ACS Minerul Lupeni

Clubul Sportiv Minerul Lupeni, commonly referred to as Minerul Lupeni, is a Romanian football club based in Lupeni, Hunedoara County, which competes in Liga III, the third tier of the Romanian football league system. Established in 1920 as Jiul Lupeni, the club changed its name several times to Partizanul (1950), Flacăra (1951), Minerul (1953 and 1957) and Energia (1956).^[1] Dissolved in 2010, the club from Jiu Valley was re-founded as Viitorul Minerul Lupeni in 2021.

The team of miners from the Lupeni coal basin was founded in 1920 as Jiul Lupeni.^[1] In 1926, the club merged briefly with CAMP, continuing to play under the name Jiul Lupeni.^[2]

In the 1927–28 season, the Jiu Valley team won the Arad Regional Championship, qualified for the national tournament of Divizia A, eliminating România Cluj (2–0) and Șoimii Sibiu (3–0), and reached the final, losing 2–3 to Colțea Brașov. The lineup in the final, coached by Adalbert Szabo, featured Ioan Kiss – Eugen Szabados, Rupp – Alexandru Berkessy, Szülle, Gentl – Kertesz, Aurel Guga, Bognar, Joseph Kilianovitz, and Meszner.^[2][3]

Renamed Minerul, the team made its first appearance in the Cupa României during the 1935–36 season, reaching the quarter-finals before being eliminated 2–9 by Ripensia Timișoara, the eventual winners.^[4] The Miners also played in the inaugural season of the third division, finishing as runners-up in the Western League and earning promotion to Divizia B at the end of the 1937–38 Divizia C season. That squad featured Sepreny – Sebok, Baki – Maior, Iuliu Peter, Racolțea – Comsloșan, Ilieș, Zelenak, Sorger and Băcilă.^[3]

The Red-Blacks spent the next three seasons in the second division, finishing 4th in 1938–39, 2nd in 1939–40, and 6th in 1940–41. After the Second World War, Minerul resumed competition in Divizia B, finishing the 1946–47 season in 12th place in Series II.^[5]

During the next decade, the Miners remained in the second division, often finishing mid-table or fighting to avoid relegation, 6th in 1947–48, 5th in 1948–49, 4th in 1950 under the name Partizanul, and 11th in 1951 as Flacăra. That year, the team avoided relegation due to the relocation of Flacăra București to Ploiești and the subsequent dissolution of the former Flacăra Ploiești. Minerul went on to place 10th in 1952, 14th in 1953 — when the club was renamed again as Minerul — 6th in 1954, 9th in both 1955 under coach Alexandru Mike, and 1956, and 6th in the 1957–58 campaign.^[5]

At the end of the 1958–59 season, Minerul won Series I of Divizia B and achieved promotion to Divizia A after fifteen seasons in the second division. The squad, managed by head coach Vasile Lazăr and assistant coach Adalbert Pall, included Ioan Kiss II, Simion Plev, Alexandru Coman, Vasile Keresteș, Ștefan Szöke, Ioan Groza, Carol Mihaly, Constantin Cotroază, I. Pall, Mircea Onea, Tudor Paraschiva, Carol Creiniceanu, among others.^[6]

With a number of new players such as Teodor Mihalache, Daniel Peretz, Ion Leahovici, Alexandru Dan II, Milea, Alexandru Nisipeanu, Virgil Mihăilă, M. Țurcan, D. Cucu, N. Stanciu, Minerul spent four seasons in the top flight, finishing three consecutive seasons in 11th place before being relegated after finishing last in the 1962–63 season. In 1959–60, the Red-Blacks reached the quarter-finals of the Cupa României, losing 1–3 to Dinamo Obor București.

Minerul Lupeni then spent four more seasons in the second tier, finishing 10th in 1963–64 with Ilie Cricitoiu in charge, 4th in 1964–65, 11th in 1965–66, and 13th in 1966–67 under Alexandru Florea, unexpectedly relegated to Divizia C.^[3][5]

The Miners went on to spend nine consecutive seasons in the third tier before returning to Divizia B. During this period, the team placed 5th in 1967–68, finished as runners-up in 1968–69, and secured 3rd place in the 1969–70, 1970–71, and 1971–72 seasons. In 1972–73, under the guidance of coach Teodor Mihalache, Minerul finished 7th and qualified for the first round proper of the Cupa României, where the team was narrowly eliminated by Steaua București 0–1. The lineup featured Șarpe, I. Rus, Șvedak, Burdangiu, Serafim, Polgar, Cristache II, Gh. Voicu, Lucuța, Cotroază, Turbatu (83’ Moldovan).^[7]

In 1973–74, Minerul finished as runners-up once again, followed by a 3rd place in 1974–75 under Gheorghe Teodorescu, and finally won Series VII in the 1975–76 season, securing promotion. Under the leadership of Gheorghe Kotormány, the promotion-winning squad featured Budușan, Dodu, Roșu, Tudor, Naidin, Boloș, Dosan, Lucuță, Rusu, Nicșa, Stoinică, Lucian, Gh. Voicu, and Burdangiu.^[3]

Back in Divizia B, the team competed in Series III, finishing 13th in the 1976–77 season with Petre Libardi on the bench and suffering relegation at the end of the following campaign after placing 15th in 1977–78, with Libardi replaced by Gheorghe Kotormány after the first half of the season.^[5]

Two seasons followed in Series VII of the third division, with the team finishing as runners-up in 1978–79 and earning promotion at the end of the 1979–80 campaign by winning the series. The squad, led by Mihai Basarab and his assistant Constantin Cotroază, included Homan, Grigore, Leordean, Truică, Burdangiu, Dumitru, I. Popa, Boloș, I. Marian, Dosan, P. Popa, Moraru, Voicu, Leca, Covaci, Iacob, Tudor, Sămăreanu, Burchel, and Bălosu.^[3] Two more seasons followed in Series III of Divizia B, where Minerul placed 10th in the 1980–81 season and 16th in 1981–82, resulting in another relegation to the third tier.^[3]

Minerul managed a new promotion at the end of the 1982–83 season, winning Series IX of Divizia C with Petre Libardi on the bench. The squad included Lixandru, Teleche, Rusu, Sebestyen, I. Popa, Truică, Mușat, Voicu, Sălăjean, P. Popa, Nichimiș, Cean, Colceag, Chitac, Dordea, Grigore, Pantilimon, Ene, Henzel, Morar, Vînătoru, Dina, and Căldărar.^[3]

In theirfirst season back in the second tier, the Jiu Valley side, competing in Series III under the guidance of Petre Libardi, secured an 8th-place mid-table finish, followed by a 9th-place finish in the 1984–85 campaign. However, the 1985–86 season marked a clear decline, as a series of poor results during the first half of the championship led to Petre Libardi being replaced by Gheorghe Tătaru. The managerial change failed to improve the results, and Minerul Lupeni ended the season in last place, resulting in relegation back to Divizia C.^[5][8][9]

In the 2004–05 season, Minerul Lupeni won Series VII of Divizia C and returned to Divizia B after nineteen years of absence. The squad, coached by Iosif Rus, included Ardelean, Botezatu, Dobra, Lumperdean, Câmpean, Drăghici, Pilea, Acs, Cr. Barbu, Amaximoaie, Cișmariu, Damian, I. Radu, Baroană, M. Szoradi, Daj, Toader, Noață, Diaconescu, Elisei, Tr. Barbu, Ciorea, and V. Stancu.^[10]

In the 2005–06 season of Divizia B, following a reorganization of the league system, no fewer than six teams were to be relegated from each of the three series. Minerul began well with Adrian Matei on the bench, but the second half of the season began with Gabriel Stan, who lasted only five rounds. He was followed by Iosif Rus, and after three more matches, from round 23 onward, Dan Mănăilă took over. Lupeni secured safety after the final matchday, finishing 10th. Standout players that season included Urai, Luca, Boroncoi, V. Stancu, Itu, Mihovici, Török, and Bălău.^[10] The Red-Blacks continued to compete in Series II of the second division, ranking 5th in the 2006–07 season under Dan Mănăilă, 12th in 2007–08 with Marin Tudorache in charge.^[11]

