AS Rucăr

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AFC Câmpulung Muscel
Full nameAsociația Fotbal Club Câmpulung Muscel 2022
NicknamesMuscelenii
(The People from Muscel)
Short nameMuscel
Founded1978 (1978)
as CS Rucăr
GroundMuscelul
Capacity6,000 (3,000 seated)
OwnerCristian Ciolan
ChairmanCostin Ghiță
Head coachVasile Slăninoiu (caretaker)
LeagueLiga III
2025–26Liga II
Regular season: 22nd of 22
Play-out, Group A: 8th (relegated)

Asociația Fotbal Club Câmpulung Muscel 2022, also known as AFC Câmpulung Muscel or simply Câmpulung Muscel, is a Romanian professional football club based in Câmpulung, Argeș County, which competes in Liga III, the third tier of the Romanian football.

Founded in 1978 as CS Rucăr, the club moved to Câmpulung in 2022 and changed its name to Muscelul Câmpulung Elite following promotion from the 2021–22 season.[1] Subsequently renamed AFC Câmpulung Muscel,[2] the team earned promotion to Liga II for the first time in its history at the end of the 2023–24 season.[3]

History

AFC Câmpulung Muscel, originally founded in 1978 as CS Rucăr, competed in the Argeș County Championships, playing its home matches at the Central Stadium in Rucăr, where Romanian international Dan Nistor began his career in 2005.[4]

In the 2009–10 season, under the guidance of Mihai Poștoacă and with some experienced second-tier players such as Bădescu, Craioveanu, Murineanu, Fl. Coman, and Lipă, Rucărenii finished in 2nd place, just two points behind Atletic Bradu.[5]

The following season, with former Farul Constanța captain Alecsandru Popovici as head coach, Rucăr won the Liga IV Argeș County, earning promotion to Liga III after a 2–1 victory in the promotion play-off against Sevișul Șelimbăr, the Liga IV Sibiu County winners, at the Complex Sportiv Hidro in Râmnicu Vâlcea. The squad included, among others, Ad. Tănase, Diaconu, Vaciu, Slăninoiu, Bondac, A. Popescu, Mihăilescu, Bălașa, Anghelina, I. Ion, Idor, Craioveanu, Rădescu, Baicu, Mălușanu, Moroe, Morcoană, and Dalu.[6][7][8]

However, faced with financial difficulties, CS Rucăr withdrew from Liga III and subsequently continued to compete in Liga IV Argeș County. In 2011–12 season, the team finished as runners-up, just four points behind SCM Pitești, but struggled to achieve notable results in the following seasons, finishing 5th in 2012–13, 13th in 2013–14, 9th in 2014–15, 11th in 2015–16, and 13th in 2016–17. Eventually, ongoing financial problems led to a withdrawal from the fourth tier.[9]

The club then spent the following two seasons in the North Series of Liga V Argeș, the second county level and fifth tier of Romanian football, finishing 10th in the first season and earning promotion back to Liga IV Argeș County after winning the series in the 2018–19 season.[10]

In the 2019–20 season, CS Rucăr were in 6th place in Liga IV Argeș when the season was suspended in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Romania. The club did not participate in the 2020–21 short season due to the financial burden of complying with the medical protocol imposed by the Romanian Football Federation.

Rucăr started the 2021–22 season with Bogdan Simion as head coach but replaced him in the second half of the season with Valentin Cocoș, who led the team to a county title, one point ahead of Inter Câmpulung, and secured promotion to the third league after defeating Dunărea Calafat, the Dolj County winners, following a 1–1 draw in Calafat and a 1–0 victory at Muscelul Stadium in Câmpulung. The squad included, among others, Vălimăreanu, Chirciu, Nica, Bălan, Turcin, Ghiță, Cataramă, Cr. Tănase, Ciorciovel, Neacșu, Dobre, Marinescu, Luca, Dascălu, Pătrănoiu, and brothers Gabriel and Ionuț Jenaru.[11][12][13]

After earning promotion to Liga III, the club was relocated to Câmpulung and renamed Muscelul Câmpulung Elite. Also, Alecsandru Popovici was appointed as the new head coach for the 2022–23 season.[1][14] However, after a disappointing start, earning only four points in four matches, he was dismissed and replaced by Vasile Slăninoiu as player-coach. Slăninoiu led the team to a 9th-place finish in the first stage and 8th after the play-out round, barely avoiding relegation after being deducted three points following their withdrawal from the field in a match against Unirea Bascov.[15][16]

