ARO Muscelul Câmpulung

{{short description|Romanian football club}} {{distinguish|AFC Câmpulung Muscel}} {{Infobox football club | clubname = ARO Muscelul Câmpulung | image = ACS_ARO_Muscelul_Câmpulung_logo.png | image_size = 200px | fullname = Asociația Club Sportiv ARO Muscelul Câmpulung | short name = ARO | nickname = ''Muscelenii'' (The People from Muscel) | founded = {{Start date and age|df=yes|1947}} as ''Muscelul Câmpulung'' {{Start date and age|df=yes|2007}} as ''Sporting Câmpulung'' {{Start date and age|df=yes|2012}} as ''CN Dinicu Golescu'' {{Start date and age|df=yes|2019}} as ''AF Muscelul Câmpulung'' | ground = Muscelul / Dragoslavele | capacity = 6,000 (3,000 seated) / 1,000 | owner = Câmpulung Municipality | chairman = Cristian Vlad | manager = Alin Popescu | league = Liga III | season = 2024–25 | position = Liga III, Seria VIII, 8th | website = https://aromuscel.ro/ | kit_alt1 = | pattern_la1 = _jomacopa2wsb | pattern_b1 = _jomacopa2wsb | pattern_ra1 = _jomacopa2wsb | pattern_sh1 = | pattern_so1 = | leftarm1 = | body1 = | rightarm1 = | shorts1 = FFFFFF | socks1 = afe7f5 | kit_alt2 = | pattern_la2 = | pattern_b2 = _jomachampionship6yg | pattern_ra2 = | pattern_sh2 = | pattern_so2 = | leftarm2 = FFFF00 | body2 = | rightarm2 = FFFF00 | shorts2 = 2C8638 | socks2 = FFFF00 }}

'''Asociația Club Sportiv ARO Muscelul Câmpulung''', commonly known as '''ARO Campulung Muscel''', is a Romanian professional football club based in Câmpulung, Argeș County and currently playing in the Liga III, the 3rd tier of the Romanian football league system.

The club experienced glory during the communist era when, under the ownership of ARO, played constantly at the level of second or third league. The collapse of the off-road cars manufacturer has seriously affected the team which went bankrupt in the early 2000s. After the bankruptcy of ARO in 2003, the club was refounded several times, firstly in 2007 as ''Sporting Câmpulung'', then in 2012 as ''CN Dinicu Golescu'' (named after the high school from the town), but at its best, the team played in the Liga III, but was dissolved again in 2016. In the summer of 2019, after three years of inactivity, the club was refounded again, this time as ''Academia de Fotbal Muscelul Câmpulung''.

==History== The club was founded in 1947 as ''Muscelul Câmpulung'' and played for sixteen years in the Regional Championship. Muscelul, coached by Jean Lăpușneanu, promoted in Divizia C at the end of the 1962–63 season after finishing as runners-up in the Argeș Regional Championship.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bibliotecadeva.ro/periodice/sportulpop/1963/07/sportul_popular_1963_07_4273.pdf|title=Campionatele regiunilor...|language=ro|trans-title=Regional championships...|access-date=8 October 2022|publisher=Sportul|date=16 July 1963|page=5|via=digital.bibliotecadeva.eu|archive-date=9 July 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220709211016/http://www.bibliotecadeva.eu/periodice/sportulpop/1963/07/sportul_popular_1963_07_4273.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>

Muscelul finished last in the 1963–64 season, spared from relegation due to the expansion of the third division. Followed three more seasons in the third tier of Romanian football in which was ranked 9th in 1964–65 season, 7th in 1965–66 and 13th in 1966–67, thus relegating in the Regional Championship.

Muscelul finished second in the 1967–68 season of the Argeș Regional Championship and promoted to Divizia C. After finished 11h in 1968–69 season in the third division, the club was renamed as Unirea Câmpulung for 1969–70 season, but relegated after was ranked 15th in Series IV.

Following relegation, the club reverted to Muscelul name went on to won the 1970–71 Argeș County Championship made a quick comeback to Divizia C. Their stay in third division was short-lived, as immediately relegated back to the County Championship after finished 13th at the end of the 1971–72 season.

