AsociaÃÂia SportivàArdealul 2013 Târgu MureÃÂ, commonly known as ASA Târgu Mureàor simply as Târgu MureÃÂ, was a Romanian professional football club based in Târgu MureÃÂ, MureàCounty, which last played in the Liga II. During its short ten-year history, the team managed several notable domestic performances.
Originally founded in 2008 as FCM Târgu MureÃÂ, it changed its name five years later to ASA Târgu MureÃÂ. The new acronym and the red and blue equipment were meant to closely resemble the identity of one of the former clubs in the city, which was dissolved in 2005. ASA Târgu Mureàwon its first major trophy after defeating FC Steaua BucureÃÂti in the 2015 Supercupa României, having earned its place in the competition after coming second in the Liga I championship the previous campaign.
RoÃÂ-albaÃÂtrii recorded their only European appearance in the 2015âÂÂ16 edition of the UEFA Europa League, when they were eliminated by Saint-ÃÂtienne in the third qualifying round. In January 2018, the club announced its withdrawal from the second division after a period marked by insolvency and financial problems, announcing a future reorganization from the summer of that year.
The team was founded in 2008 as FCM Târgu MureÃÂ, becoming the city's main football team, as a successor to CS Târgu Mureà(dissolved in 1960), MureÃÂul Târgu Mureà(dissolved in 1964), and the original ASA Târgu Mureà(dissolved in 2005). They bought a spot from the newly promoted Unirea Sânnicolau Mare, consequently playing in the 2008âÂÂ09 Liga II. FCM outperformed the predictions and played well throughout the season, winning 16 games and drawing 9, while scoring 54 goals and receiving 27, the fewest in the Seria II. At the end of the season, the team was very close to promote to the Liga I, finishing third with 57 points.
The following season, the club finished first in their series with 69 points, winning 20 games, drawing 9 and losing 3. The team scored 52 goals and allowed 20 (the fewest goals received in their series, like the year before) and was promoted for the first time in its history to the Liga I. Eighteen years had passed since the city's last presence in the Romanian top football league (1991âÂÂ92 season with ASA).
FCM debuted in Liga I by finishing 9th in the table, the same number of points as the defending champions, CFR Cluj, and Astra PloieÃÂti. Ioan Ovidiu SabÃÂu led the team to a fantastic streak, at ten points behind Gaz Metan MediaÃÂ, the last team who took an UEFA Europa League spot.
The next season, the club failed to maintain its position in the Liga I, finishing 15th, the highest place in the relegation zone. One team from the second division, Politehnica TimiÃÂoara, did not receive its licence for the first league, so the Romanian Football Federation had to decide whether to keep the first team under the relegation line, FCM Târgu MureÃÂ, or to promote the team placed third in the Seria II, behind TimiÃÂoara. Finally, the FRF decided that Gaz Metan Severin should be promoted, thus FCM ended up being relegated.
The board of directors fixed as an objective for the 2012âÂÂ13 season the promotion back to the Liga I. However, the team couldn't keep the rhythm set by Corona BraÃÂov and ACS Poli TimiÃÂoara, and after the first half of the season it was behind the earlier mentioned two in the league table. The second half of the season was even worse, FCM ending fifth in the West Division of Liga II, ten points behind ACS Poli, which took the second promoting place.
In 2013, the club changed its name from Fotbal Club Municipal Târgu Mureàto AsociaÃÂia SportivàArdealul 2013 Târgu MureÃÂ. At the end of 2013âÂÂ14 Liga II they finished second and entered Liga I for the first time with the new name.
On 16 July 2014, the team debuted in Cupa Ligii (), Romania's secondary club football tournament, and lost their first ever match in the competition against CSMS IaÃÂi. It was an extraordinary season for "The Red-Blues", securing their very first qualification in a European competition, by finishing second, and winning against two-time defending champions Steaua BucureÃÂti both home and away. After the away victory over Steaua, ASA seized the first place and was close to obtain a historical league title, however, after a 1âÂÂ3 loss to Astra Giurgiu, the team fell back to the second place. However, ASA Târgu Mureàkept chances to winning the championship after Steaua's 0âÂÂ0 draw against CSMS IaÃÂi, having to win against relegated OÃÂelul GalaÃÂi. Mureàside went to a 1âÂÂ0 lead, but lost the title after OÃÂelul turned the score to 1âÂÂ2.
On 9 July 2015, ASA earned a spot in the Supercupa României as championship runners-up last season. The club faced FC Steaua BucureÃÂti, which won the domestic treble (Championship, Cup and League Cup), and defeated them 1âÂÂ0, after a goal scored in the 63rd minute by Mircea Axente, who also received the "Man of the Match" award. This was the club's first major trophy. The team was led by manager Dan Petrescu, who resigned after only one match, due to the financial problems which had appeared in recent days. Shortly after, Vasile MiriuÃÂàwas revealed as the new coach.
On July 17, it was announced that ASA would face AS Saint-ÃÂtienne in the UEFA Europa League third qualifying round. The club only managed to win the second leg in France 2âÂÂ1, and was eliminated after 2âÂÂ4 on aggregate. Târgu Mureàsigned former Romanian international Adrian Mutu for the latter half of the 2015âÂÂ16 season, being his last team of his playing career.
Notes for the table below: