CS Tunari

CS Tunari
Full nameClub Sportiv Tunari
NicknamesTunarii (The Gunners)
Arsenal
Short nameTunari
Founded1980 (1980)
as Arsenal Tunari
GroundCentral
Capacity1,700
OwnerTunari Commune
ChairmanFlorin Vlădilă
Head coachDinu Todoran
LeagueLiga II
2024–25Liga III, Seria V, 1st
(promoted via play-offs)
Websitehttps://cstunari.ro/

Club Sportiv Tunari, commonly known as CS Tunari, or simply as Tunari, is a Romanian professional football club based in Tunari, Ilfov County, currently competing in Liga II, the second tier of the Romanian football.

Founded in 1980 as Arsenal Tunari, the club was renamed CS Tunari in 2004 and gradually consolidated its place in Romania's third tier, achieving its first promotion to the second tier at the end of the 2022–23 season.[1] After being relegated the following season, it secured promotion back to the second tier following the 2024–25 Liga III campaign.[2]

History

Foundation and Naming (1980–2004)

CS Tunari was founded in 1980 under the name Arsenal Tunari. 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 its early years, Arsenal Tunari played consistently in the Ilfov County Championships, the fourth tier of Romanian football league system. The club changed its name in 2004 after being forced to drop “Arsenal” due to copyright restrictions.[3][4]

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, but no response was received. Around this period, a new stadium was built in the commune near Bucharest, and in 2009 the club secured a place in Romania's third division.[5][4]

Establishing in Liga III (2009–2018)

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[6] to 7th place. Challenging years unfolded under Ion Voicu's leadership,[7] 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.[8]

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,[9] who replaced Nițoi after the team lost its first six matches of the season. Bratu departed the following summer[10] 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.

During this period, CS Tunari also updated its branding and logo in 2018, adopting a red-and-white color scheme instead of the previous red-and-blue combination. The new emblem briefly reintroduced the name “Arsenal,” though the official club name remained CS Tunari.

Ștefan Odoroabă coached the team[11] 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.[12][13] 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).

Rise, Relegation and Return

In the 2022–23 season, Valentin Negru was appointed as the new head coach,[14] 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,[15] 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.[1]

In June 2023, Tunari appointed Florin Stângă as head coach, just two days after unexpectedly parting ways with Gabriel Manu.[16][17] Stângă led the team for six rounds before Ștefan Odoroabă replaced interim coach Alin Ilin in October 2023.[18][19] The Gunners finished 17th in the regular season of 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.[20][21] However, multiple changes in the squad and coaching staff led to relegation, with Tunari finishing second to last in the group.[22][23] Tunari also qualified for the group stage of Cupa României after a 5–0 victory over third-division side Viitorul Ianca. The group stage featured matches against Universitatea Craiova (1–1), Voluntari (1–1), and Gloria Buzău (1–1), ending in 5th place out of 6 in Group D, resulting in elimination.

Tunari, coached by Dan Alexa, won Series V of the 2024–25 season, qualified for the promotion play-off, and in the semi-finals the Ilfov-based side advanced without playing after Băicoi was declared ineligible for participation. In the final promotion play-off round, they defeated Odorheiu Secuiesc 4–0 in the first leg and secured a 1–1 draw in the return leg, thus earning immediate promotion back to the second tier, with a squad that included Moroz, Ahmed, I. Croitoru, Șerban, Furtună, Tudorache, Vasu, Moga, Gavrilă, Lupescu, Jerky Song, Ion, Țegle, Dragu, Filip, Hlistei, Spătaru, R. Paul, Bălan, and Pumbuitu.[24][2]

Following the departure of Dan Alexa shortly before the start of the 2025–26 Liga II season, CS Tunari appointed Bogdan Pătrașcu as head coach, but after seven rounds and only six points he was dismissed, after which assistant Alin Ilin had a short interim spell before Dinu Todoran was appointed in November.[25][26]

Ground

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 €.[3] In 2017 the stadium was renovated again and the pitch was changed.[27]

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.[28]