The first time they played in Divizia B was in the 1977–78 season when they barely avoided relegation, in the following one they finished on the 9th place and in 1979–80 they relegated back to Divizia C after finishing on the 15th place.<ref name=wesport>{{cite web|url = https://welovesport.ro/stiri/fotbal-vintage-oblemenco-si-dobrin-au-reusit-impreuna-o-promovare-2489|title=Oblemenco și Dobrin au reușit împreună o promovare|publisher=welovesport.ro|trans-title=Oblemenco and Dobrin managed a promotion together|language=ro|date=7 July 2020|access-date=12 April 2023|archive-date=12 April 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230412084230/https://welovesport.ro/stiri/fotbal-vintage-oblemenco-si-dobrin-au-reusit-impreuna-o-promovare-2489|url-status = live}}</ref>

Muscelul returned to the second division after winning Series VI of Divizia C at the end of the 1984–85 campaign, under the guidance of coach Vasile Stan. The squad included Popa, Istrate, Stoica, N. Iosif, Lungeanu, Miuțu, Nae, Păun, Predică, Necula, Berevoianu, S. Iosif, Oiță, Pescaru, Vlăsceanu, Apostol, Pamfil, Coman, Grigoriu, Moț, and Preda.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bibliotecadeva.ro/periodice/sportul/1985/07/sportul_1985_07_11077.pdf|title=Faceți cunoștință cu noile divizionare B...|language=ro|trans-title=Meet the new Divizia B sides...|access-date=8 October 2022|publisher=Sportul|date=29 July 1985|page=3|via=bibliotecadeva.eu|archive-date=19 February 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250219171023/https://www.bibliotecadeva.ro/periodice/sportul/1985/07/sportul_1985_07_11077.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 1985–86, Muscelul competed in Series II of Divizia B under Ion Voica, who took over after eleven rounds, with Stan remaining as assistant, but the team was relegated after finishing in 15th place by the end of the campaign.<ref name=wesport/>

In the 1994–95 Divizia C season the team finished on the second place, behind Minerul Motru so in order to promote to Divizia B they had to participate in a play-off against ICIM Brașov but before it, coach Nicolae Tănăsescu was replaced with former Romanian internationals Ion Oblemenco and Nicolae Dobrin, the first as head coach and the latter as technical director.<ref name=wesport/> The play-off was played in a single leg and ARO won it with 1–0, the only goal of the game being scored by Sergiu Coman, the team used being: Heroiu – Jitaru, Gorgonaru, Dumitrescu, Durdun – Ioniță, S. Din (I. Bădescu), Eftimie, Cl. Mutu – Butaru (Procorodie), S. Coman.<ref name=wesport/> Shortly after the promotion Oblemenco and Dobrin left the club, also the team's goalkeeper, Laurențiu Heroiu was killed after being stabbed in a bar, however the team spent 9 seasons in Divizia B before relegating in 2004, a period in which their biggest performance was with coach Ionel Augustin when they earned the second place in the 1999–2000 season.<ref name=wesport/>

