CSM Cetatea Suceava

{{Short description|Romanian football club}} {{distinguish|Foresta Fălticeni|ACS Foresta Suceava}} {{Infobox football club | clubname = Cetatea Suceava | image = CSM_Cetatea_Suceava.png | image_size = 200px | fullname = Club Sportiv Municipal Cetatea Suceava | nickname = ''Cavalerii Nordului'' (The Knights of the North) ''Alb-albaștrii'' (The White and Blues) | founded = {{Start date and age|df=yes|1932}} as ''Cetatea Sucevei'' {{Start date and age|df=yes|1957}} as ''Progresul Suceava'' {{Start date and age|df=yes|2004}} as ''Cetatea Suceava'' {{Start date and age|df=yes|2024}} as ''Cetatea Suceava'' | ground = Areni | capacity = 12,500 (7,000 seated) | owner = Suceava Municipality | chrtitle = General manager | chairman = Marian Bordeianu | mgrtitle = Head coach | manager = Petre Grigoraș | league = Liga II | season = 2025–26 | position = Liga III, Series I Regular season: 2nd of 12 Play-off, Series I: 1st of 8 ''(promoted)'' | website = | kit_alt1 = | pattern_la1= | pattern_b1 = _jomaflag3rbw | pattern_ra1= | pattern_sh1= | pattern_so1= | leftarm1 = 0033FF | body1 = | rightarm1 = 0033FF | shorts1 = 0033FF | socks1 = 0033FF | kit_alt2 = | pattern_la2= | pattern_b2 = _jomaflag3rw | pattern_ra2= | pattern_sh2= | pattern_so2= | leftarm2 = FF0000 | body2 = | rightarm2 = FF0000 | shorts2 = FF0000 | socks2 = FF0000 }} '''Club Sportiv Municipal 1932 Cetatea Suceava''', commonly known as '''CSM Cetatea Suceava''' or '''Cetatea Suceava''', is a Romanian football club based in Suceava, Suceava County, currently playing in Liga II, the second tier of Romanian football.

The club was originally established in 1932 under the name Cetatea Sucevei and, over time, was reorganized several times, using different names such as ''Chimia Suceava, CSM Suceava, or Cetatea Suceava'', among others. Re-established in the summer of 2024, Cetatea achieved back-to-back promotions from Liga IV Suceava County to Liga II in 2025 and 2026.<ref name="prom2025"/><ref name="prom2026"/>

==History== ===First years of football (1932–1949)=== Cetatea Suceava was originally established in 1932, under the name of ''Cetatea Sucevei'', name inspired by the Medieval Seat Fortress of Suceava. The first team of Suceava included players such as Lazăr Andrian, Fleghel, Ioanițchi, Cosmovici, N. Scobeniuc, Marcean, A. Scobeniuc, Hariga, Semenov, Cozma, Buliga, Curcă, Schwartz, Curcă, Borosan, Salpeter, and Radu Dan.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.svnews.ro/istoria-fotbalului-sucevean-in-imagini-si-cuvinte/29335/|title=Istoria fotbalului sucevean în imagini și cuvinte|language=ro|trans-title=The history of Suceava football in images and words|publisher=svnews.ro|date=4 December 2013|access-date=2 January 2025|archive-date=2 January 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250102213355/https://www.svnews.ro/istoria-fotbalului-sucevean-in-imagini-si-cuvinte/29335/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Cetatea Sucevei initially competed in the Eastern League Championship, a regional competition. Later, the team participated in the Eastern League of Divizia C, the newly formed third division of Romanian football. Initially, Divizia C’s Eastern League was organized as a single group, but it was later expanded into two groups. During their first season in Divizia C, Cetatea Sucevei finished 7th, last in the Eastern League, and achieved 2nd place in Group II of the Eastern League in the 1937–38 season, while also reaching the Round of 32 in the 1938–39 Cupa României.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.romaniansoccer.ro/divizia_c/tables/C1937-38.shtml|title=Season 1937-38 - Edition 2|access-date=2 January 2025|publisher=romaniansoccer.ro}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesr/roemcuphistfull.html#39|title=Cupa României 1938/39|publisher=rsssf.org|access-date=31 May 2026|archive-date=31 May 2026|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260531144313/https://www.rsssf.org/tablesr/roemcuphistfull.html#39|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 1946, after World War II and the rise of the communist regime, Romanian football underwent drastic changes as the new Soviet model was implemented. This model required all sports associations to align with trade unions or governmental institutions. As a result, Cetatea Sucevei was absorbed into CFR Ițcani, a team from a village that later became a neighbourhood of Suceava.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://sportsv.ro/istoria-fotbalului-sucevean/|title=Istoria fotbalului sucevean|language=ro|trans-title=The history of football in Suceava|publisher=sportsv.ro|date=18 February 2017|access-date=2 January 2025|archive-date=25 May 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240525195054/https://sportsv.ro/istoria-fotbalului-sucevean/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="fotbala-z">Mihai Ionescu & George Tudoran, Fotbal de la A la Z – Editura Sport-Turism 1984.</ref>

