FC Zimbru Chișinău is a Moldovan football club based in Chișinău, the capital of Moldova. They play in the Divizia Națională, the top division in Moldovan football.
Founded in the Moldovan Soviet Socialist Republic in 1947, Zimbru entered the Soviet Top League in 1956 and spent 11 seasons in it before their last relegation in 1983. The team was the early force in the independent Moldovan National Division, winning all of the first five championships and eight of the first nine, but have not won since.
History
Zimbru Chișinău was formed in 1947 in the Moldovan Soviet Republic (present day Republic of Moldova). 'Zimbru' is a Romanian word for a form of European bison, but the club also previously functioned under names such as Dynamo, Burevestnik, Moldova, Avântul, and Nistru. The Soviet Era was spent mostly in Class B of the regional league until eventual promotion to Class A. The club then flitted between Class A and Class B as well as spending time in the Soviet Top League and First League. In total, Zimbru spent 11 seasons in the Top League between 1956 and 1983. Zimbru had their biggest success in 1956 when they finished in 6th place out of 12 in the Soviet Top League and in 1963 when they reached the quarter-finals of the Soviet Cup.
Zimbru's fortunes changed after the fall of the USSR and the establishment of the Republic of Moldova. The club won all five of the initial seasons of the Moldovan National Division (1992–96), and apart from finishing as runners-up to Chișinău rivals Constructorul Chișinău in 1996–97, won eight of the first nine championships. Zimbru have also won the Moldovan Cup six times, including a double in 1997–98 and the Moldovan Super Cup in 2014. Zimbru's biggest rivalry is with Sheriff Tiraspol, who in the last sixteen years have won fourteen championships.
Crest and colours
Since its foundation, Zimbru's colours always was yellow and green. Throughout history, Zimbru Chișinău had many logos. Traditional colours were always present on club crests.
Stadium
Zimbru Stadium
 |
| Full name |
Zimbru Stadium |
|---|
| Location |
Botanica, Chișinău |
|---|
| Owner |
Zimbru Chișinău |
|---|
| Capacity |
10,400[1] |
|---|
| Field size |
105 x 68 m |
|---|
| Surface |
Grass |
|---|
| Scoreboard |
1,600 lux |
|---|
| Construction |
|---|
| Built |
March 2004 – May 2006 |
|---|
| Opened |
20 May 2006 |
|---|
| Construction cost |
$11 million |
|---|
| Architect |
Ceproserving SA |
|---|
| Structural engineer |
INCONEX-COM |
|---|
FC Zimbru's home ground is Zimbru Stadium, a football-specific stadium in Botanica district, of Chișinău. It was opened in 2006. Stadium has a natural grass playing surface, and its capacity is 10,400.
Rivalries
In the 1990s (the first decade of Moldova's independence), Zimbru's rival was the other team from Chișinău, Constructorul Chișinău. Then Contructorul was dissolved. In 1997, a new team was founded in Tiraspol, Sheriff Tiraspol. In a few years, Sheriff was promoted to the first league and became a force in Moldovan football. Considering the strength of team and the tensions between Moldovans and separatist Transnistrians, the match between Zimbru and Sheriff became a derby, the most important match in country. Thus, it has been named "Derby of Moldova".
Another rivalry was established in the mid 2000s when Dacia Chișinău, another team from Chișinău, became one of Moldova's top teams. Zimbru also has a rivalry with Olimpia Bălți.
Rankings
UEFA team ranking 2016
As of 28 May 2016. Source
Honours
Moldova
- Champion (8): 1992, 1992–93, 1993–94, 1994–95, 1995–96, 1997–98, 1998–99, 1999–00
- Runner-up (5): 1996–97, 2000–01, 2002–03, 2005–06, 2006–07
- Third place (4): 2001–02, 2003–04, 2011–12, 2015–16
- Winner (6): 1996–97, 1997–98, 2002–03, 2003–04, 2006–07, 2013–14
- Runner-up (2): 1994–95, 1999–00
- Winner (1): 2014
- Runner-up (3): 2003, 2004, 2007
Soviet Union
- 6th place: 1956
- Quarter-finals: 1963
International
- 1/16 of final: 1995–96
- Runner-up: 2000
League history
Timeline
Table
European record
- UEFA Champions League
- UEFA Cup Winners' Cup
- UEFA Cup
- UEFA Europa League
- Notes: PR – preliminary round. QR – qualifying round. R1 – First round. R2 – Second round
Q1, Q2, Q3 – qualifying rounds. PO – play-off round.
Player of the year
Zimbru players who received the award Moldovan Footballer of the Year:
Current squad
- As of 26 November 2016[2]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
FC Zimbru-2
Club officials
Technical staff
- As of 25 September 2016[3]
|
Club management
- As of 25 September 2016[4]
| Role |
Name |
| President |
 Nicolae Ciornîi |
| General director |
Igor Oprea |
|
Notable players
The following is a list of former Zimbru players which have made significant contributions to the club while playing for the team.
- At least one of the following criteria has to be met for a player to appear on the list:
- A player has made at least 200 appearances for the club in domestic league competitions.
- A player has scored at least 40 goals for the club in domestic league competitions.
- Otherwise, also included players who received the award Moldovan Footballer of the Year while playing for Zimbru, and club's top scorer in UEFA Champions League competition.
Notable managers
The following nine managers won at least one trophy with Zimbru.The managers are listed according to when they were first appointed manager for FC Zimbru.
References
External links
Vladimir Shishelov – 13
Alexei Zhdanov – 14
Rui Miguel – 9
Beitar Jerusalem
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