Club Sportiv Tunari, commonly known as CS Tunari, or simply as Tunari, is a Romanian football club based in Tunari, Ilfov County, currently competes in Liga III, the third tier of the Romanian football. Founded in 1980, the club situated near Bucharest, was re-branded as CS Tunari in 2004.

History

CS Tunari was founded in 1980 under the name Arsenal Tunari. The name changed in 2004 after the club was forced to drop "Arsenal" due to copyright restrictions.[1][2] The name "Tunari" translates to "Gunners" in Romanian, and the commune’s coat of arms features a cannon—elements that inspired the original name as a tribute to the English football club Arsenal F.C. and its nickname, "The Gunners."

In 2018, the club updated its logo and colors, adopting a red-and-white scheme instead of the previous red-and-blue combination. Interestingly, the updated logo reintroduced the name "Arsenal," though the club itself did not revert to the original name. In a 2009 interview with sport.ro, club chairman Lucian Costache recounted an anecdote from 1996, when the club—still known as Arsenal Tunari—sent a letter to Arsenal F.C. requesting official kits. Unfortunately, no response ever arrived.[3]

Around the same period, a new stadium was built in the commune near Bucharest. In 2009, a place in Romania's third division was secured.

Over the years, CS Tunari has established itself as a consistent presence at the third tier, gradually improving its performances. The 2009–10 season ended with a 9th-place finish under the guidance of Ion Ion. The following season, Virgil Nițoi led the team[4] to 7th place. Challenging years unfolded under Ion Voicu's leadership,[5] with the team finishing 10th in 2011–12 and slipping to 13th in 2012–13, before Florin Vlădilă stepped in to take charge in December 2012.[6]

From the summer of 2013 onward, with Virgil Nițoi returning, significant progress became evident. The club finished 8th in the 2013–14 season and climbed to 4th in the 2014–15 season. A tough 2015–16 campaign saw a drop to 12th under coach Florin Bratu,[7] who replaced Nițoi after the team lost its first six matches of the season. Bratu departed the following summer[8] and was succeeded by Tudorel Dumitru, who led the team to its best-ever finish at the time, securing 3rd place in the 2016–17 season, followed by a solid 7th-place finish in the 2017–18 season.

Ștefan Odoroabă coached the team[9] for the next three and a half seasons, achieving a 6th-place finish in the 2018–19 season, 4th in the 2019–20 season, and 5th in the 2020–21 season. Odoroabă left Tunari in March 2022 and was replaced by Marcel Abăluță, who led the team to an impressive 2nd place in the 2021–22 season, qualifying for the promotion play-offs.[10][11] After eliminating CS Afumați in the first round 5–2 on aggregate (3–2 at home and 2–0 away), the team lost the promotion in the second round to Progresul Spartac București, 1–7 on aggregate (0–4 at home and 1–3 away).

In the 2022–23 season, Valentin Negru was appointed as the new head coach,[12] but he left the club in November, with the team in 1st place. Assistant coach Alin Ilin took charge for the rest of the year. Gabriel Manu was hired in January 2023,[13] leading the team to its first-ever promotion to Liga II. The Gunners ended the season in 1st place in Series IV, nine points ahead of Popești-Leordeni. The promotion play-offs began with Farul Constanța II being eliminated (1–3 away and 4–0 at home), followed by a victory over Popești-Leordeni (1–2 away and 3–1 at home) in the final stage.[14]

In June 2023, Tunari appointed Florin Stângă as head coach, just two days after unexpectedly parting ways with Gabriel Manu.[15][16] Stângă led the team for six rounds before Ștefan Odoroabă replaced interim coach Alin Ilin in October 2023.[17][18] The Gunners finished the regular season in 17th place in the 2023–24 season and were placed in Group B of the play-out under the guidance of Dan Alexa, who replaced Odoroabă in March 2024.[19][20] However, multiple changes in the squad and coaching staff led to relegation, with Tunari finishing second to last in the group.[21][22]

Ground

Comunal Stadium in 2022

CS Tunari plays its home matches on the Comunal Stadium in Tunari, with a capacity of 1,000 seats. The stadium was renovated and expanded in 2004 for the sum of 400,000 lei, at that time approximately 84,000 €.[2] In 2017 the stadium was renovated again and the pitch was changed.[23]

During the 2023–24 season, Tunari Stadium underwent renovations, prompting the team to relocate their matches to the Central Stadium of the Romanian National Football Centre.[24]

