FC Dinamo 1948 București, commonly known as FC Dinamo București (), Dinamo București, or simply Dinamo, is a Romanian professional football club based in Bucharest that competes in the Liga I, the top tier of the Romanian league system.
Founded in 1948 as the team of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, following the merger of Unirea Tricolor and Ciocanul, Dinamo București has spent all but one year of its history in the Romanian top flight. Domestically, it is one of the two most successful clubs in the country, having won 18 Liga I titles, 13 Cupa României, two Supercupa României, and one Cupa Ligii. In the 1983–84 season, Dinamo București became the first club in Romania to reach the semi-finals of the European Cup, being eliminated by Liverpool 1–3 on aggregate.
Dinamo București's traditional colours are white and red, while its home venue is the namesake Stadionul Dinamo, which is the process of being reconstructed. The club is temporarily playing its home fixtures at Stadionul Arcul de Triumf, although significant matches have also been played at Arena Națională. Its bitter rivals are neighbouring FCSB, with the match being commonly referred to as the Eternal Derby, while notable rivalries against Rapid București and Universitatea Craiova also exist.
History
1948–1955: Foundation and early years
On 14 May 1948, "Unirea Tricolor MAI" — newly entered, in January 1948, under the umbrella of the Communist regime's Internal Affairs Ministry — merged with "Ciocanul București" and formed "Dinamo București", the sporting club representing the above-mentioned institution. The people who contributed at the foundation of the club were the Minister of Internal Affairs, Teohari Georgescu and the Jewish brothers Alexandru and Turi Vogl. Until the end of the championship, Dinamo was going to be represented by two teams: "Ciocanul" ("Hammer"), named "Dinamo A" and "Unirea Tricolor MAI", known as "Dinamo B" (this last one relegating, at the end of the football season, into the Divizia B). Starting with 1950, Dinamo A was separated from Dinamo B, the latter being transferred first to Braşov, then to Cluj-Napoca, and eventually, in 1958, being moved to Bacău, where it became FCM Bacău.
The "Dinamo" name was used for the first time on 1 May 1948. Nevertheless, the real debut of Dinamo was on the 1947–48 Divizia A edition (finishing 8th). Some of the team's players were Ambru, Angelo Niculescu, Teodorescu, Șiclovan, Bartha and Sârbu.
On 11 July 1948, Dinamo played its first international match against SK Židenice from Czechoslovakia, and winning 4–1. 22 August will remain a reference date for Dinamo's football, representing the debut of Dinamo Bucharest in the first national Division. The pioneers were, among others, Titus Ozon, Lăzăreanu, Farkaș. The team's first coach was Coloman Braun-Bogdan. A year later Nicolae Dumitru and Gheorghe Băcuț join the club. At the end of the 1950 Divizia A edition, Angelo Niculescu retires, dedicating himself to the coaching profession.
In 1955, Dinamo won their first championship with Angelo Niculescu as head coach, Dinamo impressed mainly in the offensive, with an attack formed by Ene I, Neagu and Suru. The defense, with players like Băcuț I (Gheorghe), Băcuț II (Ladislau), Szökő, Călinoiu, was the best in the championship – only 19 goals received.
In the fall of 1956, the team makes its debut in the European Cup (competition created a year before). Dinamo was the first Romanian club to play in the competition. The debut game was played on 26 August 1956, in front of 32,000 spectators. Dinamo defeated Galatasaray with 3–1. In the second leg, Dinamo lost in Istanbul with 1–2, and moved forward.
1950–1981: Domestic success and European competition
Dinamo won the second championship in 1962, with players like Datcu, I. Nunweiller, Pârcălab, Frățilă, Popa, Varga (head coaches were Traian Ionescu, Constantin Teașcă and Nicușor Dumitru). In 1963, the club won their third title. Midfielder Vasile Gergely joined the team that season.
In the 1963–64 season, the club won the double with new players such as Octavian Popescu and Emil Petru. In the Romanian Cup final they beat rivals Steaua 5–3. Dinamo played in the 1963–64 European Cup against the famous Real Madrid (1–3 in Bucharest), a team with Di Stefano and Gento. The game played in Bucharest took place at "23 August" Stadium, and established a new record for this arena: 100,000 spectators.
In the fall of 1964, in the European Cup, Dinamo met Inter Milan with Facchetti, Mazzola, Jair, Corso and Suárez. Dinamo lost both legs, 0–6 and 0–1.
In 1965, Dinamo won their fourth consecutive title, with players like Mircea Lucescu, Radu Nunweiller and Gheorghe Ene. The following season of the European Cup, Dinamo met again Inter Milan, and managed to win the home game, 2–1. Inter won at San Siro 2–0 and moved forward.
The club won their 6th title in 1971. In the 1971–72 European Cup campaign, Dinamo eliminated Spartak Trnava, the team of Dobias, Kuna and Adamec, and losing in the second round to Ernst Happel's Feyenoord 0–3 and 0–2. The 7th title comes two years later, in 1973, when Dinamo won a game against CFR Cluj at the exact margins to pass Universitatea Craiova in the standings. In the 1973–74 European Cup, they surpass Northern Ireland's Crusaders Belfast (The 11–0 home game against Northern Ireland's team is still the biggest margin of victory in the history of the European Cup), but fail against Atlético Madrid (0–2 and 2–2), the team of Gárate, Irueta, Heredia and Ayala. The next year Dinamo plays in the 1974–75 UEFA Cup and after eliminating Boluspor, they lose to F.C. Koln: 1–1 and 2–3.
