Cristian SocianuGalati - 2011

OTELUL GALATI

OTELUL GALATI

Author - Cristian Socianu

Translation:Layout, design and proof editing:Photographs:

Text collaborator:

Florina FarcaElena SavaIlie Stan, Marian Barbulescu,Octavian Cocolos,Vlad Dragan - DunareaBatrana.com

Printed at C.N.I. “Coresi” S.A.

ISBN 978-973-0-11273-3

Sorin Pana,Cristi Preda

Before the 2010-2011season start, the general director ofOtelul warned everybody involved inthe Romanian football, that Otelul willbe quite the surprise of the newseason: "We have the same valuableteam since last year so we can rise.Don't be astonished if we'll be amongthe top of the First League." Perhapsno one took him for granted or justmaybe most of them smiled ironically.Marius Stan wanted to fulfill his lifelong dream of becoming a championalongside Otelul for the first time in theRomanian football history. It was alsothe unrequited supporters' dream!

First and foremost President MariusStan was a player. Although he wasborn in Hunedoara he played forOtelul Galati exactly 100 First Leaguegames and scored 7 goals. He lateron transferred to nearby Braila fromwhich eventually retired as a player.He couldn't refuse in 1991 when hewas offered an office for the club hisheart was beating. This is how hebecame President of FC Otelul Galati.The experience he had accumulatedas a player helped him become an

outstanding manager. His namebecame synonymous with Otelul'svictories.In 1988 he was on the field, fightingfor the great victory against JuventusTorino and later on, during his firstyears as President, he took Otelul inthe UEFA Cup again (1997, 1998). Atone point in time, under the stress ofcircumstances, he had to leave. Hereturned in 2005 and saved Otelulfrom befalling to the Second Leagueand than carried it again to theEuropean Cups in 2007.Recession soon hit Romania butMarius Stan managed to keep the

club afloat. Moreover, heaccomplished the unthinkable in 2011:little money, no debts, less playersand with the lowest wages of the FirstLeague he successfully qualified inthe Champions League!Today's Marius Stan' managerialabilities are no longer questioned.

The fact that he discovers more newplayers, whom nobody seem to takean interest into until they becomevaluable for Otelul, is a second naturefor the man who had a dream!

Marius Stan and his dream

General ManagerDate of birth:June 5, 1957, Hunedoara

He made his debut in theFirst League on August 7,1986:O elul – VictoriaBucharest (2-1)He also played for FCMProgresul Br ila (1990-1991).

Total games in the FirstLeague: 129(7 goals).President of:Otelul Galati (1991-1998and 2005-2011), DunareaGalati, Rocar Bucharest,SC Vaslui, Poli Iasi.

t

a

Marius Stan was also a player for Otelul between1982-1990. This rare picture shows him in a gameagainst Olimpia Rm Sarat on June 9, 1985 (SecondLeague) in which he scored the first goal(final score 4-0)

3

He was barely 32 years ofage when he was appointed to runOtelul which in 1974 was merely amodest sports association owning aSecond League football team.Moreover, it had little chances ofsurvival because of the communist'sparty intention to dissolve it.

They quite succeeded indoing that in 1975 when theytransferred the team 100 km away, toAdjud! Therefore, the club was leftwithout a football team. However, theystill owned an athletics team withjust....two legitimate athletes! “In 1975,helped by the workers from the SteelPlant, I put together from scratch threenew football teams: LBR, Rapid UETUand Venus Turnarea Continua. Iimmediately enrolled all three of themin the Municipal Championship. In1976 the first two advanced in the

Regional Championship while LBR in1977, to which in the meanwhile Iadded the name Otelul, got promotedin the Third League.

Four years later Otelul wascompeting in the Second League".However, soon enough Puiu Vasilachereceived another shock:

the communistauthoritiesdecided for thesecond time tomove the teamoutside of Galati,this time… closer,only 70 km away,to Tecuci.UnrelentingVasilache pursuedhis dream and forthe third time puttogether a teamconsisting of theplayers whorefused to go toTecuci. He tookMetalosport fromThird League andafter only one yearof hard work, in1981, his teamgets promoted tothe

This time was forgood! Vasilachechanged the namefrom Metalosportto Otelul andbecameunstoppable fromthat momentonward. From ateam which waspracticallyinexistent, in a fewyears time(1976-1988)

SecondLeague again.

managed to playagainst Juventus Torino in UEFA Cup!

Regarding the future club'spresident Marius Stan, who wasplayer during those times, Vasilacherecalls:

"In 1984, when I broughtCostica Radulescu as coach to Otelul,he was eager to find out a little bitabout each player. He invited me tohis home and questioned me all night.There was talk about transferringMarius Stan for he was notharmonizing with the defense linethought up by C. Radulescu. I gotstruck by an idea! Why not use him infront of the fullback line? This ideaappealed to Radulescu and for manyyears to come he successfully usedMarius Stan for that position within thesquad.”

Soon after the 1989Romanian Revolution, Puiu Vasilachewas replaced for a few months by IgorParvu and in 1991 by former playerMarius Stan, president to this day.

The birth of Otelul as well asthe remodeling of the stadium and thefirst UEFA Cup qualification are all tiedto Puiu Vasilache.

Puiu Victor Vasilache, The First Club's President

Borned on April 11th, 1942

4

Nothing and nobody couldhave foreseen the surprise bestowedupon the Romanian footballchampionship of 2010-2011. FC OtelulGalati was a team that neversucceeded in surpassing 4th place inthe First League History. The season'sfavorites were as always the same:Steaua, Dinamo, Rapid, Timisoara,CFR Cluj or Vaslui. Was clear toeverybody that the new championswill be one of these teams. Lookingback and studying the final statistics,Otelul's victory doesn't look like asurprise anymore.

The team from the Danube'sshores was the chart's leader for themajority of the time, 24 out of 34rounds to be more precisely. Theyfinished in the style of regularchampions. Steelers' evolution wasnothing short of sinuous. Throughoutthe season they were always amongthe top five teams, giving up the firstplace only twice during the season.

The first six rounds wereseemingly normal, Dorinel Munteanu'steam recording 4 victories, 1 tie and 1defeat, occupying an honorable 3rdplace. The critical moment soonfollowed when in the 7th round,

without a few steady players in itssquad, Otelul lost 0-4 at Vaslui.

As a result, they moveddown to 5th place. Instead of loosingfaith, the defeat awoke the stealer'spride. The defeat at Vaslui wasimmediately followed by 5 consecutivevictories, including against thetraditional title pretenders Steaua,Dinamo or U Craiova.

In the wake of these phenomenalachievements and not being defeateduntil the 16th round, Otelul becamethe “fall champions” after the first halfof the season, with 5 points ahead thesecond team!

As anything better, thesecond half started with a “gift” fromthe League.

Pandurii was not scheduledto play due to an unpaid debt and

The surprising champions

5

Otelul was given 3 points withoutplaying. That was followed by a homevictory against Rapid and the secondhalf of the season was on schedule forOtelul.

Nevertheless, Otelul’s game begins todeteriorate and in just 6 rounds (21-26), the team gets 3 times defeated. Itwas the same number of defeats theyendured in the whole season untilthen. As a consequence, after leadingthe charts for almost 7 months in therow, they lost the first place! Nowwould've have been a good time for acomeback but the “Phoenix bird”continued to put its fans into a flutter

as they tied twice at home againstDinamo (3-3) and Medias (2-2). Thelast game was also the last turningpoint for Otelul. The coach asks forconsecutive victories and the playersdo not disappoint him anymore fromround 30th to the end. Hence, Otelulwins the Championship title for thefirst time in the club's history with 4points ahead and zero home defeatsthroughout the entire season.

6

Sunday May 15, 2011, time 20:00,33rd stage

„Otelul” Stadium – Attendance 13.500Goals: Antal 15', Pena 71' / Zicu 53';Yellow cards: Pena 72', Sarghi 78',Grahovac 87', Ilie 93' / Alexa 45';

: Grahovac - Rapa, Sarghi,Costin, Salageanu - Filip, Giurgiu -Antal (81' Ilie), Viglianti (92' Ibeh), Bus- Paraschiv (61' Pena). Coach: DorinelMunteanu.

: Taborda (20' Pantilimon)- Luchin, Burca, Ghionea, Sepsi -Goga, Bourceanu, Alexa, Ignjatjevici(75' Magera) - Ricketts (86' Zagrean),Zicu. Coach: Dusan Uhrin Jr.

When Timisoara scored thestadium went silent. A fan almost intears holds still a scarf above hishead. He no longer dares to watch thegame. It is 1-1 and the dream ofwinning the championship title for thefirst time in history fades away. Thiscannot be it, we can do it, and all ittakes is a little bit of magic. Antalpasses to Bus, Bus is centering righton Pena's head and....Gooooal!!!

OTELUL GALATI - FC TIMI OARA2-1 (1-0)

OTELUL

TIMISOARA

Ş

FRENZY!!! MADNESS!!!On-lookers embrace and jump oneach other. We are alive, we liveagain. Go Otelul, go Otelul, ole, ole,ole!

With their last breath fans sing andchant and shout each time Otelulcounter-attacks. The arena thunderseach time Poli centers.

Easy pass back towardsGrahovac, the goalie drops the ballwhich slowly rotates towards the net.What are you doing Brankoooo?!! As ifhe heard us, Branko jumps back like aleopard and grabs the ball. He holds ittight against his chest as a fatherwould after seeing his son for the first

time at the maternity ward.Please Branko, we are human too, wehave feelings, not made of wood…have a little mercy with us!

The Steelers jump aftereach ball, forcing the opposition in out.They play only with their soul, theballs must be kept away from Steelers'net. Seconds hardly pass, minutesinfernally slower.

The last battle

The goal that made Otelul championAuthor: Pena

The coach Dorinel is trying to calm his team

Antal scores the first goal and Otelul takes control

7

Second half began at 21:08,so 8 plus 45 is what?! When is this allover? It' s ten to, nine to, seven to, ifwe calculated correctly we should bein overtime right now. How long beforewe end this game?

Audience twitters, the reserves are onthe touch line, they hold each othertight. Nothing can go wrong anymore.

Sergiu Costin shoots a last balltowards the sky while fans try to holdthat ball in the air with the bare powerof their minds. Stay there! Is what theyare trying to communicate. Did thereferee just blow the whistle? Yes, hedid. It is all over. We are champions!!!

Some fans collapse, others jump inhurdles, but most invade the field. Asea of red, white and blue scarvesand flags flows over the magnificent

players. The audience nearlysuffocates them with love. Champions,champions, ole, ole, ole! Champions,champions, ole ole, ole! Over thespeakers we could hear Queen play"We are the champions'. We couldhardly hear the delicate orchestrarhythms of the Champions Leagueanthem coming from the not loudenough speakers. The entire stadiumis chanting Otelul's anthem.

8

"Barcelona, here we come! "To theDandelion, everybody come to theDandelion!" we hear and see theentire stadium march towards the“Dandelion”.

Immediately after the last whistle the party started

Bus, Paraschiv, Antal and Rapa were lifted in the air by the happy fans

9

The “Dandelion” is whatthey call in Galati the “new citydowntown”. In the middle of it is awater fountain in the form of aDandelion. Here is where one hourafter the game, 10.000 happy fanswaited for their heroes to come andcelebrate with them. And they came!

The driver wanted first tostop the bus and let players walk onthe stage.

Dorinel changed his mind. The fanswere so happy they would've hurtsomeone with their love. In a fewminutes, tens of fans climbed on thetop of the bus and for the next 60

minutes started an unforeseen party inthe middle of the night! It was a happynight as Galati didn't see in a longtime. Since 1988 when Otelul won 1-0against Juventus Torino in the UEFACup… But that's another story!

10

On May 22, a week after the“final” game with second placeTimisoara, Otelul Galati was awardedwith the Championship Trophy. Thecity was again paralyzed.

For the first time ever inRomania, a team was going on aparade throughout the entire city. Thefans were cheering, hundreds of carsmarched with the platform as never

before happened in the Danube city!For most of them a football paradewas seen only on TV when Barcelonaor Chelsea showed their fans theCups they won! But here is Galati,

a relatively small town at the far Eastend of the European Union. “We arethe champions” are singing along25.000 souls and the Champaign,confetti and fireworks put an end to ahistoric night for Galati!

Dorinel Munteanu, first time champion as a coach

11

A Dip in the Pool!

June 22nd, 2011. Themorning when "the Steelers" werecrowned as the First Leaguechampions, they took part at theofficial soiree organized by the club.

