2016–17 Liga I


The 2016–17 Liga I was the 99th season of the Liga I, the top professional league for Romanian association football clubs. The season began on 22 July 2016 and concluded on 5 June 2017, being the second to take place since the play-off/play-out format has been introduced. Viitorul Constanța were crowned champions for the first time in their history.

Teams

The last two teams from the 2015–16 season, ACS Poli Timișoara and Petrolul Ploiești, were relegated to their respective 2016–17 Liga II division. The first team from each of the two divisions of 2015–16 Liga II advanced to Liga I.
On 21 July 2016 Rapid București was excluded from Liga I after the club went into dissolution. Their place was taken by ACS Poli Timișoara.

Renamed teams

CSM Studențesc Iași was renamed as CSM Politehnica Iași.
FC Steaua București was renamed as FCSB.

Venues

Personnel and kits

Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players and Managers may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
TeamManagerCaptainKit manufacturerShirt sponsor
ACS Poli Timișoara Marius Croitoru JomaCasa Rusu
Astra Giurgiu Júnior Morais Joma:ro:Tinmar|Tinmar
Botoșani Gabriel Vașvari NikeElsaco
CFR Cluj Mário Camora :nl:Masita|MasitaEnex
Concordia Chiajna Cristian Bălgrădean Lotto
CSM Politehnica Iași Ionuț Voicu NikeBlue Air
CS U Craiova Andrei Ivan JomaSticky
Dinamo București Antun Palić NikeOrange
FCSB Denis Alibec Nike:ro:City Insurance|City Insurance
Gaz Metan Mediaș Ionuț Buzean JomaRomgaz
Pandurii Târgu Jiu Răzvan Stanca Nike:ro:Artego|Artego
Târgu Mureș Gabriel Mureșan Joma:ro:EnergoBit|energo+
Viitorul Constanța Romario Benzar NikeLotto Snacks
Voluntari Vasile Maftei PumaPrimăria Orașului Voluntari

Managerial changes

Regular season

In the regular season the 14 teams will meet twice, a total of 26 matches per team, with the top 6 advancing to the Championship round and the bottom 8 qualifying for Relegation round.

Table

Results

Positions by round

Championship play-offs

The top six teams from Regular season will meet twice for places in 2017–18 UEFA Champions League and 2017–18 UEFA Europa League as well as deciding the league champion. Teams start the Championship round with their points from the Regular season halved, rounded upwards, and no other records carried over from the Regular season.

Table

Results

Positions by round

Relegation play-outs

The bottom eight teams from regular season will meet twice to contest against relegation. Teams start the Relegation round with their points from the Regular season halved, rounded upwards, and no other records carried over from the Regular season. The winner of the Relegation round finishes 7th in the overall season standings, the second placed team - 8th, and so on, with the last placed team in the Relegation round being 14th.

Table

Results

Positions by round

Promotion/relegation play-offs

The 12th-placed team of the Liga I faced the 3rd-placed team of the Liga II.
Notes:

Top scorers

RankPlayerClubGoals
1 Azdren Llullaku1Gaz Metan Mediaș16
2 Cristian BudCFR Cluj11
2 Aurelian ChițuViitorul Constanța11
2 Adam NemecDinamo București11
2 Denis AlibecAstra Giurgiu / FCSB 11
2 Andrei CristeaCSM Politehnica Iași11
7 Harlem GnohéréDinamo București / FCSB 10
8 Mircea Axente2Gaz Metan Mediaș9
8 Fernando BoldrinAstra Giurgiu / FCSB 9
8 Adrian BălanVoluntari9
8 Vlad MorarASA Târgu Mureș / Viitorul Constanța 9
8 Andrei IvanCS U Craiova9
8 Sergiu HancaDinamo București9
8 Lukács BőleCSM Politehnica Iași9
8 George ȚucudeanPandurii Târgu Jiu / Viitorul Constanța 9
8 Cătălin GolofcaBotoșani9

1 Azdren Llullaku was transferred to Astana during the winter transfer window.
2 Mircea Axente was transferred to Al-Faisaly during the winter transfer window.

Hat-tricks

Clean sheets

RankPlayerClubClean sheets*
1 Florin NițăFCSB13
1 Branko GrahovacCSM Politehnica Iași13
3 Silviu Lung Jr.Astra Giurgiu12
3 Nicolae CalanceaUniversitatea Craiova12
3 Victor RîmniceanuViitorul Constanța12
6 Cristian BălgrădeanConcordia Chiajna11
7 Cătălin StratonACS Poli Timișoara10
8 Plamen IlievBotoșani8
9 Mihai MincăCFR Cluj7
9 Dragoș BalauruVoluntari7
9 Alexandru GreabGaz Metan Mediaș7
12 Eduard PapASA Târgu Mureș6
12 Jaime PenedoDinamo București6

*Only goalkeepers who played all 90 minutes of a match are taken into consideration.

Discipline

Player

Liga I Team of the Season

PlayerTeamPosition
Florin NițăFCSBGoalkeeper
Romario BenzarViitorulDefender
Ionut LarieCFR ClujDefender
Kevin BoliViitorulDefender
Marko MomčilovićFCSBDefender
Constantin BudescuAstraMidfielder
Sergiu HancaDinamoMidfielder
Florinel ComanViitorulMidfielder
Andrei IvanCSU CraiovaForward
Adam NemecDinamoForward
Denis AlibecFCSBForward

Monthly awards