Club Sportiv Municipal Deva, commonly known as CSM Deva, is a Romanian professional

football Football is a family of team sports that involve, to varying degrees, kicking a ball to score a goal. Unqualified, the word ''football'' normally means the form of football that is the most popular where the word is used. Sports commonly c ...

club based in Deva, Hunedoara County. The club was originally established in 1921 under the name of ''Mureșul Deva'' and since 1964 was a constant presence at the level of Liga III and Liga II under various names, such as: ''Minerul Deva'', ''Explormin Deva'', ''Explorări Deva'', ''Vega Deva'', ''Cetate Deva'' or ''CS Deva'', but mainly under the name of ''Mureșul Deva''. Club's most fruitful periods were during the 1970s and 2000s when the club spent six, respectively five seasons in the second tier of the Romanian football league system. The best ranking of Cetate Deva was a 4th place at the end of the

1973–74 Divizia B The 1973–74 Divizia B was the 34th season of the second tier of the Romanian football league system. The format has been changed to three series, each of them having 18 teams. At the end of the season the winners of the series promoted to Diviz ...

season, period when the club was managed by

Ladislau Vlad Ladislau "Laci" Vlad (25 March 1930 – 18 March 2013Heroes Cup, this time under the name of ''Corvinul Deva''. After World War II, Corvinul Deva was an active part of the third tier and regional leagues, but without obtaining any notable results for the next 20 years. ''Devenii'' appeared in the re-organized Divizia C during the 1964–65 season, under the name of ''Minerul Deva'' (The Miner), financially supported by the mining industry from Hunedoara County. In that season, Minerul (coached by Mircea Zeană and Mircea Miron) was ranked 2nd, with the same number of points as the leader ( CFR Arad) and the third place ( Metalul Hunedoara), but missed a spot in the second tier in the favor of the club based in Arad. After this result, Minerul was ranked 5th in 1966, then in the summer of the same year changed again its name, now back in ''Mureșul Deva'', name under which the team based in Deva would obtain its most important results. Until the end of the 1960s, Mureșul remained a constant team at the level of the third league, with rankings between 5th and 10th (out of 14).

The best period (1970–1990)

Starting with the 1970–71 season, Mureșul changed its objectives and from a middle-table team became a candidate for the promotion in the Divizia B. At that time, heads of the club, D. Cepănaru and I. Anescu decided to make all the needed efforts to promote the team in the second tier. In the first season Mureșul missed again the promotion spot, one point behind Independența Sibiu, then in 1972, three points split "the team below Deva Citadel" from the leader, Vagonul Arad. The most important movements were made by the administrative staff in the summer of 1972, when as a manager was hired

Ladislau Vlad Ladislau "Laci" Vlad (25 March 1930 – 18 March 2013Crișul Oradea, in 1971, from Divizia B to

Divizia A The Liga I (; ''First League''), also spelled as Liga 1, is a Romanian professional league for men's association football clubs. Currently sponsored by betting company Superbet, it is officially known as the SuperLiga. It is the country's top ...

. Vlad has built a redoubtable team at Deva, then at the end of the 1972–73 season, the dream of Mureșul, a promotion to Divizia B, was achieved, finishing first, 6 points ahead UM Timișoara. The squad was composed of the following players: V. Rusu – Ceaușu I, Ceaușu II, T. Pop, Puia, Stanciu, Nenu, Iancu, Macovei, Gherga, Tarcu, Precup, Macavei, Achim, Stark, Haidu, Uilecan, Mircea Marian, Mihai Marian, Moț, Naghi, Sereș, Stoian, Covaciu, P. Grigore, I. Ardelean and Ș. Dubinciuc. After promotion, the squad received reinforcements, among them

Árpád Szűcs Árpád Szűcs (also known as Arpad Suciu; born 16 March 1943) is a Romanian former professional footballer of Hungarian ethnicity. Szűcs grew up in the youth academies of the historical local clubs Stăruința Oradea (named Metalul Oradea ...

