Full name | Asociația Fotbal Club Astra Giurgiu |
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Nickname(s) |
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Short name | Astra |
Founded | 1921 as Clubul Sportiv Astra-Română |
Ground | Marin Anastasovici |
Capacity | 8,500 |
Owner | Ioan Niculae |
Chairman | Dănuț Coman |
Manager | Edward Iordănescu |
League | Liga I |
2016–17 | Liga I, 6th |
Website | Club website |
Asociația Fotbal Club Astra Giurgiu (Romanian pronunciation: [ˈastra ˈd͡ʒjurd͡ʒju]), commonly known as Astra Giurgiu, or simply as Astra, is a Romanian professional football club based in the city of Giurgiu, Giurgiu County, currently playing in the Liga I.
Founded in 1921 in Ploiești, Prahova County, as Clubul Sportiv Astra-Română, the club spent the vast majority of its history in the lower leagues. Only after 1990, when taken under the ownership of businessman Ioan Niculae, the club began to achieve success, with a premiere promotion to the top of the Romanian football league system in 1998. In September 2012, the team was moved from Ploiești to Giurgiu. At the end of 2015–16 season, the side led by head coach Marius Șumudică won a historic championship title, ending Steaua București's three-year successful run.
Domestically, Astra's major honours include one Liga I, one Cupa României and two Supercupa României. On the international stage, their best performance is reaching UEFA Europa League's round of 32 in the 2016–17 season.
The colours of the club are white and black, hence the old nickname Dracii negri (The Black Devils). Red, which is present on the current crest, was worn on many occasions on away kits.