Chronology of names

Name Period
Arsenal Tunari 1980–2004
CS Tunari 2004–present

Honours

Players

First team squad

As of 10 September 2024

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
1 GK Romania ROU Sebastian Moroz
3 DF Romania ROU Rareș Bălan (on loan from CFR Cluj)
4 DF Romania ROU Pedro Paul
5 MF Romania ROU Eduard Feraru
6 MF Romania ROU Marco Andone
7 MF Romania ROU Paul Mitrică
8 MF Romania ROU Alin Țegle
10 FW Romania ROU Claudiu Dragu (Captain)
11 MF Romania ROU Rareș Stanciu
14 DF Romania ROU Cristian Pilici
15 DF Romania ROU Robert Vasu
19 FW Romania ROU Gabriel Plumbuitu
No. Pos. Nation Player
20 MF Nigeria NGA Ahmed Bala (on loan from Dinamo)
21 MF Romania ROU Darius Gavrilă (on loan from Dinamo)
22 MF Romania ROU Alexandru Bețivu
27 MF Romania ROU Lucian Ion
28 MF Romania ROU Ionuț Catrina (on loan from Chiajna)
30 MF Romania ROU George Moga
31 GK Romania ROU David Dumitru (on loan from Rapid)
44 DF Moldova MDA Denis Furtună
65 MF Romania ROU Mario Geantă
77 MF Romania ROU Dan Spătaru (on loan from Kids Tâmpa Brașov)
93 FW Romania ROU Vlad Filip
94 MF Romania ROU Cătălin Hlistei
99 MF Romania ROU Bogdan Tănase