, former player of FC Bihor Oradea and one of the most important player of Deva in the autumn of 1973. At the end of the season, Mureșul was ranked 4th (best ranking in the history of the club), but

Ladislau Vlad Ladislau "Laci" Vlad (25 March 1930 – 18 March 2013FC Bihor Oradea, to promote the team once again in the top-flight. In the summer of 1974, Nicolae Oaidă (former great player of

Progresul București Progresul is a district in southern Bucharest's Sectorul 4, Romania Romania ( ; ro, România ) is a country located at the crossroads of Central Europe, Central, Eastern Europe, Eastern, and Southeast Europe, Southeastern Europe. It bord ...

) was hired as the new manager and important players such as Șchiopu, Gruber, Selymessy, Szilaghi, Cojocaru, Oncu or Buciuman were transferred. During the winter of 1975, Vlad returned to Mureșul Deva, leaving FC Bihor on the first place in its series of Divizia B. In the following period, some players left Oradea and came to Deva strengthening the squad even more, Mureșul was ranked 7th out of 18. At the end of the 1975–76 season Mureșul Deva saved from relegation in the last minute, then followed a 10th place ( 1976–77 season) and a 5th place ( 1977–78 season). The ups and downs of the last seasons have materialized in a relegation at the end of the 1978–79 season, only the goal difference making the split between Mureșul and last saved team, Înfrățirea Oradea. Back in the third division, Mureșul Deva was renamed again as ''Minerul Deva'', with the mining industry of Hunedoara County as the main sponsor and Ion Ștefănescu as the new president. In this refreshed formula, Deva was ranked 2nd (9 points behind

CFR Timișoara CFR may refer to: * Caen – Carpiquet Airport in northern France * Căile Ferate Române, the Romanian state railway * Canadian Finals Rodeo * Case fatality rate, term for proportion of people dying of a disease * Centre for Foreign Relations, ...

) and missed once again the promotion. This result was not well received and in the summer of 1980, Minerul Deva absorbed the other Divizia C side, Explorări Deva and the team was renamed as ''Explormin Deva''. All the financial forces of the town were reunited under the Explormin umbrella, in the attempt to get back in the second tier. In the following years it seemed that Deva was pursued by misfortune, finishing no less than three times in a row on the second place (

1981 Events January * January 1 ** Greece enters the European Economic Community, predecessor of the European Union. ** Palau becomes a self-governing territory. * January 10 – Salvadoran Civil War: The FMLN launches its first major offensiv ...

1982 Events January * January 1 – In Malaysia and Singapore, clocks are adjusted to the same time zone, UTC+8 (GMT+8.00). * January 13 – Air Florida Flight 90 crashes shortly after takeoff into the 14th Street bridges, 14th Street Bridge in ...

and 1983), at one, five and two points behind Strungul Arad,

Metalurgistul Cugir Clubul Sportiv Metalurgistul Cugir commonly known as Metalurgistul Cugir, is a Romanian football club based in Cugir, Alba County, currently playing in the Liga III. The club was formerly known as Metalurgistul Cugir. Honours *Liga II **Best fi ...

, respectively

Minerul Lupeni Clubul Sportiv Viitorul Minerul Lupeni, commonly known as Minerul Lupeni, is a Romanian football club based in Lupeni, Hunedoara County which competes in Liga IV – Hunedoara County, the fourth tier of the Romanian football league system. Es ...