In the 1947–48 season, Suceava was represented in Divizia B by a team named Dinamo, which finished 16th in Series II and was relegated to Divizia C, where it competed in the first half of the 1948–49 season, placing 11th in Series III, before the competition was dissolved in February 1949 and the team returned to the regional championship.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.romaniansoccer.ro/divizia_b/tables/1947_48.shtml|title=Divizia B - Season 1947-48 - Edition 9|accessdate=31 May 2026|publisher=romaniansoccer.ro|archive-date=31 May 2026|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260531131914/https://www.romaniansoccer.ro/divizia_b/tables/1947_48.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.romaniansoccer.ro/divizia_c/tables/C1948-49.shtml|title= Divizia C - Season 1948-49 - Edition 4|access-date=31 May 2026|publisher=romaniansoccer.ro|archive-date= 1 May 2023|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20230501184651/https://www.romaniansoccer.ro/divizia_c/tables/C1948-49.shtml}}</ref>

===From Spartac to CSM (1950–1997)=== In 1950, another team was founded near the Prodaliment abattoir in the village of Burdujeni (now a neighbourhood of Suceava), named Spartac Burdujeni.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.crainou.ro/2024/06/19/amintiri-despre-echipele-de-fotbal-spartac-si-flamura-rosie-burdujeni/|title=Amintiri despre echipele de fotbal Spartac și Flamura Roșie Burdujeni|language=ro|trans-title=Memories of the Spartac and Flamura Roșie Burdujeni football teams|date=19 June 2024|access-date=2 January 2025|publisher=crainou.ro}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.svnews.ro/istoria-fotbalului-sucevean-in-imagini-ii-echipa-anilor-50/29913/|title=Istoria fotbalului sucevean în imagini – II – echipa anilor 50|language=ro|trans-title=The history of Suceava football in pictures – II – the team of the 50s|publisher=svnews.ro|date=17 December 2013|access-date=2 January 2025|archive-date=2 January 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250102211344/https://www.svnews.ro/istoria-fotbalului-sucevean-in-imagini-ii-echipa-anilor-50/29913/|url-status=live}}</ref> In the 1953 season, Spartac Burdujeni won the Suceava Regional Championship and qualified for the promotion play-off for Divizia B. However, it finished 5th in Series I, held in Ploiești. Despite this, the second division was expanded the following season, and alongside the four group winners, an additional eight teams (including Spartac) were promoted.

In the 1954 Divizia B season, Spartac finished in 7th place in Series III and ranked 5th in the following season under the guidance of Gheorghe Hedeș. In the 1956 season, the team was renamed Flamura Roșie Burdujeni, finished in 12th place tied on points with Locomotiva Iași, and barely avoided relegation on goal difference.<ref name="L2">{{cite web|url=https://www.romaniansoccer.ro/divizia_b/divizia_b_istorie.shtml|title=Liga 2 clasamente|trans-title=Liga 2 tables|publisher=romaniansoccer.ro|access-date=31 May 2026}}</ref>

In 1957, Flamura Roșie Burdujeni was officially relocated to Suceava and renamed Progresul Suceava. This moment was considered a rebirth of Suceava football, after more than a decade of inconsistency, during which the villages of Ițcani and Burdujeni had been better represented. Progresul played in Series II of Divizia B for the next two seasons, finishing 11th in 1957–58, before a new rebranding followed on 12 April 1959, when the club became Victoria Suceava, finishing 12th in the 1958–59 season.<ref name="L2"/>

For the next decade, the club experienced a lack of stability, reflected in its frequent name changes and fluctuating results. In 1959–60, under the name Dinamo Suceava, the team played in Series I of Divizia B, finishing 4th, followed by a 6th-place finish in the 1960–61 season. In 1961–62, the club dropped to 13th place and was relegated to the regional championship. Dinamo Suceava quickly returned to national competitions after winning the Suceava Regional Championship in 1962–63, earning promotion to the newly re-established Divizia C, where it finished 3rd in the East Series in 1963–64.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.romaniansoccer.ro/stiri/16668/evolutia-denumirilor-echipelor-de-a-lungul-anilor.htm|title=Evoluția denumirilor echipelor de-a lungul anilor|language=ro|trans-title=The evolution of team names over the years|publisher=romaniansoccer.ro|date=8 February 2010|access-date=26 January 2025}}</ref><ref name="L2"/><ref name="L3">{{cite web|url=https://www.romaniansoccer.ro/divizia_c/divizia_c.shtml|title=Liga 3 clasamente|trans-title=Liga 3 tables|publisher=romaniansoccer.ro|access-date=28 September 2025}}</ref>

Renamed Viitorul Suceava in 1964, the team finished 9th in the 1964–65 season, before becoming Chimia Suceava following a takeover by the ''Combinatul de Celuloză și Hârtie'' ({{Literal translation|Cellulose and Paper Mill Complex}}). In 1965–66, Chimia won its Divizia C series and secured promotion to Divizia B under the guidance of Radu Gologan and Vasile Frânculescu, with a squad that included Sidac, Petcu, Moraru, Vicovan, Gumő, Cotipolis, Arhire, Roșu, Marosi, Borcău, Găinaru, Tudor, Nicolau, Asiminoaiei, Luca, and Belizna.<ref name="L3"/><ref name="mts">{{cite web|url=http://www.mts.ro/documente/documente/305-360%20Sports%20Clubs,%20Associations%20and%20Societies.pdf|title=Asociații, Cluburi, Societăți Sportive sau/și Cultural Sportive|language=ro|trans-title=Sports and/or Cultural Sports Associations, Clubs, and Societies|accessdate=31 May 2026|publisher=Ministerul Tineretului și Sportului (Ministry of Youth and Sports)|date=4 March 1999|page=314|via=mts.ro|archive-date=31 May 2026|archive-url=https://archive.org/details/305-360-sports-clubs-associations-and-societies|url-status=live}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: left" align="right" |+ Chronology of names |- ! style="background:#0A007B;color:#FFFFFF;"|Name ! style="background:#0A007B;color:#FFFFFF;"|Period |- | '''Cetatea Sucevei''' || 1932–1946 |- | ''inactive*'' || 1946–1957 |- | ''Progresul Suceava'' || 1957–1959 |- | ''Victoria Suceava'' || 1959–1960 |- | ''Dinamo Suceava'' || 1960–1964 |- | ''Viitorul Suceava'' || 1964–1965 |- | ''Chimia Suceava'' || 1965–1972 |- | ''CSM Suceava'' || 1972–1993 |- | ''Bucovina Suceava'' || 1993–1997 |- | ''inactive*'' || 1997–2004 |- | '''Cetatea Suceava''' || 2004–2010 |- | ''inactive*'' || 2010–2024 |- | '''Cetatea Suceava''' || 2024–present |}

