2023–24 Liga I

The 2023–24 Liga I, also known as Superliga due to sponsorship reasons, is the 106th season of the Liga I, the top professional league for Romanian association football clubs. The season started on 14 July 2023 and will end in 2 June 2024. It is the ninth season to take place since the play-off/play-out format has been introduced. Farul Constanța is defending champion club.

Superliga
Season2023–24
Dates14 July 2023 – 2 June 2024
Matches played59
Goals scored177 (3 per match)
Top goalscorerAurelian Chițu
Marko Dugandžić
(6 goals)
Best goalkeeperLaurențiu Popescu
(4 clean sheets)
Biggest home winFC U Craiova 1948 4–0 Farul Constanța
(3 September 2023)
Rapid București 4–0 Dinamo București
(1 September 2023)
Biggest away winUniversitatea Cluj 0–3 Rapid București
(23 July 2023)
Dinamo București 0–3 Sepsi Sfântu Gheorghe
(31 July 2023)
Politehnica Iași 1–4 Universitatea Craiova
(12 August 2023)
Voluntari 1–4 CFR Cluj
(2 September 2023)
Highest scoringU Craiova 1948 3–5 Rapid București
(25 August 2023)
Longest winning run5 matches
FCSB
Longest unbeaten run6 matches
Universitatea Craiova
Longest winless run8 matches
Oțelul Galați
Botoșani
Longest losing run3 matches
U Craiova 1948
Dinamo București
Farul Constanța
Politehnica Iași
Highest attendance28,519
FCSB 1–0 CFR Cluj
(6 August 2023)
Lowest attendance800
Botoșani 2–2 Hermannstadt
(4 September 2023)
Total attendance430,975
Average attendance7,304
2024–25 →
All statistics correct as of 4 September 2023.

After the conclusion of the regular season, teams will be divided according to their place to enter either the championship play-offs or the relegation play-outs.

The teams ranked 15th and 16th at the end of the play-out tournament will be directly relegated, while the 13th and 14th places played a promotion/relegation play-off against 3rd and 4th places from Liga II.

Teams

Promotion and relegation (pre-season)

The league consists of 16 teams: 12 from the 2022–23 Liga I, two teams from the 2022–23 Liga II, and the winners of the 2022–23 promotion/relegation play-off.

Teams promoted from Liga II

The first club to be promoted was Politehnica Iași,[1] following their 2–0 win against Oțelul Galați on 2 May 2023. Politehnica Iași returned to Superliga after two years of absence.

The second club to be promoted was Oțelul Galați,[2] following their 1–0 win against Unirea Dej on 21 May 2023. Oțelul Galați returned to Superliga after eight years of absence and first time in history since refounded in 2016 due to bankruptcy.

The third club to be promoted was Dinamo București,[3] after winning the 2022–23 promotion/relegation play-off against Argeș Pitești. Dinamo București returned to Superliga after one year of absence.

Teams relegated to Liga II

The first club to be relegated was Mioveni, which were relegated on 29 April 2023 following a 0–2 defeat against Argeș Pitești, ending their two-year stay in the top flight.[4]

The second club to be relegated was Chindia Târgoviște, which were relegated on 19 May 2023 following their 2–2 draw against Voluntari, ending their four-year stay in the top flight.[5]

The third club to be relegated was Argeș Pitești, which were relegated on 3 June 2023 following their 4–2 win against Dinamo București in the promotion/relegation play-offs, thus ending their three-year stay in the top flight.[6]

Stadiums and locations
FCSB Universitatea Craiova FC U Craiova 1948 Universitatea Cluj
Arena Națională Ion Oblemenco Ion Oblemenco Cluj Arena
Capacity: 55,634 Capacity: 30,983 Capacity: 30,983 Capacity: 30,201
CFR Cluj Petrolul Ploiești Rapid București Oțelul Galați
Dr. Constantin Rădulescu Ilie Oană Rapid Oțelul
Capacity: 22,198 Capacity: 15,073 Capacity: 14,047 Capacity: 13,500
Hermannstadt
Location of Bucharest / Ilfov County teams.
 UTA Arad
Municipal (Sibiu) Francisc von Neuman
Capacity: 12,363 Capacity: 11,500
Politehnica Iași Sepsi Sfântu Gheorghe
Emil Alexandrescu Sepsi Arena
Capacity: 11,390 Capacity: 8,400
Dinamo București Botoșani Voluntari Farul Constanța
Arcul de Triumf Municipal (Botoșani) Anghel Iordănescu Viitorul
Capacity: 8,207 Capacity: 7,782 Capacity: 4,600 Capacity: 4,554
Stadionul Viitorul

