As of 1 September 2008

[edit] Out on loan

Dinamo supporters in a match against Rapid Bucuresti

Image of Catalin Hildan

Being one of the most famous clubs in the country, Dinamo has an estimated 15% support in Romania, making them the 2nd most supported Romanian club after Steaua and along with Universitatea Craiova. The largest concentration of fans is in Bucharest, mainly in the North-East areas of the city. The club also has important fan bases inside and outside the country.

The roots of the Dinamo ultras movement can be found in 1995 when groups like Dracula or Rams Pantelimon appear in the North End. In 1996 a group called Nuova Guardia is born, composed of young but very devoted men it will become the leading group in the red-white stands and later on in the entire Romanian ultras movement. Following the death of Catalin Hîldan in 2000 the fans renamed the North End of Dinamo's stadium to Peluza Catalin Hildan (PCH) in his honor. Today the majority of supporters are located in the PCH but several factions have moved to the South End.

Dinamo's most important rivalry is with Steaua. The match between them, Eternul Derby (The Eternal Derby), has been the leading Romanian football encounter in the last 60 years, as Dinamo and Steaua are the two most successful football teams in the country.It is also a match between the former clubs of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (Dinamo) and the Romanian Army (Steaua), clashes between different factions of supporters have often occurred and still occur inside and outside the stadium. The heyday was reached in 1997 when Dinamo's fans set a sector of Steaua's stadium (Stadionul Ghencea) on fire. The result of the encounter between the two rivals is currently the following: 118 matches, 41 wins for Dinamo, 34 wins for Steaua and 43 games ended in a tie.

Other big rivalries are shared with Universitatea Craiova and Rapid Bucuresti, and a minor one with Petrolul. CFR Cluj, Farul, Arges and Poli Timisoara fans also consider Dinamo to be their rival, although Dinamo fans don't seem to give special importance to matches against these teams.

History

On 14 May 1948, "Unirea Tricolor MAI" — newly entered, in January 1948, under the umbrella of the Internal Affairs Ministry — merged with "Ciocanul Bucureşti" and formed "Dinamo Bucureşti", the sporting club representing the above-mentioned institution.

Until the end of the championship, Dinamo was going to be represented by two teams: "Ciocanul" ("Hammer"), named "Dinamo A" and "Unirea Tricolor MAI", known as "Dinamo B" (this last one relegating, at the end of the football season, into the second Division B). Starting in 1950, Dinamo A was separated from Dinamo B, the latter being transferred first to Braşov, then to Cluj, and eventually - in 1958 - settling in Bacău.

Dinamo Bucureşti was going to follow its destiny at the highest football level. The "Dinamo" name was used for the very first time on 1 May 1948. Nevertheless, the real debut of Dinamo was on the 1947-1948 championship edition (finishing 7th). Some of the team's players were Ambru, Angelo Niculescu, Teodorescu, Siclovan, Bartha, Sârbu. On July 14, 1948 Dinamo played its first international match against Zidnice (Czechoslovakia): 4 to 1 for the red-whites. The 22nd of August will remain a reference date for Dinamo's football, representing the debut of Dinamo Bucharest in the first national Division. The pioneers were, among others, Titus Ozon, Lăzărescu, Naciu. The team's first coach was Coloman Braun Bogdan. At the end of the '48-'49 edition, Angelo Niculescu retires, dedicating himself to the coaching career rewarded later with great victories with Dinamo and with the national team. In 1950, new football players arrived at Dinamo: Dumitru Nicolae Nicusor, Bacut I.

The current Dinamo Stadium was inaugurated on 14 October 1951. The first match: Dinamo-Locomotiva Timişoara 1-0. Dinamo finished runner up in the 1951-52 and 1952-53 seasons. Also in 1953, Dinamo played the Final of the Romanian Cup: 0-2 with Metalul Reşiţa.

Building a great name

The second title came in 1962, and the 3rd one year later in 1963. In 1964 Dinamo won both the Championship and the Cup; the latter after a 5-3 victory against Steaua. The same year they played in the Champions Cup against the famous Real Madrid (1-3 at Bucharest) with Alfredo Di Stéfano and Gento on the field. In the autumn of '64 Dinamo faced another big name of European football Internazionale (with Facchetti, Picchi, Jair, Mazzolla, Corso, Suárez). In '65, Dinamo won their 5th title and played another match against Inter in the Champions Cup. Dinamo won, surprisingly, 2-1 in Bucharest, but failed to qualify after a 2-0 defeat in Milano.

In the twentieth year of the club's existence (1948-1968), the team conquered the Cup (3-1 against Rapid). On the 13th of November 1968, Dinamo played against West Bromwich Albion (1-1 and 0-4) in the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup. 1969 was the year of Romania's qualification to the World Cup held in Mexico, in 1970. The national team was full of Dinamo's players: Dinu, Boc, Deleanu, Ghergheli, Nunweiller III, Nunweiller IV, Nunweiller VI, Dumitrache and Lucescu! In the autumn of 1970, Dinamo eliminated Panathinaikos (5-0 and 0-1) in the UEFA Cup but were defeated by Liverpool F.C.