CSM Suceava was founded on 19 July 1972,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://svnews.ro/istoria-fotbalului-sucevean-vi/32280/|title=Istoria fotbalului sucevean (VI)|language=ro|trans-title=History of Suceava football (VI)|date=19 February 2014|publisher=svnews.ro|archive-date=2 January 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250102215218/https://www.svnews.ro/istoria-fotbalului-sucevean-vi/32280/|url-status=live}}</ref> incorporating the sections of football, track and field, rugby, and volleyball. During the years, more sections were added and offered to its members, among them archery, baseball, boxing, Greco-Roman wrestling, handball, ice hockey, rowing, speed skating, and swimming. The current setup includes archery, boxing, ice hockey, rugby, track and field, volleyball, and wrestling.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.csm-suceava.ro/|title=Clubul Sportiv Municipal Suceava|work=csm-suceava.ro}}</ref>

Being one of the founding sections, the football team rose through the ranks of the Romanian league system before eventually gaining promotion to the Divizia A at the end of the 1986–87 season.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ro.goobix.com/fotbal/romania/teams/CSM%20Suceava/|title=Goobix: Fotbal: România: Echipe: CSM Suceava|work=goobix.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.romaniansoccer.ro/statistici/fotbal/csm-suceava.htm|title=CSM Suceava – Istoria meciurilor|work=romaniansoccer.ro}}</ref> However, competition there proved to be too strong and relegation back to Divizia B was the logical consequence, a league in which the team played for the rest of its existence.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ripensia-sport-magazin.ro/foto-album/csm-suceava-1987/|title=CSM Suceava 1987|publisher=Ripensia Sport Magazin|date=5 March 2015 }}</ref> Before the 1993–94 season, the name was changed to ''Bucovina Suceava'', after the name of the region Bukovina.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://svnews.ro/istoria-fotbalului-sucevean-in-imagini-anii-80-perioada-de-glorie-a-echipei-csm-suceava/35573/|title=Istoria fotbalului sucevean în imagini. Anii 80, perioada de glorie a echipei CSM Suceava|language=ro|trans-title=The history of Suceava football in pictures. The 80s, the glory days of the CSM Suceava team|date=11 May 2014|publisher=svnews.ro}}</ref>

In the summer of 1997, Foresta Fălticeni was moved from Fălticeni to Suceava and renamed as ''Foresta Suceava'', thus ending the CSM era.<ref name="name">{{cite web|url=http://www.romaniansoccer.ro/stiri/16668/evolutia-denumirilor-echipelor-de-a-lungul-anilor.htm|title=Evoluția denumirilor echipelor de-a lungul anilor|language=ro|trans-title=Evolution of team names over the years|access-date=2 September 2020|publisher=romaniansoccer.ro}}</ref>

===''Foresta Fălticeni, a side story (1997–2003)''=== {{main|Foresta Fălticeni}} ''Foresta Fălticeni'' was founded in 1954 in Fălticeni, under the name of ''Avântul Fălticeni''. Foresta was the first team representing Divizia C that played in a Romanian Cup final which was lost with 0–6 against Steaua București at the end of the 1966–67 season. In 1997, the club was moved to Suceava after it won the promotion to the Divizia A for the first time in history. The main reason for the move was the inadequate state of Foresta's stadium in Fălticeni, which was both small and had a cracked stand. Another reason for the move was, that the main team in the city, ''CSM Suceava'' had failed to achieve any notable performances during the previous decade.

===Revival of Cetatea (2004–2010)=== 130px|thumbnail|right|Cetatea Suceava logo used between 2004 and 2010. ''Cetatea Suceava'' was re-founded in the summer of 2004 (when it absorbed ''Șoimii Suceava''), as the phoenix club of ''Cetatea Sucevei'', in order to continue the city's football tradition after Foresta adisestablishment. The club's first season was synonymous to its first great performance, when it finished first in Divizia C, and was promoted to Divizia B. At the end of the 2005–06 season of Divizia B, Cetatea finished fifth, only to relegate the next season, when it finished 15th, just two points behind FCM Câmpina, the last team to save itself. The following season, 2007–08 of the Liga III, Cetatea finished first with 76 points out of 34 games and was promoted back. The next season of the Liga II, 2008–09, was one of big struggle, Cetatea avoiding relegation only because the last four teams that were relegated withdrew from the championship.

