Dinamo Bucuresti

1948–1955: Foundation and early years

On 14 May 1948, "Unirea Tricolor MAI" — newly entered, in January 1948, under the umbrella of the Communist regime's Internal Affairs Ministry — merged with "Ciocanul București" and formed "Dinamo București", the sporting club representing the above-mentioned institution. The people who contributed at the foundation of the club were the Minister of Internal Affairs, Teohari Georgescu and the Jewish brothers Alexandru and Turi Vogl. 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 Divizia B). Starting with 1950, Dinamo A was separated from Dinamo B, the latter being transferred first to Braşov, then to Cluj-Napoca, and eventually, in 1958, being moved to Bacău, where it became FCM Bacău.

The "Dinamo" name was used for the first time on 1 May 1948. Nevertheless, the real debut of Dinamo was on the 1947–48 Divizia A edition (finishing 8th). Some of the team's players were Ambru, Angelo Niculescu, Teodorescu, Șiclovan, Bartha and Sârbu.

On 11 July 1948, Dinamo played its first international match against SK Židenice from Czechoslovakia, and winning 4–1. 22 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, Lăzăreanu, Farkaș. The team's first coach was Coloman Braun-Bogdan. A year later Nicolae Dumitru and Gheorghe Băcuț join the club. At the end of the 1950 Divizia A edition, Angelo Niculescu retires, dedicating himself to the coaching profession.

In 1955, Dinamo won their first championship with Angelo Niculescu as head coach, Dinamo impressed mainly in the offensive, with an attack formed by Ene I, Neagu and Suru. The defense, with players like Băcuț I (Gheorghe), Băcuț II (Ladislau), Szökő, Călinoiu, was the best in the championship – only 19 goals received.

In the fall of 1956, the team makes its debut in the European Cup (competition created a year before). Dinamo was the first Romanian club to play in the competition. The debut game was played on 26 August 1956, in front of 32,000 spectators. Dinamo defeated Galatasaray with 3–1. In the second leg, Dinamo lost in Istanbul with 1–2, and moved forward.

1950–1981: Domestic success and European competition

Dinamo won the second championship in 1962, with players like Datcu, I. Nunweiller, Pârcălab, Frățilă, Popa, Varga (head coaches were Traian Ionescu, Constantin Teașcă and Nicușor Dumitru). In 1963, the club won their third title. Midfielder Vasile Gergely joined the team that season.

In the 1963–64 season, the club won the double with new players such as Octavian Popescu and Emil Petru. In the Romanian Cup final they beat rivals Steaua 5–3. Dinamo played in the 1963–64 European Cup against the famous Real Madrid (1–3 in Bucharest), a team with Di Stefano and Gento. The game played in Bucharest took place at "23 August" Stadium, and established a new record for this arena: 100,000 spectators.

In the fall of 1964, in the European Cup, Dinamo met Inter Milan with Facchetti, Mazzola, Jair, Corso and Suárez. Dinamo lost both legs, 0–6 and 0–1.

In 1965, Dinamo won their fourth consecutive title, with players like Mircea Lucescu, Radu Nunweiller and Gheorghe Ene. The following season of the European Cup, Dinamo met again Inter Milan, and managed to win the home game, 2–1. Inter won at San Siro 2–0 and moved forward.

The club won their 6th title in 1971. In the 1971–72 European Cup campaign, Dinamo eliminated Spartak Trnava, the team of Dobias, Kuna and Adamec, and losing in the second round to Ernst Happel's Feyenoord 0–3 and 0–2. The 7th title comes two years later, in 1973, when Dinamo won a game against CFR Cluj at the exact margins to pass Universitatea Craiova in the standings. In the 1973–74 European Cup, they surpass Northern Ireland's Crusaders Belfast (The 11–0 home game against Northern Ireland's team is still the biggest margin of victory in the history of the European Cup), but fail against Atlético Madrid (0–2 and 2–2), the team of Gárate, Irueta, Heredia and Ayala. The next year Dinamo plays in the 1974–75 UEFA Cup and after eliminating Boluspor, they lose to F.C. Koln: 1–1 and 2–3.

The Red Dogs won their 8th title in the 1974–75 season, Dudu Georgescu received his first 'Golden Boot' award after scoring 33 goals that year. The title winning squad included young and experienced players like Sătmăreanu, Moldovan, Vrînceanu, Marin and Deleanu. In the 1976–77 UEFA Cup, Dinamo played against AC Milan with Fabio Capello and Collovatti on its side: 0–0 and 1–2.

The 1976–77 season brings the 9th title for the club, and the second 'Golden Boot' for Georgescu (47 goals). In the autumn of 1977 in the European Cup, Dinamo wins a thrilling game against Atlético Madrid 2–1, but loses at Madrid, 2–0.

In the second round of the 1979–80 UEFA Cup (after eliminating Alki Larnaca from Cyprus) Dinamo is eliminated by Eintracht Frankfurt, team of Grabowski and Hölzenbein (2–0 and 0–3 in prolongation). The German side ended up winning the trophy.