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LPS HD Clinceni

Full name	Club Sportiv LPS HD Clinceni
Nickname(s)	Academicienii (The Academics) Ilfovenii (The People from Ilfov County)
Founded	2005; 19 years ago (2005) as CS Buftea 2022; 2 years ago (2022) as LPS HD Clinceni
Ground	Clinceni
Capacity	4,500
Owner	Clinceni Commune
Chairman	Sorin Parancea
Manager	Cristian Catană
League	Liga III
2023–24	Liga III, Seria III, 4th
Home colours Away colours Third colours
Current season

Club Sportiv LPS HD Clinceni, commonly known as Clinceni and formerly as Academica Clinceni, is a Romanian football club based in Clinceni, Ilfov County, currently playing in the Liga IV - Ilfov County. In the summer of 2022 former Academica Clinceni went bankrupt, but the club was refounded as LPS HD (Liceul cu Program Sportiv Helmuth Duckadam) Clinceni.

Academica Clinceni was founded in Buftea in 2005, following a merger between two clubs, and enrolled directly in the third division. It promoted to the Liga II at the end of the 2007–08 season, but participated in the competition for only one year after it sold its place and returned to the third tier. After several years Buftea promoted again, but following the withdrawn of their financial support the club had to relocate three times—The first time in 2013, when it was bought by the authorities from Clinceni, also in Ilfov County, one year later when it moved to Pitești, and finally when it returned to Clinceni and settled on the current name in 2015.

In 2017, Academica started a partnership with FCSB, loaning a number of youth players from the latter's academy, and achieved a surprising promotion to the Liga I in 2019. The team represents the smallest locality to ever participate in the Romanian first league, the commune of Clinceni only having a population of roughly 5,000 people.

History

CS Buftea, first years and ascent (2005–2013)

FC Academica Clinceni was founded in 2005 under the name of CS Buftea, being originally based in the town of Buftea, Ilfov County. CS Buftea was formed following a merger between a local team from Buftea, which was playing in the fourth division and Cimentul Fieni, first colors of the club were red, white and blue and as a peculiarity, the senior squad of the club was enrolled directly in the third tier (Liga III) and assigned to the third series, on the place occupied by Cimentul, where it was ranked 6th at the end of the season. Next season (2006–07) was a better one for the club located only 20 km north-west of Bucharest, finishing on the podium and achieving the bronze medal, but pretty far from the champions Concordia Chiajna (13 points) and runners-up Juventus București (8 points). The ascension of the club continued and at the end of the 2007–08 season has advanced a place, finishing this time as runners-up, in a third series totally dominated by FC Ploiești which had an advance of 19 points in front of "the red-white-blue team". After a promotion play-off tournament held on neutral ground, at Câmpina on Poiana Stadium, CS Buftea promoted for the first time in its history in the Liga II. The promotion was obtained after winning the first group of the play-off tournament, a group consisting of Juventus București, Aerostar Bacău and "the red-white-blue team".

In the summer of 2008, after the promotion, the football club led at that time by president Sorin Dumitrescu and general manager Dumitru Tudor, realized that it would be quite difficult to manage by itself in the second tier and started a collaboration with the top-flight squad Politehnica Timișoara. Through this collaboration at Buftea arrived, on loan, a number of important players such as Cristian Zimmermann, Ioan Mera, Alin Rațiu, Marian Chițu, Adrian Popa, Cristian Scutaru, Artur Pătraș, Alexandru Popovici, Florin Sandu, Adrian Poparadu, Gueye Mansour or Mircea Axente, among others. With this dream team in which more than half of the players were on loan from Politehnica Timișoara, the club was quickly perceived as a satellite of "the white and violet" club. The technical bench has been completed with Ion Balaur (head coach), Daniel Iftodi and Vasile Caciureac (assistant managers), Nicolae Ciocănișteanu (goalkeeping coach) and the club near Bucharest ended the autumn season on an honorable seven place, with 23 points, over teams such as Petrolul Ploiești, Sportul Studențesc, Concordia Chiajna, FC Botoșani or FCM Bacău. During the winter break the collaboration with Politehnica Timișoara was broken, the club from the banks of Bega choosing Gloria Buzău as the new informal satellite, president Sorin Dumitrescu left the club, in his place being named Constantin Niță, all the important players were redirected to Buzău and the technical staff resigned. In January 2009 executive president was named Anamaria Prodan, a football agent, and Cristian Țermure was hired as the new head coach, the results were far below expectations, the squad accumulating only 10 points and avoiding the relegation mostly due to the points made in the first part of the season.

