FC Voluntari

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Voluntari
Full nameSC Fotbal Club Voluntari SA
NicknamesVoluntărenii (The People from Voluntari)
Ilfovenii (The People from Ilfov)
Short nameVoluntari
Founded26 July 2010 (2010-07-26)[1]
GroundAnghel Iordănescu
Capacity4,600
OwnerVoluntari Town
General DirectorBogdan Bălănescu
Head coachFlorin Pârvu
LeagueLiga I
2025–26Liga II
Regular season: 5th of 22
Play-off: 3rd of 6
(promoted via playoffs)
Websitefcvoluntari.ro

Fotbal Club Voluntari (Romanian pronunciation: [volunˈtarʲ]), commonly known as FC Voluntari or simply Voluntari, is a Romanian professional football club based in Voluntari, Ilfov County, that competes in Liga I, the first tier of the Romanian league system. The team plays its home matches at Anghel Iordănescu Stadium, which has a capacity of 4,600 spectators.

Founded in 2010, Voluntari achieved successive promotions from Liga III to Liga I in 2014 and 2015, becoming one of the few clubs in Romanian football to make this leap.[2] The club spent nine consecutive seasons in Romania's top flight between 2015 and 2024. It won its first major trophies in 2017, lifting both the Cupa României and the Supercupa României.

History

FC Voluntari was founded in the summer of 2010, when the club took over the place of Petrolul Berca in Liga III and assembled a new squad under head coach Romeo Bunică, playing home matches at Viscofil Stadium in Popești-Leordeni. In their debut season in the third tier, the club finished 6th in Series II.[3]

In the 2011–12 season, Bunică left in October after nine rounds to join Otopeni and was replaced by Robert Niță, who was succeeded in January 2012 by Bogdan Andone. Under Andone's leadership, the Ilfov-based side once again finished 6th in Series II.[4][5]

In the 2012–13 season, the club was placed in Series III and, despite moving its home matches to the newly opened Niță Pintea Stadium in Voluntari, poor results left the team bottom of the standings after five rounds, leading to the dismissal of Bogdan Andone. Romeo Bunică returned as head coach in early October 2012 and guided the team to a 7th-place finish.[6]

Following the establishment of the FC Voluntari Academy in 2012 and a development model inspired by Gheorghe Hagi's youth system, the club entered a partnership with Viitorul Constanța. Within this project, Adrian Iencsi was appointed head coach for the 2013–14 campaign, with Ilie Poenaru as assistant, bringing several young players such as Tănase, Achim, Vasile, Mitache, and Țîru into the senior squad. The squad also included players such as Botaș, Irimia, Maxim, S. Rădoi, Todoran, Ad. Bălan, Călințaru, Ad. Voicu, and Voduț. Voluntari dominated Series II, finishing first in both the regular season and play-off, securing promotion to Liga II.[7][8][9]

Following promotion, Ilie Poenaru was appointed head coach after Adrian Iencsi's departure.[10][11][9] In the 2014–15 season, Voluntari continued their strong form in Series I, finishing first in both the regular season and the play-off, thirteen points ahead of 2nd-placed Academica Argeș and thirty points ahead of 3rd-placed Gloria Buzău, thereby securing promotion to Romania's top flight. The squad included Botaș, Hînțescu, Crăciun, C. Roșu, Lircă, Achim, Poverlovici, Maxim, Mitache, S. Rădoi, Novac, B. Barbu, A. Cârstocea, G. Deac, E. Stan, Leasă, M. Ene, Todoran, Ad. Bălan, Călințaru, M. Matei, Ad. Voicu and Voduț.[12]

Its debut season in Liga I was difficult, as many technical and administrative changes led the club to the relegation zone. Finishing 12th, the team faced a promotion/relegation play-off against UTA Arad, which it won 3–1 on aggregate and maintained its place in the Liga I.[13]

With experienced players such as Vasile Maftei, Florin Cernat or Laurențiu Marinescu in the starting eleven, Voluntari improved itself in the 2016–17 season, finishing in 9th place and avoiding a second consecutive promotion/relegation play-off. During that year, the club achieved its biggest achievement so far by winning the Cupa României over Astra Giurgiu, being the first major trophy in its brief history.[14]

Stadium

Stadionul Anghel Iordănescu as seen from the First Stand.