. During the 1982–83 season, the club evolved under the name ''Explorări Deva''. In the summer of 1983, Explorări Deva was renamed again as ''Mureșul Deva'' and the luck came back on the side of the club from Hunedoara County, at the end of the 1983–84 edition the team winning its series and promoting in the second tier, to the detriment of the same rival in front of which it had promoted in 1973, UM Timișoara. Mureșul remained in the second division until 1987, when it relegated again, after occupying the 16th place (out of 18). The relegation was followed by another 2nd place in the third tier (1988) then by another promotion in 1989, when ''Devenii'' dominated their series and promoted with an advanced of 10 points over the second place,

. This time the team based in Hunedoara County resist only one edition before relegating again in 1990. This relegation was the end of the most fruitful period in the history of the club from Deva. During the 1970s and 1980s, Mureșul was also managed by Petre Dăscăliță, Adalbert Kassai, Traian Ivănescu, Constantin Ștefan, Dumitru Borcău, Teodor Pop, Gheorghe Țurlea or Carol Gal and were part of the squad, players such as: Balla, Naghi, Sava, Bucur, Fogoroși, Nicoară, Ștef, Vidican, Preda, Tirchineci, Mechimici, Dumitreasă, Olușuteanu, Vălășuteanu, Szabados, Mateescu, Văetuș, Varga or Rădos.

Deva can't find its rhythm (1990–2006)

After the 1990 relegation, Mureșul spent another two seasons in the third division, but finishing below expectations, on the 11th and 5th place, and due to the reorganization of the competitive system, in the summer of 1992, dictated by the Romanian Football Federation, the club relegated to the county championship. In 1994, the newly promoted team, Vega Caransebeș, was merged with the local side, the new entity was named as ''Vega Deva'' and started to play in the Divizia C. Vega was ranked 5th and 10th before promoting to Divizia B at the end of the 1996–97, when it won its series with an advance of three points over the second place, FC Drobeta-Turnu Severin. The squad that managed to obtain this performance was chaired by Nicolae Stanca and managed by Ionel Stanca, having in its composition players such as: Rahoveanu, Fartușnic, Tănasă, Fl. Voinea, G. Ștefan, Em. Popa, Fl. Danciu, Luca, Személy, Fl. Berindei, P. Naniu, Grosu or Chiliman, among others. Vega spent only two mediocre seasons in the second division, then relegated back to Divizia C at the end of the 1998–99 season. In the summer of 1999, Vega Deva was renamed for the first time as ''Cetate Deva'' and the refreshed organization of the club brought another promotion in the second tier, in 2000. After promotion, the club encountered financial problems and withdrew in the first part of the season, subsequently being excluded from the league. In the summer of 2001, the club managed to enroll in the third tier under the old name of ''Mureșul Deva'', then obtaining two middle-table rankings (8th and 5th). In the summer of 2003, as a proof that Deva could not find its rhythm, Mureșul merged with the newly promoted club CS Certej, the new entity was named as ''CS Deva'' and continued the football tradition of Mureșul, but in the second tier, instead of third. Two seasons spent CS Deva in the Divizia B (10th and 12th place), before selling its place to Corvinul 2005 Hunedoara, in the summer of 2005. CS Deva continued for another season in the third tier, but was ranked only 12th (out of 14).

Mureșul is back (2006–2012)

In the summer of 2006, ''CS Deva'' was re-organized as ''CS Mureșul Deva'', bringing back the old name of the club, the name under which the team obtained its greatest results. Agro Company (sausage manufacturing company) and the Municipality of Deva, owners of the club named former

player Gheorghe Barbu as the manager of "the white and reds". Mureșul promoted after only one season, this time from the second place, taking advantage of the Romanian football league system restructuring. During the late 2000s and early 2010s, Mureșul Deva succeeded to become again a constant presence at the level of Liga II, for the first time since the 1970s and 1980s. Mureșul was ranked 7th ( 2007–08), 12th ( 2008–09) and 14th ( 2009–10), relegating in 2010, but then being spared from relegation due to the withdrawal of Liga I side Internațional Curtea de Argeș. In 2010, Agro Company, main sponsor of the team, entered in insolvency and the financial problems started at the club. After the weak results, Gheorghe Barbu was changed with Constantin Olariu, then Olariu with

Romulus Gabor Romulus Gabor (born 14 October 1961) is a Romanian former professional footballer who played as a forward. Club career Romulus Gabor was born on 14 October 1961 in Pui, Hunedoara County. He started playing football at age 13 at Jiul Petroșani, ...

