FC UTA Arad

Asociația Fotbal Club UTA Arad, commonly known as UTA Arad or simply UTA (Uzina Textilă Arad; lit. 'Textiles Factory of Arad'), is a Romanian professional football club based in the city of Arad, Arad County that competes in the Liga I.

The team was founded in 1945 as IT Arad, and has won six national titles and two Cupa României. Domestically, UTA is one of the most successful Romanian sides of the 20th century, sharing with Chinezul Timișoara the record for the most title wins by a club not from Bucharest, earning it the nickname Campioana Provinciei ("Provincial Champion"), a record which ended after the conclusion of the 2020–21 season when CFR Cluj claimed its seventh Liga I trophy. UTA Arad's decline began with a transfer to the second division in 1979, after which it rarely appeared in the top flight before being dissolved in 2014. UTA Arad was eventually promoted from the Liga IV and managed to return to the Liga I in 2021.

The team plays in red and white uniforms at the new Francisc von Neuman Stadium, which was opened in 2020. UTA holds a long-standing rivalry with neighbouring SSU Politehnica Timișoara, with whom it contests the West derby.

1945–1965
The team was founded under the name ITA Arad by the owner of the Arad Textile Company, Francisc von Neuman, on 18 April 1945. The colors of the club (white – red) were inspired by Arsenal's colors, as Neuman was a fan of the team.

The first football match of the newly established team was on 27 May 1945 against Banatul Sânnicolau Mic, score 2–3. On 1 September 1946 on the occasion of the match between ITA Arad and Ciocanul București, score 1–0, took place the inauguration of the stadium in Arad, Francisc von Neuman Stadium.

1965–1975
In the 1970–71, the team took fourth place and participated again in the European Champion Clubs' Cup, eliminating the trophy holder at that time, Feyenoord, after a 1–1 at Rotterdam and 0–0 in Arad. In the 1971–72 season the team became vice-champion of Romania and participated in the UEFA Cup, reaching the quarterfinals after overtaking Austria Salzburg (4–1, 1–3), Zagłębie Wałbrzych (1–1, 2–1) and Vitória Setúbal (3–0, 0–1). They were eliminated in the quarter-finals by Tottenham Hotspur; the first game was at home where they lost 2–0. The second leg at away at White Hart Lane in London was a 1–1 draw, however this was not enough and Arad were knocked out 3–1 on aggregate.

1975–2013
The team's decline started in the 1975–76 season, and after it placed 17th in the 1978–79 season, it was reassigned to Divizia B. After two years in the second division (third place in 1979–80 and ninth in 1980–81), UTA returned to Divizia A under the technical leadership of coach Ştefan Czako, but failed to last for more than a year, and was sent back to the second division after occupying only 17th place in Divizia A at the end of the 1981–82 season.

Between 1984 and 1991, UTA occupied the following positions in the third Series of Divizia B: 13th in 1984–85, 4th in 1985–86, 10th in 1986–87, 3rd in 1987–88, 2nd in 1988–89, 2nd in 1989–90, 5th in 1990–91. It also placed in the second Series of Divizia B: 2nd in 1991–92 and 1st in 1992–93.

Between 1995 and 2002, UTA occupied the following positions in the 2nd Series of Divizia B: 5th in 1995–96, 13th in 1996–97, 11th in 1997–98, 2nd in 1998–99, 6th in 1999–2000, 7th in 2000–01 and 1st in 2001–02.

In the summer of 1999, UTA Arad disputed a play-off match at Alba Iulia against Rocar București for promotion in Divizia A, a match in which it lost 0–2. Coach Francis Tisza organised the following team: Pap – Diaconescu, Botiş, G. Radu (50' Ciubăncan), Găman (76' Baciu), Panin – Todea, Almaşan, Zaha – Mariş, Cl.Drăgan (69' Turcan). UTA Arad did not play in this league because after an assignment agreement with Liberty Salonta, UTA took the place of Liberty in Liga I and vice versa in the Liga III.

Thus, the team qualified in Liga I for the 2006–07 season. After club president Nicolae Bara signed with coach Marius Lăcătuş and under his leadership, UTA occupied the 12th place at the end of the season.

