AFC Chindia Târgoviște

Asociația Fotbal Club Chindia Târgoviște, commonly known as Chindia Târgoviște () or simply as Chindia, is a Romanian football club based in Târgoviște, Dâmbovița County, currently playing in the Liga I.

Founded on 11 August 2010 by Romanian former footballer Gheorghe Popescu, in association with the former international referee Ion Crăciunescu and Târgoviște Municipality, FC Chindia wanted to be from its first years a long-term project, a model of professionalism and viable football club for the city.

The club was named after the Chindia Tower, a tower built in the time of Prince Vlad III the Impaler, located near the stadium and part of the Curtea Domnească monuments ensemble. The monument is a symbol of the city and the football phenomenon, the team being most of the time associated with it, either by its name (Chindia), either when the squad is generically named "the team situated under the Chindia Tower".

Even if it's not the original club of the city and does not hold the record of the old team (FCM Târgoviște), the club enjoys the support of the local fans, who consider it to be the main club of the city and the successor (at least sentimental) of the football history under the Chindia Tower, football history that starts long ago, in 1948. However, besides the fans' contribution, the actual club has also some elements that connect it with the original club, such as the colors (red and blue), the name "Chindia", also used by the first club between 1996 and 2003 (name that is the most loved by the fans) and the logo, which is in fact the logo used in the same period, mentioning that the old text C.F. Chindia was replaced by a new one, appropriate to the name of the new club F.C. Chindia.

History

The town of Târgoviște has always been a historical reference point of Romania being the capital of Wallachia between the early 15th century and the 16th century, among the famous rulers that led from there was Vlad III the Impaler, the ruler who through his ruthless way of leading has become a source of inspiration for Bram Stoker's novel, Dracula, novel that will gave birth to Dracula's legend. The Prince of Wallachia was also the one who ordered the construction of the Chindia Tower, now the symbol of the city. Despite the historical background of the town, Târgoviște has never been a force of the Romanian football, or even a common member of the first league, having meteoric, but notable appearances.

FCM Târgoviște (1948–2010)

The first team of the town, FCM Târgoviște, was founded after the end of World War II, in 1948 and was named Metalul Târgoviște. Subsequently, named Energia (1956), then again Metalul (1957–1972), CS (1972–1994), Oțelul (1994–1996) or Chindia (1996–2003), the team spent only nine seasons in the top flight. It promoted for the first time in 1961, but relegated after only one season, then in 1977 "the red and blues" promoted again, this time playing constantly at the level of the first division for the next seven seasons with a break of a season (1980–81) when it evolved in the second tier, winning the second series. The end of the 1970s and the beginning of the 1980s was the peak of the football from Targoviște, which, besides launching a very good generation of players, achieved the best ranking in the history of the club, a 7th place at the end of the 1978–79 championship.

This squad of "the club situated under the Chindia Tower" will be called "the golden generation" and in its composition were the following players: Nicolae Dobrin, Silviu Dumitrescu, Ion Ene, Florea Alexandru, Ionel Pitaru, Dumitru Gheorghe, Claudius Sava, Nelu Isaia, Gheorghe Greaca, Nicolae Enache, Petre Marinescu, Ion Constantin, Ilie Niculescu, Viorel Radu, Constantin Miia, Gheorghe Voinea, Mihai Iatan, Mihai Banu, Mihai Mărgelatu, Gheorghe Filipescu and Dumitru Economu.

After relegating in 1984, CS Târgoviște has not recovered, even playing in the Divizia C. The year 1995 brought the promotion in the second division, followed immediately by another one in 1996, this time in the Divizia A. Under the name CF Chindia and led from the bench by its former player, Silviu Dumitrescu, this squad was one of the best that ever played on Eugen Popescu Stadium. Even if probably this team was not as good as Dumitrescu's generation, the promotion achieved in 1996, after 12 years of lower divisions, the style of playing and the composition of the squad, made of local players, won the heart of the supporters and gave to the club a nickname that will last for years, "Micul Ajax" (The Little Ajax). In that squad of Chindia were plyers such as: Adrian Bogoi, Vasile Bârdeș, Bogdan Liță, Cristian Țermure, Cristian Bălașa, Remus Gâlmencea or Laurențiu Reghecampf. The period of glory was again a very short one and at the end of 1997–98 season, Chindia returned in the Liga II.

In 2003 the team changed its name to FCM Târgoviște and in the summer of 2004, due to financial problems, almost withdrew from the championship. On 19 August 2004, businessman Ghiorghi Zotic took over the club with the clear goal of saving it from both relegation and bankruptcy. In 2009, the team relegated back to Liga III and the relationship between Zotic and Târgoviște Municipality started to strain, just like the one between the owner and supporters.