    Number of teams by county
    Rank County Number Teams
    1 Bucharest 3 FCSB, Rapid București, Dinamo București
    2 Dolj 2 Universitatea Craiova, FC U Craiova
    Cluj CFR Cluj, Universitatea Cluj
    4 Sibiu 1 Hermannstadt
    Arad UTA Arad
    Covasna Sepsi Sf. Gheorghe
    Botoșani FC Botoșani
    Prahova Petrolul Ploiești
    Galați Oțelul Galați
    Iași Politehnica Iași
    Constanța Farul Constanța
    Ilfov Voluntari

    Personnel and sponsorship

    Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players and Managers may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

    Team Manager Captain Kit manufacturer Main Shirt sponsor Other Shirt sponsor
    Botoșani Romania Dan Alexa Romania Victor Dican Adidas Unibet Elsaco
    CFR Cluj Italy Andrea Mandorlini Romania Mário Camora Nike RMB Inter Auto
    Dinamo București Romania Ovidiu Burcă Romania Răzvan Patriche Macron win2.ro Renovatio
    Farul Constanța Romania Gheorghe Hagi (owner and manager) Romania Ionuț Larie Nike Superbet
    FCSB Cyprus Elias Charalambous Romania Darius Olaru Nike Betano
    FC U Craiova 1948 Italy Giovanni Costantino Romania Vlad Achim Adidas Craiova Cetatea Banilor
    Hermannstadt Romania Marius Măldărășanu Romania Petrișor Petrescu Nike Unibet Primăria Municipiului Sibiu
    Oțelul Galați Romania Dorinel Munteanu Romania Ionuț Neagu Adidas Liberty Galați Municipality
    Petrolul Ploiești Romania Florin Pârvu Romania Valentin Țicu Macron La Cocoș
    Politehnica Iași Romania Leontin Grozavu Romania Răzvan Tincu Nike Mozzart Bet Municipiul Iași
    Rapid București Italy Cristiano Bergodi Romania Cristian Săpunaru Kappa Superbet IMAMED
    Sepsi OSK Romania Liviu Ciobotariu Romania Roland Niczuly Adidas Diószegi Gyermelyi
    Universitatea Cluj Romania Ioan Sabău Romania Alexandru Chipciu Adidas Superbet AROBS
    Universitatea Craiova Romania Corneliu Papură (caretaker) Romania Nicușor Bancu Puma Betano
    UTA Arad Romania Mircea Rednic Romania Florin Iacob Saller Efbet Maxximus
    Voluntari Romania Ilie Poenaru Moldova Igor Armaș Nike Metropola TV

    Managerial changes
    Team Outgoing manager Manner of departure Date of vacancy Position in table Incoming manager Date of appointment
    Sepsi Italy Cristiano Bergodi End of contract 30 June 2023[7] Pre-season Romania Liviu Ciobotariu 1 July 2023[8]
    Voluntari Romania Liviu Ciobotariu 30 June 2023[9] Romania Ilie Poenaru 8 June 2023[10]
    FC U Craiova Italy Nicolò Napoli 30 June 2023 Romania Nicolae Dică 17 July 2023
    U Cluj Romania Ioan Sabău 30 June 2023[11] Romania Anton Petrea 1 July 2023[12]
    Botoșani Romania Flavius Stoican Mutual agreement 30 June 2023[13] Romania Marius Croitoru 18 May 2023[14]
    CFR Cluj Romania Dan Petrescu 30 June 2023[15] Italy Andrea Mandorlini 1 July 2023[16]
    Rapid București Romania Adrian Mutu Signed by Neftçi 7 July 2023 Italy Cristiano Bergodi 9 July 2023
    Universitatea Craiova Romania Eugen Neagoe Sacked 25 July 2023 5th Romania Laurențiu Reghecampf 25 July 2023
    Botoșani Romania Marius Croitoru 17 August 2023 16th Romania Mihai Ciobanu 17 August 2023
    FC U Craiova Romania Nicolae Dică 19 August 2023 11th Romania Paul Răducan 19 August 2023
    U Cluj Romania Anton Petrea 24 August 2023 12th Romania Ioan Sabău 24 August 2023
    Botoșani Romania Mihai Ciobanu 1 September 2023 16th Romania Dan Alexa 1 September 2023
    FC U Craiova Romania Paul Răducan Mutual agreement 16 October 2023 10th Italy Giovanni Costantino 16 October 2023

