CSM Reșița

Asociația Club Sportiv Muncitoresc Reșița (Romanian pronunciation: [ˌklubul sporˈtiv ˌmuŋtʃi.toˈresk ˈreʃit͡sa]), commonly known as CSM Reșița or simply as Reșița, is a professional football club based in Reșița, Caraș-Severin County, which competes in the Liga II.

The club was founded on 16 May 1926 as UD (Uzinele și Domeniile) 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 Rossoneri 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 Ultra(GU). Rossoneri play their home matches on Mircea Chivu Stadium.

The club was founded on 16 May 1926 from a merger between local teams Clubul Sportiv and Societatea Sportivă Muncitorească, the new team was named SS UDR (Sociatatea Sportivă a Angajaților Uzinelor de Fier și Domeniile din Reșița – "Sports Society of Employees of the Factories and Domains from Reșița"), the first coach of the team being native Ernest Loukota who also helped at the merger, the main starting 11 in the club's first year of activity being: Ștefan Czinczer – Szilágyi, Rech – Bundy, Andresz, Pecsenovszky – Grosz, Pázler, Lakatos, Adalbert Deșu, Keller.^[1]

In the 1930–31 season, UDR won the Romanian West League and qualified to the national finals, where it defeated with 2–0 Societatea Gimnastică Sibiu in the final after a double scored by Eugen Lakatos, coach Loukota using the following 11: Carol Damacsek – Alexandru Pomacsek, Györi – Sinko, Sepi, Jozsef Bundi – Fibișanu, Eugen Lakatos, Silviu Ploeșteanu, Jozsef Kilianovics, Moise.^[1][2] In the following season, the club reached again the championship final, losing it with 3–0 in front of Venus București, this time coach Loukota used the following players: Carol Damacsek – Iosif Czako, Györi – Sinko, Sepi – Jozsef Bundi, Kilianovics – Tudor, Silviu Ploeșteanu, Eugen Lakatos, Moise, Keller.^[1][3]

After World War II and the advent of the Communist regime, professional football was forbidden, UDR merged with a local labor union team, Locomotiva and was renamed Oțelul (Steel) Reșița and after several further name changes, it was ultimately branded Metalul Reșița.^[1]

The 1950s were a period of slow decline for the club. By 1954, Metalul Reșița was playing in the Romanian second division, Divizia B, finishing the season in 7th place, however, the season also brought the club's second trophy, in the form of the 1954 Cupa României, this being the first time that a team from Divizia B had won the trophy after defeating five Divizia A teams, Știința Timișoara (6th place at the end of the 1954 Divizia A season) 5–1, Locomotiva Tg. Mureș (10th place) 4–0, Locomotiva Timișoara (4th place) 2–0, and CCA București (2nd place) 1–0 and a 2–0 victory in the final with Ștefan Szeleș scoring twice in the 30th and 40th minutes against Dinamo București (3rd place), coach Mihai Zsizsik using the following players in the final: Iosif Zarici – Emil Chirilă, Valentin Teodorescu, Eugen Potoceanu – Mihai Munteanu, Ștefan Apro – Iosif Jojart II, Petru Mioc, Ștefan Urcan, Petre Iovan (replaced by Vida in the 70th minute), Ștefan Szeleș.^{[1][4][5][6][7]}

During its 87-year history, the club won one championship and one cup and has played for 16 seasons in Liga I, the last time in the 1999–2000 season.

The early 2000s brought financial problems to the Domanului Valley team and, in 2004, Reșița was dissolved and converted to FC Universitatea Craiova's reserve team. In 2005, the club 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 due to financial difficulties. In the summer of 2009, it was brought back to life, this time with the name of Școlar Reșița, playing in Liga III, 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, the club finished third in Liga III. The objective for the 2013–14 season was initially to be promoted to Liga II after a six-year absence, but in the summer of 2013 Damila Măciuca was moved to Reșița and was renamed to Metalul Reșița. The municipal government of Reșița chose to support this new team, forcing Școlar Reșița to enter Liga IV due to the loss of funding.^[8]

In 2015, relations between Metalul and the Municipality of Reșița cooled and the latter resumed its financial support for CSM Școlar. Metalul moved to Snagov in 2016 and was renamed a year later to Sportul Snagov. On the other hand, CSM Școlar was promoted back to Liga III at the end of the 2015–16 season, winning the Liga IV Caraș-Severin and the promotion play-off 6–1 away in the first leg and by forfeit in the second leg against Pandurii Cerneți, Mehedinți County winners.^[9][10] The squad, led by Dan Potocianu in the first half of the season and by Leontin Doană after the winter break, included, among others, Petruț, Domăneanț, Szijj, Banac, Covăsală, Coviț, Negrei, Costescu, Al. Ciucur, Breșneni, Bloju, Costachi, Liuba, V. Marcu, C. Doană, Țoțu, Beloescu, and Curelea.^[11][12]

In Liga III, Școlar Reșița competed under Leontin Doană and finished runners-up in Series IV in the 2016–17 season, just one point behind leaders Ripensia Timișoara. In the 2017–18 season, Roco Sandu was appointed as the new head coach.^[13] However, poor results led to his replacement by Daniel Oprița, who guided the team to another runners-up finish in Series IV, this time behind Șirineasa, and also led them to the Round of 32 of the Cupa României, where they faced Viitorul Constanța and lost 2–4.^[14][15]