In August 2013, businessman Adrian Marțian took over Giovanni Catanzariti's majority stake, promising the financial recovery of the club and bringing back the good results, but by November he lost the support of the supporters and Flavius Domide asked him to leave the club to competent people from Arad.

Another team, supported by a part of UTA fans, called UTA Bătrâna Doamnă, was founded in 2013 by former player Marius Ţucudean. It was enrolled in Liga IV instead of UTA II and received the logo, the record and the colors of UTA from UTA Supporter Club in March 2014, becoming officially UTA Arad. The Liga II team had to change their name to FC UTA SA. At the end of the 2013–14 season of Liga II, UTA SA was excluded from the championship by FRF for not attending two matches and relegated to the 6th League, where it did not sign up and was dissolved.

2013–present
UTA Bătrâna Doamnă, promoted in the Liga III at the end of the season after a promotion play-off match against Hunedoara County champion Retezatul Hațeg, won 2–0.

After only one season in the Liga III, the club was promoted back to the Liga II after finishing first in the fourth Series of the league, four points ahead of Nuova Mama Mia Becicherecu Mic.

In their first season after returning to the Liga II, UTA, now known as UTA Bătrâna Doamnă finished second in the second Series of the championship and qualified for a Liga I promotion play-off against Dunărea Călărași and Voluntari. It eliminated Dunărea Călărași 5–4 on aggregate, but lost 1–3 against Voluntari and remained for another season in the Liga II.

In the 2016–17 season, UTA finished third and qualified again for a promotion play-off against Poli Timișoara, one of Politehnica Timișoara successors, and ASU Politehnica Timișoara. UTA lost to both teams (1–2, 1–3).

In the summer of 2017, FRF has officialized that UTA Bătrâna Doamnă changed its name back to FC UTA Arad being the official and legal successor of the old club.

Grounds


UTA Arad plays its home matches at the Stadionul Francisc von Neuman. Ranked as a UEFA Category 4 stadium, it can host UEFA Europa League semi-finals and UEFA Champions League group stage matches.

The first match at the stadium was a Liga I game played between UTA Arad and Voluntari, which ended in a goalless draw. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the game was played without spectators.

The first match with spectators was the 2021 women's Romanian Cup final between U Olimpia Cluj and Heniu Prundu Bârgăului, which ended with a 1–0 win in extra-time for the Cluj team.

The first international game played on the arena was the friendly goalless draw between UTA Arad and Kolubara Lazarevac.

Leagues

 * Liga I
 * Winners (6): 1946–47, 1947–48, 1950, 1954, 1968–69, 1969–70
 * Runners-up (1): 1971–72
 * Liga II
 * Winners (4): 1980–81, 1992–93, 2001–02, 2019–20
 * Runners-up (6): 1982–83, 1988–89, 1989–90, 1991–92, 1998–99, 2015–16
 * Liga III
 * Winners (1): 2014–15
 * Liga IV – Arad County
 * Winners (1): 2013–14

Cups

 * Cupa României
 * Winners (2): 1947–48, 1953
 * Runners-up (2): 1950, 1965–66
 * Cupa României – Arad County Phase
 * Winners (1): 2013–14
 * Cupa Ligii
 * Runners-up (1): 1994

European

 * UEFA Champions League / European Cup
 * Best result: Second round 1970–71
 * UEFA Europa League / UEFA Cup
 * Best result: Quarter-finals 1971–72
 * Balkans Cup
 * Best result: Group stage 1966–67

Board of directors

 * Last updated: 15 July 2024

Current technical staff

 * Last updated: 15 July 2024

Notable former players
The footballers enlisted below have had international caps for their respective countries at junior and/or senior level. Players whose name is listed in bold represented their countries at junior and/or senior level on through the time's passing. Additionally, these players have also had a significant number of caps and goals accumulated throughout a certain number of seasons for the club itself as well.