The Red Dogs won their 8th title in the 1974–75 season, Dudu Georgescu received his first 'Golden Boot' award after scoring 33 goals that year. The title winning squad included young and experienced players like Sătmăreanu, Moldovan, Vrînceanu, Marin and Deleanu. In the 1976–77 UEFA Cup, Dinamo played against AC Milan with Fabio Capello and Collovatti on its side: 0–0 and 1–2.
The 1976–77 season brings the 9th title for the club, and the second 'Golden Boot' for Georgescu (47 goals). In the autumn of 1977 in the European Cup, Dinamo wins a thrilling game against Atlético Madrid 2–1, but loses at Madrid, 2–0.
In the second round of the 1979–80 UEFA Cup (after eliminating Alki Larnaca from Cyprus) Dinamo is eliminated by Eintracht Frankfurt, team of Grabowski and Hölzenbein (2–0 and 0–3 in prolongation). The German side ended up winning the trophy.
1981–1992: Golden team The 1981–82 UEFA Cup season brings some great wins for Dinamo. The red-whites meet Levski Sofia of Bulgaria (3–0 and 1–2). In the second round, a terrifying "double": Dinamo-Internazionale (with Bergomi, Bagni, Prohaska, Altobelli, Baresi, Oriali, Marini and Beccalossi). At Milan, 1–1 (authors: Pasinato and Custov) and back home in Bucharest, 3–2 for the "dogs", in the extra time. Dinamo is eliminated by the Swedish team IFK Göteborg, which later ends up winning the trophy.
The 10th national title will be obtained in 1982, when Dinamo also conquers the Cup after a 3–2 victory against Baia Mare. After a 5-year absence, Dinamo reappears in the European Cup, meeting (and eliminating) Vaaleregen Oslo. In the next stage, Dinamo faced the team of Dukla Prague which included players such as Nehoda and Vízek. They win at home, with 2–0, obtaining the qualification at Prague: 1–2. Dinamo is eliminated by Aston Villa, club of Cowans, Withe, Shaw and Morley. In 1983, the club win their 11th title.
The 1983–1984 season began with the retirement of Cornel Dinu, winner of 6 national titles and 6 national cups, with 454 appearances in the first league and 75 in the national team. Still the same year Dinamo wins their 12th title. The autumn of 1983–84 was going to represent a valuable step into the international arena. The European Cup campaign started with the Finnish team, Kuusysi Lahti (1–0 and 3–0). The second round pushes Dinamo against the current champion, Hamburger SV – team of Kaltz and Magath. At Bucharest, Augustin, Mulțescu and Orac score for 3–0. The thrilling second leg finishes 3–2 (goals Țălnar and Mulțescu). In order to accede in the semifinals of the European Cup, Dinamo had to defeat the Soviet side Dinamo Minsk, with Aleinikov, Zygmantovich and Hurynovich. The first leg was 1–1 (Rednic equalizing in the 87th minute), and it was followed by a 1–0 victory at Bucharest (with Augustin scoring). Dinamo was the first Romanian team to reach the European Cup semi-finals, where it met Liverpool. Dinamo lost 1–0 at Anfield in the first leg match where Graeme Souness had punched captain Lica Movila which had set up a tough match back in Romania. In the second-leg Dinamo lost 2–1 to Liverpool who went on to win the competition. In the first round of the next European Cup, in the autumn of 1984, Dinamo meets Omonia Nicosia: 4–1 and 1–2. Next is the match against Girondins Bordeaux (club of Tigana, Giresse, Lacombe and Battiston), Dinamo being eliminated after 0–1 and 1–1. In 1986, Dinamo won the Cup against Steaua (1–0). After an 18-year break, Dinamo played again in the Cup Winners Cup in the autumn of 1986. The 1986–87 season brought the 'Golden Boot' for Cămătaru (44 goals). The 1988 Romanian cup final was a special one. After Steaua players left the field at the score of 1–1 due to a claim of being robbed by the referee, Dinamo was given the trophy, but later the Romanian F.A. (bowing to pressure from the Communist Party) awarded the match 2–1 to Steaua. After the revolution of December 1989, Steaua propositioned to return the trophy to Dinamo, which refused to take it. In the 1988–89 Cup Winners Cup season, Dinamo again eliminated the Finnish team Lahti, managing to win 3–0. Next is the elimination of Scottish club Dundee United: 1–0 and 1–1 at Bucharest. However, they fail to qualify for the semifinals after losing on away goals, 1–1 and 0–0 against Sampdoria Genova.
The Cup Winners Cup 1989–90 season brings new success. Dinamo meets Albanian team, Dinamo Tirana 0–1 and 2–0. Next is the Greek champion, Panathinaikos 2–0 and 6–1. In the quarter-finals they meet Partizan Belgrade (with Mijatović on the field) eliminating them with 2–1 and 2–0. After six years of break, Dinamo plays a new continental semifinal this time against Anderlecht Bruxelles, losing twice with 1–0. In the summer of 1990, Dinamo – with Mircea Lucescu as coach – conquers a new national title, the 13th. Also the team wins the Cup final, against Steaua: 6–4. The new 1990–91 European Cup season begins with the elimination of Irish club St Patrick's Athletic of Dublin (4–0 and 1–1). Dinamo is eliminated in the second round by FC Porto. In the 1991–92 UEFA Cup edition, the club faces Luís Figo's Sporting Clube de Portugal, qualifying after a 0–1 loss and a 2–0 victory. The next round Dinamo is eliminated by Italian side Genoa: 1–3 and 2–2. In 1992, the 14th title was added to Dinamo's record. It was a triumphal march, with 34 matches and no defeat.
1992–2013: Ups and downs The years to come saw Dinamo in the UEFA Cup. However, without any special results, the team leaves the competition in the first qualification round, in 1993–1994 losing to Cagliari, in 1994–95 losing to Trabzonspor, and in 1996 losing to Levski Sofia.