''Cetatea Suceava'' was excluded from the championship during the winter break of the 2009–10 season, because of approximately 1 million € debt (unpaid wages to the players and coaches and unpaid taxes to the state and other private partners). The club lost all its remaining matches, 3–0.<ref name="Cetatea Suceava excluded">[http://www.liga2.ro/seria-1/cetatea-se-desfiinteaza-5484423 Cetatea se desfiinţează!?]</ref><ref name="Cetatea's debt">[http://www.liga2.ro/seria-1/inglodati-in-datorii-5493358 Înglodaţi în datorii]</ref> In July 2010, the club re-entered in the competitions organised by the FRF, and competed in the 2010/2011 season of the Romanian Cup.<ref>{{Cite web|publisher=Liga2.ro |title=Cetatea will be playing again! |url=http://www.liga2.ro/liga-3/stiri/cetatea-se-reinfiinteaza-6746456 |accessdate=2010-07-30}}</ref> The club also wanted to enter in the 2010/2011 season of the Liga III and to be able to be promoted to Liga II.<ref>{{Cite web|publisher=Liga2.ro |title=New ownership for Cetatea Suceava|url=http://www.liga2.ro/liga-3/stiri/s-a-stabilit-noua-conducere-la-cetatea-suceava-6748156|accessdate=2010-07-31}}</ref> On 2 August 2010, the club was registered at the FRF and competed in the 2010/2011 season of the Liga III, but was subsequently dissolved.<ref>{{Cite web|publisher=Liga2.ro |title=The full schedule of the 1st group of Liga III|url=http://www.liga2.ro/liga-3/programul-complet-al-turului-seriei-1-liga-3-6753125 |accessdate=2010-08-02}}</ref> It withdrew from the championship just a few days before it started.

===''Rapid CFR and the nostalgia of Foresta (2010–2024)''=== {{main|ACS Foresta Suceava}} After the dissolution of Cetatea Suceava in 2010, local football gradually reorganized around Rapid CFR Suceava, which became the main club representing the city in national competitions, achieving promotion to the second division at the end of the 2011–12 season. In the summer of 2016, the club changed its name from Rapid CFR Suceava to Foresta Suceava, a name that binds the most important results of the football from Suceava, obtain by Foresta Fălticeni, but with no direct connection between the two clubs.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://liga2.prosport.ro/seria-1/pregatiri-amicale/noutati-importante-la-primul-antrenament-al-forestei-iencsi-a-fost-la-reunire-dar-inca-negociaza-preluarea-echipei-15517583|title=Noutăți importante la primul antrenament al Forestei.** Iencsi a fost la reunire, dar încă negociază preluarea echipei|date=5 July 2016}}</ref> The new Foresta played at the level of Liga II and Liga III until 2024, when it was dissolved due to financial and political problems.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gsp.ro/fotbal/liga-3/desfiintarea-iminenta-echipa-traditie-depunctata-foresta-suceava-729659.html|title=Desființarea e iminentă! O echipă de tradiție a fost depunctată și riscă să fie exclusă|language=ro|trans-title=Dissolution is imminent! A traditional club has been deducted points and risks being excluded|date=8 February 2024|access-date=31 May 2026|archive-date=31 May 2026|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260531140008/https://www.gsp.ro/fotbal/liga-3/desfiintarea-iminenta-echipa-traditie-depunctata-foresta-suceava-729659.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

===No more Foresta, Cetatea is back (2024–present)=== After the dissolution of the second Foresta Suceava, a group of former players, together with the local authorities and several local business figures, re-established Cetatea Suceava, but now with the support of the local authorities, the new Cetatea was integrated into the activity of CSM (Municipal Sports Club), a multi-sports club that also owned the former football team of CSM Suceava, effectively merging the two historical teams into CSM Cetatea Suceava.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.monitorulsv.ro/clubul-de-fotbal-cetatea-1932-suceava-si-a-prezentat-structura-de-conducere-si-sponsorii_27bf5c/|title=Clubul de fotbal Cetatea 1932 Suceava și-a prezentat structura de conducere și sponsorii|language=ro|trans-title=The Cetatea 1932 Suceava football club presented its management structure and sponsors|publisher=monitorulsv.ro|date=31 August 2024|access-date=26 January 2024|archive-date=24 August 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250824093039/https://www.monitorulsv.ro/clubul-de-fotbal-cetatea-1932-suceava-si-a-prezentat-structura-de-conducere-si-sponsorii_27bf5c/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://sportsv.ro/dorin-goian-ionut-plamada-si-andrei-itco-se-alatura-proiectului-cetatea-1932-suceava/|title=Dorin Goian, Ionuț Plămadă și Andrei Ițco se alătură proiectului Cetatea 1932 Suceava|language=ro|trans-title=Dorin Goian, Ionuț Plamada and Andrei Itco join the Cetatea 1932 Suceava project|publisher=sportsv.ro|date=29 July 2024|access-date=26 January 2024|archive-date=24 August 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250824093607/https://sportsv.ro/dorin-goian-ionut-plamada-si-andrei-itco-se-alatura-proiectului-cetatea-1932-suceava/|url-status=live}}</ref> The team uses the traditional white and blue colors and plays its home matches at the historical stadium of the city, Areni Stadium.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.radiotop.ro/tableta-zilei/cetatea-1932-suceava-o-echipa-de-fotbal-facuta-de-suceveni-cu-jucatori-suceveni-din-vara-pe-areni-asa-ar-fi-normal-foto.html|title=Cetatea 1932 Suceava, o echipă de fotbal făcută de suceveni cu jucători suceveni. Din vară. Pe ”Areni”? Așa ar fi normal|language=ro|trans-title=Cetatea 1932 Suceava, a football team made by Suceava residents with Suceava players. Since the summer. On "Areni"? That would be normal|publisher=radiotop.ro|date=2 February 2024|access-date=26 January 2024|archive-date=24 August 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250824091916/https://www.radiotop.ro/tableta-zilei/cetatea-1932-suceava-o-echipa-de-fotbal-facuta-de-suceveni-cu-jucatori-suceveni-din-vara-pe-areni-asa-ar-fi-normal-foto.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