, but the results were still poor and Mureșul relegated at the end of 2011–12 season, after five consecutive seasons in the second league, subsequently being dissolved. In this period, for Mureșul Deva played footballers such as: Rahoveanu, Lipitor – N. Oltean, Dosan, Vârtic, Ad. Bud, Lintaru, J. Vajda, Sătmar, Borza, Dârvaru, Bițiș, E. Vajda, Sântejudean, I. Moldovan, Cireș, Pisoiu, Păcurar, A. Coman, Bunea, Onicaș, I. Baciu, Személy, Al. Dan, Gârlă, Apetri or Gongolea, among many others.

New start with Cetate college (2013–2020)

In the summer of 2013, the club was re-founded under the name of ''Cetate Deva'' and was enrolled in the Liga IV, Hunedoara County, in order to continue the football tradition in Deva after the dissolution of the old entity, Mureșul Deva. It was affiliated with the local sporting highschool "Colegiul Național Sportiv Cetate" of Deva, thus the full name ''CNS Cetate Deva''. In 2018, the educational institution was relegated from 'colegiu' to 'liceu' status, the new name being "Liceul cu Program Sportiv Cetate", therefore the football team followed suit and was officially known as ''LPS Cetate Deva'', though it still kept the old initials on the logo. In its first season after re-founding, Cetate reached the third place in the Liga IV and did not manage to promote to Liga III. Next season, the "citizens" won the championship and qualified for the Liga III promotion play-offs, where encountered Gilortul Târgu Cărbunești, champions of Liga IV –

Gorj County Gorj County () is a county ( județ) of Romania, in Oltenia, with its capital city at Târgu Jiu. ''Gorj'' comes from the Slavic ''Gor(no)-'' Jiu (“upper Jiu”), in contrast with Dolj (“lower Jiu”). Demographics In 2011, the county had a ...

. In the home match they beat Gilortul (8–2) and secured the promotion. Away Cetate won (1–3) and promoted in the Liga III. Cetate Deva debuted in the

2015–16 Liga III The 2015–16 Liga III is the 60th season of the Liga III, the third tier of the Romanian football league system. The season began on 28 August. Teams At the end of 2014-15 season, Bucovina Pojorâta (Seria I), Dunărea Călărași (Seria II), C ...

season with a victory, 3–1 against CSO Filiași. All the season was a good one, the team based in Deva finishing on the 6th place. In the summer of 2016, Cetate Deva started the training with a new coach, former Corvinul Hunedoara player, Ciprian Pepenar, with a squad composed mainly of Liga I and Liga II former players and with the objective of promoting to Liga II. After a disastrous start, Ciprian Pepenar was sacked and former Oțelul Galați player and coach,

Viorel Tănase Viorel "Tase" Tănase (born 7 October 1970) is a retired Romanian football Football is a family of team sports that involve, to varying degrees, kicking a ball to score a goal. Unqualified, the word ''football'' normally means the for ...

, was hired. Also in the last rounds of the first part Ousmane N'Doye signed a player/manager contract with the club and the team began to climb in the league table. After this edition in which the club ended on the 6th place, followed three poor seasons: 8th ( 2017–18), 13th ( 2018–19) and 12th ( 2019–20). At the end of the 2018–19 season the club relegated but was spared by the

Romanian Football Federation Romanian Football Federation (), also known by its acronym FRF, is the sports governing body, governing body of association football, football in Romania. They are headquartered in the capital city of Bucharest and affiliated to FIFA and UEFA sinc ...

, due to lack of teams.

Municipality era (2020-present)

Cementing a move that was in the works for a few months, on 18 August 2020 the Romanian Football Federation approved the cession from LPS Cetate Deva, who transferred its right to take part in football competitions (Liga III) to the club owned by the municipality of Deva, CSM Deva. Through this move, LPS Cetate was dissafiliated and CSM Deva was affiliated in its place, providing continuity to the Deva team.