    Regular season

    In the regular season the 16 teams will meet twice for a total of 30 matches per team, with the top 6 advancing to the Championship play-offs and the bottom 10 qualifying for the relegation play-outs.[17]

    Table

    Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
    1 FCSB 13 9 3 1 25 11 +14 30 Play-off round
    2 CFR Cluj 13 8 3 2 25 12 +13 27
    3 Rapid București 13 6 5 2 27 16 +11 23
    4 Universitatea Craiova 13 6 4 3 20 14 +6 22
    5 Petrolul Ploiești 13 4 7 2 18 14 +4 19[lower-alpha 1]
    6 Farul Constanța 12 6 1 5 17 17 0 19[lower-alpha 1]
    7 Hermannstadt 13 4 7 2 21 14 +7 19[lower-alpha 1] Play-out round
    8 Universitatea Cluj 13 3 7 3 18 21 −3 16
    9 Politehnica Iași 13 4 3 6 15 19 −4 15[lower-alpha 2]
    10 Oțelul Galați 13 2 9 2 10 10 0 15[lower-alpha 2]
    11 Sepsi OSK 13 4 3 6 16 18 −2 15[lower-alpha 2]
    12 FC U Craiova 1948 13 4 2 7 21 24 −3 14
    13 Voluntari 13 3 4 6 15 23 −8 13
    14 UTA Arad 12 2 5 5 10 16 −6 11
    15 Dinamo București 13 2 3 8 8 24 −16 9
    16 Botoșani 13 0 6 7 13 26 −13 6
    Updated to match(es) played on 23 October 2023. Source: LPF (in Romanian) Soccerway
    Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Head-to-head points; 3) Head-to-head goal difference; 4) Head-to-head goals scored; 5) Goal difference; 6) Goals scored; 7) Play-off.[17]
    Notes:
    1. Head-to-head points: Petrolul Ploiești 4, Farul Constanța 3, Hermannstadt 1.
    2. Head-to-head points (goal difference): Politehnica Iaşi 3 (+1), Oțelul Galați 1 (0), Sepsi OSK 1 (-1).

    Results
    Home \ Away BOT CFR DIN FAR FCS FCU HER IAS OTE PET RAP SPS UCJ UCV UTA VOL
    Botoșani 0–1 0–1 2–2 0–0 1–1 2–2
    CFR Cluj 3–1 2–0 2–0 0–0 3–0 1–1
    Dinamo București 1–0 1–1 0–2 1–1 0–3 0–2
    Farul Constanța 1–3 2–1 1–1 2–0 4–1
    FCSB 1–0 2–1 2–1 2–2 3–0 0–0
    FC U Craiova 1948 4–0 1–3 1–1 0–2 1–3 3–5 3–4 3–1
    Hermannstadt 4–0 0–1 1–1 2–2 2–1
    Politehnica Iași 1–1 1–3 0–0 1–0 1–4
    Oțelul Galați 1–0 0–1 0–2 1–1 1–1 2–2
    Petrolul Ploiești 3–2 4–3 0–0 2–2 1–1 0–0 0–2
    Rapid București 2–2 3–1 4–0 3–1 3–2 0–2 0–0
    Sepsi OSK 5–2 2–5 1–0 1–1 1–1 1–0
    Universitatea Cluj 3–4 1–1 0–2 0–3 1–0 1–1
    Universitatea Craiova 5–1 1–0 0–0 3–0
    UTA Arad 1–3 2–1 1–0 2–2 0–0
    Voluntari 2–1 1–4 2–3 0–0 1–2 2–1
    Updated to match(es) played on 23 October 2023. Source: LPF (in Romanian)
    Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

    Positions by round
    Team ╲ Round123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930
    Botoșani12111115161515
    CFR Cluj2125643
    Dinamo București1514161614910
    Farul Constanța52467108
    FCSB1311111
    FC U Craiova 19481415151391114
    Hermannstadt13757889
    Politehnica Iași16161014151616
    Oțelul Galați6101312131313
    Petrolul Ploiești79129534
    Rapid București104781175
    Sepsi OSK11633457
    Universitatea Cluj913910101211
    Universitatea Craiova3584222
    UTA Arad8121411121412
    Voluntari4862366
    Leader and Qualification for the Play-off round
    Qualification for the Play-off round
    Qualification for the Play-out round
    Source: Soccerway

    Play-off round

    The top six teams from Regular season will meet twice (10 matches per team) for places in 2024–25 UEFA Champions League and 2024–25 UEFA Europa Conference League as well as deciding the league champion. Teams start the Championship round with their points from the Regular season halved, rounded upwards, and no other records carried over from the Regular season.[18]