Cetatea won promotion to Liga III at the first attempt under Ionuț Plămadă, winning the 2024–25 season of Liga IV – Suceava County and the promotion play-off against AS Bârsănești, the Bacău County winner (6–0 at home and 2–1 away). The squad comprised, among others, Cuciureanu, Grosu, Sumanariu, Vițu, David, Nițu, Cerlincă, Chelari, M. Ilie, Ciobanu, Filip, Codău, Buceac, Rotundu, Netbai and Smoco.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://liga2.prosport.ro/liga-4/campioana-ligii-4-suceava-a-fost-decisa-19354930|title=Campioana Ligii 4 Suceava a fost decisă. Ionuț Plămadă a luat titlul cu Cetatea Suceava și vrea promovarea în Liga 3|language=ro|trans-title=The champion of League 4 Suceava has been decided. Ionuț Plămadă won the title with Cetatea Suceava and wants promotion to League 3|publisher=liga2.prosport.ro|date=27 May 2025|access-date=24 August 2025|archive-date=24 August 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250824090132/https://liga2.prosport.ro/liga-4/campioana-ligii-4-suceava-a-fost-decisa-19354930|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.monitorulsv.ro/cetatea-suceava-s-a-impus-categoric-in-meciul-tur-pentru-promovarea-in-liga-a-iii-a_d32c54/|title=Cetatea Suceava s-a impus categoric în meciul tur pentru promovarea în Liga a III-a|language=ro|trans-title=Cetatea Suceava won the round match to promote to League III|publisher=monitorulsv.ro|date=23 June 2025|access-date=24 August 2025|archive-date=24 August 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250824090557/https://www.monitorulsv.ro/cetatea-suceava-s-a-impus-categoric-in-meciul-tur-pentru-promovarea-in-liga-a-iii-a_d32c54/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="prom2025">{{cite web|url=https://www.monitorulsv.ro/cetatea-a-castigat-si-returul-barajului-de-promovare-cu-as-barsanesti_54aa24/|title=Cetatea a câștigat și returul barajului de promovare cu AS Bârsănești|language=ro|trans-title=Cetatea also won the second leg of the promotion play-off against AS Bârsănești|publisher=monitorulsv.ro|date=30 June 2025|access-date=24 August 2025|archive-date=24 August 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250824090856/https://www.monitorulsv.ro/cetatea-a-castigat-si-returul-barajului-de-promovare-cu-as-barsanesti_54aa24/|url-status=live}}</ref>

After promotion, Dorin Goian was appointed head coach for the 2025–26 campaign,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://sportsv.ro/cetatea-1932-suceava-a-dat-startul-pregatirilor-pentru-noul-sezon-sub-comanda-lui-dorin-goian/|title=Cetatea 1932 Suceava a dat startul pregătirilor pentru noul sezon sub comanda lui Dorin Goian|language=ro|trans-title=Cetatea 1932 Suceava started preparations for the new season under the command of Dorin Goian|publisher=sportsv.ro|date=21 July 2025|access-date=24 August 2025|archive-date=24 August 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250824084903/https://sportsv.ro/cetatea-1932-suceava-a-dat-startul-pregatirilor-pentru-noul-sezon-sub-comanda-lui-dorin-goian/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gsp.ro/fotbal/liga-3/dorin-goian-antrenor-cetatea-suceava-liga-3-823312.html|title=Dorin Goian a revenit pe bancă » Prezentat oficial la o nou-promovată|language=ro|trans-title=Dorin Goian returned to the bench » Officially presented to a newly promoted team|publisher=gsp.ro|date=16 July 2025|access-date=24 August 2025|archive-date=24 August 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250824085417/https://www.gsp.ro/fotbal/liga-3/dorin-goian-antrenor-cetatea-suceava-liga-3-823312.html|url-status=live}}</ref> and the squad was significantly strengthened ahead of the new season through several notable signings, including Tucaliuc, Gorovei, Balgiu, Perju, and Zaharia.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://liga2.prosport.ro/liga-3/cetatea-suceava-achizitii-importante-pentru-noul-sezon-de-liga-3-19363084|title=Dorin Goian, achiziții puternice la Cetatea Suceava|language=ro|trans-title=Dorin Goian, strong acquisitions at Cetatea Suceava|publisher=liga2.prosport.ro|date=27 August 2025|access-date=31 May 2026|archive-date=31 May 2026|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260531131649/https://liga2.prosport.ro/liga-3/cetatea-suceava-achizitii-importante-pentru-noul-sezon-de-liga-3-19363084|url-status=live}}</ref> Goian resigned after a heavy 0–3 defeat at Bacău in the fifteenth round and was replaced by Petre Grigoraș,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://liga2.prosport.ro/liga-3/petre-grigoras-e-noul-antrenor-al-echipei-cetatea-suceava-19375032|title=Petre Grigoraș va lupta pentru promovarea din Liga 3 în Liga 2! E noul antrenor al echipei Cetatea Suceava|language=ro|trans-title=Petre Grigoraș will fight for promotion from League 3 to League 2! He is the new coach of the Cetatea Suceava team|publisher=liga2.prosport.ro|date=20 December 2025|access-date=31 May 2026|archive-date=31 May 2026|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260531122300/https://liga2.prosport.ro/liga-3/petre-grigoras-e-noul-antrenor-al-echipei-cetatea-suceava-19375032|url-status=live}}</ref> who further reinforced the team during the winter break with the arrivals of Ciobanu, Dănăilă, Frunză, Vlad, G. Răducan, and Ferhaoui,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.monitorulsv.ro/cetatea-incepe-campionatul-cu-schimbari-la-nivelul-lotului-si-staff-ului-si-cu-sperante-mari_4d3f79/|title=Cetatea începe campionatul cu schimbări la nivelul lotului și staff-ului și cu speranțe mari|language=ro|trans-title=The Fortress begins the championship with changes to the squad and staff and with high hopes|publisher=monitorulsv.ro|date=26 February 2026|access-date=31 May 2026|archive-date=31 May 2026|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260531125436/https://www.monitorulsv.ro/cetatea-incepe-campionatul-cu-schimbari-la-nivelul-lotului-si-staff-ului-si-cu-sperante-mari_4d3f79/|url-status=live}}</ref> before leading the side to a 2nd-place finish in Series I of the regular season, behind local rivals Șoimii Gura Humorului, overtaking them after a close race in the play-off round and winning the series to secure promotion to Liga II. The squad also included Bai, Chelari, Petraru, Sumanariu, M. Ilie, Drăghiceanu, Cerlincă, and Codreanu.<ref name="prom2026">{{cite web|url=https://liga2.prosport.ro/liga-3/petre-grigoras-a-promovat-cetatea-suceava-in-liga-2-19389098|title=Petre Grigoraș a promovat Cetatea Suceava în Liga 2!|language=ro|trans-title=Petre Grigoraș promoted Cetatea Suceava to League 2!|publisher=liga2.prosport.ro|date=24 May 2026|access-date=31 May 2026|archive-date=31 May 2026|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260531121651/https://liga2.prosport.ro/liga-3/petre-grigoras-a-promovat-cetatea-suceava-in-liga-2-19389098|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Ground== 250px|thumbnail|right|Main Stand of the Areni stadium. The stadium is located in downtown Suceava. '''Cetatea Suceava''' plays its home matches on the Areni Stadium. The stadium has a total capacity of 12,500 seats (but is restricted to 7,000 seats due to safety measures) and was opened in 1963 under the name of ''Municipal Stadium''. Additionally, the stadium was also renovated between the periods 1976–1977, 1980–1982 and 2002 respectively. It is currently ranked 31st in the all time ranking table of stadiums from Romania.<ref>List of football stadiums in Romania</ref>

==Honours== '''Liga II''' *'''Winners (1):''' 1986–87

'''Liga III:''' *'''Winners (6):''' 1965–66, 1970–71, 1972–73, 2004–05, 2007–08, 2025–26 * Runners-up (1): 1971–72

'''Liga IV – Suceava County''' *'''Winners (1):''' 2024–25

==Players== ===First team squad=== {{updated|26 January 2025}}  {{fs start|nonumber=|bg=0A007B|color=ffffff}} {{Fs player |no= 1|nat=ROU |pos=GK|name= Alex Apetrei}} {{Fs player |no= 2|nat=ROU |pos=DF|name= Juan Pătrașcu|other=on loan from Petrolul}} {{Fs player |no= 3|nat=ROU |pos=DF|name= Ciprian Perju}} {{Fs player |no= 6|nat=ROU |pos=DF|name= Codrin Nica|other=on loan from Ceahlăul}} {{Fs player |no= 7|nat=ROU |pos=MF|name= Andrei Cerlincă|other=captain}} {{Fs player |no= 8|nat=ROU |pos=MF|name= Ruslan Chelari}} {{Fs player |no= 9|nat=ROU |pos=FW|name= Alexandru Zaharia}} {{Fs player |no=10|nat=ROU |pos=MF|name= Ilie Marian|other=3rd captain}} {{Fs player |no=11|nat=ROU |pos=MF|name= Radu Ungurianu}} {{Fs player |no=12|nat=ROU |pos=GK|name= David Feșteu|other=on loan from Poli Iași}} {{Fs player |no=14|nat=ROU |pos=MF|name= Mario Bai}} {{Fs player |no=17|nat=ROU |pos=MF|name= Andrei Buceac}} {{fs mid|nonumber=|bg=0A007B|color=ffffff}} {{Fs player |no=20|nat=ROU |pos=MF|name= Cosmin Tucaliuc}} {{Fs player |no=21|nat=ROU |pos=DF|name= Cătălin Grosu|other=vice-captain}} {{Fs player |no=23|nat=ROU |pos=MF|name= Ștefan Petraru}} {{Fs player |no=24|nat=ROU |pos=DF|name= Eduard Ciobanu}} {{Fs player |no=25|nat=ROU |pos=FW|name= Răzvan Gorovei}} {{Fs player |no=26|nat=ROU |pos=DF|name= Ruben Sumanariu}} {{Fs player |no=29|nat=ROU |pos=FW|name= Alexandru Savin}} {{Fs player |no=30|nat=ROU |pos=DF|name= Andrei Nițu}} {{Fs player |no=47|nat=ROU |pos=MF|name= Alexandru Anton}} {{Fs player |no=73|nat=ROU |pos=MF|name= Cristian Balgiu}} {{Fs player |no=77|nat=ROU |pos=MF|name= Iosif Netbai}} {{Fs player |no=98|nat=ROU |pos=MF|name= Marius Codreanu}} {{fs end}}