In the summer of 2019, after three years of inactivity, the club was refounded again, this time as ''Academia de Fotbal Muscelul Câmpulung'', former Romanian international Gheorghe Mihali was named as manager and Roberto Ayza was one of the first transfers realized by the new entity<ref>{{cite web|title=Gică Mihali a semnat cu Academia Muscelul Câmpulung. Cine-l însoțește în aventura din Liga 4 Argeș|language=ro|trans-title=Gică Mihali signed with Academia Muscelul Câmpulung. Who follows him in the Liga 4 Argeș adventure|url=https://gazetasportului.ro/2019/07/10/gica-mihali-a-semnat-cu-academia-muscelul-campulung-cine-l-insoteste-in-aventura-din-liga-4-arges/|publisher=gazetasportului.ro|access-date=13 July 2019|archive-date=13 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190713113105/https://gazetasportului.ro/2019/07/10/gica-mihali-a-semnat-cu-academia-muscelul-campulung-cine-l-insoteste-in-aventura-din-liga-4-arges/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=S-a răzgândit! Roberto Ayza nu se mai retrage acum. Echipa cu care a semnat brazilianul|language=ro|trans-title=He changed his mind! Roberto Ayza is not retiring now. The team that signed the Brazilian|url=http://liga2.prosport.ro/seria-1/bursa-transferurilor/s-a-razgandit-roberto-ayza-nu-se-mai-retrage-acum-echipa-cu-care-a-semnat-brazilianul-18233254|publisher=liga2.prosport.ro|access-date=13 July 2019|archive-date=30 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201030171511/https://liga2.prosport.ro/seria-1/bursa-transferurilor/s-a-razgandit-roberto-ayza-nu-se-mai-retrage-acum-echipa-cu-care-a-semnat-brazilianul-18233254|url-status=live}}</ref> followed by Iulian Tameș<ref>{{cite web|url=https://evenimentulmuscelean.ro/2019/09/13/academia-muscelul-campulung-anunta-ca-presedintele-eduard-bina-si-iulian-tames-au-ajuns-la-un-acord/|title=Academia Muscelul Câmpulung anunță că președintele Eduard Bînă și Iulian Tameș au ajuns la un acord|language=ro|trans-title=Academia Muscelul Câmpulung announces that the president Eduard Bînă and Iulian Tameş have reached an agreement|access-date=3 September 2022|publisher=evenimentulmuscelean.ro|archive-date=3 September 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220903193656/https://evenimentulmuscelean.ro/2019/09/13/academia-muscelul-campulung-anunta-ca-presedintele-eduard-bina-si-iulian-tames-au-ajuns-la-un-acord/|url-status=live}}</ref> and Iulian Vladu among others. However, the 2019–20 season was suspended in March 2020, due to COVID-19 pandemic in Romania with Muscelul finishing in 3rd place.

130px|thumbnail|right|Inter Câmpulung logo In the summer of 2020, it was renamed Inter Câmpulung and finished the 2020–21 short season 3rd in Group B of the Liga IV – Argeș County. In the next season, ''Muscelenii'' fought for promotion, finishing in 2d place one point behind CS Rucăr.

In 2022, the club was renamed again, this time as '''ARO Muscelul Câmpulung'''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://evenimentulmuscelean.ro/2022/08/30/inter-campulung-a-devenit-aro-muscelul-campulung/|title=Inter Câmpulung a devenit ARO Muscelul Câmpulung|language=ro|trans-title=Inter Câmpulung became ARO Muscelul Câmpulung|access-date=3 September 2022|publisher=evenimentulmuscelean.ro|archive-date=3 September 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220903193656/https://evenimentulmuscelean.ro/2022/08/30/inter-campulung-a-devenit-aro-muscelul-campulung/|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Honours== *'''Liga III''' **'''Winners (2):''' 1976–77, 1984–85 **Runners-up (4): 1981–82, 1983–84, 1986–87, 1994–95 *'''Liga IV – Argeș County''' **'''Winners (5):''' 1970–71, 1992–93, 1993–94, 2013–14, 2022–23 **Runners-up (2): 2021–22, 1972–73 *'''Argeș Regional Championship''' **'''Winners (1):''' 1960–61 **Runners-up (2): 1962–63, 1967–68

==Players== ===First team squad=== {{updated|10 September 2024}}  {{Fs start}} {{Fs player|no= 1|nat=ROU|pos=GK|name=Ianis Drăghici}} {{Fs player|no= 2|nat=ROU|pos=DF|name=Rareș Grecu}} {{Fs player|no= 3|nat=ROU|pos=DF|name=Denis Răduță}} {{Fs player|no= 4|nat=ROU|pos=DF|name=Laurențiu Robu}} {{Fs player|no= 5|nat=ROU|pos=DF|name=Cosmin Gîtlan|other=Vice-Captain}} {{Fs player|no= 6|nat=ROU|pos=MF|name=Cristian Balgiu|other=Captain}} {{Fs player|no= 7|nat=ROU|pos=DF|name=Antonio Burnaz}} {{Fs player|no= 8|nat=ROU|pos=MF|name=Denis Pia}} {{Fs player|no= 9|nat=ROU|pos=MF|name=Bobi Grancea}} {{Fs player|no=10|nat=ROU|pos=MF|name=Gabriel Jenaru|other=3rd captain}} {{Fs player|no=11|nat=ROU|pos=MF|name=Mario Durdun}} {{Fs player|no=12|nat=ROU|pos=GK|name=Vlad Cîrstea}} {{Fs player|no=13|nat=ROU|pos=MF|name=Mario Pănoiu}} {{Fs mid}} {{Fs player|no=14|nat=ROU|pos=MF|name=Dragoș Troană}} {{Fs player|no=15|nat=ROU|pos=FW|name=Darius Șerban}} {{Fs player|no=16|nat=ROU|pos=MF|name=Luis Bunel}} {{Fs player|no=17|nat=ROU|pos=DF|name=Ionuț Mihăescu}} {{Fs player|no=18|nat=ROU|pos=MF|name=Ianis Răuță}} {{Fs player|no=19|nat=ROU|pos=MF|name=Vlad Tudor}} {{Fs player|no=20|nat=ROU|pos=MF|name=Mihai Moșoiu}} {{Fs player|no=21|nat=ROU|pos=MF|name=Claudiu Pleșa}} {{Fs player|no=23|nat=ROU|pos=FW|name=Albert Jarcă|other=on loan from FCSB}} {{Fs player|no=24|nat=ROU|pos=DF|name=Ionuț Giuroiu}} {{Fs player|no=26|nat=BRA|pos=MF|name=Mário Maeda}} {{Fs player|no=27|nat=ROU|pos=MF|name=Andrei Chivulescu}} {{Fs end}}