The focal moment of theevening was when the entire teamjumped in the pool and chanted theChampions League Anthem. Therewere no exceptions!

Revenge time against Tamasanu forthe torture endured during the training

We are the champions!

Date Team Score Team Goals12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031323334

23.07.1030.07.1006.08.1016.08.1022.08.1029.08.1013.09.1018.09.1026.09.1001.10.1017.10.1023.10.1030.10.1005.11.1012.11.1021.11.1027.11.1005.12.1025.02.1103.03.1112.03.1119.03.1102.04.1106.04.1109.04.1113.04.1116.04.1124.04.1128.04.1102.05.1105.05.1109.05.1115.05.1121.05.11

Sportul StudOtelulRapidOtelulU ClujOtelulFC Vaslui

Dinamo

Medias

U Craiova

FC Timisoara

Pandurii Tg Jiu

FCM Tg Mures

FC Brasov

Unirea UrziceniSteaua

Gloria Bistrita

CFR Cluj

Branesti

Astra Ploiesti

OtelulOtelul

Otelul

Otelul

Otelul

OtelulOtelul

Otelul

Otelul

Otelul

Otelul

Otelul

Otelul

Otelul

Otelul

Otelul

Otelul

OtelulUnirea UrziceniSteauaOtelulGloria BistritaOtelulCFR ClujOtelulBranestiOtelulAstra PloiestiSportul StudOtelulRapidOtelulU ClujOtelulFC VasluiOtelulOtelulDinamoOtelulMediasOtelulU CraiovaOtelulFC TimisoaraOtelul

Pandurii Tg Jiu

FCM Tg Mures

FC Brasov

Iorga 4

Mendy 34, Bostina 53/ Borbely 45+2

Adailton 9,55, Wesley 29, Pouga 69Viglianti 5,70, Giurgiu 60,91/ Tudoran 24 penSarghi 19Munteanu 71/ Salageanu 45, Silviu Ilie 74Antal 67, Viglian 83 pen/ Moraes 20 penParaschiv 73,87Iorga 58/ Peralta 90Silviu Ilie 22Pena 90/ Popa 78Cisovsky 75, Nikolici 78Antal 5 pen, Pena 58/ Tigoianu 63Pena 76

Pena 68Ruiz 66Paraschiv 23, Giurgiu 52, Rapa 70Ilyes 90

Ibeh 8, Iorga 74, Punosevac 93Maicon 25

Antal 61, Pena 79/ Bawab 17, Eric 75Antal 81Paraschiv 22,42/ Subotici 54Zuluf 67/ Bus 33, Paraschiv 90Antal 15, Pena 71/ Zicu 53Punosevac 21

Neagu 49, Giurgiu 52

Antal 67 pen

Sergiu Costin 89

Forfeit

0-1(0-1)2-0(1-0)0-01-0(0-0)2-1(1-1)1-0(0-0)4-0(2-0)

1-2(0-1)

0-2(0-0)

0-1(0-1)

2-0(0-0)

0-3

1-0(0-0)

1-0(0-0)

0-3(0-1)1-0(1-0)30-0

0-1(0-0)

1-2(0-1)2-1(1-0)

4-1(1-1)1-0(1-0)

2-1(0-1)

1-1(0-0)

1-1(0-1)

2-1(1-0)1-0(0-0)

1-0(0-0)

3-0(1-0)

0-0

-3(1-1)

2-2(0-1)

2-1(2-0)

0-1(0-1)

23

70

66

65

59

57

56

55

47

45

45

45

43

37

35

30

25

25

Otelul 2010-2011Goalkeepers:

Defenders:

Midfield:

Attacking:

First coach:Second coaches:

Medic:President:

Branko Grahovac (28 years old), CristiBranet (34), Gabriel Abraham (20)

Sergiu Costin (33), Cristi Sarghi (25), CornelRapa (21), Milan Perendija (25), Adrian Salageanu (28),Constantin Miselaricu (22), Samoel Cojoc (22), LaurentiuPetean (23), Enes Sipovici (21)

Gabriel Giurgiu (29), Gabriel Paraschiv (33),Gabriel Viglianti (32), Ionut Neagu (22), Liviu Antal (22),John Ibeh (25), Silviu Ilie (23), Laurentiu Iorga (23),Razvan Ochirosii (23), Ioan Filip (22), Laurentiu Bus (24),Ciprian Milea (27)

Marius Pena (26), Bratislav Punosevac (24),Csaba Borbely (31)

Dorinel MunteanuIoan Balaur, Catalin Ciorman, Ionel

Tamasanu, Tudorel Calugaru;Mihail TroacaMarius Stan

Antal 30, Giurgiu 52, Pena 54/ C. Munteanu 37, Tucudean 87, Grigore 90

Games Min.Cornel Rapa

Branko Grahovac

Sergiu Costin

Adrian Salageanu

Silviu Ilie

Gabriel Giurgiu

Liviu Antal

Laurentiu Iorga

Cristian Sarghi

Csaba Borbely

Marius Pena

Razvan Ochirosii

Samuel Cojoc

Ionut Neagu

Ioan Filip

Laurentiu Petean

Gabriel Paraschiv

Bratislav Punosevac

Robert Elek

Gabriel Viglianti

Laurentiu Bus

Cristian Branet

Milan Perendija

John Ibeh

33

32

31

29

29

28

28

27

16

8

26

15

7

26

11

6

26

10

2

25

9

1

23

9

2950

2880

2790

2578

1980

2504

1729

1486

1179

214

1519

586

128

2139

840

13

1961

213

28

1803

512

90

1964

485

1

1

1

1

2

4

7

3

2

1

8

6

2

3

1

1

2

4

3

6

6

7

4

2

5

2

3

4

9

2

3

2

3

1

6

1

1

1

1

1

All players used by Otelul during 2010-2011 Liga 1 Games

In the 2010 transfer campaignpresident Marius Stan didn't spend a dime. Thenew players were either young promoted fromOtelul's own youth club or players free ofcontract from other teams. Only in February2011, 80.000 € were spent on the transfer ofSerbian Bratislav Punosevac. This was one ofthe few times when money were spent onplayer transfer within the six years since MariusStan came back to Galati as President. Thehighest amount of money ever spent on aplayer by Otelul was 100.000 € for the SerbianMilan Perendija. Third place goes to BosnianGrohovac for 50.000 €. Players' wages are alsobelow 100.000 €, the average annual salary ofall players being 40.000 €. For the 2011-2012season due to the Champions Leaguequalification and broadcasting rights receivedfrom UEFA the budget was raised to 8 million €.

Team's budget for 2010-2011: 4 mil €

Otelul won the 2010-2011 RomanianChampionship and the Super Cup with a budgetof only 4 mil €. Two millions came from theregular sponsor Arcelor Mittal, 1.3 mil € frombroadcasting rights from previous season(placed 8th in the charts) and the differencecame from commercial contracts, ticket sales,season tickets, commercial signs and LocalCouncil.

Name Nationalteam

Fieldposition Age Market

value (€)Int’lgames

Daniel Chavez Peru Striker 23 500.000 10

Ionut Neagu Romania U21 Midfield 21 1.100.000 4

Milan Perendija Serbia U21 Defence 25 450.000 5

Gabriel Paraschiv Romania Midfield 33 950.000 1

Liviu Antal RomaniaRomania U21 Midfield 22 850.000 1

2

Samuel Cojoc Romania U21 Defence 22 400.000 2

Cristian Sarghi Romania U21 Defence 24 750.000 3

Adrian Salageanu Romania Defence 28 800.000 1

Laurentiu Bus Romania U19 Midfield 24 200.000 10

Cornel Rapa Romania Defence 21 1.100.000 5

23Laurentiu Iorga Romania U21 Midfield 700.000 7

Silviu Ilie RomaniaRomania U21 Midfield 23 800.000 3

16

Gabriel Abraham Romania U19 Goalkeeper 20 75.000 3

Gabriel Giurgiu Romania Midfield 28 800.000 1

National Players

Otelul won its first award in2011 after almost half of Century sincethe club was founded. It was theRomanian championship title! Lessthan two months apart, the Steelersstepped again on the field winningtheir second most important award,the Super Cup.

Super champions

July 17, 2011Romania Super CupPiatra Neamt, Attendance 13.253

OTELUL - STEAUA 1-0 (1-0)

Otelul

Steaua

RefereesYellow cards

Bus (14)

: Grahovac - Rapa, Costin, Perendija (Sarghi 81), Salageanu - Giurgiu (4 Viglianti), Neagu - Antal, Bua, Ibeh -Paraschiv (Pena 65).

: Tatarusanu - Martinovici, Galamaz, Gardos, Latovlevici - Nicolita, Bicfalvi, Brandan, Cr. Tanase (6 Bajenaru) -Tatu, Rusescu.

: Robert Dumitru (Brasov) - Cristian Nica (Ploiesti), Aurel Onita (Constanta).: Brandan (40), Bicfalvi (51), Nicolita (58), Martinovici (59) - Paraschiv (40), Antal (69), Rapa (89),

Grahovac (90).

The moment Busscored for 1-0

15

The Romanian Super Cupwas disputed between Otelul andSteaua Bucharest, a team deeplywounded in its ego for its lowclassification throughout the seasonthat

just ended. Steaua regainedconfidence after winning theRomanian Cup Award. The point gapbetween the two teams wassubstantial throughout last season;however, the Super Cup match wasplayed only once on a

neutral field. Everything was possible.Moreover, Steaua, against which weplayed 46 times of which three wereties and only 8 were victories in ourfavor, has always been a pain in theSteelers' back. In Piatra Neamt Otelulowned the field and July 17th alongwith July 15th became legalcelebrations in the “Steelers” calendar.

The goal scored by Bus, through apersonal display of talent, along with aseries of reciprocal attacks enchantedthe stands as well as the TV viewers.In Piatra Neamt everything was goldfor Otelul who won 1-0. Had theyexploited all their chances, theSteelers would have enforced respectin a more categorical approach.

18

Super Cup celebration alongwith the handing-in of "the best playerof the match" award won by Bushanded to him by professional WorldChampion boxing player Lucian Bute,concluded a magical night for the3000 fans who came all the way fromGalati to show their affection towardstheir team.

19

Bus was awarded the best playerof the SuperCup

Antal and Salageanu happy to see Butebut boxing is not their game

Dorinel Munteanu

Date of birth: 25 June 1968Place of birth: Gradinari, CarasSeverin

Dorinel Munteanu has been one of thebest football players to come out ofRomania. Owning the record ofparticipations in the national team with134 attendances where he scored 16goals, he is rightfully regarded as oneof Golden Age's most representativeplayers. Throughout his career as afootball player he performed forMetalul Bocsa, FCM Resita, FC Olt,FC Inter Sibiu, Dinamo, CercleBrugge, FC Koln, Wolfsburg, Steaua,CFR Cluj, FC Arges, FC Vaslui andUniversitatea Cluj. Aside hisperformances for the national team heparticipated in 529 matches scoring atotal of 80 goals. As a technicianDorinel Munteanu coached CFR Cluj,FC Arges, FC Vaslui, UniversitateaCluj twice, Steaua and eventuallyOtelul along which he achieved ahistorical performance: won thechampionship title in 2010-2011Season. Overall, he earned 70 gamesin the First League as the Steelers'coach, 35 of which were victories, 16were ties and 19 defeats. DorinelMunteanu, who recently turned 43years of age, came to Otelul in 2009,

2006-2007coach-player2006-2007

coach-player2007-2008

coach-player

2008-2009

2009-2011

2005-2006

2008-2009

CFR Cluj

FC Arges

FC Vaslui

Steaua

Otelul

CFR ClujIntertoto

Steaua

9

2

17

6

68

2

3

6

0

5

2

35

2

0

1

0

8

4

15

0

0

2

2

4

0

18

0

3

21-9

0-4

23-15

5-3

84-63

6-3

0-6

19

0

23

10

120

6

0

CFR Cluj - Athletico Bilbao 1-0 and 5-3

Olympic Lyon - Steaua 2-0Bayern Munchen - Steaua 3-0Steaua - AC Fiorentina 0-1

Coach activitySeason Team Games Won Drawn Lost PointsGoals

For/Against

22

replacing the very popular andbeloved coach Petre Grigoras. The

Federation which classified DorinelMunteanu as second best coachunder Mircea Lucescu (EuropeLeague winner in 2010 with SahtiorDonetsk). Dorinel Munteanu was alsoawarded with the Fair-play Trophy ofthe entire 2010-2011 season, thesame trophy received by Otelul’splayer Gabriel Paraschiv when heproposed his own salary cut.