The tough spring of 2009 was clear evidence for the town of Buftea that the club could not sustain itself financially at this level and in July 2009 mayor of Buftea announced that the team sold its place in the Liga II to Săgeata Stejaru for 500,000€ and that the club will continue to play in the Liga III, in Săgeata's place, the two clubs practically swapping their places. After "the self-relegation" episode, the club started the Liga III season with a small name change, now being known under the name of ACS Buftea (Asocția Club Sportiv Buftea), but with the same logo and colors. A 5th place at the end of the season, followed by a 9th place at the end of the 2010–11 campaign put the club in the shadow, now being only a mid-table team in the third tier of the Romanian football league system.

In the summer of 2011, Buftenii has gathered the ranks and under the leadership of president Sorin Dumitrescu (also the former president of the club during the 2007–08 campaign) and head coach Lavi Hrib obtained a promotion against the odds, a promotion that was disputed until the last rounds of the season, the main rival, Viitorul Domnești, finishing at the same number of points, 51. After the promotion, the same financial problems, as at the previous one, appeared, this time much more serious. In summer 2012, the town of Buftea decided that it could not sustain financially the club in the second division and ordered the football club to withdraw before starting the season. Meanwhile, a group of businessmen from Snagov showed interest in taking over the club, but the negotiations were in progress when the squad should have played a Romanian Cup preliminary round against third division side ACS Berceni. So, in order not to be excluded, the team sent on the pitch a first eleven composed mostly of youth players, registering not only the biggest defeat in the history of the club, but probably the biggest defeat in the history of the Romania football, 0–31. Finally bought by a group of private sponsors, ACS Buftea was enrolled in the championship, Lavi Hrib, the head coach which promoted the club in the Liga II, was sacked after a few rounds being replaced by Giani Kiriță, who was then replaced during the winter break by Valentin Bădoi. Surprisingly the squad had good results being ranked 6th at the end of the season, the best result ever for the club near Bucharest.

Academica, a club on the roads (2013–2017)

On 2 August 2013 the club was sold, by its private owners, to commune of Clinceni, a locality that had at that time a team in the Liga III, named Inter Clinceni. The procedures moved quickly, ACS Buftea changed its name to FC Clinceni, the red, white and blue colors were changed in black and blue, Inter Clinceni was kept in the third tier, but its best players, together with a group from ACS Buftea made the new squad, Valentin Bădoi being named as the head coach. The club was ranked 6th at the end of the 2012–13 edition, equaling their best performance, achieved only one season before.

In the summer of 2014, it seemed that the good results of the club do not provide also the financial security, the commune of Clinceni choosing to sell the club, at only one year after buying it. The new buyer was Constantin Moroianu, a businessman and owner of Cafea Fortuna, the largest Romanian coffee maker. Moroianu chose to move and rebrand the club, this time the base was set outside the Ilfov County, more exactly in Pitești, Argeș County, 115 km from Clinceni; the club was renamed as Academica Argeș, the black and blue kits were replaced by the new white and purple ones and as manager was hired Marius Baciu. Academica Argeș started as a project which was supposed to replace FC Argeș Pitești, the traditional club of the city and double champion of Romania, football club which was declared bankrupt in the same year. The new project, however, did not attract the supporters' sympathy or the financial support of the local authorities and after a 2014–15 season in which "the Academics" fought for promotion until the end, finally losing it in front of FC Voluntari, Moroianu withdrew and sold the club back to commune of Clinceni.

Back to Clinceni in the summer of 2015, Academica Argeș was renamed as Academica Clinceni, the colors were changed back from white and purple to black and blue and the logo also suffered some transformations. Former footballers Bogdan Apostu and László Balint were named as general manager, respectively head coach. In the winter of 2016 financial problems were back to "the Academics" and after a difficult period, during the winter break, the club was sold again. At a short time after the transaction, in the Romanian press started to appear many articles about the fact that the club was bought by a Chinese company. At the end of the season "the black and blues" finished on a well deserved six place, away from any worries.