In the 2023–24 season, the club was renamed AFC Câmpulung Muscel[2] and appointed Costin Lazăr as the new head coach.[17] Although the team was in 1st place after ten rounds, Lazăr was dismissed.[18] Vasile Slăninoiu served as interim coach until January 2024, when Mircea Diaconescu took over,[19] leading the team to finish 1st in the first stage of Series V. However, Lazăr returned in April,[20] guiding the team to stay at the top of the table and, after the series play-off round, securing qualification for the promotion play-offs. Câmpulung Muscel earned promotion to Liga II at the end of the season, defeating Vedița Colonești after a 0–0 away draw and a 2–1 home win after extra time, and Râmnicu Vâlcea with a 2–1 away win and a 0–0 home draw.[3]

The club's first-ever season in Liga II, marked by numerous managerial changes, started poorly, as Costin Lazăr was dismissed after five rounds, with the team in the lower part of the table on only three points, and was replaced by Marius Bratu as head coach, assisted by Marian Rada as technical director.[21][22] However, both were dismissed after the twelfth round following a 1–2 defeat against Afumați.[23] Following a short interim spell under Vasile Slăninoiu, Sorin Colceag was appointed as the new head coach in late November, but he parted ways with the club at the end of the regular season, leaving the team in 20th place.[24] He was replaced by Alecsandru Popovici, who led the team during the play-out stage, where it finished last in Group B and was relegated.[25][26]

However, following the withdrawal and exclusion of Gloria Buzău and FCU 1948 Craiova, Câmpulung Muscel was spared from relegation and began the 2025–26 campaign with Alecsandru Popovici as head coach. During the winter break, Popovici became technical director, while Croatians Goran Miscević and Konstantin Durić took charge of the team.[27] However, with the team placed 22nd, they were replaced one round before the end of the regular season by Serbian coach Vladislav Rosić.[28] Rosić resigned after two rounds of the play-out stage, leaving assistant coach Vasile Slăninoiu to lead the team until the end of the season, as the club finished bottom of Group A and was relegated from Liga II for the second consecutive year.[29]

Chronology of names
Name Period
CS Rucăr 1978–2022
Muscelul Câmpulung Elite 2022–2023
AFC Câmpulung Muscel 2023–present

Grounds

The club initially played its home matches at the Central Stadium in Rucăr, which had a capacity of 150. Following the club’s relocation to Câmpulung in 2022, it began playing its home matches at Muscelul Stadium, a multi-use stadium in Câmpulung, also used by ARO Muscelul Câmpulung. The stadium has a capacity of 6,000 spectators, of which 3,000 are seated. It was opened in the 1940s and most recently renovated in 2008.[30]

Honours

Liga III

Liga IV – Argeș County

Liga V – Argeș County

  • Winners (1): 2018–19

Players

First-team squad

As of 24 April 2026[31]

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

No. Pos. Nation Player
5 MF  SRB Đorđe Simić
6 DF  ROU Darius Grosu (on loan from Farul Constanța)
7 FW  ROU Eric Nistor (on loan from Argeș Pitești)
8 MF  GHA Jacob Aboosah
9 FW  SRB Darko Grozdanoski
10 MF  ROU Valentin Coșereanu (Captain)
11 FW  ROU Roan Băban
14 MF  MKD Ivo Janakievski
18 DF  ROU Andrei Stelea (Vice-captain)
19 MF  ROU Denis Duțescu
22 MF  ROU Eugen Miere
23 DF  ROU Cătălin Alexe
No. Pos. Nation Player
24 DF  ROU Luis Bunel
27 FW  ROU Mario Ilie
31 GK  ROU Valentin Mărgărit
32 FW  GHA Amin Ziblim
33 GK  ROU Rareș Bădulescu
35 DF  ROU Rareș Grecu
37 MF  ROU Andrei Chivulescu
55 MF  CAN Sam Azimzadeh Tabrizi
69 DF  MKD Tome Kitanovski
77 FW  ROU Alexandru Andone
99 FW  MDA Dumitru Rogac

Club officials

Board of directors

Name Period
Owner Romania Cristian Ciolan
President Romania Costin Ghiță
Vice-president Romania Eduard Ciolan
Organizer of Competitions Romania Alexandru Lulea
Sporting director Romania Dan Eremia
Technical director vacant
Team Manager Romania Alexandru Lulea
Delegate Romania Vlad Popovici

Current technical staff

Name Period
Head coach vacant
Assistant coaches Romania Ovidiu Tică
Romania Vasile Slăninoiu
Goalkeeping coach vacant
Video analyst Romania Mihai Ilie
Fitness coach vacant
Masseur Romania Cristian Vlaicu
Kit man Romania Florin Badiu

Former managers

  • Romania Bogdan Simion (2021)
  • Romania Valentin Cocoș (2022)
  • Romania Alecsandru Popovici (2022)
  • Romania Vasile Slăninoiu (2022–2023) player-coach
  • Romania Costin Lazăr (2023)
  • Romania Vasile Slăninoiu (2023) interim
  • Romania Mircea Diaconescu (2024)
  • Romania Costin Lazăr (2024)
  • Romania Marius Bratu (2024)
  • Romania Vasile Slăninoiu (2024) interim
  • Romania Sorin Colceag (2024–2025)
  • Romania Alecsandru Popovici (2025)
  • Croatia Goran Miscević (2026)
  • Serbia Vladislav Rosić (2026)
  • Romania Vasile Slăninoiu (2026) interim

League and cup history

Season Tier League Place Notes Cupa României
2025–262Liga II8th (play-out)RelegatedPlay-off round
2024–252Liga II7th (play-out)Spared from relegationPlay-off round
2023–243Liga III (Seria V)1st (C)PromotedThird round
2022–233Liga III (Seria IV)7th
2021–224Liga IV (AG)1st (C)Promoted
2020–21 Not active
2019–204Liga IV (AG)6th
2018–195Liga V (AG)1st (C)Promoted
2017–185Liga V (AG)10th
2016–174Liga IV (AG)13thRelegated
2015–164Liga IV (AG)11th
2014–154Liga IV (AG)9th
2013–144Liga IV (AG)13th
2012–134Liga IV (AG)5th
2011–124Liga IV (AG)2nd
2010–114Liga IV (AG)1st (C)
2009–104Liga IV (AG)2nd

