Asociația Fotbal Club Câmpulung Muscel 2022, also known as AFC Câmpulung Muscel, or just Câmpulung Muscel, is a Romanianfootball club based in Câmpulung, Argeș County, , which competes in the Liga II.
Founded in 1978 as CS Rucăr, the club was moved to Câmpulung in 2022 and changed its name to Muscelul Câmpulung Elite after the promotion from 2021–22 season.[1]
One of the most important Romanian players in the recent years, Dan Nistor has played at the beginning of his career at the club when the club was named AS Rucăr.
History
Name
Period
CS Rucăr
1978–2022
Muscelul Câmpulung Elite
2022–2023
AFC Câmpulung Muscel
2023–present
AFC Câmpulung Muscel was founded in 1978 as CS Rucăr and played mostly in the amateur leagues.
In the 2009–10 Liga IV season, guided by Mihai Poștoacă and with players like Adrian Tănase, Robert Craioveanu, Alin Lipă among others, CS Rucăr finished in second place, 2 points behind Atletic Bradu.[2]
Faced with financial problems, the club withdrew from Liga III and continued to play in the fourth league, finishing the 2011–12 season as runners-up, 4 points behind SCM Pitești.[6]
Rucăr continued to play in Liga IV – Argeș County, but could not get very important results; 5th (2012–13), 13th (2013–14), 9th (2014–15), 11th (2015–16) and 13th (2016–17). Rucăr were eventually withdrew from the fourth league after encountered financial problems.
Followed two seasons in the North Series of Liga V – Argeș County; after 10th-finish in the first season, the club managed to promoted back to the fourth league, finishing 1st in the 2018–19 season.[7]
Rucăr started the 2021–22 season with Bogdan Simion as head coach, but replaced him for the second part of the season with Valentin Cocoș, who led the club finish 1st, one point ahead of Inter Câmpulung and managed to promoted to third league beating Dunărea Calafat, Dolj County champions, 2–1 on aggregate (1–1 at Calafat and 1–0 at Rucăr). The squad was composed amongst others of Adrian Tănase, Valentin Vălimăreanu, Flavius Cataramă, Cristian Tănase, Marian Ciorciovel, Gabriel Jenaru, Gabriel Neacșu, Georgian Jenaru, Fernando Dobre, Andrei Pătrănoiu and Ioan Marinescu.[8][9][10]
After the promotion in Liga III, the club was moved to Câmpulung and was renamed Muscelul Câmpulung Elite. Also, Alecsandru Popovici was appointed as the new head coach of the club.[1][11]
In 2023, the club was renamed again, this time as AFC Câmpulung Muscel 2022.[12]
AFC Câmpulung Muscel plays its home matches at Muscelul Stadium, a multi-use stadium in Câmpulung. The stadium is also used by ARO Muscelul Câmpulung. It holds 6,000 people, of which 3,000 are on seats.[13]It was opened in the 1940s and was renovated, most recently in 2008.
^"Nume grele la CS Rucăr" [Heavy names at CS Rucăr]. liga2.prosport.ro. 29 August 2009. Archived from the original on 28 January 2024. Retrieved 28 January 2024.(in Romanian)
^"CS Rucăr e noua campioană a Argeșului!" [CS Rucăr is the new champion of Argeș!]. liga2.prosport.ro. 7 June 2011. Archived from the original on 31 December 2019. Retrieved 28 January 2024.(in Romanian)
^"CS Rucăr a renunțat la Liga 3" [CS Rucăr quit at League 3]. liga2.prosport.ro. 19 July 2011. Archived from the original on 28 January 2024. Retrieved 28 January 2024.(in Romanian)
^"CS Rucăr, campioana județului Argeș" [CS Rucăr, Argeș county champion]. evenimentulmuscelean.ro. 14 June 2022. Archived from the original on 3 February 2024. Retrieved 3 February 2024.(in Romanian)
