2015–16 Liga I


The 2015–16 Liga I was the 98th season of the Liga I, the top professional league for Romanian association football clubs. The season began 10 July 2015 and ended on 29 May 2016, being the first to take place since the play-off/play-out format has been introduced.
FC Steaua București were the defending champions for a third consecutive time, but they did not retain the title. Astra Giurgiu became winners for the first time in their history.

Teams

The last six teams from the 2014–15 season were relegated to their respective 2015–16 Liga II division. Gaz Metan Mediaș, Brașov, Universitatea Cluj, Rapid București, Oțelul Galați and Ceahlăul Piatra Neamț.
The first team from each of the two divisions of 2014–15 Liga II advanced to Liga I. Voluntari promoted as the winners of Seria I. It is their first season in Liga I. ACS Poli Timișoara promoted as the winners of Seria II. It is their second season in Liga I.

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
Astra Giurgiusortname|Marius|Șumudică

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


Championship play-offs

The top six teams from Regular season met twice for places in 2016–17 UEFA Champions League and 2016–17 UEFA Europa League as well as deciding the league champion. Teams started the Championship round with their points from the Regular season halved, rounded upwards, and no other records carried over from the Regular season.

Table


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


Promotion/relegation play-offs

The 12th-placed team of the Liga I faces the winner of the match between second place from Liga II, Seria I and second place from Seria II.

Second round

Notes:

Season statistics

Top scorers

RankPlayerClubGoals
1

Clean sheets

RankPlayerClubClean sheets*
1

Discipline

Player

Club

Champion squad

Astra Giurgiu

Goalkeepers: Ionuț Boșneag ; George Gavrilaș ; Silviu Lung Jr..

Defenders: Alexandru Dandea ; Valerică Găman ; Geraldo Alves

Attendances

#ClubAverageHighest
1Steaua9,15848,632
2Dinamo 19485,43420,360
3Iași4,10010,000
4Timișoara3,46320,000
5Petrolul3,4508,000
6Astra3,2598,500
7Botoșani3,0647,782
8Târgu Mureș3,0565,000
9CFR Cluj2,9758,000
10Viitorul2,5444,500
11U Craiova2,4346,071
12Pandurii1,95312,800
13Voluntari1,3235,219
14Concordia1,1554,000

Source: