ACS Viitorul Târgu Jiu


Asociația Clubul Sportiv Viitorul Pandurii Târgu Jiu, commonly known as Viitorul Pandurii Târgu Jiu or Viitorul Târgu Jiu, is a Romanian football club from Târgu Jiu, Gorj County, currently playing in the Liga II.
Established in 1998, the team was known as Șirineasa and ACS Energeticianul, before moving to Târgu Jiu in the summer of 2019 and renaming as Viitorul Pandurii Târgu Jiu.

History

Viitorul Pandurii Târgu Jiu was founded in 1998 as AS Șirineasa and played for almost all its history at county level, Liga IV and Liga V. At the end of 2015–16 Liga IV season, the team was crowned the champion of Vâlcea County and went to the promotion play-off match where they defeated Dolj County champions, Tractorul Cetate, 5–4 on aggregate and promoted to Liga III for the first time in the history of the club.
The first Liga III season was a very difficult one, financial problems and the weak number of players leading the team to the relegation area until the winter break. In the winter transfer period CS Șirineasa transferred an entire team from the newly disbanded CSM Râmnicu Vâlcea, but the team did not find its rhythm, finishing in the 13th place and relegating to Liga IV after only one season.
In the summer of 2017 the club has received an invitation from the Romanian Football Federation to continue in Liga III due to lack of teams. The club accepted and was later taken over by the businessman, Nicolae Sarcină. Originally from Gorj County, he was planning to move the team to Târgu Jiu, following to play on the newly built Tudor Vladimirescu Stadium, within this idea the club changed its name from a legal point of view to ACS Energeticianul, shortly before the start of the season, but too late for a change in the Romanian Football Federation records, playing practically in the 2017–18 season with two names CS Șirineasa and ACS Energeticianul, fact that attracted a lot of complaints from the other competitors in the championship. The completion of the stadium construction was delayed and Șirineasa was in the situation of not having where to play, so the team moved to Petroșani, hometown of the new club president, Alin Zgripcea, taking advantage of the disastrous situation of local club Jiul Petroșani and the football void in the city. Șirineasa started to play in black and white, Jiul colors, with the promise that at the end of the season the club will merge with Jiul Petroșani, taking its brand and record, the club basically being in the incredible situation of having three identities, two legally and a third one, from an ideological point of view. With important investments, former Romanian international Cristian Dulca as a coach and well-known players such as: Mihai Mincă, Daniel Lung, Florin Costea or Cătălin Țîră, the team dominated Seria IV of the Liga III and promoted with and advance of 9 points over CSMȘ Reșița, the main pursuer, promoting for the first time in its history in the Liga II.
At the end of the season, Petroșani Municipality refused to pass the Jiul Stadium into the property of Șirineasa and even asking for a rent to use the sports base. Dissatisfied with the fact that they are not helped by the municipality and complaining that in the summer of 2017 they renovated the sports base from their own sources, the club officials of Șirineasa decided to move the team from Petroșani to Târgu Jiu.
On 29 June 2018 it was announced officially that the club will be named as ACS Energeticianul also in the Romanian Football Federation records starting with the 2018–19 season. After one week, the club officials met with representatives of the municipality of Petroșani finally reaching an agreement to use Jiul Stadium in the 2018–19, the club canceling its move.

2019–present

On 30 June 2019, Luceafărul Oradea withdrew from Liga II in favor of Energeticianul, which was saved from relegation, as it was the first team relegated at the end of the last season. Most important players and the entire technical staff was moved from Luceafărul to Energeticianul. It was also announced that the club was moved again, this time from Petroșani to Târgu Jiu and renamed as Viitorul Pandurii Târgu Jiu, also changing its colors from white and black to white and blue.

Grounds

Stadionul Municipal

From the summer until the early November 2019, Viitorul Pandurii Târgu Jiu played its home matches on Municipal Stadium in Drobeta-Turnu Severin, with a capacity of 20,054 seats. Municipal Stadium was used as temporary home ground, until Tudor Vladimirescu Stadium, in Târgu Jiu, was opened.

Stadionul Tudor Vladimirescu

Since 9 November 2019, Viitorul Pandurii Târgu Jiu plays its home matches on Tudor Vladimirescu Stadium in Târgu Jiu, with a capacity of 12,518 seats. The arena was opened in November 2019 in order to replace the former stadium and is also the home ground of Pandurii Târgu Jiu and FC U Craiova 1948.

Honours

First team squad

Out on loan

Club officials

Board of directors

RoleName
Owner Nicolae Sarcină
President Alin Zgripcea
Sporting Manager Robert Bălăeț
Responsible for Order and Safety Alexandru Cioară

Current technical staff

RoleName
Managervacant
Assistant Manager Cosmin Frimu
Goalkeeping Coach Dorin Hîrșu
Fitness Coach Vlad Țăran
Physiotherapist Octavian Fage
Psychologist Alin Pușcău

League history

SeasonTierLeaguePos.Cupa României
2019–202Liga II10th
2018–192Liga II16thRound of 32
2017–183Liga III 1st '
2016–173Liga III 13th

SeasonTierLeaguePos.Cupa României
2015–164Liga IV 1st '
2010–114Liga IV 9th
2009–104Liga IV 7th