The 2016–17 Liga I (also known as Liga 1 Betano for sponsorship reasons) was the 99th season of the Liga I, the top professional league for Romanian association football clubs. The season began on 22 July 2016 and concluded on 5 June 2017, being the second to take place since the play-off/play-out format has been introduced. Viitorul Constanța were crowned champions for the first time in their history.
Teams The last two teams from the 2015–16 season, ACS Poli Timișoara and Petrolul Ploiești, were relegated to their respective 2016–17 Liga II division. The first team from each of the two divisions of 2015–16 Liga II advanced to Liga I.
On 21 July 2016 Rapid București was excluded from Liga I after the club went into dissolution. Their place was taken by ACS Poli Timișoara.
Renamed teams CSM Studențesc Iași was renamed as CSM Politehnica Iași.FC Steaua București was renamed as FCSB.
Venues FCSB ACS Poli Timișoara CFR Cluj Pandurii Târgu Jiu Arena Națională Dan Păltinișanu Dr. Constantin Rădulescu MunicipalPandurii was relocated to Municipal Stadium from Drobeta-Turnu Severin for the next two seasons, as a result of the renovations of the Tudor Vladimirescu Stadium. Capacity: 55,634 Capacity: 32,972 Capacity: 23,500 Capacity: 20,054 Dinamo București CSM Politehnica Iași Dinamo Emil Alexandrescu Capacity: 15,032 Capacity: 11,390 Astra Giurgiu Târgu Mureș Marin Anastasovici Trans-Sil Capacity: 8,500 Capacity: 8,200 Gaz Metan Mediaș FC Botoșani Gaz Metan Municipal Capacity: 7,814 Capacity: 7,782 Universitatea Craiova Concordia Chiajna FC Voluntari Viitorul Constanța Extensiv Concordia Anghel Iordănescu Viitorul Capacity: 7,000 Capacity: 5,123 Capacity: 4,600 Capacity: 4,554
Personnel and kits
Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players and Managers may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality. Team Manager Captain Kit manufacturer Shirt sponsor ACS Poli Timișoara Marius Croitoru Joma Casa Rusu Astra Giurgiu Júnior Morais Joma Tinmar Botoșani Gabriel Vașvari Nike Elsaco CFR Cluj Mário Camora Masita Enex Concordia Chiajna Cristian Bălgrădean Lotto — CSM Politehnica Iași Ionuț Voicu Nike Blue Air CS U Craiova Andrei Ivan Joma Sticky Dinamo București Antun Palić Nike Orange FCSB Denis Alibec Nike City Insurance Gaz Metan Mediaș Ionuț Buzean Joma Romgaz Pandurii Târgu Jiu Răzvan Stanca Nike Artego Târgu Mureș Gabriel Mureșan Joma energo+ Viitorul Constanța Romario Benzar Nike Lotto Snacks Voluntari Vasile Maftei Puma Primăria Orașului Voluntari
Managerial changes TeamOutgoing managerManner of departureDate of vacancyPosition in tableIncoming managerDate of appointment Dinamo București Mutual agreement 20 May 2016 Pre-season 23 May 2016 Universitatea Craiova End of contract 31 May 2016 Pre-season 9 June 2016 Târgu Mureș End of contract 31 May 2016 Pre-season 17 June 2016 Pandurii Târgu Jiu End of contract 31 May 2016 Pre-season 26 June 2016 Concordia Chiajna End of contract 31 May 2016 Pre-season 28 June 2016 CFR Cluj Mutual agreement 27 June 2016 Pre-season 27 June 2016 Târgu Mureș Mutual agreement 6 August 2016 13 11 August 2016 CSM Poli Iași Sacked 7 October 2016 9 8 October 2016 Concordia Chiajna Mutual agreement 5 November 2016 11 (caretaker) 6 November 2016 Concordia Chiajna (caretaker) End of tenure as caretaker 23 December 2016 12 23 December 2016 Târgu Mureș Mutual agreement 22 December 2016 13 28 December 2016 Pandurii Târgu Jiu Sacked 9 January 2017 11 11 January 2017 Dinamo București Sacked 14 February 2017 6 17 February 2017 Târgu Mureș Mutual agreement 20 March 2017 14 24 March 2017 Voluntari Mutual agreement 2 April 2017 10 3 April 2017 Târgu Mureș Sacked 12 April 2017 14 15 April 2017
Regular season In the regular season the 14 teams will meet twice, a total of 26 matches per team, with the top 6 advancing to the Championship round and the bottom 8 qualifying for Relegation round.
Table
Results
Positions by round
Championship play-offs The top six teams from Regular season will meet twice (10 matches per team) for places in 2017–18 UEFA Champions League and 2017–18 UEFA Europa League as well as deciding the league champion. Teams start the Championship round with their points from the Regular season halved, rounded upwards, and no other records carried over from the Regular season.
Table
Results
Positions by round
Relegation play-outs The bottom eight teams from regular season will meet twice (14 matches per team) to contest against relegation. Teams start the Relegation round with their points from the Regular season halved, rounded upwards, and no other records carried over from the Regular season. The winner of the Relegation round finishes 7th in the overall season standings, the second placed team - 8th, and so on, with the last placed team in the Relegation round being 14th.
Table
Results
Positions by round
Promotion/relegation play-offs The 12th-placed team of the Liga I faced the 3rd-placed team of the Liga II.
Notes: ACS Poli Timișoara qualified for 2017–18 Liga I and UTA Arad qualified for 2017–18 Liga II.