The Romanian "Panzer"

Romania National team

FC Vaslui

FC Koln

Steaua Bucharest

VfL Wolfsburg

CFR ClujDinamo Bucharest

Games Goals134

16

130

8

113

7

4

16

18

13

TeamPlayer activity

23

Liviu TUNARIUMaseur

Squad’s Staff

Ioan BALAURSecond coach

Catalin CIORMANSecond coach

Mihail TROACAMedic

Constantin CR CIUNAMaseur

Ionel TAMASANUSecond coach

Drago AXENTEsMaseur

Ion IONICAManager Hotel Otelul

Viorel ANGHELINEIPR & Licences

Tudorel CALUGARUGoalkeeper trainer

Laurenţiu MAJEARUCompetition Organizer

Dragos GHIUŢĂMarketing

Ilie HAGIOGLUDeputy General Manager

Dănuţ LUNGUMass-media officer

Eugen RALEAAdministrative Manager

Gelu POPESCUStadium Administrator

24

In October of 2010 Europe wasfull of surprise leaders: Mainz inGermany, Lazio in Italy,Valencia in Spain, Rennes inFrance, Genk in Belgium,Lucerne in Switzerland, WackerInnsbruck in Austria andBursaspor in Turkey.

However, none of these teamslasted as Otelul Galati did. ByApril 2011, six month after, theywere all left behind by biggerteams. Even the PresidentMarius Stan said just a yearago that “if we will remain in theFirst League it will be like

winning the championship!”Otelul did not only remain onthe first stage, but were thecomplete leaders throughout2010 getting a total of 64 pointsand in 2011 they becamechampions with a total of 70points!

Only Otelul lasted!

23 June 2011

1 July 20113 July 20115 July 20117 July 20119 July 20117 Aug 2011

Astra Ploiesti (Romania) – Otelul 4-1 (3-1)Goian (13), Rusu (14), NDoye (30 penalti) şi Matei (59) / Punosevac (45)

Litex Loveci (Bulgaria) – Otelul Galati 0-0Maccabi Tel Aviv (Israel) – Otelul Galati 3-1 (3-1) Colauti (4), Atar (10), Micha (31) / Viglianti (15)Anderlecht Bruxelles (Belgium) – Otelul Galati 0-1 (0-0) Bratislav Punosevac (82)Trabzonspor (Turkey)– Otelul Galati 1–1 (0-1) Halil Altintop (52) / Ionuţ Neagu (44)Lokeren (Belgium) – Otelul Galati 1-1 (1-0) Jeremy Taravel (9) / Marius Pena (49)Besiktas JK Istanbul (Turkey) – Otelul Galati 1-1 (1-1) Hugo Almeida (11) / L. Iorga (38)

Summer 2011 - Friendly Games

www.masita.com

Country October 2010 Now Placein oct

Germany

France

Italy

Spain

Switzerland

Turkey

Poland

Austria

Belgium

First row(down)

Second row

Third row

: Sorin Frunza, Ionut Neagu, Liviu Antal, Ioan Salageanu, Razvan Ochirosii, Gabriel Giurgiu, Laurentiu Bus, Laurentiu Iorga, Cornel Rapa, Daniel Chavez

: Marius Stan(President), Dorinel Munteanu(first coach), Mihai Troaca(medic), Gerhard Progni , Cristi Sarghi, Bratislav Punosevac, Milan Perendija,Cristi Branet, Branko Grahovac, Gabriel Abraham, Marius Pena, Sergiu Costin, Constantin Miselaricu, Constantin Craciun(maseur), Catalin Ciorman(second coach)

: Ionel Tamasanu(second coach), Tudorel Calugaru(goalkeeper trainer), Dragos Axente(maseur), Zoran Ljubinkovici, Alexandru Benga,Gabriel Paraschiv, Samoel Cojoc, Gabriel Viglianti, Silviu Ilie, John Ibeh, Ioan Filip, Gheorghe Stamate, Ioan Balaur(second coach), Liviu Tunariu(maseur)

(no longer with Otelul)

2011-2012

26

First row(down)

Second row

Third row

: Sorin Frunza, Ionut Neagu, Liviu Antal, Ioan Salageanu, Razvan Ochirosii, Gabriel Giurgiu, Laurentiu Bus, Laurentiu Iorga, Cornel Rapa, Daniel Chavez

: Marius Stan(President), Dorinel Munteanu(first coach), Mihai Troaca(medic), Gerhard Progni , Cristi Sarghi, Bratislav Punosevac, Milan Perendija,Cristi Branet, Branko Grahovac, Gabriel Abraham, Marius Pena, Sergiu Costin, Constantin Miselaricu, Constantin Craciun(maseur), Catalin Ciorman(second coach)

: Ionel Tamasanu(second coach), Tudorel Calugaru(goalkeeper trainer), Dragos Axente(maseur), Zoran Ljubinkovici, Alexandru Benga,Gabriel Paraschiv, Samoel Cojoc, Gabriel Viglianti, Silviu Ilie, John Ibeh, Ioan Filip, Gheorghe Stamate, Ioan Balaur(second coach), Liviu Tunariu(maseur)

(no longer with Otelul)

2011-2012

27

Whether it played at home, in nearbyVaslui, the capital Bucharest orfaraway Timisoara, the red-white-bluesupporters have always stood by theirteam, not only during the gloriousvictory of 2020-2011, but also throughhardships many times before.Steelers' gallery has always played amajor role in the life of the Danubesquad.

2011 has been a turning point for thefans, who realized the immenseresponsibility they carried. Withouttheir support it would have beenrather difficult for the team to lead allthe way to the end. The year Otelulgot crowned as champion theorganized fans reorganizedthemselves by moving to the NorthernLawn.

They even called themselves"Moldova's guardsmen". A comatoseFans League since 1993 was thenresurrected.As soon as second half of the seasonbegan, the fans became a forceespecially during the home games.Marius Sumudica, Rapid's coachmanstated:

About the fans

28

“I congratulate the management, theplayers and Otelul's fans. They are alleager to win." This statement came asa consequence to the volcanicreaction of Otelul's fans at the directmatch. Waves of joy and cheerscoming from the stands overwhelmedRapid. Memorable are also the gamesagainst Unirea Urziceni, GloriaBistrita, Universitatea Cluj,Universitatea Craiova and FCTimisoara.

Otelul's opponents had to admit thatthe Galati fans generated an

extraordinary climate for their teambut a hellish one for them. The apogeewas reached playing the Super Cupfinal against Steaua when no less

than 3000 fans invaded the city ofPiatra Neamt. Otelul's fans led theirteam towards victory in spite of astadium full of hostile supporters.

29

Shirtno

Name Nationality Fieldposition

Date andplace

of birth

Marketvalue (€)

WithOtelulsince

Contractuntil

30 Milan Perendija Serbia Centre Back 5.01.1986Belgrad 450.000 2009 30.06.2013

1 Cristian Branet Romania Goalkeeper 14.07.1977Galati 250.000 2010 30.06.2012

3 Cornel Rapa Romania Full BackRight

16.01.1990Galati 1.100.000 2008 30.06.2012

5 Zoran Ljubinkovici Serbia Full BackRight

4.07.1982Subotica 300.000 2011 30.06.2012

22 Gabriel Abraham Romania Goalkeeper 22.03.1991Galati 75.000 2008 30.06.2014

20 Samuel Cojoc Romania Full BackRight

8. 7.1989Galati

0 400.000 2008 30.06.2012

6 Alexandru Benga Romania Centre Back 15.06.1989Brasov 200.000 2011 30.06.2012

16 Cristian Sarghi Romania Centre Back 23.11.1986Galati 750.000 2006 30.06.2012

17 Laurentiu Bus Romania Midfield 27.08.1987Cluj Napoca 200.000 2010 30.06.2013

12 Branko Grahovac Serbia/Bosnia Goalkeeper 8. 7.1983Gradiska

0 600.000 2010 30.06.2014

23 Adriana Salageanu Romania Full BackLeft

9.04.1983Carei 800.000 2008 30.06.2014

29 Gabriel Giurgiu Romania CentralMidfield

3.09.1982Cluj Napoca 800.000 2007 30.06.2014

21 Daniel Chavez Peru Striker 8.01.1988Callao 500.000 2011 30.12.2011

15 John Ike Ibeh Nigeria MidfieldLeft

16.04.1986Port Harcourt 450.000 2008 30.06.2012

8 Liviu Antal Romania MidfieldRight

2.06.1989Simleu Silvaniei 850.000 2009 30.06.2014

19

27

Bratislav Punosevac

Marius Pena

Serbia

Romania

Striker

Striker

9.07.1987Krusevac2.05.1985Bucharest

450.000

400.000

2011

2008

30.06.2012

30.06.2013

7 Laurentiu Iorga

Alexandru Iacob

Romania

Romania

AttackingMidfield

Midfield

17.03.1988Babadag

14.04.1989Hunedoara

700.000

200.000

2007

2011

30.06.2012

30.06.2015

11 Sorin Frunza Romania MidfieldLeft

29.03.1978Galati 1.000.000 2011 30.06.2012

10 Gabriel Paraschiv

Daniel Ionu Novacţ

Romania

Romania

AttackingMidfield

Midfield

27.03.1978Moreni

26.09.1987Bucharest

950.000

150.000

2006

2011

30.06.2013

30.06.2015

14 Silviu Ilie Romania MidfieldLeft

27.06.1988Galati 800.000 2007 30.06.2012

37 Gabriel Viglianti Argentina AttackingMidfield

12.06.1979Cordoba 700.000 2008 30.06.2013

18 Sergiu Costin Romania Centre BackCaptain

21.11.1978Bistrita 650.000 2006 30.06.2012

24 Ioan Filip Romania DefensiveMidfield

20.05.1989Oradea 200.000 2010 30.06.2013

26 Ionut Neagu Romania DefensiveMidfield

26.10.1989Galati 1.000.000 2009 30.06.2015

2011-2012 - Players Value (as of 1.07.2011)

30

12 Grahovac

1 Branet 22 Abraham

5 Ljubinkovici

20 Cojoc

6 Benga 18 S. Costin(cpt)

30 Perendija

16 Sarghi

23 Salageanu3 Rapa

29 Giurgiu26 Neagu

24 Filip

17 Bus

11 Frunza

37 Viglianti

15 Ibeh

8 Antal 14 S. Ilie

7 Iorga 10 Paraschiv 21 Chavez

27 Pena 19 Punosevac

Dorinel Munteanucoach

31

Last season, Grohovacplayed in 32 matches, 90 minuteseach. He rounded up 2880 minutes ofplaytime and was by far one of thekeystone players of Dorinel Munteanu.He was advocated the most efficientgoalkeeper in the First League, having16 games with zero received in hisnet!Branko astonished Romania with hisperformance against Timisoara whenhe bravely came out on attack, in amove seemingly borrowed fromhockey, right from minute 81! He wasfound regularly on the opposite team'sfield in a desperate attempt to createsuperiority, especially because thescore was not in our favor (0-2). Thefans appreciated the goalkeeper'smad courage. Not only did he provethat he was an excellent goalkeeper,but also that Otelul can and will attack,if necessary, with all fronts.

12 - Branko Grohovac“I am proud of myself for bruising my elbows and knees for thisclub which will forever have a special place in my heart".

32

Liviu came to Galati in 2009compelling recognition as a right wingmidfielder. As a junior he wasmonitored by Tottenham Hotspur!Number 8 in Otelul's team had alreadyaccumulated two participations in theU21 Romanian national, other two inU23 representative, not to mention thedebut in our country's National teamfor a friendly match against Paraguay

in June 2011. These successes werethe natural result of Antal'sextraordinary evolution within theOtelul club.

Last season he played 1729minutes, scored 7 goals (3 of themwere penalty kicks) in 28 matches (19of them as integralist). The mostoutstanding goal of this season wasthe one that brought victory on thefield of former champion CFR Cluj.Antal dedicated that goal to his friendand colleague, Marius Pena. Not to beforgotten the goal againstTmisoara in the League's “final”.

it is also

Antal has his family tattooedon his belly

The valuable 22 year old Otelu playerhas his entire family tattooed on hisbelly! When he arrived at Galati threesmiling faces (dad, mom and sister)were painted to ease the longing afterhis loved ones. "Because we are 600km apart (the distance between Galatiand Simleul Sivaniei, his birth place), Ithought this would be a nice way tohave them close to me always. WhenI miss them, I take a look at mytattoo." On his inner forearm he has aChinese tattoo which translated itmeans: "Never give up!"