"The Academics" are going up (2017–2022)

In the summer of 2017, local authorities from Clinceni have returned to the club's ownership, former footballer Sorin Paraschiv was named as general manager and Erik Lincar as head coach. "The Academics" also returned to the old methods and started a collaboration with a top-flight club, this time FCSB, club which loaned some young players in the Ilfov County. During the winter break Lincar left the club, being replaced by Ilie Poenaru and "the black and blues" finished the championship on the 6th place. 2018–19 season was a fantastic one for the club, which under the led of Ilie Poenaru and with a squad composed of young players coming on loan from FCSB, others who grew up at Sportul Studențesc Academy and some of them with first league appearances such as Vasile Olariu, Paul Pîrvulescu or captain Răzvan Patriche, managed to promote in the Liga I, for the first time in its history, surpassing teams such as Universitatea Cluj, Petrolul Ploiești, Argeș Pitești or UTA Arad. ACS Buftea was previously in collaboration with Politehnica Timișoara.

LPS HD Clinceni (2022-present)

After being directly relegated to Liga III due to financial problems, Academicienii made the decision to take it from the bottom, more precisely from Liga IV. Starting with the 2022–2023 season, Ilfovenii will participate in Seria 2 of the Liga IV - Ilfov County, using the name of former Steaua's goalkeeper, Helmut Duckadam.

Youth program

Youth academy of FC Academica Clinceni is still a project in development, currently in the academy of the club that represents the smallest locality that ever had a football team in the first tier, are no less than 700 kids and youth players.

Grounds

Stadionul Clinceni

Clinceni Stadium, located in Clinceni, Ilfov County is the current home ground of Academica Clinceni. Opened in 2011 and with a capacity of 4,500 seats, the stadium, also known as Clinceni Arena, is the main ground of a modern complex that consists of many other football pitches. The stadium was between 2011 and 2015 the home ground of Inter Clinceni and during the 2013–14 season, then again from 2015, the home ground of Academica. In the autumn of 2018 started a renovation process that included, among others, the pitch modernization, capacity expansion to 4,500 seats and the installment of a floodlight system. The second ground of the Clinceni Complex is approved to host Liga II matches, having a capacity of 1,000 seats.

Honours

• Liga II
  • Runners-up (2): 2014–15, 2018–19
• Liga III
  • Winners (1): 2011–12
  • Runners-up (1): 2007–08
• Liga IV – Ilfov County
  • Winners (1): 2022–23

Players

First-team squad

As of 6 September 2023

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player 2 DF  ROU Vlad Lazăr 3 DF  ROU Tudor Dințică 4 DF  ROU Alexandru Mateescu 5 DF  ROU Bogdan Badea 6 DF  ROU Alexandru Marin (Captain) 7 MF  ROU Cosmin Ion 8 FW  ROU Andrei Ioniță 9 FW  ROU David Biolițeanu 11 MF  ROU Laurențiu Ardelean 12 GK  ROU Mirel Bolboașă 15 MF  ROU Florin Ungureanu

No. Pos. Nation Player 17 DF  ROU Cosmin Ioniță 20 MF  ROU Andrei Mirică 21 DF  ROU Andrei Culda 22 MF  ROU Mateo Melencu 24 MF  ROU Bogdan Melencu 28 MF  ROU Costinel Constantin 45 DF  ROU David Goicea (on loan from Metropolitan) 77 MF  ROU Fabian Voicu 82 GK  ROU Cristian Ștefan (on loan from FCSB II) 90 MF  ROU Robert Păuna (on loan from FCSB II) 92 FW  ROU Cătălin Mirea 99 DF  ROU Ștefan Ustinescu

Club officials

Board of directors Role Name Owner Clinceni Commune President Sorin Parancea

Current technical staff Role Name Manager Cristian Catană Goalkeeping coach Mirel Bolboașă

League history

Notable former players

The footballers enlisted below have had international cap(s) for their respective countries at junior and/or senior level and/or more than 50 caps for FC Academica Clinceni/LPS HD Clinceni.

