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

The fan club of Baia Mare was founded in 1948, through the merger of the local Phoenix (also present in the first division) and Minaur. It was founded as CSM, but went through several names, the most important being Minerul, FC and FC Maramureș. They were twice finalists in the Romanian Cup, in 1959 and 1982, in both editions playing in the second division and losing the final to Dinamo!

At the end of the 1970s, coach Viorel Mateianu gave the team a memorable style of play. As a result, a 4th place in 1980 in Division A. In 1982 the match FC Baia Mare – Real Madrid 0-0, in the Cup Cup Cup, took place, 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 in 1995. The club disbanded in 2010.

“Clones” (nothing pejorative here) will be set up that will not have the track record and will reach the second league level at most: FC Maramureș Universitar (2010-2013), FCM (2012-2016). The latter was re-founded in 2017 as Minaur (a name that had become famous thanks to the city’s men’s handball team), promoted to League II in 2022, but immediately relegated.

Now, the team’s coaches are former internationals Constantin Schumacher (head coach) and Romulus Buia (assistant). The latter was, two decades ago, the idol of the fans!

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