ASA 2013 Târgu Mureș

History

Founded in 2008 as FCM Târgu Mureș, the club took over as the city’s primary football team, following a line of predecessors that included CS Târgu Mureș (dissolved in 1960), Mureșul Târgu Mureș (dissolved in 1964), and the original ASA Târgu Mureș (dissolved in 2005). The new side purchased the league spot of freshly promoted Unirea Sânnicolau Mare, which allowed them to compete in the 2008–09 Liga II. Against expectations, FCM had a strong campaign, winning 16 matches and drawing 9, scoring 54 goals while conceding only 27—the fewest in Seria II. They finished third with 57 points, narrowly missing promotion to Liga I.

The next season saw the club top their series with 69 points, recording 20 wins, 9 draws, and 3 losses. They scored 52 goals and again allowed the fewest in their series, just 20.

Promotion to Liga I

This earned them their first-ever promotion to Liga I, ending an 18-year absence of top-flight football in the city (the last being ASA in the 1991–92 season). In their debut Liga I campaign, FCM placed 9th, level on points with defending champions CFR Cluj and Astra Ploiești. Under manager Ioan Ovidiu Sabău, the team put together a strong run but finished ten points behind Gaz Metan Mediaș, the last side to qualify for the UEFA Europa League.

The following year, the club slipped to 15th place, the highest spot in the relegation zone. Because second-division side Politehnica Timișoara failed to secure a Liga I license, the Romanian Football Federation had to choose between keeping the relegated FCM or promoting the third-placed team from Seria II. Ultimately, the FRF opted to promote Gaz Metan Severin, sending FCM down.

Return to Liga II

For the 2012–13 season, the board set promotion back to Liga I as the clear goal. However, FCM could not match the pace set by Corona Brașov and ACS Poli Timișoara. After the first half of the season, they trailed both, and the second half was worse, with the team finishing fifth in the West Division of Liga II, ten points behind ACS Poli, who claimed the second promotion spot.

Name change and back to first division

In 2013, the club rebranded from Fotbal Club Municipal Târgu Mureș to Asociația Sportivă Ardealul 2013 Târgu Mureș. At the conclusion of the 2013–14 Liga II season, they placed second and earned promotion to Liga I for the first time under their new name.