• Andrei Antohi
• Mircea Axente
• Mihai Butean
• Costin Gheorghe
• Arman Karamyan
• Artavazd Karamyan
• Giani Kiriță
• Cezar Lungu
• Artur Pătraș
• Bogdan Pătrașcu
• Adrian Popa
• Cornel Predescu
• Ion Prodan
• Cristian Pulhac
• Cristian Scutaru
• Stelian Stancu
• Florin Ștefan
• Andrei Vițelaru

Former managers

• Marin Radu (2007–2008)
• Lavi Hrib (2009–2011)
• Ionel Augustin (2011)
• Lavi Hrib (2011–2012)
• Giani Kiriță (2012)
• Costel Pană (2012)
• Emil Ursu (2012)
• Valentin Bădoi (2012–2014)
• Marcel Abăluță (2014) (caretaker)
• Marius Baciu (2014–2015)
• László Balint (2015–2016)
• Mugur Bolohan (2016)
• John Ene (2016–2017)
• Erik Lincar (2017)
• Ilie Poenaru (2018–2021)
• Ionuț Chirilă (2021)
• John Ene (2021) (caretaker)
• Adrian Falub (2021–2022)
• John Ene (2022) (caretaker)
• Constantin Giurescu (2022)
• Florin Stângă (2022)