In the 2018–19 season, Octavian Benga took charge of CSM Școlar Reșița, but after poor results that saw the Valea Domanului side drop from promotion contenders in Series IV closer to the relegation zone, he resigned after nine rounds and was replaced by Leontin Doană.^[16][17][18] Doană led the team to overcome the eight-point gap from before the winter break behind first-placed Șoimii Lipova, ultimately finishing two points ahead and securing promotion to the second tier after an eleven-year absence. The club also regained its traditional logo and name, being renamed CSM Reșița in the summer of 2019.^[19]

In the following campaign, Reșița reached the Round of 32 of the Cupa României, where it was eliminated by Universitatea Craiova after a 0–1 loss at Ion Oblemenco Stadium, with a lineup that included Zimmermann, L. Acka, Ehmann, Vasiu (Vlădia 67′), Banac, Săulescu, Danci, Cristea (Poiană 55′), Vădrariu, Dat (Cioablă 58′), and D. Ene.^[20] In the 2019–20 Liga II season, with the team in the relegation zone after sixteen rounds, Reșița parted ways with Leontin Doană, who was replaced by former Romanian international Dorinel Munteanu. Munteanu led the team to 15th place before the league was interrupted in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.^[21]

Munteanu left Reșița during the summer of 2020,^[22] and Alexandru Pelici took charge for the 2020–21 campaign, but resigned after eight rounds due to poor results.^[23][24] He was replaced by Alin Minteuan,^[25] who in turn stepped down before the final round of the regular season, in which the team finished in 17th place. Subsequently, Adrian Falub was appointed as head coach, and after placing second from bottom in Group B of the play-out stage, Reșița returned to the third tier after two seasons in Liga II.^[26]

After relegation, Reșița appointed former Romanian international Dan Alexa as head coach for the 2021–22 Liga III campaign, aiming for a quick return to the second tier.^[27][28] The team won Series VII, finishing ten points clear at the end of the regular season and extending the gap to twenty points after the series play-off stage ahead of 2nd-placed Deva. Reșița qualified for the promotion play-offs, where it eliminated Ghiroda in the first round (1–0 away and 1–1 at home).^[29] In the decisive tie for promotion, however, the team was eliminated by Dumbrăvița, losing 2–4 on penalties after a 0–0 away draw and a 1–1 result at home, ending a season in which they went unbeaten in regular time.^[30][31]

Alexa did not continue as head coach and was replaced by Călin Cheregi.^[32][33] Under Cheregi, the Rossoneri reached the play-off round of the Cupa României but were eliminated after a 0–4 defeat to Mioveni.^[34] During the 2022–23 Liga III season, they went on to win Series VIII and qualified for the promotion play-offs, where they eliminated Filiași in the first round (2–2 away and 5–0 at home).^[35] In the decisive tie for promotion, Reșița defeated Deva with two 3–2 victories, securing promotion to the second tier after two years.^[36][37]

In the 2023–24 campaign, Reșița had a poor start to the season, losing both of their opening Liga II matches, and was also unexpectedly eliminated in the third round of the Cupa României after a 0–1 defeat to third-tier side Phoenix Buziaș, after which Călin Cheregi resigned. Flavius Stoican was subsequently appointed as head coach and led the team to 10th place in the regular season and first place in Group A of the play-out stage.^[38][39]

Reșița had a strong 2024–25 campaign, finishing 5th in the regular season and advancing to the promotion play-off stage, where it eventually finished 6th. The team also reached the group stage of the Cupa României, won Group D, and advanced to the quarter-finals for the first time in twenty-five years, where it was defeated 0–4 by Hermannstadt. The squad included, among others, Dincă, Goga, Élton, Dudea, Erico, Dolghi, Bocșan, Chera, Salhi, Tucaliuc, Cioiu, Gașpăr, Negru, Jerdea, Doană, Lascu, Samaké, Florescu, Fărăgău, and R. Burlacu.^[40][41][42]

In the 2025–26 season, the Red and Blacks were eliminated in the third round of the Cupa României after a 0–1 defeat to Liga III side Știința Poli Timișoara. Flavius Stoican left Reșița after nearly three years in charge following a 1–3 home defeat to Corvinul Hunedoara and the failure to secure a place in the top-six promotion play-off. Stoican was replaced by former Reșița player and club legend Leontin Doană.^[43][44]

CSM Reșița plays its home matches at Mircea Chivu Stadium, a sports complex named after manager Mircea Chivu, who was also the father of player Cristian Chivu. With a capacity of 12,500 seats, the stadium is located in the Domanului Valley neighbourhood. It was opened in the 1920s and has been renovated several times, most recently in 2018 and 2020.^[45][46]

Divizia A / Liga I

• Winners (1): 1930–31
• Runners-up (1): 1931–32

Divizia B / Liga II

• Winners (4): 1937–38, 1971–72, 1991–92, 1996–97
• Runners-up (5): 1948–49, 1961–62, 1962–63, 1963–64, 1968–69

Divizia C / Liga III

• Winners (4): 1936–37, 2018–19, 2021–22, 2022–23
• Runners-up (2): 2016–17, 2017–18

Liga IV – Caraș-Severin

• Winners (1): 2015–16
• Runners-up (1): 2014–15

Cupa României

• Winners (1): 1954

Cupa României – Caraș-Severin

• Winners (1): 2014–15

As of 26 February 2026

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

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

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

The footballers enlisted below have had international cap(s) for their respective countries at junior and/or senior level and/or significant caps for CSM Reșița.

• Official website
• CSM Reșița on Facebook