References

  1. "Două cluburi din Liga 3 și-au schimbat denumirea, unul chiar și sediul social. Câmpulung va avea echipă la nivel național, în timp ce Coloneștiul a trecut de la privat la public!" [Two clubs in League 3 have changed their name, one even changed its registered office. Câmpulung will have a team at the national level, while Colonești has gone from private to public!] (in Romanian). liga2.prosport.ro. 8 August 2022. Archived from the original on 28 January 2024. Retrieved 28 January 2024.
  2. "ACS Muscelul Câmpulung Elite începe noul sezon de Liga 3 cu altă denumire. Cele trei echipe din Argeș prezente în campionat, dintre care două din Câmpulung, puse de FRF să joace în trei serii!" [ACS Muscelul Câmpulung Elite starts the new Liga 3 season with a different name. The three teams from Argeș present in the championship, of which two from Câmpulung, put by the FRF to play in three series!] (in Romanian). liga2.prosport.ro. 25 August 2023. Archived from the original on 28 January 2024. Retrieved 28 January 2024.
  3. "Câmpulung Muscel, din nou în Liga 2, după 20 de ani! Costin Lazăr, la cea mai importantă realizare ca antrenor: "Sper să fim peste celelalte două echipe argeșene din campionat"" [Câmpulung Muscel, back in League 2, after 20 years! Costin Lazăr, on his most important achievement as a coach: "I hope we will be above the other two Argeș teams in the championship"] (in Romanian). liga2.prosport.ro. 6 June 2024. Archived from the original on 1 February 2025. Retrieved 1 February 2025.
  4. "A lucrat ca paznic la hotel Și s-a apucat de fotbal la 17 ani!" [He worked as a hotel watchman and started football at age 17!] (in Romanian). prosport.ro. 13 November 2012. Retrieved 27 August 2018.
  5. "Nume grele la CS Rucăr" [Heavy names at CS Rucăr] (in Romanian). liga2.prosport.ro. 29 August 2009. Archived from the original on 28 January 2024. Retrieved 28 January 2024.
  6. "Alexandru Popovici e noul antrenor al CS Rucăr" [Alexandru Popovici is the new coach of CS Rucăr] (in Romanian). liga2.prosport.ro. 10 July 2010. Archived from the original on 28 January 2024. Retrieved 28 January 2024.
  7. "CS Rucăr e noua campioană a Argeșului!" [CS Rucăr is the new champion of Argeș!] (in Romanian). liga2.prosport.ro. 7 June 2011. Archived from the original on 31 December 2019. Retrieved 28 January 2024.
  8. "Sevișul Șelimbăr a pierdut barajul pentru promovarea în liga 3" [Sevișul Șelimbăr lost the dam for promotion to league 3] (in Romanian). oradesibiu.ro. 15 June 2011. Archived from the original on 28 January 2024. Retrieved 28 January 2024.
  9. "CS Rucăr a renunțat la Liga 3" [CS Rucăr quit at League 3] (in Romanian). liga2.prosport.ro. 19 July 2011. Archived from the original on 28 January 2024. Retrieved 28 January 2024.
  10. "Este oficial! CS Rucăr va evolua în Liga a patra" [It's official! CS Rucăr will play in the fourth League] (in Romanian). evenimentulmuscelean.ro. 8 August 2019. Archived from the original on 4 February 2020. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
  11. "CS Rucăr, campioana județului Argeș" [CS Rucăr, Argeș county champion] (in Romanian). evenimentulmuscelean.ro. 14 June 2022. Archived from the original on 3 February 2024. Retrieved 3 February 2024.
  12. "Baraj Liga 3 / Dunărea Calafat – CS Rucăr, 1-1, în meciul tur" [Dam League 3 / Dunărea Calafat – CS Rucăr, 1-1, in the round match] (in Romanian). gds.ro. 19 June 2022. Archived from the original on 3 February 2024. Retrieved 3 February 2024.
  13. "CS Rucăr se impune cu 1-0 în fața Dunării Calafat și promovează în cel de-al treilea eșalon fotbalistic al țării" [CS Rucăr wins 1-0 against Dunărea Calafat and promotes to the third football echelon of the country] (in Romanian). arges-sport.ro. 26 June 2022. Archived from the original on 3 February 2024. Retrieved 3 February 2024.
  14. "Alecsandru Popovici s-a întors în fotbalul muscelean. Alături de "Sendy" a venit și Gică Butoiu, cel mai bun produs al fotbalului muscelean din toate timpurile" [Alecsandru Popovici is back in Muscel football. Along with "Sendy" came Gică Butoiu, the best product of Muscel football of all time] (in Romanian). informatiademuscel.ro. 18 August 2022. Archived from the original on 26 June 2024. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
  15. "Schimbări de antrenori pe bandă rulantă în Liga 3. Abia a trecut etapa a 4-a, dar ACS Muscelul Câmpulung Elite și-a demis și ea "principalul". Update: Un jucător din lot, numit în funcție" [Coach changes on the conveyor belt in League 3. The 4th stage has barely passed, but ACS Muscelul Câmpulung Elite has also dismissed its "main coach". Update: A player from the team, appointed to the position] (in Romanian). liga2.prosport.ro. 1 October 2022. Archived from the original on 1 February 2025. Retrieved 1 February 2025.