In March 2010, the Eugen Popescu Stadium rental agreement expired and was not extended. Since that time the club has not played in Târgoviște, but on the Alpan Stadium in Șotânga. From this point on, FCM started its total decline and in 2015 Zotic dissolved the club's senior squad, only remaining with the women's football team. After only one year, FCM enrolled in the 6th tier, but after two seasons was dissolved again.

FC Chindia, new times under the tower (2010–present)

On 11 August 2010, after the breakup between Zotic's FCM, Târgoviște Municipality and supporters, the Municipality, together with the Romanian former footballer Gheorghe Popescu, in association with the former international referee Ion Crăciunescu and supported by fans set up a new football club named FC Chinidia named after the Chindia Tower, the symbol of the town, located near the stadium and part of the Curtea Domnească monuments ensemble. The club was at the beginning a football academy, similarly made, according to the model of Gheorghe Hagi Football Academy and FC Viitorul Constanța.

After only one season, the club was promoted in the Liga II, but after a 7th place at the end of the 2011–12 edition, relegated back to Liga III. This relegation gave birth to tensions inside the club, Gheorghe Popescu and Ion Crăciunescu leaving the project. Owned by Târgoviște Municipality and Dâmbovița County Council, Chindia returned in the second tier after only two seasons, led from the bench by Nicolae Croitoru. After the second promotion to Liga II Chindia has become a robust and homogeneous team, consisting mostly of local players, as in the previous times of success (late 1970s, early 1980s and mid 1990s), "the little Ajax" achieved a 3rd place than a 5th place, before missing the promotion after a two-legged promotion/relegation play-off against FC Voluntari, at the end of the 2017–18 season.

Finally, Chindia secured its promotion to Liga I at the end of the 2018–19 season, after winning the second division. The promotion brought a lot of joy among the supporters, who will be able to see again a team that represents Târgoviște in the top-flight, after 21 years of absence, 1997–98 being the last season when the defunct FCM Târgoviște played on the first stage of the Romanian football league system.

Ground

The club plays its home matches on Eugen Popescu Stadium from Târgoviște, with a capacity of 6,500 seats. Opened in 1982 and originally with a capacity of 12,500 seats, Eugen Popescu Stadium is situated at 200m from the Chindia Tower. In 2014 the second stand and half of the East end were closed for safety reasons, significantly reducing the arena's capacity. In the spring of 2019, due to team's performances and a potential promotion in the top flight, Târgoviște Municipality announced the renovation of the stadium for the amount of 16 million. During the renovation work, the team will evolve in its home matches on Ilie Oană Stadium from Ploiești, with a capacity of 15,073 seats.

Support
Chindia Târgoviște has many supporters in Târgoviște and especially in Dâmbovița County, most of them being in the past the supporters of FCM Târgoviște. The ultras group of Chindia Târgoviște it is known as "Cavalerii Cetății" (The Knights of the Fortress).

Rivalries
Chindia does not have many important rivalries, however, a local one against Flacăra Moreni was born before 1989, when the club from Moreni had the support of the communist regime. Tense matches and even incidents were also noted over time in the matches against Petrolul Ploiești and even if between the two clubs is not a proper rivalry, the supporters are not very friendly with each other.

An interesting and unusual rivalry was also born between 2010 and 2015, when on the occasion of six matches, Chindia played against FCM Târgoviște, the first club of the city, moved to Șotânga at that time. This encounter named as Târgoviște Derby had some similarities with derbies such as AFC Wimbledon vs MK Dons, ASU Politehnica Timișoara vs ACS Poli Timișoara or CS Universitatea Craiova vs FC U Craiova 1948.

Honours

Domestic

Leagues
Liga II
Winners (1): 2018–19
Liga III
Winners (2): 2010–11, 2014–15
Runners-up (1): 2013–14

Other performances
Round of 16 of the 2013–14 Cupa României and 2017–18 Cupa României

Players

First team squad

Out on loan

Club officials

Board of directors

 Last updated: 12 July 2019
 Source:

Current technical staff

 Last updated: 12 July 2019
 Source:

League history

Notable former players
The footballers enlisted below have had international cap(s) for their respective countries at junior and/or senior level and/or more than 100 caps for AFC Chindia Târgoviște.

Romania
  Alexandru Băluță
  Denis Ciobotariu
  Cristian Dancia
  Georgian Honciu
  Mihai Neicuțescu

Romania
  Denis Ispas
  Dragoș Pătru
  Daniel Popa
  Mihai Voduț
  Cătălin Căbuz

Notable former managers

  Costel Pană
  Silviu Dumitrescu

  Nicolae Croitoru

References

External links
 
 
 

Category:Football clubs in Dâmbovița County
Category:Sport in Târgoviște
Category:Association football clubs established in 2010
Category:Liga II clubs
Category:Liga III clubs
Category:2010 establishments in Romania
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