8 - Liviu Antal"It is difficult for me to overcome the moments when I get injured andI have to sit in the stands, just to be a spectator of my own team."

33

Ionut Neagu is 100% OtelulFootball Club's breed. The midfielderis the perfect example when referringto the successes of the junioracademy from Galati. Hardworking,simple, unpresuming, a real DorinelMunteanu in miniature. He showed upfrom nowhere and has been a regularamongst the elevens.

Born and raised inSmardan, a village in Galati County,the youngster worked hard and gavehis best for football. This sometimesmeant traveling daily back and forthfrom his village to Galati. All this tofulfill his dream!

Slowly but surely he left amark in Romanian football by gettingselected four times in the Romanianyouth national team.

"His physique doesn't always helphim, but he has a soul as for an entireteam!"

Neculai Neagu (his father):

26 - Ionut Neagu“I neither have a facebook account, or trademark clothing;nonetheless, I'm 20 years old and I play soccer. That's it!"

34instalații de tubulatură navală

telefon/fax: 0236/ 47 93 31 - e-mail: navmaro@yahoo.com

Nicknamed "Neculai" or"The Redhead" Ibeh has both Nigerianand Spanish citizenships. Along hisfootball career he played for FCAmsterdam, Hapoel Tel Aviv, DWSAmsterdam and UTAArad and wastransferred to Otelul in 2009.

He recently returned toDorinel Munteanu's team after a oneyear recess provoked by an injury. Byfar, the best gameof this midfieldattacker wasagainst Steauain the Supercupwhen, on variousoccasions,he stumbledhis adversary.Ibeh is definitelya promise fornext season.

15 - John Jackie Ike Ibeh“ Don't worry, there's still a lot of me left to show!"

35

Gabriel Giurgiu is the "clock"which tells the exact time at midfield.He is by far the most invariable"Steeler". His achievements andsteadiness encouraged the formercoach for the National to pick him for amatch against Brazil when he was just29 years old!

Giurgiu, a Romanianchampion via Otelul, scored lastseason three extremely important

goals, although there are nospecifications of the appetite for goalsin the midfielder's defensive manual.

29 - Gabriel Giurgiu“I have always dreamt of playing under the red-yellow-blue

flag. Without high goals, one cannot progress."

36

Each team has a symbol, aflag carrier. This is what Paraschivrepresents for Otelul. He is one of theoldest red-white-blue players.Although Parschiv played the majorityof his career in the Second League,nevertheless, he has lived his secondyouth performing for Otelul. Heimmediately impose himself not onlyon the field, but also in the hearts ofthe supporters.

He was the first to be elected teamcaptain after legendary ViorelTanase's retirement. He made aunique gesture in the First League’shistory asking President Marius Stanto cut his salary so he can help theclub, for which he was playing for 6seasons, regain financial strength.

Paraschiv has been nominated byUEFA the best Romanian player in theseason 2010-2011. The goals he

scored for Otelul against Craiova andVictoria Branesti (double in eachgame) were decisive on bringing thetitle to Galati!

The Fair Play Trophy Award!

In 2010, in order to avoid the globalrecession which has already settled inmost countries, Romania underwent amass cut in the wages. Given theclimate, Gabriel Paraschiv was anexample. He himself proposed thereduction of his own salary by 30%."There are other more importantthings in life than money. I also have afamily, monthly payments,expenditures...It's my decision and allI want is to be healthy. That's the mostimportant thing!" is what the playermentioned regarding the issue ofwage cuts. After a moment ofastonishment, President Marius Stanexclaimed: “We have got ourselves asuper player, a man of characterrarely to be found". That is why TheSoccer Professional League rewardedParaschiv with the Fair Play Award.

10 - Gabriel Paraschiv“I feel like I belong to Galati more then other players who were born and raised here.In less then two months I transformed a rather unknown team into a super champion."

37

“Penarul” became known inthe First League through hisevolutions for Otelul, being lastseason team's best scorer with 8goals. His goals always brought themuch needed points to Otelul.He was considered “the black knightwho killed the monster” in the lastseasons' “final” game with Timisoara.Also his outstanding executions in thegames against Pandurii, Sportul orRapid helped Otelul rose above allother teams.

Pena was quite the jolly-joker last season because he alwaysscored only at home games and onlywhen he was introduced on the fieldon the second half of the games!

27 - Marius Pena“There have been many not to trust us or believe

that we could last on the first place”.

38

Originally he comes fromBabadag, 30 km away from Galati;nevertheless, Laurentiu has beenadopted by the city of Galati sinceearly age. He performed since thebeginning of his career only for thisclub. Otelul's no 7 has sevenattendances in the U21 RomanianTeam (for which he also scored once)and another selection in the U23team.

Being another remarkableproduct of FC Otelul Galati youthcentre, Laurentiu Iorga has left a marklast season in quite a few games. Themost memorable goal needed to bementioned here was the one againstformer champion CFR Cluj during thefirst half of the season.

7 - Laurentiu Iorga

39instalații de tubulatură navală

telefon/fax: 0236/ 47 93 31 - e-mail: navmaro@yahoo.com

Together with his familyMilan was sent into exile at an earlyage, as a consequence of the formerYugoslavian countries wars. His proudwarrior spirit, specific to Serbiansshines through on the football fieldwhere he is one of the toughestfighters.

As a junior, he played forPartizan Belgrade. Before the

beginning of the last season Milanwas a step away from beingtransferred to a… Chinese team!After his hugemistake in the awaygame againstTimisoara, he madean unbelievablecome back duringthe second half ofthe season.

Thus hebecame a pillar inDorinel's Munteanusteel gear.Statisticallyspeaking, he hasan incrediblepercentage ofrecovered balls asa fullback center.

30 - Milan Perendija“I thought about quitting football! I am nowglad I haven't done that mistake.”

40

The Serbian was transferredto Galati during last season's winterbreak. Overall he accumulated 10games for the “red, white and blue”team, three of which he started as themain player, with 213 minutes of realplaytime during which he scored twogoals.

He is a true striker whopursuits his adversary, ready to scorefrom any direction. We'd better let himintroduce himself:

"I don't believe I own theperfect technique, I am notRonaldinho; nonetheless I am a playerwho scores. I have a pretty good headgame and I feel when a goal is

coming. I believe it to be a greatchance for me to come from theSerbian Second League to the firstplace team in Romania. This offer wasvery tempting to me. I'm asking thefans to fill up the stadium and Ipromise I will do my best to pleasethem."

19 - Bratislav Punosevac“It's the greatest joy when you come to the stadium and fans arechanting and manifesting their love towards the colors of the club."

41instalații de tubulatură navală

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The best player to come outfrom FC Otelul in the last few years,the fullback right Cornel Rapadeclared that he doesn't mind playingfor Otelul, a team so close to hisheart, where,he experienced unreal careersatisfactions.

Most certainly 2010-2011was a dream come true for Rapa who,at 21 years of age, gatheredunforgettable memories others barelyaccomplish during a lifetime of playingfootball: became an irrefutable holderon Otelul squad, won the

for such a young player

Championship and the Super Cup,played next to Zinedine Zidane, wasselected 5 times in the first “11” of theNational team, braved againstadversaries like Dzeko, Ballotelli,Santa Cruz, Robinho or Neymar,became captain of the U21 Romanianrepresentative.

He has drawn the attentionof clubs from Italy, France andGermany, being valued now for over amillion and a half E. His parents are very proud

of him: " We kiss the TV every time heplays."

3 - Cornel Rapa“As a child my only dreamwas to play for Otelul!"

42

Silviu was born in Galati andrepresents one of the best players toever come from the local footballbreeding schools. He hardlyrecovered from the loss of his father,who always guided him during hisfootball career. 2010-2011 was afabulous year for him.

He became First Leaguechampion together with Otelul! Heprides himself with three attendances

He was invited to play withthe National team in a charitablegame next to Zinedine Zidane.

at the Romanian senior national, as afundamental player for Romania U21,16 matches played, another one in theU23 representative.Certainly his father proudly watchesdown to his son... Both goals scoredby Silviu last season are of equalimportance. One brought victory overUniversitatea Craiova' s field in front of30.000 astonished fans. The othergoal sanctioned the victory againstDinamo!

Rapa and Ilie, Friends withZidane and Ronaldo

On December 14th 2010 youngplayers Rapa and S Ilie were part ofthe "Zidane's and Ronaldo's friends"Team which disputed in Athens acharitable match against poverty.Thus, they became field and lockerpals with the two internationallyrenowned soccer monsters. In Athensthey also made acquaintance with DeBoer, Van Bronckhorst, Diarra, NunoGomes, Albiol, Toure and manyothers.

14 - Silviu Ilie”I have a tattoo on my arm which states: "I love you dad!".I try to thank my father for all the help he bestowed upon me."

43

Adrian Ioan Salageanu, fullback left, has had one of the mostunbelievable come backs in theRomanian football history: from ThirdLeague to Champions League!

He was diagnosed withhepatitis just when various Romanianteams were taken an interest in him.This condition kept him away from thefield for more than a year. He returnedto the game after thoughtful

consideration was given to retirement.

Today he is a champion anda fundamental team-mate for OtelulGalati. The thought of retirement nolonger haunts him. Now he longs forthe days when he has to faceBarcelona or Manchester United.He has a veritable offensive input, is amaster of free kicks and one of theplayers with the best goal passes fromthe entire team.

23 - Adrian Salageanu"I can't believe what's happening to me. I simply cannot graspthe magnitude of what we have accomplished in Galati."

44

Sarghi, launched in footballby the late coach Ioan Nicu, is a fullback central and also one of thereason women come to the stadium towatch the games. Needless tomention that in his youth he was aphoto model. However, this does notimpede him from being one of themost valued full-backs. His greatevolution and incredible speed havepropeled him to the U23 nationalteam, for which he performed twice.

Starting last season, due to a severehead injury, Sarghi is forced to wear aprotection helmet for the rest of hisfootball career. The player descendsfrom a sports family. His mother was atrack and field athlete as well as aphysical education instructor, whileone of his uncles used to play forOtelul between 1990-1993.

His focal match was the “final”against FC Timisoara(2-1),when he fierce fully defendedhis half of the field, althoughhe had just returned from along leave of absence.

16 - Cristian Sarghi“I will work hard, I want to play football and inthe end I shall prove my career isn't over."

45

Center Back and captain,Sergiu Costin was voted by the fans'site as the best player of the first halfof the 2010-2011 season. He's theone responsible with the cheerfulnessin and around locker rooms. He isregarded as an atypical team captain,as he himself admits it: " I am quite amellow guy, considerate, I don't like toboss around anybody around. But if Iwas meant to be captain, so be it. Iam in charge of a

team of heroes."Costin has a very good head play, lastseason scoring a very important goal,at home, in the last minute of thegame against FC Brasov.

18 - Sergiu Costin“ I presently feel 50 kilos lighter. My heart is pleased thatI started with a dream which eventually became reality."

46

“I felt hopeless after I missed thepenalty kick against Gaz Metan. Italmost costed us thechampionship...Good thing it endedwell. Now I have to make it up to theteam.”

Every team needs a drop of genius, alittle bit of football in tango steps.That's why for Otelul Galati there'sGabriel Viglianti. The Argentinean

born was brought to Galati in 2008after being spotted by Marius Stan ona DVD. After a very good first half ofthe season, he collapsed. When hisfather passed away his game startedto lack consistency. It climaxed with

the miss of the penalty kick againstGaz Metan 90+3 minute of the game.The fans commiserated with him andfor his 32nd birthday they presented

him with a gift in the shape of apainting on which it was written inSpanish: “A champion in football, achampion in life". The fans were in

complete awe of him last winter when,although he had lost his father, hedecided to train alongside Otelulinstead of leaving to South Americafor funerals. “It was my father's lastwish” he said. Now, Gabriel Viglianti isready for a new beginning!

37 - Gabriel Alexandro VigliantiUn campeon de futbol, un campeon de la vida

47

Samoel Cojoc is 100% theoffspring of FC Otelul. Club'smanagement stated on severaloccasions that he is a great playerwho lost the first team position onlybecause of bad luck.

Last season he had to suffice with thereserve status; however he spoke tothe hearts of the fans in the matchagainst Branesti when he continuedplaying after he had dislocated hisshoulder. He didn't want to leave theteam outnumbered.

20 - Samoel Cojoc“If we win the championship, I promise to get a specialtattoo related to Otelul to celebrate the event."

