, who had never previously progressed beyond the first round. But the Romanian champions were about to set off on a European record 119-match unbeaten domestic run, and took the game to penalties in a goalless draw. Four Barcelona players drew a blank in the shoot-out as Steaua won 2-0. Two decades on, having accounted for UC Sampdoria and SC Heerenveen in a fine UEFA Cup run, they face Betis. Left-back Mihai Nesu, who was just three in 1986, said: "It would be fantastic to play in the UEFA Cup final exactly 20 years after the triumph in Seville."
Romanian revival
While Steaua have rarely featured on the European top table since their last UEFA Champions League group stage bid a decade ago, things have been looking up. Last season Steaua became the first Romanian club since themselves in 1993 to get beyond the winter break in a European competition in their run to the UEFA Cup Round of 16, where they lost to Villarreal CF. This time both Steaua and AFC Rapid Bucuresti have got that far, boasting between them wins against teams from the Netherlands, France and Germany, plus Steaua's group-stage draw at Sampdoria.
Steaua honours
But it is Steaua's progress which stirs the most emotions. Not only have they won a record 22 Romanian league titles and 20 Romanian Cups, but they have taken their nation's only European honours with the 1985/86 European Cup and 1986/87 UEFA Super Cup, not to mention reaching the 1989 European Cup final. However, in that latter year came the December Revolution that ousted and executed dictator Nicolae Ceausescu. And it was his son Valentin that had taken Steaua under his wing before the regime's overthrow, guaranteeing unprecedented salaries and facilities for players and coaches. When that disappeared, so did Steaua's national dominance and European competitiveness.
Becali investment
In recent years, though, another more benign benefactor has emerged. Business Gigi Becali made his fortune with land deals in the years after the end of Communism. With his ambition matched by his wealth, Becali - also famed for his political career, charitable donations and chapel-building - is determined to take Steaua back to their former heights, refusing offers from abroad for their top players. The UEFA Champions League group stage is his target, and only a narrow defeat at Rosenborg BK denied them a place this time round.
Canny coaching
Around him are two canny figures who have allowed Becali to begin to realise his ambitions. Coach Victor Piturca was appointed in January 2000 and brought the likes of Mirel Radoi, Sorin Paraschiv, Gabriel Bostina, George Ogararu, Mihai Nesu and Nicolae Dica to Steaua in his four and a half years. Since his departure successors Walter Zenga and Oleg Protasov had short reigns but gained good results, and now Cosmin Olaroiu has been appointed, using tactics familar from Piturca's time in charge.
Stoica contribution
The other crucial man at the helm is general manager Mihai Stoica, who not only has an eye for players - defenders Sorin Ghionea and Dorin Goian, as well as top scorer Victoras Iacob were his picks - but also for coaches. Stoica and Becali are both known for their outspoken comments, but few can argue with their results on the pitch, especially in Europe.
"Rapid's qualification and Dinamo's good form in this year's UEFA Cup are owed to us"Gigi Becali, Steaua owner
Taking credit
Indeed, Becali has taken credit not only for Steaua's UEFA Cup runs, but those of Rapid and FC Dinamo 1848 Bucuresti too. He said: "Rapid's qualification and Dinamo's good form in this year's UEFA Cup are owed to us. Why? Because, thanks to my huge investment, I forced our Romanian rivals to invest as well in order to keep pace with us, to compete in the championship and afterwards in the European club competitions."
Competitive edge
There is no doubt that Steaua's Bucharest rivals and FC Universitar Politehnica Timisoara have spent at an unprecedented level, producing a four-way title race that has been the best for years, helping those teams pick up a competitive edge in Europe. The 2006 UEFA Cup final is played 20 years to the week after Steaua's historic night in Seville. Should Steaua emerge triumphant again in that city, there is no reason why an evening in Eindhoven should not be added to the club's list of memorable nights.
Euro - File
As FC Steaua Bucuresti continue their bid to end their - and Romania's - 20-year wait for a European trophy this week, they could not have been given more evocative UEFA Cup Round of 16 opponents. For when they travel to Seville for the second leg of their tie with Real Betis Balompié next Thursday, they will be returning to the city where they experienced their finest two hours on 7 May 1986.