Ground

CSM Deva plays its home matches on

Cetate Stadium The Cetate Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium in Alba Iulia, Romania. It is currently used mostly for football matches and is the home ground of Unirea Alba Iulia Clubul Sportiv Municipal Unirea Alba Iulia, commonly known as Unirea Alba Iulia ( ...

, located in Deva, Hunedoara County. The stadium was opened in the 1960s and has a capacity of 4,000 on seats (ranked 3rd in the county, after Jiul and Michael Klein Stadiums).

Honours

* Liga III: **Winners (5): 1972–73, 1983–84, 1988–89, 1996–97, 1999–2000 **Runners-up (10): 1964–65, 1970–71, 1971–72, 1979–80, 1980–81, 1981–82, 1982–83, 1987–88, 2006–07, 2021–22 * Liga IV – Hunedoara County **Winners (2): 1993–94, 2014–15

Other performances

*Appearances in Liga II: 20 *Best finish in Liga II: 4th place in the 1973–74 season.

Players

First team squad

Out on loan

Club officials

Board of directors

Current technical staff

League history

Notable former players

The footballers enlisted below have had international cap(s) for their respective countries at junior and/or senior level, more than 100 caps for LPS Cetate Deva or played in more than 15 matches for Cetate Deva at the level of Liga II (highest level achieved by the club). * Ioan Achim * Adrian Borza *

Constantin Bumbac Constantin Bumbac (born 29 April 1984) is a Romanian footballer who plays as a centre back for Liga IV side Axiopolis Cernavodă. In his career, Bumbac also played for teams such as Cetate Deva, CFR Timișoara, Farul Constanța or Dunărea ...

* Dumitru Cojocaru *

Alexandru Dan Alexandru Angelo Dan (born 30 January 1994), is a Romanian association football, footballer who plays as a midfielder.

Leontin Doană Leontin Doană (born 17 January 1970) is a Romanian former professional footballer, currently a manager. He was part of one of the best football generation of CSM Reșița with players like Roco Sandu, Vasile Ciocoi or Cristian Chivu. Ref ...

* Adrian Dosan * Ștefan Dubinciuc * Mario Gruber * Raul Lintaru * Valentin Lipitor * Mircea Marian * Ion Mateescu * Ousmane N'Doye * Salif Nogo * Mihai Onicaș * Vasile Rahoveanu * Ilie Savu * Horațiu Sătmar *

Adrian Stoicov Adrian Stoicov (12 November 1967 – 15 March 2017) was a Romanian footballer who played as a left-back. After he ended his playing career he worked as an assistant and youth coach. He died aged 49 after suffering from lung cancer. Honours ;Po ...

* Andrei Szabados * Elek Személy *

Petru Șchiopu Petru Șchiopu (28 April 1947 - 10 October 2014) was a Romanian football midfielder. Honours UTA Arad *Divizia A The Liga I (; ''First League''), also spelled as Liga 1, is a Romanian professional league for men's association football cl ...

* Costel Uilecan * János Vajda *

Ioan Varga Ioan Varga (born 5 January 1959) is a Romanian former footballer who played as a midfielder. His son, Dacian was also a footballer. Honours Dinamo București *Cupa României The Cupa României ( en, Romanian Cup) is a Association football, ...

Andrei Vaștag Andrei Vaștag (born 21 March 1994) is a Romanian footballer who plays as a midfielder. International career Vaștag made his debut for Romania U-17 on 21 September 2010 in a game against Kazakhstan U-17. He played with the under-17 team at t ...

* Florea Văetuș * Gelu Velici

Notable former managers

* Gheorghe Barbu *

* Traian Ivănescu * Nicolae Oaidă * Ioan Petcu *

Ladislau Vlad Ladislau "Laci" Vlad (25 March 1930 – 18 March 2013Football clubs in Hunedoara County Association football clubs established in 1921 Liga II clubs Liga III clubs Liga IV clubs 1921 establishments in Romania