CSM Sighetu Marmației

Clubul Sportiv Municipal Sighetu Marmației, commonly known as CSM Sighetu Marmației, or simply as Sighetu Marmației (Romanian pronunciation: [ˌsiɡetumarˈmat͡si.ej], is a Romanian football club based in Sighetu Marmației, Maramureș County, currently playing in the Liga III.

History

The club was founded in 1996 to continue the football tradition in Sighetu Marmației after the dissolution of CIL Sighetu Marmației, a team which played for many years in Liga II.

Sighet began the 2015–16 season aiming for promotion, but it turned out to be disastrous, with the team facing frequent changes on the coaching bench and underwhelming results. The team started with Michele Bon as head coach, and among the players were Began, Turda, Panțîru, and Bucur. Bon left the team after four rounds and was replaced by Dan Dobai for the next five, while assistant coach Cosmin Marincean managed the team for one round. Valentin Sinescu was then appointed head coach from the eleventh round. Although the squad was strengthened during the winter break with Ferariu, Goia, Chiacu, and Cârstoiu, Sinescu was eventually replaced by Marius Popescu before the start of the second half of the campaign. However, on 13 May 2016, due to a lack of funds after the withdrawal of municipal financing, CSM Sighetu Marmației withdrew from Liga III and was dissolved.

In the summer of 2019, after three years of inactivity, the football section of CSM Sighetu Marmației was refounded and enrolled in Liga IV – Maramureș County, with Neluțu Hotea as head coach. The team led the North Series of the 2019–20 season, which was suspended in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and was designated to play the county final against the South Series leaders Progresul Șomcuta Mare, losing 5–6 on penalties after a 1–1 draw.

The 2020–21 season was initially postponed due to the high costs caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, but on 7 April 2021 the FRF approved a new, lower-cost protocol for the county leagues. Under newly appointed head coach Romulus Buia, the team won the short tournament organized by AJF Maramureș, defeating Lăpușul Târgu Lăpuș 3–0 in the final, before losing the promotion/relegation play-off to Progresul Șomcuta Mare, the 9th-placed team in Series X of Liga III, 2–6 on aggregate.

In the 2021–22 season, Sighetenii won the North Series and secured the Liga IV – Maramureș County title after once again defeating Lăpușul Târgu Lăpuș 2–1 in the league final at Viorel Mateianu Stadium in Baia Mare, and promoted to Liga III by overcoming Rapid Jibou, the champions of Sălaj County, winning both legs of the promotion play-off, 3–0 away and 2–0 at home, under head coach Cristian Bogdan.

Adrian Iencsi was appointed head coach for the 2022–23 season, leading CSM Sighetu Marmației to a 7th-place finish in Series X of Liga III, both after the regular season and the play-out stage, before leaving the team at the end of his tenure.

In July 2023, George Zima took over as head coach, guiding the team to 4th place in the regular season of Series X and qualification for the play-off, where they finished 2nd and reached the promotion play-offs, being eliminated in the first round by Gloria Bistrița, losing 3–5 on penalties after a 0–0 home draw and a 1–1 away draw. In the 2024–25 campaign, he led the team to a 5th-place finish in Series X of Liga III, both after the regular season and the play-out stage.

Zima was replaced during the winter break of the 2025–26 campaign, leaving the team in 6th place in the regular season of Series VIII, as Flavius Sabău was appointed the new head coach.

Honours

Liga III

• Runners-up (1): 2023–24

Liga IV – Maramureș County

• Winners (7): 2000–01, 2004–05, 2006–07, 2010–11, 2013–14, 2020–21, 2021–22

Players

First-team squad

As of 10 September 2024

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

Out on loan

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

Club officials

League and Cup history

Former managers

• Romania Daniel Iftodi (2007–2009)
• Romania Sorin Cigan (2013–2014)
• Romania Dan Dobai (2014−2015)
• Italy Michele Bon (2015)
• Romania Dan Dobai (2015)
• Romania Valentin Sinescu (2015−2016)
• Romania Marius Popescu (2016)
• Romania Neluțu Hotea (2019−2020)
• Romania Romulus Buia (2021)
• Romania Cristian Bogdan (2021–2022)
• Romania Adrian Iencsi (2022–2023)
• Romania George Zima (2023–2025)
• Romania Flavius Sabău (2026)

External links