Greatest day
FC Barcelona had been comfortable favourites to win the European Champion Clubs' Cup final against Steaua, who had never previously progressed beyond the first round. But the Romanian champions were about to set off on a European record 119-match unbeaten domestic run, and took the game to penalties in a goalless draw. Four Barcelona players drew a blank in the shoot-out as Steaua won 2-0. Two decades on, having accounted for UC Sampdoria and SC Heerenveen in a fine UEFA Cup run, they face Betis. Left-back Mihai Nesu, who was just three in 1986, said: "It would be fantastic to play in the UEFA Cup final exactly 20 years after the triumph in Seville."
Romanian revival
While Steaua have rarely featured on the European top table since their last UEFA Champions League group stage bid a decade ago, things have been looking up. Last season Steaua became the first Romanian club since themselves in 1993 to get beyond the winter break in a European competition in their run to the UEFA Cup Round of 16, where they lost to Villarreal CF. This time both Steaua and AFC Rapid Bucuresti have got that far, boasting between them wins against teams from the Netherlands, France and Germany, plus Steaua's group-stage draw at Sampdoria.
Steaua honours
But it is Steaua's progress which stirs the most emotions. Not only have they won a record 22 Romanian league titles and 20 Romanian Cups, but they have taken their nation's only European honours with the 1985/86 European Cup and 1986/87 UEFA Super Cup, not to mention reaching the 1989 European Cup final. However, in that latter year came the December Revolution that ousted and executed dictator Nicolae Ceausescu. And it was his son Valentin that had taken Steaua under his wing before the regime's overthrow, guaranteeing unprecedented salaries and facilities for players and coaches. When that disappeared, so did Steaua's national dominance and European competitiveness.
Becali investment
In recent years, though, another more benign benefactor has emerged. Business Gigi Becali made his fortune with land deals in the years after the end of Communism. With his ambition matched by his wealth, Becali - also famed for his political career, charitable donations and chapel-building - is determined to take Steaua back to their former heights, refusing offers from abroad for their top players. The UEFA Champions League group stage is his target, and only a narrow defeat at Rosenborg BK denied them a place this time round.
Canny coaching
Around him are two canny figures who have allowed Becali to begin to realise his ambitions. Coach Victor Piturca was appointed in January 2000 and brought the likes of Mirel Radoi, Sorin Paraschiv, Gabriel Bostina, George Ogararu, Mihai Nesu and Nicolae Dica to Steaua in his four and a half years. Since his departure successors Walter Zenga and Oleg Protasov had short reigns but gained good results, and now Cosmin Olaroiu has been appointed, using tactics familar from Piturca's time in charge.
Stoica contribution
The other crucial man at the helm is general manager Mihai Stoica, who not only has an eye for players - defenders Sorin Ghionea and Dorin Goian, as well as top scorer Victoras Iacob were his picks - but also for coaches. Stoica and Becali are both known for their outspoken comments, but few can argue with their results on the pitch, especially in Europe.
"Rapid's qualification and Dinamo's good form in this year's UEFA Cup are owed to us"Gigi Becali, Steaua owner
Taking credit
Indeed, Becali has taken credit not only for Steaua's UEFA Cup runs, but those of Rapid and FC Dinamo 1848 Bucuresti too. He said: "Rapid's qualification and Dinamo's good form in this year's UEFA Cup are owed to us. Why? Because, thanks to my huge investment, I forced our Romanian rivals to invest as well in order to keep pace with us, to compete in the championship and afterwards in the European club competitions."
Competitive edge
There is no doubt that Steaua's Bucharest rivals and FC Universitar Politehnica Timisoara have spent at an unprecedented level, producing a four-way title race that has been the best for years, helping those teams pick up a competitive edge in Europe. The 2006 UEFA Cup final is played 20 years to the week after Steaua's historic night in Seville. Should Steaua emerge triumphant again in that city, there is no reason why an evening in Eindhoven should not be added to the club's list of memorable nights.