The club plays its home matches at the 4,600-seater Stadionul Anghel Iordănescu in Voluntari. Attendances are usually modest, as Voluntari is considered a suburb of Bucharest and many of its citizens are inclined to support clubs from the capital instead.

Honours

Leagues

Liga II

Liga III

Cups

Cupa României

Supercupa României

Players

First-team squad

As of 23 June 2026[15]

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
4 DF  MDA Daniel Dumbrăvanu (on loan from CFR Cluj)
7 MF  ROU Daniel Toma
8 MF  ROU Ion Gheorghe (Captain)
9 MF  ROU Remus Guțea
10 MF  ROU George Merloi
13 DF  ROU Mario Ștefan
14 GK  ROU Eduard Chioveanu
19 FW  ROU Marvin Schieb
21 MF  ROU Robert Petculescu
27 DF  ROU Radu Crișan
30 DF  ROU Alexandru Șuteu
No. Pos. Nation Player
40 MF  CRO Lovro Cvek
44 MF  ROU Mihael Onișa
70 FW  CRO Matko Babić
80 MF  ROU Florian Haită
90 FW  ROU Mihai Roman
98 MF  ROU Răzvan Neag (on loan from Galaxy Timișoara)
99 FW  ROU Ianis Vencu
— GK  ROU Bogdan Ștefan
— DF  ROU Denis Haruț
— DF  CRO Matej Mamić

Other players under contract

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
12 GK  ROU Cristian Hodor
17 DF  ROU Andrei Pițian (Vice-captain)
20 DF  ROU Alexandru Gîț
No. Pos. Nation Player
28 MF  ROU Giovanni Petcu
29 DF  FRA Steven N'Guessan
41 DF  ROU Ștefan Ioniță

Out on loan

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

Club officials

Board of directors

Role Name
Owner Romania Voluntari Town
President Romania Robert Gherghe
General Director Romania Bogdan Bălănescu
Board President Romania Robert Frunză
Vice-president Romania Bogdan Niculaie
Economic Director Romania Diana Istrate
Sporting director Moldova Igor Armaș
Administrative Director Romania Ionuț Bogaciu
Youth Center Manager Romania Ion Moldovan
Youth Center Coordinator Romania Cătălin Bârleanu
Organizer of Competitions Romania Emil Badea
Secretary Romania Florin Verigeanu
Responsible for Order and Safety Romania Iulian Ghirie
Press Officer Romania Radu Oprișan
  • Last updated: 29 November 2025
  • Source:[16]

Current technical staff

Role Name
Head coach Romania Florin Pârvu
Assistant coaches Romania Cristian Burlacu
Romania Gabriel Cânu
Goalkeeping coach Romania Florin Tene
Fitness coach Romania Alexandru Petcu
Club doctor Romania Tiberiu Horcea
Physiotherapist Romania Dan Sarivan
Masseurs Romania Florin Onosă
Romania Florin Ioniță
Storeman Romania Dumitru Radu
  • Last updated: 22 August 2025
  • Source:[17]

Notable former players

The footballers enlisted below have had international cap(s) for their respective countries at junior and/or senior level and/or more than significant caps for FC Voluntari.

Romania
Albania
Argentina
Brazil
Bulgaria
Cape Verde
Czech Republic
Croatia
DR Congo
Greece
Haiti
Iceland
Ivory Coast
Moldova
Netherlands
Portugal
Spain
Tunisia

Notable former managers

League and cup history

Season Tier Division Place Notes Cupa României
2025–262Liga II3rdPromotedPlay-off round
2024–25Liga II4thPlay-off round
2023–241Liga I15thRelegatedSemi-finals
2022–23Liga I9thGroup Stage
2021–22Liga I4thRunner-up
2020–21Liga I13thRelegation play-off winnerRound of 32
2019–20Liga I11thRound of 16
2018–19Liga I11thRound of 16
2017–18Liga I12thRelegation play-off winnerRound of 32
2016–17Liga I9thWinner
2015–16Liga I12thRelegation play-off winnerRound of 32
2014–152Liga II (Series I)1st (C)PromotedFifth Round
2013–143Liga III (Series II)1st (C)PromotedFifth Round
2012–13Liga III (Series III)7thThird Round
2011–12Liga III (Series II)6thThird Round
2010–11Liga III (Series II)6th

