U Craiova 1948

Early years of football in Craiova (1921–1958)

Football in the city of Craiova began in 1921 when the first two teams were founded: Craiovan Craiova and Rovine Grivița Craiova. In 1940, the two sides merged in what resulted to be one of the most successful Romanian clubs of the Interwar period, FC Craiova, who were the first team of the city that won the Romanian football championship. However, the 1942–43 title is not recognized officially by FRF and LPF.

Following the birth of university education in Craiova, a group of teachers and students founded CSU (Club Sportiv Universitar) Craiova in 1948, a sports club with athletics, volleyball, handball, table tennis, chess sections, and under the coordination of the Ministry of Public Education and the Uniunea Națională a Studenților din România (lit. National Union of Students in Romania), the football section was initially formed under the name UNSR Craiova and enrolled in the county championship. The first official match was held at Filiași, aganinst CFR Filiași, on 5 September 1948, with the Students being defeated 3–6. The team, led by head coach Nicolae Polojinski, wore white-and-blue shirts and was composed of Dumitrescu – Rădulescu, Mihăilă I, Carli – Ozon, Mihăilă II – Sabin, Ilie, Bădescu, Tudor, and Serghi.

In 1950, the football section changed its name from UNSR Craiova to CSU Craiova, the same name as its parent club. The early squads coached by Nicolae Polojinski included, among others, Vulpe, I. Popescu, Zorilă, Stănculescu, Brebenaru, Gh. Florigoanță, Șerbu, A. Bratu, Cricitoiu, Florescu, I. Florigoanță, Borosan, Dilă, and Cumpănașu.

In 1951, CSU Craiova recorded a 6–0 victory over Constructorul Craiova in what was also the club’s first official appearance in Cupa României. Two years later, the club was renamed Știința Craiova and reached the Round of 32 of Cupa României, where it was eliminated by Spartac București after a 2–2 draw following extra time, with the away team advancing according to the competition rules. The squad featured players such as Stoica, Dreșcă, Rizu, Pîrvuleț, Firu, Anuțescu, Dan Popescu, Dumitru Popescu, Babarada, Dilă, and Pădureanu.

The following season, under coach Nicolae Oțeleanu, Știința once again reached the Round of 32 in Cupa României, before narrowly losing 0–1 to Locomotiva Timișoara. They also won the Craiova Regional Championship, securing promotion to Divizia B for the first time in its history after finishing first in the promotion tournament held in Arad.

However, their spell in the second division lasted only one season, as they finished in 12th place in Series I and were relegated to the newly re-established Divizia C, with a squad that included Stoica, Urucu, Vulpe, Dreșcă, Rizu, Pîrvuleț, Razga, Dumitrescu, Ciulava, Anuțescu, Briac, Lambru, Căpitanu, Buldur, Ioniță, D. Popescu, V. Popescu, V. Lupu, Firu, Babarada, Pădureanu, Pantelimon, Iliescu, Coicea, and Matei.

Universitatea, a rising team (1958–1970)

In the following years, under the guidance of Bondoc Ionescu-Crum, the Students finished in 3rd place in Series IV of the 1956 season before securing a return to the second tier in the 1957–58 campaign. Știința won Series III after a tight battle for first place with Unirea Râmnicu Vâlcea, the two sides finishing tied on 34 points, with the White and Blues clinching promotion on goal average. The promotion-winning squad included Stoica, Matei, Căpitanu, Iliescu, Dumitrescu, Briac, Lambru, Scorțan, Anghel, Buldur, Croitoru, Coicea, Pantelimon, Dică, and Deliu.

In their first season after returning to Divizia B, coach Bondoc Ionescu-Crum was replaced during the first half of the season by Gheorghe Scăeșteanu, who led Știința to a 13th place finish out of 14 teams in Series I, avoiding relegation due to the expansion of the second division. Moved to Series II for the following campaign, the Students gradually established themselves among the division's leading sides, finishing in 10th place in 1959–60 under Scăeșteanu.

In 1960–61, Virgil Mărdărescu was appointed as the new head coach, leading the White and Blues to a runner-up finish, nine points behind Dinamo Pitești. In 1961, former Romanian international Valeriu Călinoiu was appointed head coach, guiding the team to a 4th place finish in the 1961–62 season.

In 1962, the team was renamed CSO (Club Sportiv Orășenesc) Craiova, and Călinoiu was replaced after the first half of the season by Nicolae Oțeleanu, who led the team to a 5th place finish in the 1962–63 season.