48

He exploded just whenpeople started thinking he wasn't goodenough for Otelul any longer. Most ofthe time he sat on the bench asreserve, but when Dorinel Munteanucalled for him he was always readyand fulfilled his duties. In just a fewgames he contributed to a historictitle, assisted three important goalsand scored once towards the end ofthe season.For him it was just as if thechampionship had just started. Thus,he became the best player in theSuper Cup match against Steauawhere he also scored the winning goalfor Otelul. As a matter of fact he waschosen the MVP of the game.

The award was handed to him by theIBF boxing world champion, LucianBute, a dear supporter of Otelulsince his early years.

17 - Laurentiu Bus"To tell you the truth, I've never in my entire life given so many interviews.

Honestly, I think there're too many waves for a single goal."

49

Every year, as a part of the club'stradition, around Christmas theSteelers cut a pig. This, of course,was no exception in 2010. All playersfeasted of pork meat for dinner.

Tradition: sacrificing a pig around Christmas time

www.remat-galati.ro

Paraschiv loves... pork ears

Antal has a thing for its....nostrils.

Marius Stan and Captain SergiuCostin were brave enough forthe cameras

50

In the fall of 2010 Oteluldonated 23.000 Euros to a Galatiretirement home for furnishing andremodeling. The money was raisedfrom ticket sales as well as donationsfrom players, coaches, managementand other business men. CaptainSergiu Costin said: “We're happy wemade our part to such an event. Wethought about our grandparents, andwe desired to help these people live abetter quality of life". Ionut Neaguadded: "If the elders don't deserve itthen who does?They're the most important!".Encouraged by the player's words andgood faith, the soccer fans eldersrequested a TV and cable television.

Their wish was granted, of course, byPresident Marius Stan.

Charitable donation

51

Coach Tamasanu- The man in the shadow

52

Few people know that Otelul runs sogood because the responsibility ofphysical training was delegated byDorinel Munteanu to a 70 years oldrunning instructor Ionel Tamasanu.It took a while for the instructor toimpose his methods. "Some playersgrowled in the beginning.After they read a few specialty books

the guys quickly understood thatrunning is a science. They realizedhow to run less but with greater profit.It mattered a lot that each exercisecame with an explanation of thefunctionality of the respective

Tamasanu has a motto after which heguides his work: " As far as physicalcondition matters are concerned, thebenefit is quite hard to get, relativelyeasy to maintain, but real easy toloose".

exercise.”

53

On July 15 2011 was launched thefirst book ever to be written aboutOtelul Galati. It is a story about thewining of the first RomanianChampionship (2010-2011) by theGalati Team. The book has 240 pageswith over 500 color pictures andcontains many interviews, eachgame's chronicles, statistics, tablesand goals drawings, inside stories,great for private collectors or gifts. It isin Romanian Language but due to thefact that it has many pictures, tables,goal's drawings and statistics, it iseasy to understand for everybody. Itcan be ordered from all over the Worldby sending an email directly to theauthor, at csocianu@yahoo.com. Hewill also sign it or can obtain anautograph for you from a player orcoach. Enjoy reading it!

“Otelul Galati” Story Book

Roland Pangrati Visual Artist~painting - sculpture - interior design www.rolandpangrati.ro

phone: 040 727 249 167

Silviu Ilie reading from the book about his game inthe same team with Zinedine Zidane.

Address:

Telephone-fax stadium:Telephone-fax Club:

WebsiteE-mail:

Founded:Other names during history:Team's colors:

Stadium:

League 1:Romanian Cup:Romanian SuperCup – WinnerBalkan Cup:UEFA Intertoto:UEFA Cup:

Great players of all time:

Str. Regiment 11 Siret nr. 2A, Galati 800322, Romania

0040.236.4646770040.236.499009

: www.otelul-galati.rooffice@otelul-galati.ro

01.06.1965 (First Season in the First Romanian League: 1986-87)Dacia (1970-72), Metalosport (1981-82)

Red-White-Blue

“Otelul”, 13.500 seats

23 seasons, First place (2010-11), 4th place (1987-88, 1996-97, 1997-98)Runner Up (2004, 0-2 with Dinamo)

(2011, 1-0 with Steaua)Runner Up (1992, 0-0 and 0-1 with Saryier Istanbul)Group winner (2007-08, 2-1 and 2-1 with Trabzonspor)

5 presences (1988-89, 1997-98, 1998-99, 2004-05, 2007-08)

The highest win ever: 12 - 0, with Granitul Babadag (Third League, June 13, 1982)The most sever defeat: 0 - 7, with Rapid Bucharest (Liga 1, Nov 05, 2006)

Oană, Călugaru, Cr.Munteanu, Kolev, Grahovac - Morohai, Dan Coe, Vlad, Ghirca,Haiduc, M.Olteanu, I.Constantinescu, Tolea, Gelu Popescu, Zhelev, Semeghin, Cârjă,Sergiu Costin, Perendija, Râpă, Sălăgean, Sârghi - Majearu, Sălceanu, Burcea, V.Ştefan,Marius Stan, Anghelinei, Profir Tănase, Orac, Deaconescu, Radu Dan, Maleş, Tofan,Florin Cernat, Bogdan Andone, Bourceanu, Szekely, Liviu Antal, Laurenţiu Buş, IoanFilip, Giurgiu, Silviu Ilie, Laurenţiu Iorga, Ionuţ Neagu, Ochiroşii, Viglianti, Ibeh -Vaişcovici, Viorel Ion, Ad.State, Guriţă, Jula, Daniel Stan, G. Paraschiv, Marius Pena

OFFICIAL SPONSOR: ARCELOR MITTAL GALATI

OTELUL GALATI

55

Although Otelul will disputethe CL Groups on the brand newNational Stadium in Bucharest (thestadiums in Galati do not meet therequirements for these types of games),a few words should be written about thestadium where Otelul undergoes theRomanian Championship matches.TheStadium was build at the end of the 70's

over a few tennis grounds. In thebeginning, the fans used to watch thegames from up a hill. The grass on thefield was scattered. Later on in 1979they started building the concrete andthe official stands. When they brought in

the lawn, meter by meter, the first club'spresident Puiu Vasilache workedtediously for three moths. "Everybodycarried the lawn back then from anearby field, from the juniors to the mainsoccer players. Back then Otelul wasplaying in the Third League." The plasticchairs which we can see today werelater added in 1997 and the capacity

was reduced from 16.000 to 13.500(today's capacity). In 2008 was mountedthe electronic scoring board with a videosystem attached. The floodlightinstallation was added only this year, inApril of 2011, after many years of

negotiating with the Municipality whowouldn't sign the authorization! Theattendance record dates back toDecember 4th 1985. Otelul playedagainst Sportul Studentesc Bucharest(4-1) in the Romanian Cup “16”qualification round. The newspaperswrote that a staggering 20.000 peoplefilled the stadium. In this photo we cansee how people were standing in thenearby trees, in their balconies, onrooftops, and anywhere they could get aglance inside or outside the stadium!Photo: Vaiscovici gets faulted in thepenalty area (16'). He shoots andscores: 1-0. The game went intoovertime, but at the end Otelul won 4-1.It is considered by many of Otelul's fansthe most beautiful game ever seen inGalati. In the field from the Bucharestteam was Mircea Sandu (today'spresident of Romanian SoccerFederation), Iorgulescu, Ticleanu,Coras. Hagi did not play that game dueto yellow cards suspension. Otelulplayed in the following formula: Dinu -Carmen Stan, Anghelinei, Bejenaru,Basalic (97 Dumitru) - Gelu Popescu,Rotaru, Burcea - Vaiscovici, Antohi (115Timofi), Stamate. The goals were scoredby Vaiscovici (16 si 107 both frompenalty), Bejenaru (105), Timofi (120) /Iorgulescu (57, pen).

About Otelul's Stadium

56

Along its over one hundredyears since football existed in Galati(first football game was documentedto take place in 1908), the name"Otelul" (The Steel) has been held bymany different groups. However,today's team has a single source.Let's start with the beginning.

First and foremost, thename "Otelul" was recorded in 1965.It was then when, in concordance withthe building of the great Steel Plantwhich was rising at the edge of thetown, the second League team"Stiinta" (The Science) got a suddenname change right during the

championship. "Stiinta" started the1965-1966 championship with thesame name it bore since it wasfounded in 1953. On September 261965 however, during the sixth gameinto the championship, someone fromthe management (club or communistparty) had suddenly decided tochange the name to "Otelul".Nevertheless, that "Otelul" has no tiewith the actual team that is nowrepresenting Galati in ChampionsLeague. It is an ascending rather ofthe second town's team, secondLeague "Dunarea" Galati (in 1970 thatOtelul team changed its name to FC,then FCM and after merging with CSUin 1982 became Dunarea CSU andnow just Dunarea).

The second time the nameOtelul was recorded is dated in 1972.

A little history

It is the year when Dacia Galati (thirdLeague) takes over the name Otelul.

Dacia was formed in 1970, when afew "Steelers" were appointed toDacia after initially being refused byFC Galati.

The new Otelul performswell in the 1972-1973 third Leagueand advances in the second League.In 1974, the team's management istaken over by Puiu Victor Vasilachewho was to become the first presidentof the Otelul club.

Right from the start, PuiuVasilache gets a kick under the beltfrom the local authorities. It was the1974-75 edition of the second Leaguewhen during a decisive game betweenConstructorul Galati and Otelul Galati,the communist party who ran the town

FC Otelul Galati 1973

Otelul 1974, Second LeagueR1(down)

R2(up)

: Gheorghiu M., Oatu Gh., Caliniv, Popescu Irimia, Taras, Dumitru,Olteanu Mihai, Marin D., Traian Ionescu

: Hamza Virgil(second coach), Ionita Ion(first coach), Calugaru Tudorel,Ciobanu Mihai, Maghiar Costel, Ogescu Adrian, Cucu Gh., Toma Ion,Voicu, Ion Ionica, Patrascu Marin, Vasile...(Dr. King).

R1(down): Potorac,..., Calinov,..., Sarpe Mircea, Oatu Ion, Ivan Sergiu, Enci Vasile, Haralambie,...;R2: Constantinesc Ovidiu, Petrea Nicolae, Istudor Petrica, Negoiescu Ion, Pais Costica,Voicu Nicu, Vasilache Costel, Borcea Paraschiv, Petrea Ion, Macovei Nicolae

57

(and the country) decided that Otelulhad to be the one to leave for the thirdLeague. Constructorul had moreconnections and ties. Just 2 yearsearlier they played the Romanian Cupfinal, although the team was active inthe third League. So, on May 10,1975, when Otelul was leading thegame 1-0 (Pastia), the refereereceived orders to eliminate 2Steelers, leaving the team frustratedand unable to honestly claim theirchance of remaining on the secondleague.

As if third League wasn'tenough, during the same summer of1975, the local political authoritiesdecide to move Otelul to... Adjud, 100km away.

As a result, Otelul is left without afootball team.Nevertheless, the club's presidentPuiu Vasilache started all over fromscratch. In the fall of 1975 he puttogether not one but three newfootball teams which he enrolledimmediately in the Town championship(5th league): LBR, Rapid UETU andVenus Turnarea Continua. The firsttwo promoted to the RegionalChampionship (4th League) rightaway and a year later, in 1977, thefirst one promoted in the third league.Puiu Vasilache tried his luck (thecommunist party didn't want to hearOtelul name again) and added next toLBR the name "Otelul".

Otelul LBR spent the next 4 years inthe third league: 11th place in 1977-78, 10th in 1978-79, 9th in 1979-80and first place in 1980-81. Thisperformance was established byCoach Petru Motoc along with thefollowing players: Serbanoiu, Cucu,Bors, Popescu, Zaharia, Tasci, Micu,Morohai, Barhan, Savin, Gohoreanu,Castaian, Ceacu, Ciurea, Patrascu,Pavel, Gheorghiu, Adamache,Enache, Ion Ionica, Basalic, Ticu,Potorac, and Podet.

The enormous joy was onceagain shorted by the communistauthorities who decided in thesummer of 1981 to move the teamagain, this time... closer, only 70 km

R1(down): Cucu Gh, DumitrescuR2: Stoica Alexandru, Ionescu Traian, Lazar Gh, Istudor Petrica, Potorac, Taras DumitruR3: Oprea Dumitru(first coach), Morohai Ion, Pastia Aurel, Pavel Costin, Toma Ion,Adam Toader, Zdraila C., Voicu Nicu, Anghel Jan, Ionescu Pompiliu(second coach).