Honours

Players

First team squad

As of 25 January 2026

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  ROU Sebastian Moroz
2 DF  ROU Alexandru Stănică (on loan from Petrolul Ploiești)
3 DF  ROU Ionuț Panțîru
4 DF  ROU Denis Ispas
5 MF  ROU Vlad Tudorache
6 MF  ROU Levente Bara
7 MF  ROU Alin Calotă
8 MF  ESP Fran Callejón
9 FW  ROU Adrian Bălan (3rd captain)
10 FW  ROU Claudiu Dragu (Captain)
11 MF  ROU Robert Mustacă
12 GK  ROU Emanuel Breban
15 FW  ROU Raul Stanciu (on loan from Rapid București)
16 DF  ROU Laurențiu Hagiu
No. Pos. Nation Player
17 DF  ROU Robert Răducioiu
18 DF  ROU Alexandru Trifan
19 FW  ROU Răzvan Dumitru
20 DF  ESP Xavi Estacio
21 MF  ROU George Gogescu
22 MF  ROU Vladimir Badea (on loan from Petrolul Ploiești)
27 MF  ROU Lucian Ion (Vice-captain)
28 DF  ROU Denis Pîrcălabu (on loan from Steaua București)
29 MF  ROU Neluț Roșu
30 MF  ROU Eduard Moga (on loan from Universitatea Cluj)
31 GK  ROU Rareș Ciubotariu (on loan from Farul Constanța)
44 DF  MDA Denis Furtună
93 FW  ROU Vlad Filip
94 MF  ROU Nicholas Csampar

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
— FW  ROU Bogdan Tănase (to Cetatea Turnu Măgurele)

Club officials

Notable former players

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

Romania
Moldova
North Macedonia

Former managers

League and Cup history

See also: Romanian football league system
Chronology of names
Name Period
Arsenal Tunari 1980–2004
CS Tunari 2004–present
Season Tier Division Place Notes Cupa României
2025–26 2 Liga II TBD Third Round
2024–25 3 Liga III (Seria V) 1st (C) Promoted Third Round
2023–24 2 Liga II 17th Relegated Group Stage
2022–23 3 Liga III (Seria IV) 1st (C) Promoted Fourth Round
2021–22 3 Liga III (Seria IV) 2nd Fourth Round
2020–21 3 Liga III (Seria IV) 5th Second Round
2019–20 3 Liga III (Seria II) 4th Fourth Round
2018–19 3 Liga III (Seria II) 6th Fourth Round
2017–18 3 Liga III (Seria III) 7th Second Round
2016–17 3 Liga III (Seria II) 3rd First Round
2015–16 3 Liga III (Seria II) 12th Third Round
2014–15 3 Liga III (Seria II) 4th First Round
2013–14 3 Liga III (Seria III) 8th First Round
2012–13 3 Liga III (Seria III) 13th First Round
2011–12 3 Liga III (Seria II) 10th Fourth Round
2010–11 3 Liga III (Seria II) 7th Third Round
2009–10 3 Liga III (Seria II) 9th —

References

  1. ^ a b "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.
  2. ^ a b "Din nou în Liga a II-a. CS Tunari se întoarce în eșalonul secund" [Back in the League II. CS Tunari returns to the second tier] (in Romanian). 100sport.ro. 5 June 2025. Archived from the original on 14 June 2025. Retrieved 20 February 2026.
  3. ^ 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.
  4. ^ a b "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.
  5. ^ "Arsenal de România, în Tunari" [Arsenal of Romania, in Tunari] (in Romanian). sport.ro. 9 October 2009.
  6. ^ "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.
  7. ^ "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.
  8. ^ "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.
  9. ^ "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.
  10. ^ "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.
  11. ^ "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.
  12. ^ "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.
  13. ^ "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.
  14. ^ "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.
  15. ^ "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.
  16. ^ "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.
  17. ^ "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.
  18. ^ "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.
  19. ^ "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.
  20. ^ "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.
  21. ^ "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.
  22. ^ "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.
  23. ^ "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.
  24. ^ "Cu un pas în Liga a II-a" [One step closer to League II] (in Romanian). 100sport.ro. 1 June 2025. Archived from the original on 1 June 2025. Retrieved 20 February 2026.
  25. ^ "Tunari are un nou antrenor principal" [Tunari has a new head coach]. liga2.prosport.ro. 25 July 2025. Archived from the original on 28 July 2025. Retrieved 21 February 2026.
  26. ^ "Dinu Todoran lasă Liga 4 pentru o nouă experiență în Liga 2!" [Dinu Todoran leaves League 4 for a new experience in League 2!]. liga2.prosport.ro. 4 November 2025. Archived from the original on 11 November 2025. Retrieved 21 February 2026.
  27. ^ "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.
  28. ^ "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.
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