===Out on loan=== {{Fs start|nonumber=|bg=0A007B|color=ffffff}} {{Fs mid|nonumber=|bg=0A007B|color=ffffff}} {{Fs end}}

==Club officials== {{col-begin}} {{col-4}}

===Board of directors===

{| class="toccolours" |- ! style="background:#0A007B;color:#FFFFFF;" |Role ! style="background:#0A007B;color:#FFFFFF;" |Name |- | Owner | {{Flagicon|ROU}} Suceava Municipality |- | President | {{Flagicon|ROU}} Marius Neagu |- | Vice-presidents | {{Flagicon|ROU}} Mihai Diaconiță {{Flagicon|ROU}} Cornel Lucescu |- | Treasurer | {{Flagicon|ROU}} Liviu Grigorean |- | General manager | {{Flagicon|ROU}} Marian Bordeianu |- | Youth Center manager | {{Flagicon|ROU}} Daniel Bălan |- | Youth Coach | {{flagicon|ROU}} Cornel Căinari |} {{col-4}}

===Current technical staff=== {| class="toccolours" |- ! style="background:#0A007B;color:#FFFFFF;" |Role ! style="background:#0A007B;color:#FFFFFF;" |Name |- | Head coach | {{Flagicon|ROU}} Petre Grigoraș |- | Assistant coaches | {{Flagicon|ROU}} Paul Bosancu {{Flagicon|ROU}} Florin Cristescu |- | Goalkeeping Coach | {{Flagicon|ROU}} Paul Luca |} {{col-end}}

==League history== {{see also|Romanian football league system}} {{col-begin}} {{col-2}} {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:90%" ! style="background:#0A007B;color:#FFFFFF;" |Season ! style="background:#0A007B;color:#FFFFFF;" |Tier ! style="background:#0A007B;color:#FFFFFF;" |Division ! style="background:#0A007B;color:#FFFFFF;" |Place ! style="background:#0A007B;color:#FFFFFF;" |Notes ! style="background:#0A007B;color:#FFFFFF;" |Cupa României |- | 2025–26 || '''3''' || Liga III (Seria I) || TBD || || |- | 2024–25 || '''4''' || Liga IV (SV) || align=center bgcolor=gold| '''1st (C)''' || Promoted || |- | 2011–24 || | align=center colspan=6| ''Not active'' |- | 2010–11 || '''3''' || Liga III (Serie I) || align=center bgcolor=FFCCCC| '''15th''' || Withdrew || |- | 2009–10 || '''2''' || Liga II (Serie I) || align=center bgcolor=FFCCCC| '''18th''' || Relegated || |- | 2008–09 || '''2''' || Liga II (Serie I) || 14th || || |- | 2007–08 || '''3''' || Liga III (Serie I) || align=center bgcolor=gold| '''1st (C)''' || Promoted || |- | 2006–07 || '''2''' || Liga II (Serie I) || align=center bgcolor=FFCCCC| '''15th''' || Relegated || |- | 2005–06 || '''2''' || Divizia B (Serie I) || 5th || || Round of 16 |- | 2004–05 || '''3''' || Divizia C (Serie I) || align=center bgcolor=gold| '''1st (C)''' || Promoted || |- | 2002–03 || '''2''' || Divizia B (Serie I) || align=center bgcolor=FFCCCC| '''14th''' || Withdrew || |- | 1996–97 || '''2''' || Divizia B (Serie I) || 12th || Merge w/ Foresta || |- | 1995–96 || '''2''' || Divizia B (Serie II) || 6th || || |- | 1994–95 || '''2''' || Divizia B (Serie I) || 5th || || |- | 1993–94 || '''2''' || Divizia B (Serie I) || 15th || || |- | 1992–93 || '''2''' || Divizia B (Serie I) || 11th || || |- | 1991–92 || '''2''' || Divizia B (Serie III) || 6th || || |- | 1990–91 || '''2''' || Divizia B (Serie I) || 10th || || |- | 1989–90 || '''2''' || Divizia B (Serie I) || 7th || || |- | 1988–89 || '''2''' || Divizia B (Serie I) || 6th || || |- | 1987–88 || '''1''' || Divizia A || align=center bgcolor=FFCCCC| '''18th''' || Relegated || Round of 32 |- | 1986–87 || '''2''' || Divizia B (Serie I) || align=center bgcolor=gold| '''1st (C)''' || Promoted || |- | 1985–86 || '''2''' || Divizia B (Serie I) || 5th || || |- | 1984–85 || '''2''' || Divizia B (Serie I) || 6th || || |- | 1983–84 || '''2''' || Divizia B (Serie I) || 6th || || |} {{col-2}} {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:90%" ! style="background:#0A007B;color:#FFFFFF;" |Season ! style="background:#0A007B;color:#FFFFFF;" |Tier ! style="background:#0A007B;color:#FFFFFF;" |Division ! style="background:#0A007B;color:#FFFFFF;" |Place ! style="background:#0A007B;color:#FFFFFF;" |Notes ! style="background:#0A007B;color:#FFFFFF;" |Cupa României |- | 1982–83 || '''2''' || Divizia B (Serie I) || 4th || || |- | 1981–82 || '''2''' || Divizia B (Serie I) || 4th || || Round of 32 |- | 1980–81 || '''2''' || Divizia B (Serie I) || 6th || || |- | 1979–80 || '''2''' || Divizia B (Serie I) || 7th || || |- | 1978–79 || '''2''' || Divizia B (Serie I) || align=center bgcolor=#BF8D5B| 3rd || || |- | 1977–78 || '''2''' || Divizia B (Serie I) || 4th || || |- | 1976–77 || '''2''' || Divizia B (Serie I) || 6th || || |- | 1975–76 || '''2''' || Divizia B (Serie I) || 6th || || |- | 1974–75 || '''2''' || Divizia B (Serie I) || 13th || || |- | 1973–74 || '''2''' || Divizia B (Serie I) || 5th || || |- | 1972–73 || '''3''' || Divizia C (Serie I) || align=center bgcolor=gold| '''1st (C)''' || Promoted || |- | 1971–72 || '''3''' || Divizia C (Serie I) || align=center bgcolor=silver| 2nd || || |- | 1970–71 || '''3''' || Divizia C (Serie I) || align=center bgcolor=gold| '''1st (C)''' || || |- | 1969–70 || '''2''' || Divizia B (Serie I) || align=center bgcolor=FFCCCC| '''15th''' || Relegated || |- | 1968–69 || '''2''' || Divizia B (Serie I) || 10th || || Semi-finals |- | 1967–68 || '''2''' || Divizia B (Serie I) || 10th || || Round of 16 |- | 1966–67 || '''2''' || Divizia B (Serie I) || align=center bgcolor=#BF8D5B| 3rd || || Round of 16 |- | 1965–66 || '''3''' || Divizia C (East Series) || align=center bgcolor=gold| '''1st (C)''' || Promoted || |- | 1964–65 || '''3''' || Divizia C (East Series) || 9th || || |- | 1963–64 || '''3''' || Divizia C (East Series) || align=center bgcolor=#BF8D5B| 3rd || || |- | 1948–49 || '''3''' || Divizia C (Seria III) || 11th || || |- | 1938–39 || '''4''' || District || - || || Round of 32 |- | 1937–38 || '''3''' || Divizia C (East League II) || align=center bgcolor=silver| 2nd || || |- | 1936–37 || '''3''' || Divizia C (East League) || 7th || || |} {{col-end}}