Tudorache was dismissed in September 2008 following a home defeat against Jiul Petroșani and was replaced on an interim basis by Ion Dumitra and assistant coach Iosif Rus. During their interim spell, Minerul's cup run ended in the Round of 32 of the Cupa României with a 0–4 defeat against Unirea Urziceni. As neither Dumitra nor Rus held the required coaching licences, Carol Creiniceanu was appointed official head coach at the beginning of November 2008. However, after undergoing surgery in December, Creiniceanu was unable to lead the team.[13] Dumitra and Rus subsequently resumed control of the team and led Minerul until the end of the season, finishing 8th in the 2008–09 campaign. The squad comprised, among others, Bănică, G. Ciucă, Murdărea, Dragomir, Irina, Pocian, C. Bar, Dumitra, Militaru, Daj, Nicorec, M. Roman, Iambor, Apostol, Bozian, Ișfan, Chițu, and Vlăduți.^[12][13][14]

In the 2009–10 season, Minerul finished 12th, and midway through the 2010–11 season withdrew from the competition and was effectively dissolved.^[15]

In the autumn of 2021, former club captain Adrian Lumperdean, together with his brother Emil Lumperdean and their nephew Lucu Lumperdean, revived the football tradition in Lupeni by founding Viitorul Minerul Lupeni, with support from the local authorities and financial backing from local businessman Emil Părău. The initiative was part of a broader effort to consolidate football activity in the Jiu Valley area, initially focusing on youth and junior development before the formation of a senior squad.^[16]

The senior team was entered in the 2022–23 season of Liga IV Hunedoara County. Coached by Dan Voicu, the team finished 1st in the regular season and 2nd in the Final Four play-off. In the following campaign, the club adopted the name Minerul Lupeni and finished 2nd in the regular season before winning the county title through the Final Four play-off, thus qualifying for the promotion play-off to Liga III, where it lost after a 0–0 away draw and a 0–3 home defeat against Viitorul Arad. The squad included Raț, Tonca, Mazilu, Ciocîrlan, Matei, Arcuși, Prem, Bănceanu, Creciunesc, Iepure, Belei, Șilip, Harangozo, Băcăran, Mândreci, Sllio, Roșian, Maria, Glăvan, and S. Popescu.^[17][18][19]

Despite this, Minerul Lupeni was later admitted to Liga III following the withdrawal of several clubs. The 2024–25 season began with Dan Voicu as technical director, assisted by Aurel Moldovan as head coach. The team competed in Series IX, finishing 2nd in the regular season and 1st in the series play-off round, which secured qualification for the promotion play-off, where it was eliminated in the first round by Olimpia Satu Mare after a 2–2 draw away and a 0–4 home defeat.^[20][21]

The 2025–26 season began with the same coaching staff.^[22] However, due to poor results, the club underwent a series of coaching changes. Dan Voicu resigned after six rounds and, following a brief one-match interim spell by Aurel Moldovan, Gabriel Toma was appointed head coach, leading the team until the end of the regular season, which it finished 2nd in Series VI.^[23][24] Ionuț Moșteanu then took over as head coach for the play-off round, guiding the Miners to a 2nd place finish in Series III and qualification for the promotion play-off, where they were eliminated in the first round following a 0–3 defeat against Unirea Alba Iulia at Minerul Stadium. The squad comprised, among others, Drîngă, Tonca, Chițimia, Dulap, Stana, N. Toma, Dr. Vlad, Vl. Popa, Mar, Raicea, Al. Moise, Bedea, Petea, Eshun, Trip, Sima, Pancu, Creciunesc, Baiddo, and Voinea.^[25][26]

Liga I

• Runners-up (1): 1927–28

Liga II

• Winners (1): 1958–59
• Runners-up (1): 1939–40

Liga III

• Winners (5): 1937–38, 1975–76, 1979–80, 1982–83, 2004–05
• Runners-up (6): 1936–37, 1968–69, 1973–74, 1978–79, 1991–92, 2025–26

Liga IV – Hunedoara County

• Winners (1): 2023–24
• Runners-up (1): 2022–23

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.

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

The footballers mentioned below have played at least 1 season for Minerul Lupeni and also played in Liga I for another team.

• Official website
• ACS Minerul Lupeni on Facebook