    Play-off table

    Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
    Updated to match(es) played on c. Source: Soccerway, FRF (in Romanian), LPF (in Romanian)
    Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Points without rounding; 3) Head-to-head points; 4) Head-to-head goal difference; 5) Head-to-head goals scored; 6) Goal difference; 7) Goals scored; 8) Play-off (only if needed to decide champion or teams for UEFA competitions). (Note: only criteria 6 and 7 are applied to establish the classification during the competition.)[19]

    Play-out round

    The bottom ten teams from the regular season meet once to contest against relegation. Teams started the play-out round with their points from the Regular season halved, rounded upwards, and no other records carried over from the Regular season. The winner of the Relegation round finish 7th in the overall season standings, the second placed team – 8th, and so on, with the last placed team in the Relegation round being 16th.

    Play-out table

    Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
    Source: Soccerway, FRF (in Romanian), LPF (in Romanian)
    Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Points without rounding; 3) Points in the regular season; 4) Goal difference; 5) Goals scored; 6) Play-off (only if needed to decide teams for relegation). (Note: only criteria 4 and 5 are applied to establish the classification during the competition.)[19]

    European play-offs

    In the semi-final, the 7th and 8th-placed teams of the Liga I typically play a one-legged match on the ground of the better placed team (7th place). In the final, the winner of the play-out semi-final will play the highest ranked team of the play-off tournament, that did not already qualify for European competitions. The winner of the final will enter the second qualifying round of the 2024–25 UEFA Europa Conference League.

    European play-off semi-final
    v

    European play-off final
    v

    Promotion/relegation play-offs

    The 13th and 14th-placed teams of the Liga I faces the 3rd and 4th-placed team of the Liga II.

    Team 1 Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score Team 2 1st leg 2nd leg

    First leg
    v
    v

    Second leg
    v
    v

    Season statistics

    Top scorers
    As of 22 October 2023
    Rank Player Club Goals
    1 Romania Aurelian Chițu U Craiova 1948 7
    Romania Dan Nistor Universitatea Cluj
    3 Croatia Marko Dugandžić Rapid București 6
    Romania Daniel Paraschiv FC Hermannstadt
    Romania Darius Olaru FCSB
    Kosovo Albion Rrahmani Rapid București
    7 Nigeria Philip Otele CFR Cluj 5
    Romania Ionut Larie Farul Constanta
    Romania Silviu Balaure FC Hermannstadt
    10 Italy Andrea Compagno FCSB 4
    Brazil Jair Petrolul Ploiești
    Romania Alexandru Pop Oțelul Galați
    Romania Florinel Coman FCSB
    Romania Eduard Florescu FC Botosani
    Romania Jovan Markovic Universitatea Craiova
    Romania Claudiu Petrila Rapid București
    Romania Alexandru Ionita Rapid București
    Romania Daniel Birligea CFR Cluj
    Romania Alin Roman Poli Iasi

    Top assists
    As of 22 October 2023
    Rank Player Club Goals
    1 Romania Florinel Coman FCSB 6
    2 Romania Alexandru Mitriță Universitatea Craiova 5
    3 Slovakia Adam Nemec Voluntari 4
    Romania Nicusor Bancu Universitatea Craiova
    Romania Daniel Birligea CFR Cluj
    Romania Claudiu Petrila Rapid Bucuresti
    Brazil Jair Petrolul Ploiești
    8 Romania Valentin Țicu Petrolul Ploiești 3
    Argentina Juan Bauza FC U Craiova 1948
    Romania Aurelian Chitu FC U Craiova 1948
    Nigeria Funsho Bamgboye Rapid Bucuresti
    Romania Silviu Balaure FC Hermannstadt
    Romania Radu Boboc FC Voluntari
    Romania Alexandru Chipciu Universitatea Cluj
    Romania Dan Nistor Universitatea Cluj
    Romania Constantin Budescu Farul Constanta

    Hat-tricks
    PlayerForAgainstResultDate
    Romania Ionut Larie Farul Constanta Voluntari 4–1 (H) 22 July 2023

    Clean sheets
    As of 22 October 2023
    Rank Player Club Clean sheets
    1 Romania Ștefan Târnovanu FCSB 6
    2 Romania Laurențiu Popescu Universitatea Craiova 5
    3 Romania Roland Niczuly Sepsi Sfântu Gheorghe 4
    Romania Horațiu Moldovan Rapid București
    Romania Răzvan Sava CFR Cluj
    Czech Republic Lukas Zima Petrolul Ploiesti
    7 Romania Robert Popa FC U Craiova 3
    Romania Cosmin Dur-Bozoancă Oțelul Galați
    Romania Florin Iacob UTA Arad
    Romania Ionut Ailenei Poli Iasi
    Romania Mihai Aioani Farul Constanța
    Spain Jesus Fernandez FC Voluntari