==Notable former players== The footballers enlisted below have had international cap(s) for their respective countries at junior and/or senior level or/and have over 50 apps for Cetatea Suceava.

{{For|all former and current CA Oradea players with a Wikipedia article|Category:CSM Cetatea Suceava players}}

{{Col-begin}} {{Col-4}} *{{Flagicon|ROU}} Dorel Bernard *{{Flagicon|ROU}} Mugur Bolohan *{{Flagicon|ROU}} Dorin Goian *{{Flagicon|ROU}} Lucian Goian *{{Flagicon|ROU}} Mihai Guriță *{{Flagicon|ROU}} Gheorghe Mulțescu {{Col-4}} *{{Flagicon|ROU}} Dumitru Nicolae *{{Flagicon|ROU}} Marius Onciu *{{Flagicon|ROU}} Dănuț Perjă *{{Flagicon|ROU}} Doru Popadiuc *{{Flagicon|ROU}} Mihai Roman *{{Flagicon|ROU}} Tiberiu Serediuc {{Col-end}}

==Former managers== {{div col|colwidth=22em}} * {{flagicon|ROU}} Vasile Frânculescu (1965–1966) * {{flagicon|ROU}} Valeriu Neagu (1966–1969) * {{flagicon|ROU}} Sebastian Taciuc (1972) * {{flagicon|Romania}} Petre Moldoveanu (1972–1973) * {{Flagicon|Romania}} Constantin Rădulescu (1980–1982) * {{flagicon|Romania}} Robert Cosmoc (1986–1987) * {{flagicon|Romania}} Vasile Simionaș (1987–1988) * {{Flagicon|Romania}} Marian Pană (2007–2008) * {{flagicon|ROU}} Dorin Goian (2025) * {{flagicon|ROU}} Petre Grigoraș (2026–) {{div col end}}

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== * [https://www.frf-ajf.ro/suceava/echipe/acsm-cetatea-1932-suceava-11698.html/competitii CSM Cetatea Suceava profile] at frf-ajf.ro * {{facebook|CSM-Cetatea-1932-Suceava-61561055602449}} * {{official website|csm-suceava.ro}}

{{CSM Cetatea Suceava}} {{Navboxes|titlestyle=background:#0A007B;color:#FFFFFF;border:1px solid #000000|list1= {{Liga III}} {{Liga I}} }}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cetatea Suceava}} Category:Association football clubs established in 1932 Category:Football clubs in Romania Category:Football clubs in Suceava County Category:Liga I clubs Category:Liga II clubs Category:Liga III clubs Category:Liga IV clubs Category:Suceava Category:1932 establishments in Romania