FC Florești

Fotbal Club Florești is a Moldovan professional football club based in Florești. They currently play in Group B of Liga 1, the second tier of Moldovan football, after getting relegated from the Super Liga in the 2024–25 season.

Florești

Full name	Fotbal Club Florești
Founded	2003; 22 years ago (2003)
Ground	Dinamo Stadium
Capacity	5,000
Chairman	Sergiu Litra
League	Liga 1
2024–25	Super Liga, 8th of 8 (relegated)
Home colours Away colours
Current season

History

Early years (2003-2019)

Florești were founded in 2003. They played in the third tier until they were promoted in 2017 after finishing 5 points ahead of 2nd place CF Soroca.^[1][2] In 2019, they were promoted to the top division.^[3]

First years in Divizia Nationala (2019-2022)

In preparation for the first season in their first top-flight season, FC Floresti transferred 7 players and loaned 3 players: Alexandru Zveaghințev, Serghei Diulgher, Serghei Bobrov, Igor Bugaiov, Constantin Mandrîcenco, Dumitru Semirov, the experienced Ion Arabadji. Vladimir Covenco, Vladislav Liharev and Andrei Calac were loaned from Sheriff Tiraspol.^[4] In their opening Divizia Nationala game, Floresti played against the now defunct Dinamo-Auto, losing 3–1. Igor Bugaiov would score in the 79th minute for Floresti.^[5] The club's first ever win would come on 7 July 2020, against relegation favourites Codru Lozova, with the score of 1–0.^[6] The team would finish a respectable 7th place.^[7]

Igor Bugaiov, one of the transferred players in 2019

Floresti started weak in the next season. A narrow 1–0 loss with Petrocub,^[8] then a heavy loss, 0–4, with relegation opponent Zimbru.^[9] To add to the problems, Serghei Diulgher, the captain of the team, would leave the team, going to Iceland.^[10] There were also rumors of Match fixing plaguing the club. Shockingly, the club was expelled from the Divizia Nationala on 17 January 2021, after match-fixing allegations.^[11]

The 2022-23 Liga 1 season

Despite the scandals of last season, Alexandru Osipov would stay at the club. Nicolai Turcan would be installed as manager.^[12] The club started with 1–0 loss away at FCM Ungheni. Despite this, the club would Finnish first, 2 points above 2nd place FC Fălești.^[13] The play-offs would start off promising. A 0–0 with Super Liga club Dacia Buiucani would ignite hope for Turcan's men.^[14] The club would finish 2nd, 4 points behind Dacia Buiucani.^[15] That meant the club would traverse the playoffs. The club would win 2–0 against Văsieni, due to a brace in the final minutes by Oleg Bulat.^[16] Then came the semi-finals of the competition, where Floresti would play Victoria Bardar, seasoned Liga 1 experts, with players like Ghenadie Orbu, Oleg Molla and Petru Postoroncă, all of which played in the DN. The game would finish 3–3 after 120 minutes. Victoria would end up winning on penalties.^[17] Despite this, the club would promote into the Super Liga, despite not having the license,^[18] after Sfîntul Gheorghe would be dissolved.^[19]

Return to Super Liga (2023-2025)

Nicolae Turcan, the manager of Floresti, taking questions after a match

In preparation for the season, Floresti transferred a handful of players, including Daniel Muntean^[20] and Nikita Holodov.^[21] The club debuted in the league with a categorical win, 4–0, against Spartanii. Nicolai Solodovnicov would score a brace.^[22] During the regular season, the club would duel Dacia Buiucani in the race to 6th. In round 6, the teams would draw 2–2 due to a Alexandru Suvorov free kick goal.^[23] In the 2nd confrontation Dacia Buiucani would win 2–1.^[24] The club would also be knocked out in the cup after a loss on penalties to Victoria.^[25] On the final match-day both teams were in the race for 6th place. All Dacia had to do was beat Zimbru. Floresti had to beat Milsami and hope Dacia does not win against Zimbru. Solodovnicov would score after a mistake in Milsami's defence to win 0–1.^[26] However Dacia would win 2–1 after goals by Ilie Botnari and Eugen Zasavițchi to seal the deal. However Floresti would win the playoffs and stay in the Super Liga.^[27]

Stadium

The club played their home matches at the Stadionul Izvoare in Florești before they were promoted to the top division, after which they played at the Dinamo Stadium in Bender.^[28]

Honours

• Divizia A / Liga 1
  • Winners: 2019,^[3] 2023-24
• Divizia B
  • Winners: 2017^[2]

Current squad

As of 1 May 2024^[29]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player 1 GK  MDA Maxim Bardis 2 DF  MDA Nichita Levcenco 3 DF  MDA Serghei Svinarenco 5 DF  MDA Oleg Gavriușen 6 DF  MDA Ivan Voropai 7 MF  MDA Alexandru Suvorov 9 DF  MDA Mihail Tipac 11 FW  MDA Daniel Muntean 12 GK  MDA Stanislav Ivanov 17 MF  MDA Artiom Bilinschii 19 DF  TUR Berkant Yaylan

No. Pos. Nation Player 21 MF  MDA Alexandru Osipov 22 FW  MDA Nichita Picus 23 DF  MDA Vladislav Boico 27 FW  USA Peter Massaquoi 30 DF  MDA Igor Bondarenco 31 DF  MDA Danila Ignatov (on loan from Sheriff Tiraspol) 44 FW  MDA Nichita Susuncov 55 DF  MDA Vladimir Covcenco 90 MF  MDA Nikita Kholodov — DF  MDA Roman Novicov (on loan from Sheriff Tiraspol)

League history

Season	League									Cup	Ref
	Tier	Pos	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	Pts
2017	3rd	↑ 1st	18	14	2	2	57	19	44	1st preliminary round	[2]
2018	2nd	2nd	22	12	4	6	40	27	40	Round of 16	[30]
2019		↑ 1st	28	22	3	3	71	29	69	Second round	[3]
2020–21	1st	7th	36	9	5	22	37	85	32	Quarter-finals	[31]
2021–22		↓ 8th	28	0	0	28	12	88	−6[a]	Quarter-finals	[32]
2022–23	2nd	↑ 2nd	22	15	1	6	43	19	43	Round of 16
2023–24	1st	7th	14	3	1	10	18	33	10	Round of 16
	2nd	↑ 1st	10	7	2	1	21	6	23
2024–25	1st	↓ 8th	14	0	1	13	0	59	1	Round of 16
	2nd	6th	10	0	0	10	3	54	−3

1. Florești were deducted 6 points in the 2021–22 season. They were also excluded from the league during the winter break, with the remaining nine fixtures awarded 0–3 against them.