Season statistics Top scorers Updated to matches played on 5 June 2017. Rank Player Club Goals1 Azdren Llullaku1Gaz Metan Mediaș162 Cristian BudCFR Cluj11 Aurelian ChițuViitorul Constanța Adam NemecDinamo București Denis AlibecAstra Giurgiu (3) / FCSB (8) Andrei CristeaCSM Politehnica Iași7 Harlem GnohéréDinamo București (5) / FCSB (5)108 Mircea Axente2Gaz Metan Mediaș9 Fernando BoldrinAstra Giurgiu (1) / FCSB (8) Adrian BălanVoluntari Vlad MorarASA Târgu Mureș (4) / Viitorul Constanța (5) Andrei IvanCS U Craiova Sergiu HancaDinamo București Lukács BőleCSM Politehnica Iași George ȚucudeanPandurii Târgu Jiu (5) / Viitorul Constanța (4) Cătălin GolofcaBotoșani 1 Azdren Llullaku was transferred to Astana during the winter transfer window. 2 Mircea Axente was transferred to Al-Faisaly during the winter transfer window.
Hat-tricks Player For Against Result Date Dinamo București Astra Giurgiu 4–1 CFR Cluj Voluntari 5–0 Gaz Metan Mediaș Pandurii Târgu Jiu 5–2 Viitorul Constanța ACS Poli Timișoara 5–0
Clean sheets Updated to matches played on 5 June 2017. Rank Player ClubClean sheets*1 Florin NițăFCSB13 Branko GrahovacCSM Politehnica Iași3 Silviu Lung Jr.Astra Giurgiu12 Nicolae CalanceaUniversitatea Craiova Victor RîmniceanuViitorul Constanța6 Cristian BălgrădeanConcordia Chiajna117 Cătălin StratonACS Poli Timișoara108 Plamen IlievBotoșani89 Mihai MincăCFR Cluj7 Dragoș BalauruVoluntari Alexandru GreabGaz Metan Mediaș12 Eduard PapASA Târgu Mureș6 Jaime PenedoDinamo București
*Only goalkeepers who played all 90 minutes of a match are taken into consideration.
Discipline As of 5 June 2017
Player Most yellow cards: 12 Andrei Artean (ACS Poli Timișoara) Júnior Morais (Astra Giurgiu) Gabriel Vașvari (Botoșani) Daniel Novac (Voluntari) Most red cards: 3 George Miron (Botoșani) Radu Zaharia (Gaz Metan Mediaș)
Club Most yellow cards: 104 Astra Giurgiu Concordia Chiajna Pandurii Târgu Jiu
Most red cards: 8 Politehnica Iași Botoșani
Champion squad
Viitorul ConstanțaGoalkeepers: Alexandru Buzbuchi (8 / 0); Victor Rîmniceanu (28 / 0). Defenders: Romario Benzar (34 / 1); Kévin Boli (33 / 3); Cătălin Carp (14 / 0); Cristian Ganea (26 / 0); Robert Hodorogea (17 / 1); Bogdan Mitache (2 / 0); Sebastian Mladen (2 / 0); Sorin Rădoi (7 / 0). Midfielders: Pablo Brandán (14 / 0); Carlo Casap (15 / 2); Alexandru Cicâldău (6 / 0); Florin Cioablă (1 / 0); Doru Dumitrescu (5 / 0); Ioan Filip (4 / 0); Daniel López (12 / 0); Răzvan Marin (20 / 4); Dragoș Nedelcu (28 / 1); Florin Purece (30 / 2); Neluț Roșu (14 / 0); Florin Tănase (3 / 0); Bogdan Țîru (33 / 1); Ionuț Vînă (15 / 0). Forwards: Aurelian Chițu (36 / 11); Andrei Ciobanu (2 / 0); Florinel Coman (28 / 6); Gabriel Iancu (24 / 5); Vlad Morar (14 / 5); Alex Nimely (18 / 4); Alexandru Stoica (5 / 0); George Țucudean (6 / 4). (league appearances and goals listed in brackets)
Manager: Gheorghe Hagi.
Awards Liga I Team of the Season
Player Team Position Florin Niță FCSB Goalkeeper Romario Benzar Viitorul Defender Ionut Larie CFR Cluj Defender Kevin Boli Viitorul Defender Marko Momčilović FCSB Defender Constantin Budescu Astra Midfielder Sergiu Hanca Dinamo Midfielder Florinel Coman Viitorul Midfielder Andrei Ivan CSU Craiova Forward Adam Nemec Dinamo Forward Denis Alibec FCSB Forward
Monthly awards
MonthDigiSport Player of the MonthReferencePlayerClubAugust Dorin Rotariu Dinamo București September Cristian Bud CFR Cluj October Valentin Lazăr Dinamo București November Liviu Antal Pandurii Târgu Jiu December Constantin Budescu Astra Giurgiu February Florinel Coman Viitorul Constanța March Ciprian Deac CFR Cluj April Sergiu Hanca Dinamo București May Denis Alibec FCSB
Attendances
# Club Average Highest 1 Steaua 9,389 35,000 2 Dinamo 1948 6,895 37,669 3 CFR Cluj 5,302 15,000 4 U Craiova 4,761 14,000 5 Botoșani 2,850 7,500 6 Iași 2,125 5,500 7 Viitorul 2,036 4,545 8 Astra 1,975 5,500 9 Gaz Metan 1,823 6,500 10 Timișoara 1,660 12,500 11 Târgu Mureș 1,353 5,000 12 Voluntari 991 2,837 13 Concordia 776 3,000 14 Pandurii 625 5,565Source:
Notes
References
External links