Results

Romania Liga I 05/13 14:30 9 Chindia Targoviste v Gaz Metan Medias L 3-0
Romania Liga I 05/06 14:30 8 Gaz Metan Medias v FC Academica Clinceni W 4-3
Romania Liga I 04/29 14:30 7 ACS Sepsi v Gaz Metan Medias L 3-1
Romania Liga I 04/22 17:00 6 Gaz Metan Medias v Dinamo Bucharest L 0-1
Romania Liga I 04/18 17:30 5 Rapid Bucuresti v Gaz Metan Medias L 8-0
Romania Liga I 04/11 15:00 4 Gaz Metan Medias v CS Mioveni L 1-2
Romania Liga I 04/02 09:00 3 ACS UTA Batrana Doamna v Gaz Metan Medias L 4-0
Romania Liga I 03/19 10:30 2 Gaz Metan Medias v FC U Craiova 1948 L 0-2
Romania Liga I 03/14 16:00 1 FC Botosani v Gaz Metan Medias L 5-0
Romania Liga I 03/06 13:00 30 Gaz Metan Medias v Chindia Targoviste L 0-4
Romania Liga I 03/02 13:00 29 [16] FC Academica Clinceni v Gaz Metan Medias [15] L 2-0
Romania Liga I 02/26 13:00 28 Gaz Metan Medias v FC U Craiova 1948 L 0-3

Wikipedia - CS Gaz Metan Mediaș

Clubul Sportiv Gaz Metan Mediaș (Romanian pronunciation: [ˌklubul sporˈtiv ˈgaz meˈtan ˈmedi.aʃ]), commonly known as Gaz Metan Mediaș or simply as Gaz Metan, was a Romanian professional football club based in Mediaș, Sibiu County.

Founded in 1945 as Karres Mediaș, the team spent most of its existence in the second division. It also participated in 16 seasons of the Liga I, the highest level of the Romanian league system, and lost a Cupa României final to CCA București in 1951. Gaz Metan registered its debut in European competitions in the 2011–12 campaign, when it defeated KuPS and Mainz 05 prior to being eliminated by Austria Wien in the UEFA Europa League play-off round.

After the dissolution of the club in 2022, some of its former players and coaches founded ACS Mediaș 2022, which has the purpose of continuing the football tradition in the town.

History

Early years (1945–1950)

Karres Mediaș (1946–1947)

The club was founded in 1945 as Karres Mediaș, and played in the Romanian Second League (Liga II). It was promoted to Divizia A in 1947, when its name was changed to CSM Mediaș. The team finished in 11th place out of 16 teams. Financial troubles and poor training conditions plagued its second Liga I season (1948–1949). After the second round, disgruntled players complained to the press and the Romanian Football Federation (FRF) about the club's poor training conditions. The FRF allow the Zorile Roșii (Red Dawn) factory to assume ownership of the club, whose name was changed to Zorile Roșii Mediaș. Later that season, the team merged with Vitrometan Mediaș. The second half of the season brought another change in ownership, when it was taken over by Ateliere Gaz Metan and its name was changed to Gaz Metan Mediaș. The team was relegated to Liga II that season. The 1948–49 team was anchored by Kodacek – Sulyak, Szobo – Șerban, Molnar, Rășinaru – Pop, Coman, Guța, Szabo, and Pologea.

Respected second-league team (1950–1999)

Ștefan Dobay as a player during the 1930s; Dobay coached the team to the 1951 Romanian Cup final.

The club's name changed frequently, and it played in the Romanian Cup final. It was known as Partizanul (1950–51), Flacara (1951–56), Energia (1956–58), Gaz Metan (1958–60), and CSM Mediaș (1960–1963). The club changed its name for the last time in 1963, returning to Gaz Metan Mediaș. In 1951, it reached the final stage of the Romanian Cup as a Divizia B team. Coached by Ștefan Dobay, Flacăra lost 3–1 in overtime to CCA București (the present-day Steaua București). Its lone goal was scored by Coman in the 71st minute, and the team consisted of Varaday – Luca, Szabo – Dumitrescu, Molnar I, Costea – Pop, Papay, Coman, Szasz, and Moldovan. Gaz Metan played primarily in Divizia B, occupying mid-rank positions until 1972 when it was relegated for the first time to Divizia C. It was promoted back to Divizia B until 1976, when it was again relegated to Divizia C. The club was promoted to Divizia B the following year, where it remained until 1992: 1977–78 (eighth place), 1978–79 (ninth), 1979–80 (11th), 1980–81 (seventh), 1981–82 (sixth), 1982–83 (eighth), 1983–84 (fifth), 1984–85 (sixth), 1985–86 (fifth), 1986–87 (seventh), 1987–88 (10th), 1988–89 (11th), 1989–90 (10th), 1990–91 (11th) and 1991–92 (14th). At the end of the 1991–92 Divizia B season, the gaziștii were relegated to Divizia C for the third time. The Transylvanian team was promoted after one year by winning the third series of the third league, five points ahead of second-place Petrolul Stoina from Gorj County.

