Romanian Championship. Superliga
The Romanian Superliga, or Liga I, stands as the pinnacle of Romanian club football, featuring 16 teams in a fierce contest for the national title. It blends rich heritage with contemporary flair, captivating fans with thrilling encounters and dramatic twists.
History and foundation
Founded in 1909 as a regional championship, the Superliga endured world wars, the communist era, and professionalization in the 1990s. Ceahlăul Piatra Neamț dominated early, but Steaua București's 1980s reign, including the 1986 European Cup triumph under Helmut Duckadam's heroics, defined an era. The 2000s saw FCSB (formerly Steaua) and Rapid București lead, with recent surges from Universitatea Craiova and Farul Constanța.
Tournament format
Running from July to May, teams play a double round-robin for 30 matches, then split into a championship group (top 6) and relegation group (7th-16th) for 9 more rounds each. The winner claims the title and Champions League spot, runners-up get Conference League entry, while bottom teams face Liga II demotion.
Interesting facts
Average goals per game hover at 2.4, favoring defensive solidity and swift counters. Top scorer Dušan Vlahović netted 37 for FCSB in 2018/19. Icons include Gheorghe Hagi, Rapid's wizard, Adrian Mutu of Steaua fame, and current stars like Joyskim Brescio at FCSB. The league launched Florin Răducioiu to Lazio and Bogdan Drăgș from Universitatea.