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.Team | Manager | Captain | Kit manufacturer | Shirt sponsor |
ACS Poli Timișoara | Marius Croitoru | Joma | Casa Rusu | |
Astra Giurgiu | Júnior Morais | Joma | :ro:Tinmar|Tinmar | |
Botoșani | Gabriel Vașvari | Nike | Elsaco | |
CFR Cluj | Mário Camora | :nl:Masita|Masita | Enex | |
Concordia Chiajna | Cristian Bălgrădean | Lotto | — | |
CSM Politehnica Iași | Ionuț Voicu | Nike | Blue Air | |
CS U Craiova | Andrei Ivan | Joma | Sticky | |
Dinamo București | Antun Palić | Nike | Orange | |
FCSB | Denis Alibec | Nike | :ro:City Insurance|City Insurance | |
Gaz Metan Mediaș | Ionuț Buzean | Joma | Romgaz | |
Pandurii Târgu Jiu | Răzvan Stanca | Nike | :ro:Artego|Artego | |
Târgu Mureș | Gabriel Mureșan | Joma | :ro:EnergoBit|energo+ | |
Viitorul Constanța | Romario Benzar | Nike | Lotto Snacks | |
Voluntari | Vasile Maftei | Puma | Primăria 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:
- ACS Poli Timișoara qualified for 2017–18 Liga I and UTA Arad qualified for 2017–18 Liga II.
Season statistics
Top scorers
Rank | Player | Club | Goals |
1 | Azdren Llullaku1 | Gaz Metan Mediaș | 16 |
2 | Cristian Bud | CFR Cluj | 11 |
2 | Aurelian Chițu | Viitorul Constanța | 11 |
2 | Adam Nemec | Dinamo București | 11 |
2 | Denis Alibec | Astra Giurgiu / FCSB | 11 |
2 | Andrei Cristea | CSM Politehnica Iași | 11 |
7 | Harlem Gnohéré | Dinamo București / FCSB | 10 |
8 | Mircea Axente2 | Gaz Metan Mediaș | 9 |
8 | Fernando Boldrin | Astra Giurgiu / FCSB | 9 |
8 | Adrian Bălan | Voluntari | 9 |
8 | Vlad Morar | ASA Târgu Mureș / Viitorul Constanța | 9 |
8 | Andrei Ivan | CS U Craiova | 9 |
8 | Sergiu Hanca | Dinamo București | 9 |
8 | Lukács Bőle | CSM Politehnica Iași | 9 |
8 | George Țucudean | Pandurii Târgu Jiu / Viitorul Constanța | 9 |
8 | Cătălin Golofca | Botoșani | 9 |
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
Rank | Player | Club | Clean sheets* |
1 | Florin Niță | FCSB | 13 |
1 | Branko Grahovac | CSM Politehnica Iași | 13 |
3 | Silviu Lung Jr. | Astra Giurgiu | 12 |
3 | Nicolae Calancea | Universitatea Craiova | 12 |
3 | Victor Rîmniceanu | Viitorul Constanța | 12 |
6 | Cristian Bălgrădean | Concordia Chiajna | 11 |
7 | Cătălin Straton | ACS Poli Timișoara | 10 |
8 | Plamen Iliev | Botoșani | 8 |
9 | Mihai Mincă | CFR Cluj | 7 |
9 | Dragoș Balauru | Voluntari | 7 |
9 | Alexandru Greab | Gaz Metan Mediaș | 7 |
12 | Eduard Pap | ASA Târgu Mureș | 6 |
12 | Jaime Penedo | Dinamo București | 6 |
*Only goalkeepers who played all 90 minutes of a match are taken into consideration.
Discipline
Player
- Most yellow cards: 12
- * Andrei Artean
- * Júnior Morais
- * Gabriel Vașvari
- * Daniel Novac
- Most red cards: 3
- * George Miron
- * Radu Zaharia
Club
- Most yellow cards: 104
- *Astra Giurgiu
- *Concordia Chiajna
- *Pandurii Târgu Jiu
- Most red cards: 8
- *Politehnica Iași
- *Botoșani
Awards
Liga I Team of the Season
Player | Team | Position |
Florin Niță | FCSB | Goalkeeper |
Romario Benzar | Viitorul | Defender |
Ionut Larie | CFR Cluj | Defender |
Kevin Boli | Viitorul | Defender |
Marko Momčilović | FCSB | Defender |
Constantin Budescu | Astra | Midfielder |
Sergiu Hanca | Dinamo | Midfielder |
Florinel Coman | Viitorul | Midfielder |
Andrei Ivan | CSU Craiova | Forward |
Adam Nemec | Dinamo | Forward |
Denis Alibec | FCSB | Forward |