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
No. Pos. Nation Player

Club officials

Former managers

League history

See also: Romanian football league system

References

  1. ^ "Revelația CS Tunari se pregătește la Ciuta" [Revelation CS Tunari is prepared at Ciuta] (in Romanian). liga2.prosport.ro. 9 February 2010. Archived from the original on 31 August 2024. Retrieved 31 August 2024.
  2. ^ a b "Poliția din Balș a declanșat ancheta de la meciul cu CS Tunari, după ce a fost alertată de oficialii oltenilor" [Balș Police also launched an investigation involving the match against CS Tunari, after being notified by Oltenian officials] (in Romanian). libertatea.ro. 30 January 2014. Archived from the original on 3 October 2023. Retrieved 18 November 2019.
  3. ^ "Arsenal de România, în Tunari. Vezi cum își poate găsi liniștea Gigi Becali!" [Arsenal of Romania, in Tunari. See how Gigi Becali could find his peace!] (in Romanian). sport.ro. 9 October 2009.
  4. ^ "Nițoi a preluat Tunariul!" [Nițoi took over Tunari!] (in Romanian). liga2.prosport.ro. 6 July 2010. Archived from the original on 31 August 2024. Retrieved 31 August 2024.
  5. ^ "Tunariul se reuneşte pe 5 cu Ionuț Voicu principal" [Tunari reunites on the 5th with Ionuț Voicu as main] (in Romanian). ilfovsport.ro. 29 June 2011. Archived from the original on 26 January 2025. Retrieved 26 January 2025.
  6. ^ "Tunariul vrea un nou start în 2013" [Tunari wants a fresh start in 2013] (in Romanian). ilfovsport.ro. 21 December 2012. Archived from the original on 26 January 2025. Retrieved 26 January 2025.
  7. ^ "Cu Florin Bratu pe bancă, Tunariul a obținut primul punct în acest sezon" [With Florin Bratu on the bench, Tunari got its first point this season] (in Romanian). frf.ro. 6 July 2016. Archived from the original on 26 January 2025. Retrieved 26 January 2025.
  8. ^ "Fotbalul mic. Florin Bratu a zburat de la Tunari. S-a supărat că nu i-au fost aduși jucători" [Small football. Florin Bratu flew from Tunari. He upset that no players were brought to him] (in Romanian). frf.ro. 16 October 2015. Archived from the original on 26 January 2025. Retrieved 26 January 2025.
  9. ^ "Vacanță la Tunari. Odoroabă sună adunarea în Iulie" [Vacation at Tunari. Odoroabă calls the assembly in July] (in Romanian). ilfovsport.ro. 1 July 2018. Archived from the original on 26 January 2025. Retrieved 26 January 2025.
  10. ^ "Ștefan Odoroabă s-a despărțit de CS Tunari și îi va fi "secund" lui Eusebiu Tudor la o echipă din Arabia Saudită" [Ștefan Odoroabă has left CS Tunari and will be Eusebiu Tudor's "second" at a team in Saudi Arabia] (in Romanian). liga2.prosport.ro. 15 March 2022. Archived from the original on 26 January 2025. Retrieved 26 January 2025.
  11. ^ "CS Tunari a numit înlocuitorul lui Odoroabă chiar înainte de startul play-off-ului Ligii 3. Marcel Abăluță a preluat echipa ilfoveană" [CS Tunari named Odoroabă's replacement just before the start of the League 3 play-offs. Marcel Abăluță took over the Ilfov team] (in Romanian). liga2.prosport.ro. 29 March 2022. Archived from the original on 26 January 2025. Retrieved 26 January 2025.
  12. ^ "Valentin Negru, prezentat la un club cu pretenții de promovare în Liga 2" [Valentin Negru, presented to a club with promotion claims in Liga 2] (in Romanian). gsp.ro. 29 June 2022. Archived from the original on 26 January 2025. Retrieved 26 January 2025.
  13. ^ "CS Tunari atacă promovarea în Liga 2 cu un nou antrenor. Liderul Seriei 4 din Liga 3 l-a prezentat: "E omul potrivit pentru atingerea obiectivului"" [CS Tunari attacks promotion to Liga 2 with a new coach. The leader of Series 4 in Liga 3 introduced him: "He is the right man to achieve the goal"] (in Romanian). gsp.ro. 18 January 2023. Archived from the original on 26 January 2025. Retrieved 26 January 2025.
  14. ^ "Salve de tun la marginea Bucureștiului! CS Tunari a promovat în premieră și mărește din nou numărul echipelor din Ilfov în Liga 2. "Am sperat, am luptat până la capăt, am crezut în noi până la final". De ce se autointitulează Arsenal" [Cannon salutes on the outskirts of Bucharest! CS Tunari promoted for the first time and again increases the number of teams from Ilfov in Liga 2. "We hoped, we fought until the end, we believed in ourselves until the end". Why they call themselves Arsenal] (in Romanian). liga2.prosport.ro. 7 June 2023. Archived from the original on 26 January 2025. Retrieved 26 January 2025.
  15. ^ "Decizie surpriză la una dintre nou-promovatele în Liga 2. CS Tunari și antrenorul Gabriel Manu nu mai continuă colaborarea!" [Surprise decision for one of the newly promoted teams in League 2. CS Tunari and coach Gabriel Manu no longer continue their collaboration!]. liga2.prosport.ro. 12 June 2023. Archived from the original on 7 February 2025. Retrieved 7 February 2025.
  16. ^ "CS Tunari are antrenor! Alegerea nou-promovatei în Liga 2, Florin Stîngă. Cine face parte din stafful tehnic al "omului potrivit" pentru îndeplinirea obiectivului" [CS Tunari has a coach! The choice of the newly promoted team in League 2, Florin Stîngă. Who is part of the technical staff of the "right man" to achieve the objective] (in Romanian). liga2.prosport.ro. 14 June 2023. Archived from the original on 7 February 2025. Retrieved 7 February 2025.
  17. ^ "Antrenorul Florin Stîngă și CS Tunari și-au încheiat colaborarea după eșecul cu CSC Dumbrăvița. Comunicatul clubului și cine asigură interimatul" [Coach Florin Stîngă and CS Tunari have ended their collaboration after the failure with CSC Dumbrăvița. The club's statement and who is providing the interim]. liga2.prosport.ro. 18 September 2023. Archived from the original on 7 February 2025. Retrieved 7 February 2025.
  18. ^ "CS Tunari și-a numit noul antrenor principal, unul demis de curând de altă echipă din Liga 2. Ilfovenii au anunțat componența noului staff tehnic" [CS Tunari has appointed its new head coach, one recently dismissed by another team in League 2. Ilfovenii announced the composition of the new technical staff]. liga2.prosport.ro. 2 October 2023. Archived from the original on 7 February 2025. Retrieved 7 February 2025.
  19. ^ "Ștefan Odoroabă, out de la CS Tunari, la finalul sezonului regular! Ilfovenii continuă în play-out cu un alt antrenor" [Ștefan Odoroabă, out of CS Tunari, at the end of the regular season! The Ilfovians continue in the play-out with a different coach]. liga2.prosport.ro. 18 March 2024. Archived from the original on 7 February 2025. Retrieved 7 February 2025.
  20. ^ "Dan Alexa revine în antrenorat! A fost prezentat la noua echipă" [Dan Alexa returns to coaching! He was introduced to the new team]. gsp.ro. 18 March 2024. Archived from the original on 7 February 2025. Retrieved 7 February 2025.
  21. ^ "CS Tunari și-a luat bilet pentru întoarcerea în Liga 3! Minunea în care au sperat ilfovenii, cu Dan Alexa dirijor, nu s-a produs. "Atâta am putut. Retrogradarea noastră este meritată!"" [CS Tunari got their ticket to return to League 3! The miracle that the Ilfov fans hoped for, with Dan Alexa as their conductor, did not happen. "We did our best. Our relegation is deserved!"]. liga2.prosport.ro. 22 April 2024. Archived from the original on 7 February 2025. Retrieved 7 February 2025.
  22. ^ "Au investit masiv în iarnă, dar au retrogradat matematic! Încă un eșec pentru Dan Alexa » Ce se întâmplă cu echipa" [They invested massively in the winter, but they mathematically got relegated! Another failure for Dan Alexa » What's happening with the team]. gsp.ro. 20 April 2024. Archived from the original on 7 February 2025. Retrieved 7 February 2025.
  23. ^ "Acasă din retur. CS Tunari revine în primăvară pe gazonul propriu" [Back home. CS Tunari returns in the spring on the grass of its own stadium] (in Romanian). ilfovsport.ro. 1 November 2017. Archived from the original on 31 March 2022. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
  24. ^ "La Tunari au început lucrările de modernizare a suprafeței de joc a stadionului de fotbal" [Work has begun on modernizing the playing surface of the football stadium in Tunari] (in Romanian). prosport.ro. 3 December 2023. Archived from the original on 12 March 2024. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
Allikas: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CS_Tunari
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