Romania. If Yugoslavian football was going through a period of decline, the Romanian one enjoyed a period of strong revival, thanks to wonderful generation of players. At club level, it almost reached its peak – the very best in the history of Romanian football. True, there was heavy state involvement, which Ceausescu’s son directly running Steaua as his own club and taking the upper hand over rivals of Ministry of Internal Affairs, but state meddling could not do much if talented players and coaches do not exist. Romania was blessed with incredible talent at the moment and it was young talent: consider this – Hagi was not even playing for Steaua yet; Jenei was still young and yet unknown coach and his assistant was even younger Iordanescu. Some great players were still unheard of – Belodedici, for example.
Second Division. Three groups, their winners promoted, as usual. But this season was significant in the light of the tricky and long-lasting battle between Army and Police. Apart from that, nothing really new: each group had dominant leader without a rival.
Serie I.
Otelul (Galati) finished 3rd with 38 points. Expected to battle for the promotional spot, but did not. City rivals Dunarea CSU (Galati) was much stronger – 2nd with 48 points – but even they were not much of a challenge to the leaders.
FC Petrolul (Ploesti) easily won the championship: 24 wins, 6 ties, 6 losses, 67-23, 54 points. Superior all the way and happily returning to First Division.
Serie II. Here was the interesting occurrence suggested at the beginning.
Most participants hardly ever aimed for a place above second level. Here is an example of the typical: Flacara (Moreni). 13th with 33 points. Normally, former first division members were on top of the table, trying to return back to the top league.
Clubs like CS Targoviste, but it was not their year – they finished 5th with 35 points. True, they had 3 points deducted for some infringement, but even with full record this squad was not going to be more than 3rd. A distant 3rd – the winners finished 10 points ahead of the 2nd placed Siomii (Sibiu).
And what winners! This is most likely a photo of them – because of the name. Dinamo Victoria (Bucharest) had its strongest season since foundation and won the league after 18 wins, 12 ties, 4 losses, 69-41, and 48 points. Their victory made immediate problem and what a quandary it was: this was a semi-club, founded in 1971 – it was the second team of Dinamo (Bucharest). Thus, promotion should have be prohibited… but Dinamo was the club not just of the Police, but of the all-powerful Secret Police. As far as I can tell, Dinamo was the only club having a second team playing in Second Division ever and very likely there were no clear rules about promotion of such type of teams. Opposing the Secret Police was not easy, but some kind of opposition was seemingly voiced, most likely coming from Steaua, belonging to the Army and at that time personally led by Nicolae Ceausescu’s son. Dinamo Victoria was promoted nevertheless, but the name was changed to Victoria and the club was separated from Dinamo, becoming independent entity. This was most likely done only in jest, because as soon as Ceausescu was toppled in 1989, Victoria was disbanded: ‘for violation of the laws and sports rules’. That, because the club was never separated from the Police and was subservient to mother-club Dinamo. Even Ceausescu’s son was unable to change that. For the present moment – the end of the 1984-85 season – the fact was simple: Dinamo Victoria was promoted. Very few enjoyed that.
Serie III. The same as the other groups, as far as the season went.
Aurul (Brad) had strong season and finished 4th, but promotion was not even a dream for them – former top league members were above them: CSM Resita, 3rd, and Gloria (Bistrita), 2nd. Neither provided strong challenge to the leaders – Gloria ended with 42 points. That was 8 points less than the winner’s record.
Universitatea (Cluj-Napoca) dominated the championship, finishing with 20 wins, 10 ties, 4 losses, 68-23, and 50 points. Like the winners of Serie I, FC Petrolul, they were just returning to top flight after some regretful exile.