Otelul 1976 Second League

R1(down): Cucu Gh, DumitrescuR2: Stoica Alexandru, Morohai Ion, Adam Toader, Pasti Aurel, Potorac, Taras Dumitru, Anghel JanR3: Oprea Dumitru(first coach), Ionescu Traian, Dumbraveanu, Istudor Dumitru, Pavel Costin,Toma Ion, Zdraila C, Ciuca, Voicu Nicu, Lazar Gh., Ionescu Pompiliu(second coach)

58

away, at Tecuci. However, theingenious president Vasilache wasable to move the players who refusedto leave to Tecuci to the other Town'sthird League team, Metalosport (ateam that was established in 1935 andwhich was now part of the Steel Plantalso). Thus, the promotion to thesecond League was delayed for onemore year. The team who promoted in1982 finally to the second League

was trained by Traian Ivanescu andhad the following players: Chitic,Cucu, Serghi, Rotaru, Stoica,Adamache, David, Pavel, Ciobanu,Enache P, Ion Ionica, Teoharie, State,Micu, Popescu, Radu Dan, Bors E,Ceacu, Savin, Basalic, Ticu.

Metalosport spent the next 4years in the second RomanianLeague, while Vasilache finallysucceeded to regain the name thatwas fighting for since he wasappointed president. Metalosport wasforever to be named "Otelul".

In 1986 the team founded byVasilache 11 years back in the 5th

League, succeeded to play now in theFirst Romanian League. And 2 yearslater in UEFA Cup defeating the greatJuventus Torino!

The achievement toadvanced in the First League wasestablished by the coaches CosticaRadulescu and Ioan Sdrobisalongside the following players:Calugaru, Gh Stamate, M. Oprea,Ciobanu, Gelu Popescu, Stoica,Radu, Ciurea, Burcea, Smadu, MariusStan, Aurelian Stamate, Petrescu,Basalic, Rusu, Vaiscovici, Antohi,Bejenaru, Dumitru, Rotaru, Lala,Anghelinei, Carmen Stan, Ralea,

Diaconescu, Hanghiuc, TimofiCorneliu and juniors Ion Gigi, Vintila,Bedreaga si Alexandru.

The first game Otelul everplayed on the First League was onAugust 17, 1986 at Galati, against thecommunist party favorite VictoriaBucharest. Against all the odds, Otelulwon 2-0 (Antohi and Rotaru). Theteam finished 11th at the end of theseason. Nevertheless, the upcomingseason transformed Otelul in thestrongest team outside Bucharest.Otelul finished fourth and wasawarded with the right to participatefor the first time in UEFA Cup.

Otelul 1979

Otelul 1983

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Otelul 1984

Otelul 1985

This picture wastaken just before the last home game played byOtelul in the Second League (Otelul - DunareaCalarasi 2-0). Otelul obtained the first place with 13points difference of second place.

(seating): Ion Vestemeanu(football section manager), Bejenaru, Carmen Stan,Burcea, Ion Dinu, Pozmac, Calugaru, Anghelinei,Ion Rotaru, Gelu Popescu, Basalic;

: Victor Puiu Vasilache(Club President), Dr Vili Tanasa, Avramescu(maseur), Hanghiuc, Marius Stan, 16 supporters,Ion Sdrobis (second coach), Costica Radulescu(first coach).

June 22, 1986.

First row

Second row

August 6, 1986.

First row

Second row

The first picture tobe taken as a First League Team. In that day Otelulplayed a friendly game against Unirea Focsani (7-0,with 5 goals scored by Antohi - all in the first 30minutes and 2 by Lupu)

(seating): Hanghiuc,Ciurea Savin, Gelu Popescu, Ion Rotaru, Gh Popa,Ion Dinu, Calugaru, Agiu, Burcea, Casuba, Antohi;

: Ion Sdrobis (secondcoach), Dr Mihai Troaca (medic assistant), Posmac,Lupu, M. Dumitru, Carmen Stan, Viorel Anghelinei,C Timofte, Marius Stan, Aurelian Stamate (Vivi),Mihut, Ralea, Bejenaru, Vaiscovici, Avramescu(maseur) and Costica Radulescu (first coach)Otelul 1986

Lotul UEFA: First rowMiddle rowThird row (up)

(seating, left to right): Ralea, Hanghiuc, O Popescu, Antohi, Agiu, Adrian Oprea, Ion Profir, Ion Morohai (second coach).: Cornel Dinu (first coach), Borali, Podoaba, Males, Budaca, Balmus, Dragoi, Gelu Popescu, Ion Sdrobis (second coach).: Baicea, Burcea, Anghelinei, Burloiu, Calugaru, Gh Popa, Ion Gigi, Marius Stan, Ion Chebac

Otelul 1988

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October 26, 1986.Otelul - Rapid 5-0 with Ralea(foto) as author of 2 goals

(min 1 and 12).

The captain Nicolae Burcea was one ofthe greatest number "10" Romanianplayers ever. With Nae Burcea (at Otelulfrom 1983 until 1990), Otelul promotedfor the first time in the First League(1986) and qualified for UEFA Cup in1988 (when it defeated Juventus Torinoat Galati 1-0).

Viorel Anghelinei (with Otelul since 1986,first as a player, than for a short timePresident and now License Director withinthe club)

November 11, 1986. Marius Stan jumps over all otheropponents in a friendly game against FC Botosani.

Vivi Stamate, 1980

Haralambie Puiu Antohi

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September 7, 1988 is a datewritten with golden ink in the Galatifootball history. On that day, Otelulplayed at Galati against the mostawarded Italian club, Juventus Torino.The destiny of that game which tookplace on the freshly remodeledDunarea stadium in front of 35.000fans (a record to this day) wasdecided after 59 minutes into thegame, when Dragoi was thrown in thepenalty area.

The penalty kick wasexecuted by Profir and Otelul won 1-0!The entire city was in delirium! Otelulplayed in the following formula:Calugaru - Gelu Popescu, Anghelinei,Agiu, Borali (72 Ad. Oprea) - Burcea,Marius Stan, Profir, Octavian Popescu- Ralea (56 Dragoi), Antohi. Coachwas Cornel Dinu, helped by IoanSdrobis and Ion Morohai.

The return match at Torinowas going to be a simple formality forJuve. Players like Stefano Tacconi,Nicole Napoli, Pasquale Bruno, Luigide Agostini, Michael Laudrup,Alessandro Altobelli or Rui Barrosimposed themselves with a fantastic5-0 (3-0) win.

September 7, 1988Otelul Galati - Juventus Torino 1-0

Octavian Popescu and one of the italian players run after the ball. Inthe far back we see Burcea.

"Dunarea" stadium in Galati was packed with a record of 35.000people. The record stil stands as of today for this stadium.

September 7, 1988. Otelul -Juventus Torino 1-0. Otelul startedthe game with Profir, Calugaru,Burcea, O. Popescu, Borali (down),Antohi, Ralea, Marius Stan,Anghelinei, Gelu Popescu andMario Agiu (up)

62instalații de tubulatură navală

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By wining the Romanianchampionship title in 2011, OtelulGalati is to be the last Romanian teamqualified directly into the ChampionsLeague Group Stage. Starting nextseason, due to last European seasonsunsatisfactory results of the Romanianteams, the champions will have toplay qualification games first.

Thus it is a record mixed with a littleluck for the little team from Galati toplay directly in the CL. Until now,Otelul represented Romania only inthe UEFA Cup (5 times) and IntertotoCup (2 times). Otelul also played aBalkan Cup final in 1992.

Otelul in UEFA CupAll scorers in UEFA club competitions(14 players)Valentin StefanDragos Mihalache, Ciprian DanciuIon Profir, Iulian Catalin Apostol,

Victoras Iacob, Viorel Ion, StefanNanu, Adrian Eusebio State, CristianEugen Negru, Costin Males, Rohat,Aldea, Semeghin

3 g2 g1 g

UEFA Cup – 5 times: 14 5 3 6 18-21 18

1988-1989

1st round: Galati,7 Sept 1988

Otelul – Juventus Torino 1-0(0-0)

Ion Profir (59, pen)

Torino, 12Oct 1988

Juventus – Otelul Galati 5-0(3-0)

De Agostini (18), Laudrup (27),Barros (29, 72), Altobelli (50)

1997-1998

qualificationround

23 Jul 1997 NK Hit Gorica (Slovenia)– Otelul

2-0(1-0)

Demirovic (32), Becaj (90)

30 Jul 1997 Otelul – NK Hit Gorica 4-2(2-0)

Stefan (20, 27 pen),State (63),Viorel Ion (75)/Protega (88),Demirovic (90)

1998-1999

qualificationround

22 Jul 1998 Otelul - SlogaJugomagnat (Macedonia)

3-0(2-0)

Stefan (30), Mihalache (41),Males (88, pen)

29 Jul 1998 Sloga Jugomagnat –Otelul

1-1(1-0)

Stankovski (41) / Mihalache (58)

play-off 11 Aug 1998 Vejle BoldKlub(Danemark) – Otelul

3-0(2-0)

Wael (31, 41), Sogaard (62)

25 Aug 1998 Otelul - Vejle BoldKlub 0-3(0-2)

Jung (21), Graulund (35),Wael (53)

2004-2005

1st qualround

15 Jul 2004 Otelul – Dinamo Tirana(Albania)

4-0(4-0)

Negru (10), Nanu (19), Iacob (27),Apostol (42)

29 Jul 2004 Dinamo Tirana – Otelul 1-4(1-2)

Qose (24) / Danciu (22 pen & 80),Rohat (37), Aldea (70)

2nd qual.round

11 Aug 2004 – PartizanBelgradeOtelul 0-0

26 Aug 2004 Partizan – Otelul 1-0 Radonjic (29)

2007-2008

2nd qual.round

16 Aug 2007 Lokomotiv Sofia(Bulgaria)– Otelul

3-1(1-0)

Dafchev (19), Baldovaliev (62),Djilas (84) / Semeghin (74)

30 Aug 2007 Otelul – Lokomotiv Sofia 0-0

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Unfortunately for Otelul, theEuropean experience proved to beunlucky for the internal championship.Here, at the end of the 1988-89season, Otelul finished the 16th andreturned to the second League. It wasthe end of one great era for Otelul andfor the players who formed this greatteam.

Otelul returned to the First League just2 years later, in 1991, with almost theentire team changed and never leftthe First League ever since.

The new President was nowits former player Marius Stan whoreplaced the legendary Vasilache. Onthe first season since the returning,Otelul finished eighth and played theBalkan Cup Final against the Turkishteam Saryer Istanbul: 0-0 and 0-1.

1991 - 1992, Otelul in the Balkan Cup Final

Istanbul, 1992

Anghelinei and Kokalari (later also with Otelul)look in each other's eye.

Viorel Tanase scores the first of the four goals.(Otelul - Tomori Berat 4-0 in the semi-final)

The score is 4-0 andthe presidentMarius Stan is tryinga smile under his mustache.

Bancila and Tanase during the game

R1(down):R2:

R3:

Viorel Tanase, (...), Nicoara, Anghelinei, Profir, Males, Raileanu, TofanMarius Stan(president), I. Tamasanu (trainer), Bedreaga, Bancila, State, Ion Viorel,

Casuba, Gelu Popescu, (...), Chebac, Ion Moldovan(first coach),Ion Vestemeanu(vice-president)Mihai Olteanu(second coach), Nedelcearu, Baston, Budaca,

Calugaru, Barbu, Gh. Stamate(maseur), Ragea, Tudosa.

Gelu Popescu made oneof his greatest games.

March 31, 1992, Balkanic Cup Final: Otelul - Saryer Istanbul 0-0

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The team's growing maturitythroughout the next years attests forthe exceptional championship of1996-1997. Otelul finished 4th afterSteaua, FC National and Dinamo andautomatically qualified again for theUEFA Cup. Having Vasile Simionas asthe main coach and Ct Ploiesteanu assecond coach, the team plays on July23rd 1997 in the qualification round

against HIT Gorica (Slovenia). Otelulloses away 0-2 but the red-white-blueplayers promised a totally differentreturn game. On July 30th 1997, acompletely sold out Otelul stadiumimpatiently awaited the game. 30minutes into the game confirmed thesuperiority of the Galati players. Thegreat captain of those times, ValentinStefan was the one to open the score(20) and than again from a penaltykick (23), followed by Adrian State(66) and Viorel Ion (75). 4-0 and Otelul

was in the UEFA Cup phases! Thencame the last minute of the gamewhen the Slovenians Protega andDemirovic scored twice! At 4-2 HITGorica qualified further and we wereleft sad and bitter.

