Universitatea Craiova is set to reestablish its satellite team in Liga 3, with the squad relocating to Caracal, marking a significant step in restoring football heritage in the Oltenia region. This move comes after more than a decade since Caracal last hosted national-level football, following the dissolution of FC Caracal in 2013.
The club’s leadership aims to launch a broader initiative over the coming years to revitalize football in Oltenia and encourage youth participation from the region. The “Parc” stadium in Caracal, dormant for national competitions since 2013, will once again witness competitive football, symbolizing a revival of the city’s storied sporting culture.
Corneliu Papură, a respected figure who previously managed Universitatea Craiova’s first team and led the club’s U19 squad to victories in both the Romanian Youth Cup and Supercup against FCSB, will helm the satellite team. His appointment underscores the club’s ambition to build a strong, competitive side capable of challenging for promotion to Liga 2.
To bolster the squad, Universitatea Craiova has signed four experienced players with Liga 2 backgrounds. Among them are midfielder David Sala and forward Alexandru Ionuț Popescu, both of whom have previously been part of the club’s second team and had stints with the first team. Other acquisitions include central defender Francois Yabre, a Norwegian-Burkinabé player with extensive experience in Romanian and Norwegian lower leagues, and Portuguese left-back Abel Folha, who played in Liga 2 with Ceahlăul Piatra Neamț last season.
The satellite team’s preparations are scheduled to begin in about a week, following decisions by head coach Mirel Rădoi regarding which young players will be loaned to the second team. This strategic blend of promising youth and seasoned professionals aims to create a balanced squad ready to compete vigorously in Liga 3 and vie for promotion.
This relaunch not only restores a vital competitive platform for developing talent outside the main squad but also signals Universitatea Craiova’s commitment to nurturing regional football growth, potentially strengthening the club’s future pipeline and regional fanbase.