  16. "ACS Muscelul Câmpulung Elite, ca și retrogradată din Liga 3 după ce și-a aflat sancțiunile din partea FRF în urma retragerii de pe teren din jocul cu Unirea Bascov. Amenda colosală primită și puncte scăzute din clasament" [ACS Muscelul Câmpulung Elite, as well as relegated from Liga 3 after learning of its sanctions from the FRF following its withdrawal from the field in the game with Unirea Bascov. The colossal fine received and points deducted from the standings] (in Romanian). liga2.prosport.ro. 11 April 2023. Archived from the original on 1 February 2025. Retrieved 1 February 2025.
  17. "Costin Lazăr, o nouă experiență ca antrenor principal! Fostul mijlocaș rapidist a preluat un club din Liga 3" [Costin Lazăr, a new experience as a head coach! The former Rapid midfielder took over a club from League 3] (in Romanian). liga2.prosport.ro. 20 June 2023. Archived from the original on 1 February 2025. Retrieved 1 February 2025.
  18. "Decizie absurdă luată de AFC Câmpulung Muscel, liderul Seriei 5 din Liga 3. S-a despărțit de antrenorul Costin Lazăr" [Absurd decision made by AFC Câmpulung Muscel, leader of Series 5 of League 3. It parted ways with coach Costin Lazăr] (in Romanian). liga2.prosport.ro. 30 October 2023. Archived from the original on 1 February 2025. Retrieved 1 February 2025.
  19. "Liga 3. Mircea Diaconescu e noul antrenor al echipei AFC Câmpulung Muscel. Debutează cu Ciucaș Tărlungeni" [League 3. Mircea Diaconescu is the new coach of AFC Câmpulung Muscel. He makes his debut with Ciucaș Tărlungeni] (in Romanian). monitorulexpres.ro. 9 January 2024. Archived from the original on 1 February 2025. Retrieved 1 February 2025.
  20. "Costin Lazăr, decizie șoc! Cu gândul la retragerea din antrenorat, fostul mijlocaș a schimbat din nou echipa! A revenit la clubul la care începea sezonul și pe care l-a lăsat pe locul 1" [Costin Lazăr, shock decision! With the thought of retiring from coaching, the former midfielder changed the team again! He returned to the club where he started the season and which he left in 1st place] (in Romanian). liga2.prosport.ro. 30 April 2024. Archived from the original on 1 February 2025. Retrieved 1 February 2025.
  21. "Demitere de antrenor în Liga 2" [Dismissal of coach in League 2] (in Romanian). gsp.ro. 10 September 2024. Archived from the original on 3 August 2025. Retrieved 10 May 2026.
  22. "Marius Bratu, noul antrenor principal al echipei FC Muscelul Câmpulung. Marian Rada, noul director tehnic" [Marius Bratu, the new head coach of FC Muscelul Câmpulung. Marian Rada, the new technical director] (in Romanian). evenimentulmuscelean.ro. 18 September 2024. Archived from the original on 3 August 2025. Retrieved 10 May 2026.
  23. "AFC Câmpulung Muscel s-a despărțit și de cuplul Marius Bratu – Marian Rada" [AFC Câmpulung Muscel also parted ways with the couple Marius Bratu – Marian Rada] (in Romanian). liga2.prosport.ro. 3 November 2024. Archived from the original on 7 February 2026. Retrieved 10 May 2026.
  24. "Prima plecare de antrenor după finalul sezonului regular din Liga 2" [First coach departure after the end of the regular season in League 2] (in Romanian). liga2.prosport.ro. 17 March 2025. Archived from the original on 5 August 2025. Retrieved 10 May 2026.
  25. "AFC Câmpulung Muscel și-a prezentat noul antrenor!" [AFC Câmpulung Muscel introduced its new coach!] (in Romanian). liga2.prosport.ro. 18 March 2025. Archived from the original on 21 April 2025. Retrieved 10 May 2026.
  26. "AFC Câmpulung Muscel a umilit Concordia chiar la Chiajna și a retrogradat matematic în Liga 3!" [AFC Câmpulung Muscel humiliated Concordia right in Chiajna and was mathematically relegated to Liga 3!] (in Romanian). liga2.prosport.ro. 13 April 2025. Archived from the original on 14 April 2025. Retrieved 10 May 2026.
  27. "Mutări dubioase la AFC Câmpulung Muscel" [Questionable moves at AFC Câmpulung Muscel] (in Romanian). liga2.prosport.ro. 22 January 2026. Archived from the original on 15 February 2026. Retrieved 10 May 2026.
  28. "Continuă surprizele la AFC Câmpulung Muscel! Antrenorii străini demiși au fost înlocuiți cu un sârb" [The surprises continue at AFC Câmpulung Muscel! The dismissed foreign coaches were replaced by a Serbian] (in Romanian). liga2.prosport.ro. 11 March 2026. Archived from the original on 4 April 2026. Retrieved 10 May 2026.
  29. "Prima retrogradată din Liga 2!" [The first team relegated from Liga 2!] (in Romanian). liga2.prosport.ro. 22 April 2026. Archived from the original on 10 May 2026. Retrieved 10 May 2026.
  30. "Stadionul este atât de degradat încât gradenele riscă să se prăbușească în lipsa consolidării. Se pregătește un proiect de reabilitare" [The stadium is so degraded that the stands risk collapsing if not reinforced. A rehabilitation project is being prepared] (in Romanian). evenimentulmuscelean.ro. 28 July 2022. Archived from the original on 1 February 2025. Retrieved 28 January 2024.
  31. "Echipa" [Squad] (in Romanian). lpf2.ro. Retrieved 9 October 2024.