Club Sportiv Silvania Șimleu Silvaniei, commonly known as Silvania Șimleu Silvaniei, or simply as Șimleu Silvaniei, is a Romanian professional football club based in Șimleu Silvaniei, Sălaj County. The team was established for the first time in the early 1960s, under the name of Măgura Șimleu Silvaniei.

The club was renamed as Silvania Șimleu Silvaniei in the mid 2000s and reached its best performance and played at the level of Liga II, before it was dissolved in 2011. In the summer of 2011, Sportul Șimleu was re-activated and enrolled in the 5th tier, then in 2012 was enrolled in the 4th tier struggling for years to promote again in the national divisions. Finally, Sportul Șimleu Silvaniei promoted in the Liga III at the end of the 2020–21 season.

History Mobila, the team of the furniture factory (1960–2007) Silvania Șimleu Silvaniei was established in the early 1960s under the name of Măgura Șimleu Silvaniei, Măgura being the hill under which the town of Șimleu Silvaniei is located. Măgura was a well known team at county level, level which it managed to win at the end of the 1960s, even twice (1969–70 and 1970–71). 1971–72 was the first one spent by Măgura at the level of Divizia C, but the results were disappointing and the team based in Șimleu Silvaniei was ranked the last, relegating back in the county championship. It was a period of reinvention for the local football, Măgura merged with another team from Șimleu Silvaniei, Metal-Lemn (team financially supported by the local factory), then changed its name in Mobila Șimleu Silvaniei.Exclusiv – SIMLEU SILVANIEI,PRIN ECHIPA DE FOTBAL SPORTUL -ARE OBIECTIV -PROMOVAREA IN LIGA a – III-a !. graiulsalajului.ro

During the 1970s, the team of Șimleu Silvaniei was spending its time between the third tier and the fourth tier, in a continuous reorganization and reinvention that led to numerous name changing, from Măgura and Mobila to Gloria, Viitorul, Izolatorul or Izomat. The white and blues found some constancy after 1990, when financially supported by the local furniture factory and under the name of Mobila Șimleu Silvaniei was a regular presence at the level of third division.

The surprising FC Silvania (2007–2011)

Silvania Șimleu Silvaniei was founded on 12 March 2007, under the name of Sportul Șimleu Silvaniei, in order to continue the football legacy from Șimleu Silvaniei, after the dissolution of the former team Mobila Șimleu Silvaniei. After only one year, the club’s management decided to merge with Liga III side Flacăra Halmășd, a club that had previously acquired its third-tier spot from Someșul Satu Mare.

The club was renamed as FC Silvania Șimleu Silvaniei and was coached by Mircea Bolba between June 2008 and October 2008, benefiting from the services of a lot of young talented players. "The team below Măgura Hill" it wasn't placed between the teams who were in cards for the promotion to Liga II, everyone thinking of FC Baia Mare, CFR II Cluj or CSM Sebeș, but carried away by the enthusiasm specific to young players and working with dedication and professionalism, the boys succeeded to finish the 2008–09 season on the 2nd position.

Occupying the 2nd place, the team was granted the right to participate at a promotion play-off to the Liga II. in this tournament șimleuanii met FC Caracal and CS Ineu winning both matches, 3–0 and 2–0. By doing this, the club promoted for the first time in its short history to the Liga II.

In the first year of Liga II, FC Silvania started with Dacian Nastai as the head coach and the team performed above expectations, especially in the first part of the season. At one point they were in the top 6 of the table, and have achieved promising results against teams such as Dacia Mioveni, UTA Arad or FCM Târgu Mureș. In the second half of the season the team didn't maintain its previous form and after a highly controversial match against FC Baia Mare they were penalised for violent conduct and were deducted three points by the Romanian Football Federation, besides losing the match 3–0 by decision. The team was finally ranked 11th, easily avoiding relegation.

In July 2010, FC Silvania appointed former CFR Cluj player Adrian Anca as the new general manager of the team and also constructions were started to modernize the Măgura Stadium for the start of the next season. Unfortunately the start of the new season didn't go according to plans and on 25 October 2010, Adrian Anca was sacked and was replaced by former Luceafărul Oradea manager Florin Farcaș. Unfortunately, before the start of the second half of the 2010–11 Liga II season the club was dissolved, thus ending a short but beautiful history.

A new beginning (2011–present)

After the dissolution of FC Silvania, the football squad moved back on the old entity, Sportul Șimleu Silvaniei, entity that was enrolled in the Liga V – Sălaj County (5th and the last division). After only one year, the team based in Șimleu Silvaniei received a wild card and entered directly in the Liga IV Sălaj, where it struggled for years to promote back in the national division. Sportul won its league at the end of the 2013–14 season, but lost 3–5 the promotion play-off against CSC Sânmartin, Bihor County champions.

Sportul Șimleu finally promoted at the end of the 2020–21 season, even that it lost again its promotion play-off, this time 0–2 against Progresul Șomcuta Mare, Maramureș County champions.

In the summer of 2023 the club was re-organized again, now as CS Silvania Șimleu Silvaniei.

Ground Silvania Șimleu Silvaniei plays its home matches on the Măgura Stadium in Șimleu Silvaniei, with a capacity of 1,537 seats.

Honours

Leagues Liga III Runners-up (1): 2008–09

Liga IV – Sălaj County Winners (10): 1969–70, 1970–71, 1974–75, 1977–78, 1983–84, 1986–87, 1994–95, 2002–03, 2013–14, 2019–20 Runners-up (1): 1972–73

Liga V – Sălaj County Runners-up (1): 2011–12

Chronology of names NamePeriodMăgura Șimleu Silvaniei1960–1974Mobila Șimleu Silvaniei1974–1975Gloria Șimleu Silvaniei1975–1977Viitorul Șimleu Silvaniei1977–1979Izolatorul Șimleu Silvaniei1979–1982Izolatorul Armătura Șimleu Silvaniei1982–1984Gloria Armătura Șimleu Silvaniei1984–1985Izolatorul Armătura Șimleu Silvaniei1985–1986Izomat Șimleu Silvaniei1986–1989Mobila Șimleu Silvaniei1989–2007Sportul Șimleu Silvaniei2007–2008Silvania Șimleu Silvaniei2008–2011Sportul Șimleu Silvaniei2011–2023Silvania Șimleu Silvaniei2023–present

League history

Season Tier Division Place Notes Cupa României 2022–23 3 Liga III (Seria X) 10th Relegated 2021–22 3 Liga III (Seria X) 6th 2020–21 3 Liga III (Seria X) 6th 2019–20 4 Liga IV (SJ) 1st (C) Promoted Preliminary Rounds 2018–19 4 Liga IV (SJ) 4th 2017–18 4 Liga IV (SJ) 5th 2016–17 4 Liga IV (SJ) 7th

Season Tier Division Place Notes Cupa României 2015–16 4 Liga IV (SJ) 13th 2014–15 4 Liga IV (SJ) 4th 2013–14 4 Liga IV (SJ) 1st (C) Promoted Preliminary Rounds 2012–13 4 Liga IV (SJ) 7th 2011–12 5 Liga V (SJ) 2nd 2010–11 2 Liga II (Seria II) 15th Relegated Round of 32 2009–10 2 Liga II (Seria II) 11th 2008–09 3 Liga III (Seria VI) 2nd Promoted

Former managers

Mircea Bolba (2008) Adrian Anca (2010) Marius Baciu (2011) Dănuț Șomcherechi (2022–2023)

References