The most successful Romanian club is currently fighting for its identity
In short: Steaua București holds the national record for domestic trophies, including a historic 1986 European Cup win. Yet, a complex legal battle over branding and ownership has left the club's legacy in limbo. While one entity holds the trophies, the other holds the name, creating a fractured sporting history.
Founded in 1947 as ASA București by officers of the Romanian Royal House, the club underwent several name changes reflecting Romania's political shifts. It became CCA in 1948, then CSA Steaua București in 1961, adopting the 'Star' name to reflect the red star symbol common in East European Army clubs. The club reached its zenith in the 1980s, becoming the first Eastern European team to win the European Cup in 1986 after a penalty shootout against Barcelona. During this era, they also achieved a world-record 104-match undefeated streak in the championship between 1986 and 1989.
The club's modern history is defined by a bitter schism. In 1998, the football section separated from the parent club to become AFC Steaua București. This led to a long-standing dispute over the 'Steaua' trademark and historical honors. In 2014, a court ruled that the Becali-backed club (now SC FC FCSB SA) lost the right to use the name, forcing them to rebrand. Meanwhile, the original parent club, CSA Steaua București, reactivated its own football section in 2017, starting from the fourth tier (Liga IV) with the goal of climbing back to the top flight.
The ownership of the club's glorious past remains contested. While UEFA attributes the original history to the current FCSB entity, CSA Steaua argues that the 1998 separation did not relinquish ownership of the brand or honors. This legal tug-of-war reached a significant milestone in 2019 with a judgment in favor of CSA Steaua, though both sides claimed victory by June 2025. For fans, the divide is physical too: while the 'phoenix' club plays at the Arena Națională, the reopened Steaua team is rebuilding its identity, supported by the Peluza Sud ultra group and the AS47 supporters' association.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: CSA Steaua București (football)
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