CSM Reșița


Clubul Sportiv Muncitoresc Reșița, commonly known as CSM Reșița or simply as Reșița, is a Romanian football club based in Reșița, Caraș-Severin County, currently playing in the Liga II.
The club was founded on 25 May 1926 as UD Reșița and throughout its almost centennial history survived to many sharp ups and downs, from a national title in 1931 and a silver medal in 1932 to the last shine in the late 1990s, several reorganizations in the 2000s and an almost fatal fall at the level of amateur leagues during the 2010s.
Over time CSM had important battles with local rivals as Muncitorul Reșița or Gloria Reșița, but has secured itself the city's supremacy, as well as the title of county's most important and supported club. Despite the strong support from the Mountain Banat, Reșițenii have never succeeded in imposing themselves on a regional level, not even the national title won in 1931 or the 1954 cup not being able to tilt the balance in favor of "the red and blacks", in their duel for Banat against FC Politehnica Timișoara. In time the rivalry between the two sides increased as intensity and continued even after the bankruptcy of FC Politehnica, but now at a much lower level, against ASU Politehnica Timișoara, fans team and unofficial successor of the old white and violet side.
CSM Reșița is nicknamed by fans Rosso-Nerii or Milan from Banat due to its classical red kits with black stripes. Reșița's supporters are well-known in Romania for the eagerness with which support their team, the ultras group of CSM being named Guardia Rosso-Nera . Rosso-Nerii play their home matches on Mircea Chivu Stadium.

History

The club was founded on 25 May 1926, from a merger between two local teams. The new team was named UDR. In the 1930–31 season, it won the Romanian West League, qualifying in the national finals, where it defeated Prahova Ploiești and Societatea Gimnastică Sibiu. In the following season the club finished runners-up, after Bucharest powerhouse Venus.
After World War II and the advent of the Communist regime, professional football was forbidden. UDR has merged again, this time with the local labor union team, under the name Oțelul Reșița. After changing its name several times, it settled to Metalul Reșița.
The 1950s were a period of slow decline for the team. In 1954, Metalul Reșița was playing in the Romanian Second League, finishing the season on the 7th place. But in the Romanian Cup, the 1954 season brought its second trophy. The Reșița team, made up of steel factory workers, mechanics, electricians and railway workers, met in the Cup some of Romania's finest teams, including five from Divizia A. It defeated, in turn, Știința Timișoara 5–1, Locomotiva Tg. Mureș 4–0, Locomotiva Timișoara 2–0, and CCA București 1–0. In the final, on December 5, 1954, Metalul Reșița met, in Bucharest, Dinamo București. The Reșița team won the game 2–0, with Szeles scoring twice. It was the first time that a team from the Romanian Second League had won the trophy.
During its 87-year history, the club won one championship and one cup and has played for 16 seasons in the Liga I, the last time in the 1999–2000 season.
The early 2000s brought financial problems in Domanului Valley and in 2004 the club was dissolved being transformed in FC Universitatea Craiova's reserve team, then in 2005 was refounded as FCM Reșița and bought its place in the second tier from Tricotaje Ineu, but lost its brand, record and the right to use the name of CSM Reșița.
The club was dissolved in the autumn of 2008 because of the lack of financial support. In the summer of 2009, it was brought back to life, this time with the name of Școlar Reșița, playing in Romania's third league. In the summer of 2012, it was renamed again, this time returning to the old name of FCM Reșița.
In the 2012–13 season, it finished third in the series. The objective for the 2013–14 season was initially to promote back to the Liga II after a six-year absence, but in the summer of 2013 Damila Măciuca was moved to Reșița and was renamed as Metalul Reșița, therefore Reșița Municipality chose to support the new team and CSM Școlar Reșița chose to enroll in Liga IV due to lack of funds.
In 2015 the relationship between Metalul and Municipality of Reșița has cooled, the Municipality chose to sustain again financially CSM Școlar, while Metalul moved to Snagov in 2016 being renamed one year later as Sportul Snagov. On the other hand, CSM Școlar promoted back to Liga III at the end of the 2015–16, then being ranked two times in a row as runner-up before winning the fourth series, after a spectacular comeback in the spring of 2019, promoting back to Liga II.
The return to the second division after 11 years of absence came at the package with a big win for the club, which won back the logo, name and record of the old club. After this victory, CSM Școlar Reșița was renamed as CSM Reșița, in the summer of 2019.

Ground

CSM Reșița plays its home matches on Mircea Chivu Stadium from the city, a sports complex named after Cristian Chivu's father, Mircea Chivu, the most important manager in the history of the club and a local legend. With a capacity of 12,500 seats, the stadium is located in Domanului Valley, enjoying very picturesque scenery. Opened in the 1920s the stadium suffered several renovations, most recently in 2018.

Honours

Domestic

The most successful team from Caraș-Severin County.

Leagues

First team squad

Out on loan

Club officials

Board of directors

RoleName
Owner Reșița Municipality
President Cristian Bobar
Sporting Director Adrian Ciocan
Delegate Aurelian Băbuțan
Youth Center Manager Călin Cheregi
Organizer of Competitions Ion Atodiresi
Press Officer Miruna Mihancea

Current technical staff

RoleName
Manager Alexandru Pelici
Assistant Manager Călin Cheregi
Cătălin Mada
Goalkeeping Coach Valentin Boșca
Fitness Coach Alexandru Armaș
Club Doctor Ioan Șerbescu
Masseur Gyula Bauman
Storeman Flavius Toader

Chronology of names

League history

SeasonTierDivisionPlaceCupa României
2019–202Liga II15thRound of 32
2018–193Liga III 1st '
2017–183Liga III 2ndRound of 32
2016–173Liga III 2nd
2015–164Liga IV 1st '
2013–143Liga III 8th '
2012–133Liga III 3rd
2011–123Liga III 8th
2010–113Liga III 8th
2009–103Liga III 8th
2008–093Liga III 17th
2007–082Liga II 15th '
2006–072Liga II 12th
2005–062Divizia B 5thRound of 32
2004–053Divizia C2nd '

SeasonTierDivisionPlaceCupa României
2003–042Divizia B 14th '
2002–032Divizia B 11thRound of 32
2001–022Divizia B 6thRound of 16
2000–012Divizia B 3rdRound of 32
1999–001Divizia A17th 'Quarter-finals
1998–991Divizia A15thRound of 16
1997–981Divizia A7thRound of 32
1996–972Divizia B 1st 'Quarter-finals
1995–962Divizia B 10thRound of 32
1994–952Divizia B 13th
1993–942Divizia B 3rd
1992–931Divizia A18th 'Round of 16
1991–922Divizia B 1st '
1990–912Divizia B 11th
1989–902Divizia B 4th

Notable former players

The footballers enlisted below have had international cap for their respective countries at junior and/or senior level and/or more than 100 caps for CSM Reșița.