===Out on loan=== {{Fs start}} {{Fs mid}} {{Fs end}}

==Club officials== {{col-begin}} {{col-2}}

===Board of directors=== {| class="toccolours" |- ! style="background:#87CEEB;color:#000000;border:1px solid #000000;" |Role ! style="background:#87CEEB;color:#000000;border:1px solid #000000;" |Name |- | Owner | {{Flagicon|ROU}} Câmpulung Municipality |- | President | {{Flagicon|ROU}} Zaharia Nițu |- | Executive President | {{Flagicon|ROU}} Cristian Vlad |- | Sporting Director | {{Flagicon|ROU}} Corneliu Sorescu |- | Secretary | {{Flagicon|ROU}} Gabriel Bălan |- | Press officer | {{Flagicon|ROU}} Bogdan Burhan |} {{col-2}}

===Current technical staff=== {| class="toccolours" |- ! style="background:#87CEEB;color:#000000;border:1px solid #000000;" |Role ! style="background:#87CEEB;color:#000000;border:1px solid #000000;" |Name |- | Manager | {{Flagicon|ROU}} Alin Popescu |- | Assistant coach | {{Flagicon|ROU}} Marius Tomozei |- | Goalkeeping coach | {{Flagicon|ROU}} Constantin Bădan |- | Club doctor | {{Flagicon|ROU}} Marius Pitulan |- | Kinetotherapist | {{Flagicon|ROU}} Claudiu Crețu |- | Storeman | {{Flagicon|ROU}} Gheorghe Geană |} {{col-end}}

==League history== {{see also|Romanian football league system}} {{col-begin}} {{col-2}} {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:90%" ! style="background:#87CEEB;color:#000000;border:1px solid #000000;" |Season ! style="background:#87CEEB;color:#000000;border:1px solid #000000;" |Tier ! style="background:#87CEEB;color:#000000;border:1px solid #000000;" |Division ! style="background:#87CEEB;color:#000000;border:1px solid #000000;" |Place ! style="background:#87CEEB;color:#000000;border:1px solid #000000;" |Notes ! style="background:#87CEEB;color:#000000;border:1px solid #000000;" |Cupa României |- | 2025–26 || '''3''' || Liga III (Seria VI) || TBD || |- | 2024–25 || '''3''' || Liga III (Seria VIII) || 8th || || |- | 2023–24 || '''3''' || Liga III (Seria IV) || 8th || || |- | 2022–23 || '''4''' || Liga IV (AG) || align=center bgcolor=gold| '''1st''' '''(C)''' || Promoted || |- | 2021–22 || '''4''' || Liga IV (AG) || align=center bgcolor=silver| 2nd || || |- | 2020–21 || '''4''' || Liga IV (AG) (Group B) || align=center bgcolor=#BF8D5B| 3rd || || |- | 2019–20 || '''4''' || Liga IV (AG) || align=center bgcolor=#BF8D5B| 3rd || || |- | 2016–19 | align=center colspan=5| ''Not active'' |- | 2015–16 || '''3''' || Liga III (Seria III) ||5th || Disbanded ||Third round |- | 2014–15 || '''3''' || Liga III (Seria III) || 13th || || |- | 2013–14 || '''4''' || Liga IV (AG) || align=center bgcolor=gold| '''1st''' '''(C)''' || Promoted || |- | 2012–13 || '''4''' || Liga IV (AG) || 7th || || |- | 2009–12 | align=center colspan=5| ''Not active'' |- | 2008–09 || '''3''' || Liga III (Seria IV) || 4th || Disbanded || |- | 2007–08 || '''4''' || Liga IV (AG) || 4th || || |- | 2004–07 | align=center colspan=5| ''Not active'' |} {{col-2}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:90%" ! style="background:#87CEEB;color:#000000;border:1px solid #000000;" |Season ! style="background:#87CEEB;color:#000000;border:1px solid #000000;" |Tier ! style="background:#87CEEB;color:#000000;border:1px solid #000000;" |Division ! style="background:#87CEEB;color:#000000;border:1px solid #000000;" |Place ! style="background:#87CEEB;color:#000000;border:1px solid #000000;" |Notes ! style="background:#87CEEB;color:#000000;border:1px solid #000000;" |Cupa României |- | 2003–04 || '''2''' || Divizia B (Seria II) || align=center bgcolor=#FFCCCC| '''16th''' || Relegated || |- | 2002–03 || '''2''' || Divizia B (Seria II) || 10th || || |- | 2001–02 || '''2''' || Divizia B (Seria I) || 9th || ||Round of 32 |- | 2000–01 || '''2''' || Divizia B (Seria I) || 11th || || |- | 1999–00 || '''2''' || Divizia B (Seria II) || align=center bgcolor=silver| 2nd || || |- | 1998–99 || '''2''' || Divizia B (Seria II) || align=center bgcolor=#BF8D5B| 3rd || || |- | 1997–98 || '''2''' || Divizia B (Seria II) || 8th || || |- | 1996–97 || '''2''' || Divizia B (Seria II) || 12th || || |- | 1995–96 || '''2''' || Divizia B (Seria I) || 11th || || |- | 1994–95 || '''3''' || Divizia C (Seria III) || align=center bgcolor=silver| '''2nd''' || Promoted || |- | 1993–94 || '''4''' || Divizia D (AG) || align=center bgcolor=gold| '''1st''' '''(C)''' || Promoted || Round of 16 |- | 1992–93 || '''4''' || Divizia D (AG) || align=center bgcolor=gold| '''1st''' '''(C)''' || || |- | 1991–92 || '''3''' || Divizia C (Seria VII) || align=center bgcolor=#FFCCCC| '''6th''' || Relegated|| |- | 1990–91 || '''3''' || Divizia C (Seria VII) || 7th || || |- | 1989–90 || '''3''' || Divizia C (Seria VII) || 8th || || |} {{col-end}}

==Former managers== {{div col|colwidth=22em}} * {{flagicon|ROU}} Ștefan Stănculescu (1956–1957) * {{flagicon|ROU}} Ion Barbu (1974–1976) * {{flagicon|ROU}} Vasile Copil (1977–1978) * {{flagicon|ROU}} Constantin Ștefan (1978–1979) * {{flagicon|ROU}} Vasile Stan (1984–1985) * {{flagicon|ROU}} Ion Voica (1985–1986) * {{flagicon|ROU}} Ion Oblemenco (1995) * {{flagicon|ROU}} Ionel Augustin (1997–2002) * {{flagicon|ROU}} Constantin Stancu (2008–2009) * {{flagicon|ROU}} Gheorghe Mihali (2019) * {{flagicon|ROU}} Emil Dică (2020) * {{flagicon|ROU}} Gheorghe Ene * {{flagicon|ROU}} Ion Lăpușneanu * {{flagicon|ROU}} Nicolae Tănăsescu * {{flagicon|ROU}} Radu Jercan * {{Flagicon|ROU}} Vasile Stan * {{flagicon|ROU}} Ion Barbu {{div col end}}

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== *{{facebook|aromuscelulcâmpulung}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:ARO Muscelul Câmpulung}} Category:Football clubs in Romania Category:Football clubs in Argeș County Category:Association football clubs established in 1947 Category:Liga II clubs Category:Liga III clubs Category:Liga IV clubs Category:1947 establishments in Romania Category:Câmpulung