Romania’s latest football academy rankings have been unveiled by the Romanian Football Federation (FRF), highlighting both the progress and challenges facing the country’s youth development system. Farul Constanța, under the leadership of Gheorghe Hagi, continues to set the benchmark with a dominant score of 91.45, securing the top spot for another year. Csikszereda Miercurea Ciuc follows in second with 89.90, while ACS Academia de Fotbal Viitorul Cluj rounds out the podium with 88.76 points.
A notable subplot in this year’s standings is the performance of Bucharest’s top clubs. FCSB, traditionally one of Romania’s most prominent teams, finds itself in an unfamiliar 10th place with a score of 84.18. This marks a significant drop from its fourth-place finish last year and positions it just behind its historic rival, CSA Steaua, which sits ninth with 84.91 points. The rapid rise of other academies, such as those at Farul and Csikszereda, underscores a shifting landscape in Romanian youth development.
George Ogăraru, a key figure at Steaua, publicly expressed satisfaction with his club’s result, emphasizing the importance of outperforming clubs that have invested much more heavily in their youth systems over a longer period. “Being ranked above other SuperLiga teams that have made massive and long-term investments in their academies gives us a special kind of satisfaction,” Ogăraru stated on social media.
The rankings are not merely symbolic. For the first time, the standings will play a role in breaking ties in the Romanian Cup. If two teams finish level on points, the club with the higher-ranked academy will be favored before a play-off is considered. This change, approved unanimously by the FRF Executive Committee, reflects a growing emphasis on youth development within the Romanian football ecosystem.
Out of the top 10 academies, only six are from the SuperLiga: Farul, Csikszereda, Universitatea Cluj, FC Argeș, Rapid, and FCSB. Dinamo, another traditional powerhouse, languishes in 27th position, illustrating the uneven distribution of resources and development across the country’s biggest clubs.
The evaluation process covers seven key areas: strategy and philosophy (10.98%), teams and players (12.20%), technical staff (18.67%), support staff (7.21%), training and matches (8.93%), infrastructure and facilities (21.51%), and results (20.50%). This comprehensive approach aims to ensure that academies are judged not just on sporting results but on their overall contribution to player development and professionalism.
The latest academy rankings reveal both the strength of Romania’s emerging youth programs and the need for traditional clubs to adapt to maintain their competitiveness in youth development.
The rise of provincial academies is challenging Bucharest’s football establishment, signaling a shift in the country’s footballing future.