Returned to a Divizia B, Gaz Metan finished seventh place in the first season, 11th in the second, and fourth at the end of the 1995–96 season (the club's best finish in the previous 20 years). The following season, Gaz Metan finished third and entertained serious intentions of returning to the first league of Romanian football. That season was followed by two harder ones, in which the club finished fifth and fourth.

Revival (2000–2014)

The club was promoted to Divizia A in 2000, 51 years after its last appearance in the first league. Coached by Jean Gavrilă, Gaz Metan won promotion by winning the second group of the 1999–2000 Divizia B, 11 points ahead of second-place ARO Câmpulung. The team was composed of GK: Filip, Roșca – DF: Ciurar, Grigore, Grasu, Lungu, Șomfălean, Vasile -MF: Zotincă, Boroncoi, Callo, Hanc, Ioan, Moldovan, Pătru, Stoica – FW: Vitan, Boloban, Boaru, Găldean. However, the gaziștii finished 16th and last place with three victories, nine draws and 18 losses; 21 goals scored and 42 conceded for a total of 18 points, 16 less than 15th-place Rocar București.

Ovidiu Hoban (pictured in 2015) was one of the club's stars from 2005 to 2011.

The 2001–02 season found the team back in the second league, finishing 12th. At the start of the 2002–03 season, the club was fighting for promotion and finished third behind Apulum Alba Iulia and FC Oradea. In 2003–04 they finished fourth, second in 2004–05, fourth in 2005–06, and sixth in 2006–07. The club missed promotion in 2005 after finishing with the same number of points (65) as Jiul Petroșani.

In 2008, coached by former Gaz Metan player Cristian Pustai, the team was again promoted to Liga I: Ștețca – Grillo, Lazăr, Zaharia, Buzean – Dudiță, Eric, Hoban, Curtean – Boaru, C.Prodan. They finished 15th out of 18 teams in the 2008–09 season. After the corruption scandal involving FC Argeș Pitești and the team's relegation from Liga II, Gaz Metan remained in the first league. They finished 10th in 2009–10, for a record three consecutive seasons in Liga I.

The white-and-blacks finished seventh in 2010–11, secured their first UEFA Europa League berth. Gaz Metan reached the 2011–12 UEFA Europa League play-off round, eliminating KuPS of Finland in the second round and Mainz of Germany in the third round before losing in the playoffs to Austria Wien. They reached the Romanian Cup semi-finals in 2011–12 before being eliminated by future cup winner Dinamo București, finishing in 13th place. The team finished 10th in 2012–13, and 13th in 2013–14.

Difficult times (2014–16)

Liga I reduced its number of teams for the 2014–15 season from 18 to 14, with six teams relegated. The lupii negri finished in 13th place, and returned to Liga II after seven consecutive years in the first league – the club's longest run, with its best performance (seventh place) and its first participation in European competitions.

Best position and play-off, collapse and dissolution (2016–22)

Gaz Metan was again promoted after one season in the second league. The 2015–16 team consisted of Greab – Romeo, Cristea, Zaharia, Buzean – P.Iacob, Danci – Munteanu, Bic, and Petre – Gavra. The 2016–17 season was tumultuous for the team from Mediaș. It finished the regular season in seventh place (two points from a play-off slot) and qualified for the play-out round, when it finished in second place and eighth in the general ranking. The club also experienced serious financial problems, and chose bankruptcy.

During the summer of 2017, the club adopted a low-budget strategy. After 22 games in the 2017–18 season the club finished in 12th place, just above the relegation zone. Coached by Edward Iordănescu, Gaz Metan had its best finish in the 2019–20 season – making the playoffs and finishing in sixth place. The 2020–21 season saw a change of club presidency, staff and player changes, and a team finish in the bottom half of the table. The 2021–22 season was the club's last. With large debts to former employees and poor management, the team lost points several times and finished the season with negative 38 points.

Gaz Metan Medias is a professional soccer team based in Medias, Romania. The team was founded in 1945 and currently competes in the Liga I, the top tier of Romanian football. The team's colors are black and white, and they play their home matches at the Stadionul Gaz Metan.

Gaz Metan Medias has a rich history in Romanian football, with several successful seasons in the top division. The team has a strong fan base and is known for their passionate supporters who create an electric atmosphere at home matches.

The team has a reputation for developing young talent and playing an exciting, attacking style of football. They have a strong squad of talented players who are capable of competing with the best teams in the league.

Overall, Gaz Metan Medias is a respected and competitive team in Romanian football, with a proud history and a bright future ahead.