Romania. Ranked 13th. The season left incredible record: Steaua and Dinamo not only battled heavily between themselves, but they were as if on another planet, having practically separate championship and Cup. Their combined record was fantastic: only one lost match. 221 goals scored and only 43 received. Even if their received goals are combined, only one team had better defensive record than both of the leaders together! The rest is beyond any comparing. No wonder both teams were so strong: they had the best player of Romania, so the battle was practically between two sides of the national team, most stars already internationally well known and on the road of becoming world-famous – a long list of the great players at or almost at their prime. Such rosy picture was not so rosy, but backroom scheming and maneuvering cannot dismiss the class of teams the bitter rivals had. Bellow them… another universe.
Second Division, as ever divided into 3 groups of 18 teams. The winners promoted, the last 4 in evry group relegated to Third Division. As it happened, only in Serie III there was a battle for top position between 2 teams and like in the top league the leaders were way above the rest of the teams – effectively, 4 teams dominated the Second Division. As for the rest – Second Division are hardly interesting outside their own countries, most participants are practically unknown. If anything, perhaps the miserable season of smaller Bucharest clubs should be mentioned: there were 4, playing in Serie II and they finished at the last 4 positions, thus, relegated. Just for amusement, the unfortunates were Autobuzul, Mecanica Fina, Metalul, and Progresul Vulcan. Of them, Progresul Vulcan was hopeless outsider and the club really falling down – back in time Progresul was strong First Division member, but that was already nearly forgotten: the decline of the club started back in 1970s and even the amalgamation with another club, changing their name to Progresul Vulcan did not stop the downfall.
And since Second Division produced little interest, just a little taste of it:
Progresul (Braila) – 3rd in Serie I with 39 points. Finished 10 points behind the group winners.
Sportul Muncitoresc (Caracal) – 14th with 33 points in Serie II. Escaped relegation by a point.
Paroseni Vulcan (Paroseni) – 7th in Serie III with 33 points.
Well, most members of Second Division were such unknown clubs, but still there were some familiar names; teams used to playing top level football. Of them only Gloria (Bistrita) was strong this season, but they lost the battle for promotion in Serie III.
UTA (Arad) was arguably the best known club playing now in the Second Division, but old successes were just memory now: they finished 3rd in Serie III with 43 points. Stronger than most of the league, but 5 points behind second-placed Gloria (Bistrita).
What counted was the winners:
FC Constanta easily won Serie I: 19 wins, 11 ties, 4 losses, 63-27, 49 points. They left the nearest pursuer, Politehnica (Iasi), 9 points behind. Quick return to First Division, but the name is a bit confusing: the club from the city of Constanta is known as Farul (Lighthouse), but they were briefly renamed after the home city. And won the championship as FC Constanta, either going back to their usual name Farul right after the end of the season, or publications by habit used their original name – hence, the discrepancy here.
Inter (Sibiu) just as easily won Serie II: 23 wins, 5 ties, 6 losses, 62-27, 51 points. Better known Jiul (Petrosani) was not a rival at all – they were distant 2nd, 7 points behind. Standing from left: Viorel Hizo (assistant coach), Văsîi, M. Zamfir, V. Marcel, Boar, Chiriac, Şişoe, Ciobanu, Marian Bondrea (coach)
Middle row: M. Stănescu, Bolborea, Jurcă, I. Cristian, C. Cozma, Bîrsan, L. Cotora
Front: C. Zamfir, V. Armenean, Radu II, D. Mărginean, Şoarece, Istvan.
This club originally had different name, but recently was renamed to Inter and became known as Inter – going to play top league football was big success for them.
As mentioned, Serie III was the only group with lively battle for top position and the race was won by Bihor (Oradea) – with 21 wins, 8 ties, 5 losses, 85-28, 50 points, they ended 2 points ahead of Gloria (Bistrita). They were the highest-scoring team in all groups – Gloria again was second-best with 77 goals – which was promising recommendation for the future. As FC Constanta, they were returning to First Division.
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