The 70's

The 6th title: in 1971. In CCE, Dinamo eliminates Spartak Trnava, the team of Dobias, Kuna and Adamec. A new player: Florian Dumitrescu. What follows is a double win against Israel's and Van Hanegem's Feyenoord: 0-3 and 0-2. The 7th title comes two years later, in 1973. In CCE, they surpass North-Ireland's Crusaders Belfast, but fail against Atlético Madrid (0-2 and 2-2), the team of Capon, Irueta, Heredia and Ayala. The next year Dinamo plays in the UEFA Cup and after the eliminating Bolospur, fails in the confrontation with F.C. Koln: 1-1 and 2-3! The 8th big success was going to come in 1975, year when Dudu Georgescu receives "the golden boot" (with 32 goals). In '76 in the UEFA Cup Dinamo plays against another "sacred monster" - AC Milan - with Fabio Capello and Collovatti on its side: 0-0 and 1-2. The 1976-1977 first season brings the 9th title and a new golden boot for Dudu Georgescu (47 goals). In the autumn of '77 in the CCE, Dinamo wins a thrilling game against Atlético Madrid 2-1, but loses at Madrid, 2-0. In the second round of the UEFA Cup (after eliminating Alki Larnaca from Cyprus) Dinamo is eliminated (partially because of the referee) by Eintracht Frankfurt, team of Pezzey, Grabowsky and Holzenbein (2-0 and 0-3 in prolongation).

The 81-82 UEFA Cup season brings some great wins for Dinamo. The red-whites meet Levski Sofia, team of Sirakov and Iskrenov (3-0 and 1-2). In the second round, a terrifing "double": Dinamo-Internazionale (with Bergoni, Bagni, Prohaska, Altobelli, Baresi, Oriali, Marini and Becallossi). At Milan, 1-1 (authors: Pasinato and Custov) and back home in Bucharest, 3-2 for the "dogs", in the extra time! Dinamo is eliminated by the Swedish team IFK Göteborg, which later ends up winning the trophy.

The 10th national title will be obtained in 1982, when Dinamo also conquers the Cup after a 3-2 victory against Baia Mare. After a 5 year absence, Dinamo reappears in the European Champions Cup, meeting (and eliminating) Vaaleregen Oslo. In the next stage, Dinamo had to confront a difficult opponent: the team of Vizek and Nehoda, Dukla Prague. They win at home, with 2-0, obtaining the qualification at Prague: 1-2. Dinamo is eliminated by Aston Villa, club of Bremmer, Cowans, Withe, Shaw and Morley. The 11th title come one year later, in 1983. The 1983-1984 season began with the retirement of Cornel Dinu, winner of 6 national titles and 6 national cups, with 454 caps in the first league and 75 in the national team. Still the same year Dinamo wins the 12th title.

The autumn of 1983-84 was going to represent a valuable step into the international arena. The "European Champions Cup campaign" started with the Finnish team, Kuusysi Lahti (1-0 and 3-0). The second round pushes Dinamo against the current champion, Hamburger SV - team of Stein, Kalz and Magath. At Bucharest, Augustin, Mulţescu and Orac score for 3-0. The thrilling second leg finishes 3-2 (goals Ţălnar and Mulţescu). In order to accede in the semifinals of CCE, Dinamo had to defeat another top team: Dinamo Minsk, with Aleinikov, Zigmanatovici and Gurinovici. The first leg was 1-1 (Rednic equalizing in the 87th minute!), and it was followed by a 1-0 victory at Bucharest (with Augustin scoring). Dinamo was the first Romanian team to reach the European Champions Cup semifinals, where it met Liverpool FC. Dinamo lost 1-0 on Anfield and 2-1 in Bucharest, in front of the team which ultimately won the 1984 European Cup Final.

In the first round of the next European Champions Cup, in the autumn of `84, Dinamo meets Omonia Nicosia: 4-1 and 1-2. Next is the match against Girondins Bordeaux (club of Tigana, Giresse, Lacombe and Battiston), Dinamo being, unfortunately, eliminated after 0-1 and 1-1.

In 1986 Dinamo wins the Cup against Steaua (1-0). After an 18 year break, Dinamo plays again in the Cup Winners Cup in the autumn of `86. The 1986-1987 season brings the 'golden boot' for Cămătaru (44 goals). They also lost against the Albanian team 17 Nentori Tirana.

The 1988 Romanian cup final was a special one. After Steaua players left the field at the score of 1-1 because they were robbed by the referee George Ionescu, Dinamo was given the trophy, but later the Romanian F.A. (bowing to pressure from the Communist Party) awarded the match 2-1 to Steaua. After the revolution of December 1989, Steaua returned the trophy to Dinamo, which refused to take it.

In the 88-89 Cup Winners Cup season, Dinamo again eliminated the Finnish team Lahti, managing to win 3-0. Next is the elimination of Scottish club Dundee United: 1-0 and 1-1 at Bucharest. However, they fail to qualify for the semifinals after losing on away goals, 1-1 and 0-0 against Sampdoria Genova.

The early 90's

The Cup Winners Cup 1989-1990 season brings new success. Dinamo meets Albanian team, Dinamo Tirana 0-1 and 2-0. Next is the Greek champion, Panathinaikos 2-0 and 6-1. In the quarter finals they meet Partizan Belgrade (with Mijatovici on the field) eliminating them with 2-1 and 2-0. After six years of break, Dinamo plays a new continental semifinal this time against Anderlecht Bruxelles, losing twice with 1-0.

In the summer of 1990, Dinamo - with Mircea Lucescu as coach - conquers a new national title, the 13th. Also the team wins the Cup final, against Steaua: 6-4. The new CCE season begins with a the elimination of Irish team St Patrick's Athletic Dublin (4-0 and 1-1). Dinamo is eliminated in the second round by FC Porto.

The 1991-1992 UEFA Cup Edition faces Dinamo against