 * Romania-Hungary
 * 🇭🇺 Ladislau Bonyhádi
 * 🇭🇺 Iosif Petschovsky
 * 🇭🇺 Mátyás Tóth
 * Romania
 * Alexandru Albu
 * Liviu Antal
 * Alexandru Albu
 * Paul Anton
 * Ion Atodiresei
 * Mircea Axente
 * Gheorghe Băcuț
 * Ionuț Bălan
 * Cristian Bălgrădean
 * Gavrilă Birău
 * Vichentie Birău
 * Ioan Bogdan
 * Sorin Botiș
 * Dan Stupar
 * Ladislau Brosovszky
 * Marcel Coraș
 * Marius Curtuiuș
 * Flavius Domide
 * Claudiu Drăgan
 * Lucian Dronca
 * Helmuth Duckadam
 * Florian Dumitrescu
 * Nicolae "Coco" Dumitrescu
 * Adrian Găman
 * Gheorghe Gornea
 * Ioan Hora
 * Florin Hidișan
 * Cristian Ianu
 * Alexandru Ioniță
 * Silviu Iorgulescu
 * Florin Iacob
 * Damian Isac
 * Emerich Jenei
 * Adalbert Kovács
 * Claudiu Keșerü
 * Iosif Lereter
 * Adrian Lucaci
 * Dennis Man
 * Cristian Melinte
 * Bogdan Mara
 * Alexandru Marky
 * Andrei Mercea
 * David Miculescu
 * Ilie Moț
 * Adalbert Pall
 * Cristian Panin
 * Nicolae Pantea
 * Ion Pârcălab
 * Mircea Petescu
 * Adrian Petre
 * Eugen Pojoni
 * Ovidiu Popescu
 * Paul Popovici
 * Ioan Reinhardt
 * Ciprian Rus
 * Mircea Sasu
 * Petru Șchiopu
 * Viorel Sima
 * Iosif Slivăț
 * Iosif Stibinger
 * Sorin Strătilă
 * Dumitru Târțău
 * Cristian Todea
 * Mihai Țârlea I
 * Mihai Țârlea II
 * George Țucudean
 * Adrian Ungur
 * Gheorghe Váczi
 * Constantin Varga
 * Norbert Varga
 * Moise Vass
 * Albania
 * 🇦🇱 Idriz Batha
 * Argentina
 * 🇦🇷 Maximiliano Laso
 * Brazil
 * 🇧🇷 Erico
 * 🇧🇷 Roger
 * Bosnia and Herzegovina
 * 🇧🇦 Branko Grahovac
 * Cameroon
 * 🇨🇲 Jérémie N'Jock
 * Central African Republic
 * 🇨🇫 Ali Calvin Tolmbaye
 * Croatia
 * Filip Dangubić
 * Greece
 * Christos Metskas
 * Hungary
 * 🇭🇺 Gyula Lóránt
 * Italy
 * 🇮🇹 Nicolao Dumitru
 * 🇮🇹 Remo Amadio
 * Lithuania
 * 🇱🇹 Rolandas Baravykas
 * 🇱🇹 Karolis Laukžemis
 * 🇱🇹 Tomas Švedkauskas
 * 🇱🇹 Modestas Vorobjovas
 * Mauritania
 * Aly Abeid
 * Moldova
 * 🇲🇩 Virgiliu Postolachi
 * Montenegro
 * 🇲🇪 Marko Vukčević
 * Netherlands
 * Desley Ubbink
 * Nigeria
 * 🇳🇬 Prince Ikpe Ekong
 * 🇳🇬 John Ibeh
 * 🇳🇬 Philip Otele
 * Portugal
 * Amoreirinha
 * Bruno Simão
 * Edson Silva
 * Russia
 * 🇷🇺 Yevgeni Shlyakov
 * Serbia
 * 🇷🇸 Nenad Kovačević
 * 🇷🇸 Predrag Pocuca
 * 🇷🇸 Nikola Vasiljević

Notable former managers

 * 🇷🇴 László Balint
 * 🇭🇺 Zoltan Blum
 * 🇷🇴 Gheorghe Borugă
 * 🇷🇴 Coloman Braun-Bogdan
 * 🇷🇴 Nicolae "Coco" Dumitrescu
 * 🇷🇴 Francisc Dvorzsák
 * 🇷🇴 Ion "Jackie" Ionescu
 * 🇷🇴 Gusztáv Juhász
 * 🇷🇴 Marius Lăcătuș
 * 🇷🇴 Ion Moldovan
 * 🇷🇴 Roland Nagy
 * 🇭🇺 Zoltan Opata
 * 🇷🇴 Ionuț Popa
 * 🇷🇴 Ioan Reinhardt
 * 🇷🇴 Petre Steinbach