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ASA Târgu Mureș (1962)

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This article is about the football club founded in 1962 and refounded in 2021. For the club founded in 2008 and dissolved in 2018, see ASA 2013 Târgu Mureș.
ASA Târgu Mureș
Full nameAFC ASA Târgu Mureș
Nickname(s)
  • Roș-albaștrii (the Red-Blues)
  • Mureșenii (the Mureș Men)
  • Militarii (the Army Men)
Short nameASA
Founded1962; 63 years ago (1962)
2021; 4 years ago (2021) (refounded)
GroundTrans-Sil
Capacity8,200 / 200
ChairmanLiviu Muruțan
ManagerEusebiu Tudor
LeagueLiga II
2024–25Liga IV, Mureș County, 1st, Champions, Promoted

ASA Târgu Mureș is a Romanian football club based in Târgu Mureș, Mureș County. It was founded in 1962 and it currently competes in the Liga II, the second tier of the Romanian football league system.

Financially supported in the past by the Ministry of National Defence, ASA was considered privileged under the communist regime and functioned as an unofficial satellite club of Steaua București. The club rose rapidly and became one of the most notable teams in the country. However, following the Romanian Revolution, "the Army Men" declined and eventually went bankrupt in 2005.

Between 2008 and 2018, the local authorities backed FCM Târgu Mureș, a club later renamed ASA 2013 Târgu Mureș. However, this new entity neither inherited nor acquired the official records of the original club and eventually disbanded without achieving notable results.

In the summer of 2021, ASA was re-established under its original brand. Starting in the summer of 2025, the club marked its return to Romania’s second division after a 23-year absence.The Romanian football federation approved that ASA will replace CS Unirea Ungheni in the 2025–26 Liga II season.

History

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The Original (1962–2005)

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Former logo, used until 2005

ASA Târgu Mureș was founded in 1962 and, in August 1964, merged with Mureşul Târgu Mureş, the descendant of Voinţa Târgu Mureş.[1]

Financially supported by the Ministry of National Defence, ASA was considered a privileged club under the communist regime and functioned as an unofficial satellite of Steaua București. The club rose rapidly and became one of the most important teams in the country.

The club's best performance was a 2nd place in Divizia A, at the end of the 1974–75 season. It participated in three UEFA Cup campaigns, but was eliminated in the first round each time: in 1975–76 by Dynamo Dresden, in 1976–77 by Dinamo Zagreb, and in 1977–78 by AEK Athens. However, ASA had a much better run in the 1973 Balkans Cup, reaching the final but losing to Lokomotiv Sofia.

Between 1962 and 1989, the club played 20 seasons in Liga I and the rest in Liga II. After the Romanian Revolution, ASA began to decline, and between 1990 and 2002 it played only one season in Liga I (the 1991–92 season), with the rest in Liga II. At the end of the 2001–02 season, it was relegated to Liga III for the first time in its history and was eventually dissolved in 2005 due to financial problems.[2]

The most famous player to wear the red-blue jersey was László Bölöni, who played 406 matches and scored 64 goals for ASA. He also won the European Champions Cup in 1986 with Steaua București. Later, he coached the Romania national football team, as well as clubs in France (Nancy, Rennes, AS Monaco), Portugal (Sporting) and Belgium (Standard Liège), winning domestic titles with Sporting (2002) and Standard (2009).

Another notable player was Florea Ispir, who played 485 matches in Liga I—all for ASA—and scored 2 goals. He ranks third all-time for most appearances in Liga I.

Attempted Resuscitation (2008–2018)

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For the full history of ASA 2013 Târgu Mureș, see ASA 2013 Târgu Mureș.

ASA 2013 Târgu Mureș was founded in 2008, after the reorganization of local club Transil Târgu Mureș. In their first season, the club bought a spot in Liga II from the newly promoted Unirea Sânnicolau Mare.

In the 2008–09 Liga II season, the newly named FCM exceeded expectations, winning 16 games, drawing 9, and finishing third. In the following season, they topped their series and were promoted to Liga I, ending an 18-year top-flight absence.

In 2013, the club changed its name to ASA 2013 Târgu Mureș in an attempt to revive the brand of the original ASA, although there was no official continuity. After finishing second in the 2013–14 Liga II, the club was promoted again to Liga I.

The high point came in the 2014–15 Liga I season, when ASA 2013 finished second, narrowly missing out on the title. The club also played in the 2015–16 UEFA Europa League, facing AS Saint-Étienne in the third qualifying round. However, financial problems followed, and the club eventually went bankrupt in 2018.