The 1997-98 first Leagueseason went also well for Otelul whofinished again fourth and again in theback of 3 teams from Bucharest.

It was then the fans invented theexpression "Outside BucharestChampions", nickname that is beingheld even today.

UEFA Cup was becoming atougher competition because startingthat year was introduced a secondqualification round. To be ahead oftheir game, Otelul made sure to havea good start from the first round: 3-0and 1-1 against Sloga Jugomagnat(Macedonia)

in the second half of July 1998. Theroad to UEFA final phases was onceagain interrupted, this time by a moreexperienced team, the Danish VejleBoldklub: 0-3 and 0-3!

Otelul 1994R1(down):R2R3

Calugaru, Streltov, Florea, Ion Sdrobis(first coach), Barnoveanu, Casuba, Antohi;: Gh. Stamate, Mirea, Tofan, Haraga, Luta, Cornea, Ciolobc, M. Aprofirei(maseur);: Dan Oprea, Viorel Tanase, Males, Badan, Barbu, Vali Stefan, Anton, Duban

July 30, 1997 Nightmare at Galati. Otelul - HIT Gorica 4-2 but not enough to qualify.

Stefan scored the first goal to qualify Otelulin the second qualification round

Ioan Viorel’s effort was useless with Vejle

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In the 1998-99 Otelulfinished 6th but is the last season withSimionas on the technical bench, after5 years of coaching the team. After acouple of seasons on the second partof the charts, 2001 brought with it ascoach the former glory of Steaua,Marius Lacatus. Otelul was his firstteam to coach in his carreer andfinished 6th but in the end, hedeparted Galati along with 8 otherplayers.

In 2003, reinforced with anew president (Nicolae Boghici) andlast minute players, Otelul becomesonce again the threat for the

Bucharest teams. In the middle of2003-2004, a new coach is brought tothe team: the former glory Sorin Cartu.He was the last coach to win the titlewith a team other than the ones fromBucharest (U Craiova). Otelul endsthe season 5th place and plays for thefirst time the Romanian Cup final (0-2with Dinamo on June 6th 2004). Theteam who played the Romanian Cupfinal was: Cernea - D. Munteanu,Rohat, Ghionea - C Dobre,Marginean, C Danciu (41 Gheara),Apostol (60 Augustin Calin), Nanu - BAldea, Danut Oprea (70 Mircea Ilie).By being a Cup's finalist, Otelul wasawarded the right to play in the UEFACup's qualification.

The fourth presence of

Otelul in UEFA Cup takes place in thesummer of 2004. Having its ownstadium under renovation, Otelul is

moved to play 250 km away atConstanta all the home games.

First on July 15th Otelul plays againstDinamo Tirana (Albania) with doublevictory: 4-0 at "home" and 4-1 away.Even in the second qualification roundOtelul was not able to play in front ofits fans. This fact contributed to theirdisqualification: 0-0 at Constanta and0-1 in Belgrade against Partisan.During the winter of 2004-2005, theprimary team's sponsor "The SteelPlant" (later called SIDEX, Mittal Steeland now Arcelor Mittal) manifested itsintention to get involved even more inOtelul's destiny. They announced a 2mil E a year support for the team'sbudget and fans in Galati started todream of better days. That seasonfinds Otelul finished eighth with ViorelAnghelinei as president, Catalin Tofanvice-president and Mihai Stoichita asthe main coach. However, the start ofthe next season (2005-2006) provedto be the toughest in the club's historysince active in the First League.

R1(down):R2

R3

Tofan, Danut Oprea, Frunza, Stan, Claudiu Stan, Robert Nita, Bastina, Mihalache, Cernat, Mozacu: Gelu Popescu, Calugaru, Tica Ploiesteanu(second coach), Titi Dumitriu(first coach), Males, Bodea, Arcanu,

Bordeianu, Nemteanu, Mihai Stoica, Costel Craciun, Gh. Stamate(maseur), Magearu(staff): Miron, Gurita, Spirea, Viorel Tanase, Ion Gigi, Ghionea, Bostina, Pelin, Haraga, Balint

R1(down):R2

R3

Marginean, Toma, Sarghi, Cernat, Bors, Cristi Munteanu, Gurita, Bastina, Danut Oprea, Mozacu: Calugaru, Magearu, Ion Gigi(second coach), Marius Lacatus(first coach), Gelu Popesscu, Vali Stefan,

Mihai Stoica, Ion Ionica, Craciun, M. Aprofirei, Gh. Stamate, M. Troaca(medic): Tofan, Claudiu Stan, Ogararu, Bucataru, Velescu, Ghionea, Dinu, B. Andone, Pelin, Bostina, Tanase, Popa

R1(down):R2

R3

Apostol, Marginean, Nanu, Dan Oprea, Toma, Cernat, Dragomir, Dobre, D. Orac, Isvoranu: Barbu, Troaca(medic), Magearu, Aprofirei(maseur), Craciun(maseur), Bors, Ion Ionica, N. Boghici(president),

Vali Stefan, Cartu(first coach), Irimescu(second coach), Calugaru, Cernea: Macarie, Danciu, M. Ilie, Gheara, Aldea, D. Munteanu, Ghionea, A. Calin, Verdes, Negru, Pelin, Rohat.

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After 15 games Otelul onlyaccumulated 9 points and held the lastplace. Than was when Marius Stancame back as President to save theclub. He appointed Petre Grigoras ascoach and together brought to theteam no less than 18 new players!Otelul finished 9th, having the bestspring season since its inception, with7 victories out of 8 away games!

In 2007 the team receivedits first award in the club's history:Intertoto UEFA Cup after 4 gamesthey didn't lose: 0-0 and 3-0 withSlavija Sarajevo and 2-1 and 2-1 withTrabzonspor.

By wining the Intertoto Cup group,Otelul qualified for the 5th time in itshistory to play in UEFA Cup. This timethe journey was shorted by LokomotivSofia (Bulgaria): 1-3 and 0-0.

In the summer of 2009,Otelul said farewell to Petre Grigoras,a coach that was much loved in Galatiin his three and a half years on thebench.

In his place was hired the formerinternational player Dorinel Munteanu,a Romanian football player that holdsthe record of Romanian National Teampresences: 134 games!

With Dorinel Munteanu ascoach, Otelul almost made it toEurope League in his first year: 8thplace in 2009-2010, just 2 points awayfrom the place qualified in EL.However, a year later, for the first timein the club's history, Otelul won theRomanian First League. The teamwas in the lead 24 out of 34 gamesand succeeded to end the season 4

points away from the second team.Winning the title

consequently brought the team to theChampions League, Otelul being thelast of the Romanian Teams to benefita direct admission.

Two months after their title,on July 17 2011, Otelul added theRomanian Super cup to its awards,wining the game against SteauaBucharest (1-0).

Therefore, a team rebornout of its own ashes in 1975succeeded in only 36 years, a numberof 23 seasons in the First RomanianLeague, was awarded a championstitle, a Supercup and a Intertoto Cup,played 5 times in the UEFA Cup, inone Romanian Cup final and oneBalkan Cup Final and now is to bepresent among the best teams in theworld and play in the ChampionsLeague's Group Stage.

Otelul 2006:Marius Stan(President), Catalin Tofan(vice-president), Petre Grigoras(first coach),Marian Dinu & Calugaru(second coaches), Tamasanu(trainer), Ralea(sport director), M. Troaca(medic),Marginean, Oprea, Somodean, Craciun, Semeghin, Dobre, Apostol, Badescu, Baciu, Gado, Macarie, Nogo,Stelea, Vatca, Barbu, Iorga, Costin, Rancan, Stamate, Craciun, Apetri, Viorel Tanase, Baltoi, D. Stan, Brujan,I. Calin, Elek, Paraschiv, M. Aprofirei(maseur)

Otelul 2006-2008:R1(down): Tadas Labukas, Semeghin, Iorga, Szekely, Salageanu, Deac, Giurgiu, S. Ilie;R2: M. Troaca(medic), Jelev, Viglianti, V. Tanase(second coach), Petre Grigoras(first coach),Marius Stan(President), Marian Dinu(second coach), Dan Motei(second coach), Gado, Paraschiv,Tamasanu(trainer)R3: Jula, Sergiu Costin, Nogo, Grybauskas, Brujan, Kolev, Sarghi, D. Stan.

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In the summer of 2007,Otelul was entered to play in IntertotoCup. After a draw 0-0 at SlavijaSarajevo in Bosnia and 3-0 (Jula 31,41 and Paraschiv 70) at Galati withthe same team, Otelul qualifies to playthe final with Trabzonspor Istanbul.

Otelul also played in Intertoto Cup in1993, with the following results:Galati 27.06.93 | O elul Gala i-Young Boys Bern3-3(0-3) Cornea (60p,75), Vali Stefan (85) / Kunz (25),R.Sutter (27), Agostino (44),

Seekirchen 03.07.93 | Casino Salzburg - Otelul Galati2-1(2-1)Pfeifenberger (19,24p) / Cornea (39)

Grenaa 10.07.93 | Aarhus - Otelul Galati 4-0(1-0)Soren Andersen (twice), Hallvorsen (twice)

Galati 18.07.93 | Otelul Galati - Sigma Olomouc0-1(0-0) Goal: Kerbr (6)

ţ ţ

Otelul won the first game at Galati onJuly 21, 2007, score 2-1 (Daniel Stan26 and Gabi Paraschiv 86 / Ersen 85)but the real final was a week after, inTurkey. 25.000 fanatic Turkish fanscreated a terrible atmosphere but theteam who played more pragmatically

was again Otelul. Ceyhun scored forTrabzon 8 minutes after the gamestarted but 4 minutes later Szekelyreestablished the balance. Than came30 minutes of assault at the Romaniannet. At the end, the ones who scoredwere again the Galati team, with Julafrom penalty kick (min 88).By wining a Intertoto group, Otelulqualified for the 5th time in UEFA Cup(new Europe League). They playedagainst Lokomotiv Sofia but could noteliminate them in two games: 1-3 inBulgaria and 0-0 at home.

Otelul Galati - the first Romanian Team to accede to Europe League from Intertoto Cup

Jula scored 2 goals in one of his bestgames played at Galati

Giurgiu played this game as right side fullback

The young Cristi Sarghi (20 years old) in action

Semi-final7 July 2007

14 July 2007

Final21 Iulie 2007

28 Iulie 2007

:

Slavija Sarajevo (Bosnia) – Otelul 0-0

Otelul – Slavija Sarajevo 3-0 Jula (31,41), Paraschiv 70

:

Otelul – Trabzonspor (Turkey) 2-1Daniel Stan (26), Paraschiv (86) /Ersen (85)

Trabzonspor – Otelul 1-2 Ceyhun (8) /Szekely (12), Jula (88 pen)

