Baia Mare is the county seat of Maramureș, but it is not part of the historical province of Maramureș (now divided between Romania and Ukraine). This historic province (with its historic capital at Sighetu Marmației, also in Maramureș county) has never had a team in the first division, regardless of country.

The Baia Mare fan club was founded in 1948, through the merger of the local groups Phoenix (also present in the first division) and Minaur. It was founded under the name of CSM, but would go through several names, the most important being Minerul, FC and FC Maramureș. It will be twice finalist in the Romanian Cup, in 1959 and 1982, in both editions operating in the second tier and losing the final to Dinamo!!!

At the end of the 70s, coach Viorel Mateianu will give the team a memorable style of play. As a result, the team finished 4th in the 1980 Division A. In 1982 FC Baia Mare – Real Madrid 0-0, in the Cup Winners’ Cup, at a time when the hosts were in Division B!!! The last presence of the team (and of football in the county) in D1 will be recorded in 1995. The club disbanded in 2010.

“Clones” will be set up that will not have the record and will max out at the second league level: FC Maramureș Universitar (2010-2013), FCM (2012-2016). The latter was re-established in 2017, under the name Minaur (a name that had become famous thanks to the city’s men’s handball team). Last summer it was promoted to the second league.

Photo: before the match FC Baia Mare – Real Madrid 0-0, Cup Winners Cup 1982 (source: gsp.ro)