Dinamo only the first among equals
Tuesday 16 December 2008
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Czech coach Dušan Uhrin Jnr has been dismissed Timişoara (©Getty Images)
FC Dinamo 1948 Bucureşti coach Mircea Rednic admitted that "being first does not necessarily mean that we were the best" after his side went into the Romanian winter break above FC Unirea Urziceni and FC Timşoara in the table.
Honest assessment
With just a point separating Dinamo from Dan Petrescu's Unirea in second, it has been a closely-fought season so far. Champions CFR 1907 Cluj and 2007/08 runners-up FC Steaua Bucureşti lie fourth and fifth, but with no more European games to distract either side, they can join the rest of the teams in Liga 1 in concentrating exclusively on domestic matters in the spring.
Unheralded Unirea
While Dinamo are on top, most would accept that they have never been brilliant as they seek their first title since 2006/07. Petrescu's Unirea have been the real upstarts, showing commitment and organisation that belie the fact that they have no Romania national team players and only one foreign international – Lithuania's second-choice goalkeeper Giedrius Arlauskis.
Winter transfers
Unirea are four points clear of Timişoara, who in turn are another point ahead of CFR and Steaua. The latter have brought Marius Lăcătuş back into the head coach's role to replace the dismissed Dorinel Munteanu, who himself took over from Lăcătuş after his resignation in October. Both CFR and Steaua are expected to make signings in the winter, with the former already capturing Serbia Under-21 striker Rade Veljović from FK Voždovac.
Legend returns
However, Dinamo have also made a move to strengthen, bringing back club legend Claudiu Niculescu after he spent the last 12 months with MSV Duisburg and AC Omonia. With Niculescu having scored 80 goals in 139 appearances for the league leaders, Rednic will hope the 32-year-old striker can provide the necessary firepower to help maintain Dinamo's lofty position.
Uhrin fired
Timişoara, meanwhile, are third but might have been top had they not been docked six points after a ruling against them in the Court of Arbitration for Sport relating to the club's attempts to assume the identity of FC Politehnica Timişoara. More controversy has followed in recent weeks with the club's decision to part ways with Czech coach Dušan Uhrin Jnr.
Dutch successor
Club president Marian Iancu decided to dismiss Uhrin, but the exact events are shrouded in mystery. What is for sure is that the next boss of the club will be a Dutchman. Iancu has already gone on the record to say as much though the name of the new coach remains a secret.
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