Gabi Paraschiv and Daniel Stanbrought the victory for Galati

68

69

Season League Place Gamesplayed

Won Drawn Lost GoalsFor

GoalsAgainst

Points

1975 - 1976

1976 - 1977

1977 - 1978

1993 - 1994

1985 - 1986

2001 - 2002

1981 - 1982

1997 - 1998

1989 - 1990

2005 - 2006

1979 - 1980

1995 - 1996

1987 - 1988

2003 - 2004

1983 - 1984

1999 - 2000

1991 - 1992

2007 - 2008

1978 - 1979

1994 - 1995

1986 - 1987

2002 - 2003

1982 - 1983

1998 - 1999

1990 - 1991

2006 - 2007

1980 - 1981

1996 - 1997

1988 - 1989

2004 - 2005

1984 - 1985

2000 - 2001

1992 - 1993

2008 - 2009

2009 - 2010

2010 - 2011

City

County

3rd

1st

2nd

1st

3rd

1st

2nd

1st

3rd

1st

1st

1st

2nd

1st

1st

1st

3rd

1st

1st

1st

2nd

1st

2nd

1st

3rd

1st

1st

1st

2nd

1st

1st

1st

1st

1st

1

1

11

15

1

5

1

4

3

9

9

12

4

5

8

9

8

7

10

13

11

13

3

6

1

5

1

4

16

8

3

12

10

12

8

1

30

34

34

30

30

34

34

30

30

34

30

34

34

34

34

30

34

34

34

30

34

34

34

34

30

34

34

30

34

30

34

34

34

34

11

12

24

14

17

20

20

10

13

14

10

13

15

15

14

10

11

11

9

16

17

21

17

21

17

11

12

15

10

13

11

14

21

3

5

4

7

7

4

0

9

3

3

13

8

4

5

5

6

9

10

9

6

4

5

5

6

7

6

4

8

8

6

7

8

7

16

17

6

9

6

10

14

11

14

17

7

13

15

14

15

14

14

13

12

12

13

8

12

3

10

17

14

11

12

15

16

12

6

39

38

86

34

81

54

54

35

38

42

30

45

59

38

48

31

47

37

25

61

47

65

60

63

54

36

31

63

33

40

37

38

46

41

47

29

24

31

28

35

37

52

46

18 3 13 49 46 39

26

38

55

46

48

47

51

36

37

38

33

30

56

16

39

59

32

31

39

49

48

38

25

25

29

52

49

41

64

40

39

29

45

43

34

49

35

47

26

42

32

36

38

55

47

56

48

58

28

40

38

38

32

40

50

70

36

Otelul 1975 - 2011 National Adventure

Name Coachedbetween

GoalsAgainst

Points

1

2

3

7

5

4

6

Gamesplayed

Won Drawn Lost

Dumitru Oprea

Ion Toma

Ion Ionita

Petre Motoc

Traian Ivanesc

1974 - 1978

1978 - 1979

1979 - 1980

1980 - 1981

1981 - 1983

30

30

30

30

64

10

10

13

21

33

6

6

3

6

13

14

14

14

3

18

26

26

29

48

79

Marin Olteanu

Angelo Niculescu

01.07.1983-01.01.1984

01.01-01.07.1984

08.07.2009-present

17

17

8

5

5

3

4

9

GoalsFor31

31

38

63

142

28

17

47

47

52

16

69

15

23

21

13

8 Costica Radulescu 01.07.1984-01.07.1988 L2: 68L1: 68

3929

1213

1726

14986

6082

9071

9 Cornel Dinu 01.07-01.10.1988 8 1 1 6 5 20 3

10 Ioan Sdrobis 01.10-15.11.198801.07-01.11.1994 15 5 5 5 24 25 17

11 Nicolae Burcea 15.11-20.12.1988 3 1 1 1 6 8 3

12 Mircea Dridea 15.01-01.07.1989 17 6 2 9 15 25 14

13 Ion Morohai 01.07.1989-01.07.1990 34 20 0 14 54 35 40

14 Ion Moldovan 01.07.1990-01.07.1992 L2: 34L1: 34

2115

55

814

6538

3046

4735

15 Aurica Ticleanu 01.07.1992-01.06.199401.07-15.10.2000 81 29 14 38 95 114 76

16 Haralambie Antohi 15-20.09.1994 1 0 0 1 0 2 0

17 Vasile Simionas 01.11.94-10.06.99 159 77 24 58 229 174 255

18 ConstantinPloiesteanu 10-20.06.1999 1 0 0 1 1 2 0

19 Dumitru Dumitriu 01.07.1999-01.06.2000 34 15 4 15 59 55 49

20 Gigi Ion 01.11-15.12.2000 5 0 3 2 3 6 3

21 Ilie Dumitrescu 01.01-01.07.2001 15 6 3 6 15 20 21

22 Victor Rosca 01.07-31.12.2001 15 5 5 5 14 11 20

23 Marius Lacatus 15.01-01.07.2002 15 9 2 4 20 13 29

24 Costel Orac 01.07.2002 - 15.12.2003 45 14 14 17 38 50 56

25 Sorin Cartu 10.01-15.12.2004 30 11 10 9 28 25 43

26 Mihai Stoichita 15.01-01.07.2005 15 6 2 7 20 20 20

27 Aurel Sunda 01.07-01.11.2005 12 1 5 6 7 20 8

28 Petre Grigoras 01.01.2006-30.06.2009 117 51 20 46 171 164 173

29 Dorinel Munteanu 68 35 15 18 84 63 120

Games GoalsAgainst

PointsWon Drawn Lost GoalsFor

TotalHomeAway

758

379

379

316

234

82

148

76

72

294

69

225

958

627

331

945

318

627

1016

712

304

Otelul in Liga 1 all times

Otelul’s coaches of all times

71

72

Galați is a city in Romania, the capital of GalațiCounty. Located in the historical region ofMoldavia, Galați is the largest seaport onDanube.According to the latest official estimates, from2009, there were 290,733 people living withinthe city of Galați, making it the seventh mostpopulous city in Romania.One of the largest economic centers inRomania, Galați has an economic lifedeveloped around the Naval Shipyard, PortRiver, Arcelor-Mittal steel plant, and MineralPort.

The Cantemir metropolitan area or Gala i-Br ilametropolitan area is a proposed metropolitanarea project. It will be formed from the cities ofGala i and Br ila in Romania.Together theyhave a population of about 600,000 people. Analternate name could be Lower Danube.If completed, it would represent the second-largest metropolitan zone in Romania afterBucharest. Motorways, a new airport and abridge across Danube connecting Br ila-Gala iarea to Tulcea will be developed.[4]When you visit Galati and like to visit othercountries, bring your passport. The metropolitanarea has a –border checkpoint to Moldova andUkraine. Gala i is located 10 km fromGiurgiule ti (Republic of Moldova) and 20 kmfrom Reni (Ukraine).

University of GalațiA dense network of schools at all levels, fromnursery and kindergarten through to universityeducation provides the infrastructure andeducating the young generation. The Universityof Galați includes 11 faculties (with two uniquefaculties in Romania: "The Faculty of Ships" and"Department of Food Science and Engineering)and 3 colleges. The Danubius University is aprivate institution with departments in legal,economic and social fields.

Library Urechia V.A.In Galați is the largest library, Library UrechiaV.A., founded in 1889, with the first gift cardfund Academician Vasile Alexandrescu Urechia.Library Urechia V.A. "has over 600,000 titlesand over 150 subscriptions to newspapers andmagazines.

Lower Danube metropolitan area

Education

Libraries

ţ ă

ţ ă

ă ţ

ţş

Economy

Places of Worship

Arcelor-Mittal Steel WorksThe city has the largest iron and steel plant inRomania the Arcelor-Mittal Galați, state-owneduntil 2001. It is still commonly referred to underthe old name "Sidex". Also, the country's largestshipyard on Danube is located here, benefitingfrom the good access Galați has to the BlackSea through the Danube and the short distancebetween its facilities and the Mittal Plant.

Fortified Monastery of the Holy VirginIt is the oldest building in Galați, wasconsecrated as a place of worship in September1647 during the reign of Vasile Lupu. Thechurch was dedicated Vatopedi Monastery onMount Athos. The church was raising theexisting materials used on site: stone men,wood from forests Covurluiului platform, brickand lime, sand beaches, etc. Danube.Romanian church architecture and presentssome specific elements: bell tower withbattlements, which can be used to observe theDanube Valley, and in case of need becamedefensive fortification. The tower, consisting oftwo levels, is provided with a room to hideassets, with two ramparts, and an access door,

probably to a balcony. The second floor wasfitted with windows and battlements. Anotherdefense to "Virgin" is reinforced bridgeconsisting of two parts, one above the nave and

two above the altar. The bridge is equipped with28 battlements. In masonry, among the rows ofbrick, stone is used, unused equipment to otherMoldovan churches built in the same period.Church, "Virgin" bore all hardships times, beingburned by the Ottomans in 1711, destroyed inthe Russo-Ottoman-Austrian wars of 1735-1739and 1769-1774. In 1821, the Ottomans and thehousing destroyed and robbed. The church wasrebuilt and restored in 1829 and, in 1859. Hedid a restore and then between 1953 to 1957,the church was turned into a museum. In theperiod 1991-1994, the church, "Virgin" wasrestored. They say there is a secret tunnel

About Galati city

73

under the Danube from the church to the otherside of the river in order to hide assets andescape the attacks of enemies.

Mihai Eminescu Municipal ParkDesigned in 1869, this park keeps a few treescontemporary Mihai Eminescu staying heremore often especially in later life. In the parkthere is a small lake and an artificially-arrangedplace where the military band played recitals inthe past. It is popular because of the presenceof the statue of Eminescu.Public GardenIt is located near the Student Complexrepresents an especially beautiful area for restand recreation. Also it is an excellent point ofview over Lake Brates, the main rail way stationand train depot.

Botanical GardenThe Museum is included in the NaturalSciences and dominates the left bank of theDanube. You can admire the collections oftropical and subtropical plants (cactus, palm,croton, geraniums, begonias, etc..) rosary chic,with over 200 varieties of roses, flora andvegetation on the southern slopes of Romania'ssunny garden - over 3000 specimens of speciesof trees and shrubs, oaks area - more than 50copies of birch and conifers. Here is a replica ofa Japanese garden.Hunters LakeLocated in the far north-eastern town of Galați,an area of 28 hectares. Includes a 11-ha naturallake, a slope of 10 ha of forest of acacia and aslope of 8 hectares partially arranged under aplan for recreational and intensivemodernization and refurbishment.Danube socket leisure complexLocated out of the city, on the road to Br ila,has three swimming pools, houses, campingsites and a restaurant. On a portion of thecomplex is a Western club that is equipped witha pool, restaurant, bar and café.

It is one of the key areas Galați. Instead ofwalking for all, which occur frequently in sportscompetitions, musical concerts (concerts and

Gardens and parks

Waterfront

ă

Cross Children). It offers great potential forrelaxation and recreation in green areas. It is"populated" by many ancient monuments ofiron, original. On the shore below the cliffs aremany boats turned into restaurants.

Drama Theatre

Fani Tardini Drama TheatreThere are over 45 years. Repertory theater is adramatic profile, the band consists of 25permanent actors, two directors, one designer.To achieve theater production also uses thenationally prestigious collaborators - directors,designers, composers. The theater has its ownproduction studios, own room with 300 seats,with Italian-type scene. Is the only professionaltheatrical drama profiles Galați County. Theatreaddresses the whole audience Galați, and thosein counties nearby. Directory includes newproductions each season outside, a number oftitles carried in previous seasons.

Alexandru Ioan Cuza MuseumNatural Sciences Museum ComplexBotanical Garden contains planetarium domediameter of 7 metres (23 ft), can be viewed heredifferent projections so that the visitors cantravel to all corners of the imaginary universe,also takes place in the Planetarium, andnumerous educational programs, goodexamples being Astroclub "Calin Popovici, andEducational Program "You know the sun, " V-XIIclasses for students. The aquarium is rare andvery rare themes ichthyofauna of the Danubebasin, Mediterranean Sea and exotic fish fauna.Botanical garden dominates the left bank of theDanube, occupying an area of 18 hectares.Galați History MuseumIt was inaugurated on 24 January 1939, on the

Theaters

Museums

occasion of his 80th anniversary of the UnionRomanian principalities in the house whichbelonged to the family Cuza Alexandru IoanCuza and where he lived during which the chiefmagistrate, in Galați. Muzelui scientific activityresumed in 1951-1952, when he startedorganizing scientific collections. In 1956, out-ofcollections have been separated, so theyformed part of the collections of the Museum ofNatural Sciences, and another, the collectionsof the Museum of Art. Gradually, the HistoryMuseum's collection through new acquisitionsand increased archaeological researchconducted in the southern part of Moldova,mainly from the Roman camp Tirighina-Barbosi,now reaching a collection of over 50,000exhibits, some of which are of exceptionalimportance.Alexandru Ioan Cuza Memorial House Built onthe former home of the chief magistrate ofCovurlui, Alexandru Ioan Cuza, the first ruler ofRomania (1859–1866). It includes a permanentexhibition dedicated to the prince, assembly andquality of restoration of environment at the endof Galați sec. nineteenth century and thebeginning of sec. twentieth century.Visual Arts MuseumIt is the first Romanian contemporary artmuseum in the country. It was inaugurated in1967 and was designed to provide the lateststructural trends emerging artistic phenomenon,and a destination that keeps and the beginningof this millennium. Approximately 400 existingwork-in halls and outdoor exhibition in themuseum park, is a selection from a much largerproperty, often filled with a virtual wealth ofcontemporary artists' workshops. Heritagemuseum includes works of Romanian art in thesecond half of the nineteenth and twentieth-century avant-garde representatives Romanianand works of artists who formed a bridgebetween the first and second half of the century.

74

&

www.csr.rowww.mobilis.com.ro

Special thanks to

Content

Marius Stan and his dream 3

Puiu Vasilache, the first Club's President 4

The surprising champions 5

The last battle 7

Super champions 15

Dorinel Munteanu 22

About the fans 28

The squad 31

Coach Tamasanu 51

About the stadium 56

A little history 57

Otelul – Juventus Torino 62

Otelul in UEFA Cup 63

Balkan Cup Final 64

Intertoto Cup 68

National results 70

About Galati city 72

ISBN978-973-0-11273-3