ASA returns under the original brand

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In the summer of 2021, ASA Târgu Mureș resumed its activity under the entity holding the original brand rights in its portfolio.[3]

> "We are the club that continues the football tradition of the former A.S. Armata Târgu Mureș team. In 2005, the military club was disbanded, and the football section was reorganized as a private club. Our association took over and continued activity in Liga III, the same tier the military club competed in during its final year. We cannot include the word 'Army' in our name as we are a private entity. Unlike other 'traditional' clubs that retained only the brand, we also maintain continuity. We are the true—and only—successors of the old military club."[4]

Return to the Second Division (2025–present)

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In 2025, ASA Târgu Mureș reached an agreement to take over the **Liga II licence, technical staff**, and **three contracted players** from CS Unirea Ungheni, a club that played in the 2024-25 season in the Liga II.[5][6]

The Romanian Football Federation approved the transfer, which allowed ASA to skip Liga III and enter directly into Liga II. ASA took over **coach Eusebiu Tudor**, **players Abel Popa, Paul Coza, and Raul Haiduc**, and other technical staff.[7]

Although Unirea Ungheni had outstanding wage debts, local officials stated these would be cleared to comply with FRF requirements. ASA is expected to fully assume all financial and administrative responsibilities as of the 2025–26 season.[8]

Grounds

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Main articles: Ladislau Bölöni Stadium (Târgu Mureș) and Ladislau Bölöni Stadium
Trans-Sil Stadium

Ladislau Bölöni Stadium, with a capacity of 15,000 people, was the original home ground of ASA Târgu Mureș from its establishment in 1962 until 2004. In its final season of existence, the club moved to Ungheni for home matches due to the advanced state of degradation of the Ladislau Bölöni Stadium.

Since the re-founding of the football team in 2021, the "Red and Blues" have played their home matches at the nearby Trans-Sil Stadium, which has a capacity of 8,200 spectators, all seated.


Chronology of names

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Name[1][9] Period Note
Asociaţia Sportivă "Armata" Târgu Mureş 1962–1964 Merged with Mureşul Târgu Mureş.
ASA "Mureşul" Târgu Mureş 1964–1969
ASA Târgu Mureş 1969–1990
ASA "Electromureş" Târgu Mureş 1990–1992
ASA Târgu Mureş 1992–2005
ASA Târgu Mureş 2021–present refounded

Honours

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Domestic

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Liga I

Liga II

Liga III

Liga IV – Mureș County

Continental

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League and Cup History

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See also: Romanian football league system
  1. ^ Took Unirea Ungheni’s place in Liga II following license transfer.

ASA Târgu Mureș in Europe

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Season Competition Round Club Home Away Aggregate
1975–76 UEFA Cup FR East Germany Dynamo Dresden 2–2 1–4 3–6
1976–77 FR Croatia Dinamo Zagreb 0–1 0–3 0–4
1977–78 FR Greece AEK Athens 1–0 0–3 1–3
Competition S P W D L GF GA GD
UEFA Europa League / UEFA Cup 3 6 1 1 4 4 13 – 9
Total 3 6 1 1 4 4 13  – 9

Former managers

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Evoluția denumirilor echipelor de-a lungul anilor" [The evolution of team names over the years] (in Romanian). romaniansoccer.ro. Archived from the original on 12 May 2019. Retrieved 24 December 2024.
  2. ^ "ASA Târgu Mureș, "lanterna" de atunci, relicva de azi" [ASA Târgu Mureș, "lanterna" de atunci, relicva de azi] (in Romanian). jurnalul.ro. 20 January 2009. Archived from the original on 24 February 2021. Retrieved 24 December 2024.
  3. ^ "ASA Târgu Mureș revine în liga a IV-a" [ASA Târgu Mureș returns to League IV] (in Romanian). punctul.ro. 6 August 2021.
  4. ^ "ASA Târgu Mureș official statement". Facebook.
  5. ^ "Ce urmează la ASA Târgu Mureș după cesiune". GSP.ro. July 19, 2025.
  6. ^ "FRF, aviz favorabil". GSP.ro. July 12, 2025.
  7. ^ "ASA Tg Mureș urcă direct în Liga 2". DigiSport.ro. June 4, 2025.
  8. ^ "Un oraș mare din România va avea echipă direct în Liga 2". PrimaSport.ro. June 2025.
  9. ^ "Asociaţia Sportivă Armata Târgu Mureş - Enciclopedia României - prima enciclopedie online despre România". enciclopediaromaniei.ro. Archived from the original on 2019-02-09. Retrieved 2015-07-10.
  • Enciclopedia Educaţiei fizice şi sportului din România, vol. III București, Editura Aramis, 2002
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