    Player of the Month
    Year Month Player Nationality Pos. Team Ref
    2023 July Florinel Coman  Romania FW FCSB
    August Aurelian Chițu  Romania FW FC U Craiova
    September Darius Olaru  Romania MF FCSB
    October
    November
    December
    2024 January
    February
    March
    April
    May

    Manager of the Month
    Year Month Manager Nationality Team Ref
    2023 July Liviu Ciobotariu  Romania Sepsi Sfântu Gheorghe
    August Liviu Ciobotariu  Romania Sepsi Sfântu Gheorghe
    September Dorinel Munteanu  Romania Otelul Galati
    October
    November
    December
    2024 January
    February
    March
    April
    May

    Awards

    Annual awards
    Award Winner Club
    Superliga Manager of the Season
    Superliga Player of the Season


    See also

    References
    1. "Politehnica Iași este noua campioană a ligii secunde!". frf.ro. 12 May 2023. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
    2. "Oțelul Galați a promovat în Superligă". mediafax.ro. 21 May 2023. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
    3. "Ovidiu Burcă, prima reacţie după ce Dinamo a promovat în Liga 1". doardinamo.com. 3 June 2023. Retrieved 4 June 2023.
    4. "CS Mioveni, prima retrogradată matematic din SuperLigă. Revine în Liga 2 după doi ani și anunță prin antrenorul "interimar" că se va lupta la promovare". liga2.prosport.ro. 29 April 2023. Retrieved 7 June 2023.
    5. "Chindia Târgoviște este a doua echipă retrogradată în Liga 2. UTA Arad și Campionii FC Argeș vor juca barajul de menținere/promovare în SuperLigă". liga2.prosport.ro. 19 May 2023. Retrieved 7 June 2023.
    6. "Numele nu i-a purtat noroc! Argeș Vintilă n-a salvat Campionii FC Argeș și a retrogradat în Liga 2, dar visează ca echipa să devină un fel de Germania: "Nemții au făcut treabă bună după ce au pierdut cu România"". liga2.prosport.ro. 4 June 2023. Retrieved 7 June 2023.
    7. "Oficial: Sepsi a anunțat despărțirea de antrenorul principal Cristiano Bergodi". prosport.ro. 27 May 2023. Retrieved 6 June 2023.
    8. "Oficial: Liviu Ciobotariu va fi prezentat la noua echipă!". prosport.ro. 6 June 2023. Retrieved 6 June 2023.
    9. "Liviu Ciobotariu nu va mai continua la FC Voluntari din această vară". sport.ro. 2 June 2023. Retrieved 6 June 2023.
    10. "FC Voluntari l-a prezentat pe Marin Dună drept noul "principal" al echipei, dar Ilie Poenaru va fi noul antrenor de facto al ilfovenilor". GSP (in Romanian). Retrieved 2023-06-25.
    11. "Ioan Ovidiu Sabău, nu a ajuns la o înțelegere cu U Cluj". gsp.ro. 30 May 2023. Retrieved 6 June 2023.
    12. "Anton Petrea, noul antrenor al Universității Cluj". gsp.ro. 6 June 2023. Retrieved 6 June 2023.
    13. "Valeriu Iftime a anunțat oficial despărțirea de Flavius Stoican". prosport.ro. 21 May 2023. Retrieved 6 June 2023.
    14. "Marius Croitoru revine la FC Botoșani". GSP (in Romanian). Retrieved 2023-06-25.
    15. "Oficial | Dan Petrescu a plecat de la CFR Cluj!". prosport.ro. 8 June 2023. Retrieved 8 June 2023.
    16. "Andrea Mandorlini a ajuns la Cluj!". prosport.ro. 15 June 2023. Retrieved 15 June 2023.
    17. "Liga I 2022/2023". Soccerway. Retrieved 7 June 2022.
    18. "Liga I 2021/2022 – Regulamentul playoff/playout". digisport.ro. 20 August 2020. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
    19. "FRF – Regulamentul de Organizare a activitatii fotbalistice" (PDF). Romanian Football Federation (in Romanian). pp. 29–30, article 27. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 April 2018. Retrieved 14 May 2017.
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