References

  1. FOTBAL CLUB VOLUNTARI SA Archived 17 February 2019 at the Wayback Machine. termene.ro (in Romanian)
  2. "FC Voluntari a intrat în istoria fotbalului românesc" [FC Voluntari entered the history of Romanian football] (in Romanian). liga2.prosport.ro. 23 May 2015. Archived from the original on 22 May 2026. Retrieved 22 May 2026.
  3. "Bunică mai are nevoie de voluntari serioși" [Bunică still needs serious volunteers] (in Romanian). liga2.prosport.ro. 27 September 2010. Archived from the original on 14 May 2022. Retrieved 14 May 2022.
  4. "Robert Niță a preluat Voluntariul!" [Robert Niță has taken over Voluntari!] (in Romanian). liga2.prosport.ro. 20 October 2011. Archived from the original on 22 May 2026. Retrieved 22 May 2026.
  5. "Bogdan Andone e Voluntar de Ilfov" [Bogdan Andone is a Volunteer from Ilfov] (in Romanian). liga2.prosport.ro. 17 January 2012. Archived from the original on 22 May 2026. Retrieved 22 May 2026.
  6. "Bunică revine la Voluntari!" [Bunică returns to Voluntari!] (in Romanian). liga2.prosport.ro. 3 October 2012. Archived from the original on 11 August 2022. Retrieved 14 May 2022.
  7. "Voluntari pe modelul Hagi!" [Voluntari on the Hagi model!] (in Romanian). liga2.prosport.ro. 26 November 2012. Archived from the original on 22 May 2026. Retrieved 22 May 2026.
  8. "Iencsi este noul antrenor al Voluntariului!" [Iencsi is the new coach of Voluntari!] (in Romanian). liga2.prosport.ro. 9 July 2013. Archived from the original on 22 May 2026. Retrieved 22 May 2026.
  9. "Iencsi: "Aș fi vrut să simt conducerea aproape de mine. Aveam semnale că voi fi schimbat de la Voluntari"" [Iencsi: "I would have liked to feel the leadership close to me. I had signals that I would be traded from Voluntari"] (in Romanian). liga2.prosport.ro. 9 June 2014. Archived from the original on 22 May 2026. Retrieved 22 May 2026.
  10. "Poenaru, principalul Voluntariului în Liga a II-a" [Poenaru, the main of Voluntari in League II] (in Romanian). ilfovsport.ro. 6 June 2014. Archived from the original on 22 May 2026. Retrieved 22 May 2026.
  11. "Adrian Iencsi nu mai este antrenor la FC Voluntari" [Adrian Iencsi is no longer the coach of FC Voluntari] (in Romanian). ilfovsport.ro. 2 June 2014. Archived from the original on 2 October 2015. Retrieved 17 May 2022.
  12. "FC Voluntari a promovat matematic în Liga 1 după ce Academica s-a împiedicat la Brăila" [FC Voluntari mathematically promoted to League 1 after Academica stumbled in Brăila] (in Romanian). liga2.prosport.ro. 16 May 2015. Archived from the original on 22 May 2026. Retrieved 22 May 2026.
  13. "UTA învinge FC Voluntari în returul barajului, dar ilfovenii rămân în prima ligă". ziare.com. Archived from the original on 6 December 2017. Retrieved 10 June 2017.
  14. "FC Voluntari – Astra 1–1 (5–3 d.l.d). Minunea din Ilfov! Claudiu Niculescu, performanță istorică în finala Cupei României". www.digisport.ro. Archived from the original on 19 December 2017. Retrieved 10 June 2017.
  15. "FC VOLUNTARI" (in Romanian). Liga Profesionistă de Fotbal. Archived from the original on 25 September 2020. Retrieved 10 August 2023.
  16. "Board of directors". Archived from the original on 24 March 2020. Retrieved 24 March 2020.
  17. "Technical staff". Archived from the original on 24 March 2020. Retrieved 24 March 2020.