References

1. "Academica Clinceni a stabilit un nou record în fotbalul românesc! Este așezarea cu cei mai puțini locuitori care are echipă în Liga 1" [Academica Clinceni set a new record in Romanian football! It is the settlement with the few inhabitants who have a team in the Liga I]. libertatea.ro. Retrieved 30 May 2019.
2. "O echipă a promovat în premieră în Liga I de fotbal" [A team promoted for the first time in the First Football League]. romanialibera.ro. Retrieved 30 May 2019.
3. ^ "Barajul pentru Liga a II-a: CS Buftea" [Liga II promotion play-off: CS Buftea]. prosport.ro. Retrieved 30 May 2019.
4. "2005–06 Divizia C clasamente" [2005–06 Divizia C tables]. romaniansoccer.ro. Retrieved 30 May 2019.
5. "2006–07 Divizia C clasamente" [2006–07 Divizia C tables]. romaniansoccer.ro. Retrieved 30 May 2019.
6. "2007–08 Divizia C clasamente" [2007–08 Divizia C tables]. romaniansoccer.ro. Retrieved 30 May 2019.
7. RomanianSoccer.ro, (r). "Evolutia denumirilor echipelor de-a lungul anilor".
8. ^ "O echipa intreaga, plimbata pe traseul Timișoara-Buftea-Buzau" [An entire team, walking along the Timișoara-Buftea-Buzau route]. romanialibera.ro. Retrieved 30 May 2019.
9. "CS Buftea are un nou preşedinte!" [CS Buftea has a new president!]. liga2.prosport.ro. Retrieved 30 May 2019.
10. "Ana Maria Prodan, preşedinte la Buftea" [Ana Maria Prodan, president of Buftea]. gsp.ro. Retrieved 30 May 2019.
11. "Dacă nu e Bucurescu, atunci e Ţermure" [If is not Bucurescu, then is Țermure]. liga2.prosport.ro. Retrieved 30 May 2019.
12. "FC Buftea vinde locul din Liga a II-a!" [FC Buftea sells the Liga II place!]. liga2.prosport.ro. Retrieved 30 May 2019.
13. "Stejaru ia locul celor de la Buftea! Cum comentezi?" [Stejaru replaces Buftea! How do you comment?]. liga2.prosport.ro. Retrieved 30 May 2019.
14. "Buftea a promovat in liga secundă" [Buftea promoted in the second league]. ilfovsport.ro. Archived from the original on 30 November 2020. Retrieved 30 May 2019.
15. "Buftea reloaded! Răgazul acordat de FRF pare să dea roade pentru ilfoveni" [Buftea reloaded! The delay granted by FRF seems to be fruitful for the club from Ilfov]. sportb.ro. Retrieved 30 May 2019.
16. "Romanian Second Division Side CS Buftea Beaten 31–0 By ACS Berceni". huffingtonpost.co.uk. Retrieved 30 May 2019.
17. "Bătaie de joc în Cupa României! CS Buftea a pierdut cu scorul de 0–31" [Mockery in the Romanian Cup! CS Buftea lost with 0–31]. evz.ro. Retrieved 30 May 2019.
18. "Lăzărescu anunţă: "De miercuri, echipa se numeşte ACS Clinceni"" [Lăzărescu announces: "On Wednesday, the team is called ACS Clinceni"]. liga2.prosport.ro. Retrieved 30 May 2019.
19. "FC Clinceni va juca la Pitești" [FC Clinceni will play in Pitești]. curier.ro. Retrieved 30 May 2019.
20. "Pentru că în prezent este prea scump, patronul FC Clinceni a renunţat deocamdată la brand-ul şi palmaresul FC Argeş" [Because nowadays it is too expensive, FC Clinceni has given up the brand and the record of FC Argeş]. jurnaluldearges.ro. Archived from the original on 30 May 2019. Retrieved 30 May 2019.
21. "Academica Argeş va avea un nou finanţator. Clubul revine de unde a plecat şi va juca tot în Liga 2: "Acordul este semnat". Ce oraşe au mai fost interesate de preluarea echipei" [Academica Argeş will have a new owner. The club returns from where he left and will play in the Liga 2: "The deal is signed". What cities were interested in taking over the team]. prosport.ro. Retrieved 30 May 2019.
22. "FC Clinceni va fi noua denumire a Academicii Argeş Piteşti. În aceste zile se definitivează actele. Balint: "Sunt convins că vom face o echipă care să fie respectată"" [FC Clinceni will be the new name of Argeş Piteşti. These documents are finalized these days. Balint: "I'm sure we will make a team to be respected"]. liga2.prosport.ro. Retrieved 30 May 2019.
23. "Foștii utiști, Apostu și Balint, fac echipă la Clinceni în Liga a 2-a" [Former UTA players, Apostu and Balint, make a team at Clinceni in the second league]. glsa.ro. Retrieved 30 May 2019.
24. "Patronii chinezi au făcut curățenie. Mugur Bolohan, noul antrenor de la FC Clinceni". Archived from the original on 26 December 2019. Retrieved 26 December 2019.
25. "Becali a început deja să se implice financiar la clubul pe care l-a preluat în această vară: "Este o sumă consistentă"" [Becali has already begun to get involved financially at the club he took over this summer: "It's a consistent amount"]. telekomsport.ro. Retrieved 30 May 2019.
26. "Becali ar putea avea doua echipe in Liga I sezonul viitor: planul patronului de la FCSB a fost confirmat" [Becali could have two teams in the Liga I next season: FCSB owner's plan has been confirmed]. sport.ro. Retrieved 30 May 2019.
27. "Academica Clinceni, transformare totală. Echipa ar putea să poarte numele unui fotbalist legendar". sport.ro. Retrieved 24 June 2022.
28. ^ "Poftiți la Clinceni :) Președintele Academicii a prezentat baza echipei din Ilfov și stadiul lucrărilor pentru Liga 1" [You are invited to Clinceni :) Academica's president presented the sports base of the team based in Ilfov and the level of the works for the Liga 1]. gsp.ro. Retrieved 30 May 2019.
29. "Nocturna din Ghencea va ajunge la Clinceni. Se lucrează intens la renovarea arenei, pentru a fi adusă la standarde de Liga 1. Poenaru: "Avem o infrastructură foarte bună"" [Floodlight system from Ghencea will reach Clinceni. Intensive work is being done on the arena to be upgraded to the Liga I standards. Poenaru: "We have a very good infrastructure"]. news.ro. Retrieved 30 May 2019.
30. "Echipa" [Squad] (in Romanian). Academica Clinceni. Retrieved 26 December 2019.
31. "ACADEMICA CLINCENI" (in Romanian). Liga Profesionistă de Fotbal. Retrieved 28 June 2019.

External links

• LPS HD Clinceni on Facebook

• LPS HD Clinceni
• Football clubs in Romania
• Football clubs in Ilfov County
• Sport in Ilfov County
• Association football clubs established in 2005
• Liga I clubs
• Liga II clubs
• Liga III clubs
• Liga IV clubs
• 2005 establishments in Romania