View source for CSM Ceahlăul Piatra Neamț

{{short description|Romanian association football club}}
{{Infobox football club
| clubname = Ceahlăul Piatra Neamț
| image    = [[File:CSM_Ceahlaul_badge.png|CSM Ceahlăul Piatra Neamț crest|180px]]
| fullname = Club Sportiv Municipal<br />Ceahlăul Piatra Neamț
| nickname = {{unbulleted list
| {{nowrap|''Nemțenii'' (The People from Neamț County)}}
| ''Urșii carpatini'' (The Carpathian Bears)
| ''Echipa de sub Pietricica''<br />(The Team Below Pietricica Mountain)
| ''Galben-Negrii'' (The Yellow and Blacks)
}}
| founded     = {{Unbulleted list|{{Start date and years ago|df=yes|1919|10|20}}|{{Start date and years ago|df=yes|2016|08|17}} (refounding)}}
| ground      = [[Stadionul Ceahlăul|Ceahlăul]]
| capacity    = 18,000
| owntitle    = Owners
| owner       = Anton Măzărianu<br>[[Piatra Neamț|Piatra Neamț Municipality]]
| chairman    = [[Marcel Pușcaș]]
| mgrtitle      = Head coach
| manager     = [[Marco Veronese]]
| league      = [[Liga II]]
| season      = [[2024–25 Liga II|2024–25]]
| position    = Liga II, 9th of 22
| website     = {{URL|http://csmceahlaul.ro/}}
| current     = 2024–25 CSM Ceahlăul Piatra Neamț season
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'''Club Sportiv Municipal Ceahlăul Piatra Neamț''', commonly known as '''Ceahlăul Piatra Neamț''' ({{IPA|ro|tʃe̯ahˈlə.ul ˈpjatra ˈne̯amts|lang}}) or simply as '''Ceahlăul''', is a Romanian [[Association football|football]] [[Club (organization)|club]] based in [[Piatra Neamț]], [[Neamț County]], currently playing in the [[Liga II]].

Originally established in 1919, the team's name stems from the nearby [[Ceahlău Massif]]. ''Nemțenii'' made their first appearance in the [[Liga I|Romanian top division]] in the [[1993–94 Divizia A|1993–94 season]].

The club plays its home matches in black and yellow kits at the 18,000-seater [[Stadionul Ceahlăul]].

==History==
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: left" align="right"
|-
|style="background:#FFD800;color:#000000;border:1px solid #000000"|Years
|style="background:#FFD800;color:#000000;border:1px solid #000000"|Name
|-
|1919–1949 
|align=left|Ceahlăul Piatra Neamț
|-
|1949–1951
|align=left|Progresul Piatra Neamț
|-
|1951–1957
|align=left|Avântul Piatra Neamț
|-
|1957
|align=left|Recolta Piatra Neamț
|-
|1958–1961
|align=left|CS Piatra Neamț
|-
|1961–1978
|align=left|Ceahlăul Piatra Neamț
|-
|1978–1979
|align=left|Relon Ceahlăul Piatra Neamț
|-
|1979–1993
|align=left|Ceahlăul Piatra Neamț
|-
|1993
|align=left|Ceahlăul Simpex
|-
|1993–present
|align=left|Ceahlăul Piatra Neamț
|}

=== Early years (1919–1961) ===
Ceahlăul Piatra Neamț was founded on 20 October 1919 in the town of [[Piatra Neamț]]. The squad of high-school players was strengthened with soldiers from the 15th Infantry Regiment who had returned from the [[World War I]]. In 1927, most of the club's players went to college and Ceahlăul went into a period of decline. It played in [[Liga III|Divizia C]] during the 1937–38 season, but left the league due to financial problems.<ref name="istoriafotbalului.ro">{{cite web|title=Istoria echipei Ceahlăul Piatra Neamț|trans-title=History of Ceahlăul Piatra Neamț|url=http://www.istoriafotbalului.go.ro/ceahlaul-piatra-neamt.html|publisher=istoriafotbalului.go.ro|access-date=29 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305175803/http://www.istoriafotbalului.go.ro/ceahlaul-piatra-neamt.html|archive-date=5 March 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> 

[[File:Ceahlăul Piatra Neamț 1960-1961.jpg|thumb|260px|The 1960–61 team, which was promoted to Divizia B for the first time in club history]]
Ceahlăul revived in 1947 with a team which included Vulovici, Bălănescu, Ciciuc (Popovici), Actis, Manoliu, Dăscălescu, Vasiliu, Georgescu, Mata, Butnaru and Chiper.<ref name="istoriafotbalului.ro"/> The 1950s were marked by instability, with changes to the team's name, structure and players. Piatra Neamț had three football clubs: Avântul (the present-day Ceahlăul), Hârtia, and Celuloza. All had mixed results, generally in the lower leagues. In 1956, Avântul, Hârtia and Celuloza merged to form Recolta Piatra Neamț. Recolta played one season in the 12-team [[Liga III|Divizia C]], finishing 11th. At the end of the season Recolta divided into two teams: Avântul and Rapid. After a poor season, the teams re-merged in 1958 to form CS Piatra Neamț. The team finished third in the 1958–59 Divizia C season.<ref name="istoriafotbalului.ro"/><ref name="liga3">{{cite web|title=Sezoane Liga III|trans-title=Liga III seasons|url=http://www.romaniansoccer.ro/divizia_c/divizia_c.shtml|publisher=romaniansoccer.ro|access-date=29 March 2018}}</ref> CS Piatra Neamț, coached by Tiberiu Căpăţînă, was promoted at the end of the 1960–61 season to [[Liga II|Divizia B]] for the first time in club history.

==={{anchor|Ceahlăul, 30 years of second league (1961–1993)}}Three decades in the second league (1961–1993)===
[[File:Ceahlăul Piatra Neamț 1964-1965.jpg|thumb|left|260px|upright=1.2|The 1964–65 team, which was promoted back to [[Liga II|Divizia B]] after one season in the third league]]
[[File:Ceahlăul Piatra Neamț 1967.jpg|thumb|right|270px|{{center|Ceahlăul squad in 1967}}]]
During the summer of 1961, the club also changed its name back to Ceahlăul Piatra Neamț.<ref name="istoriafotbalului.ro"/> It played three consecutive seasons in Divizia B, finishing eighth in 1961–62, 10th in 1962–63 and 13th in 1963–64.<ref name="liga2">{{cite web|title=Sezoane Liga II|trans-title=Liga II seasons|url=http://www.romaniansoccer.ro/divizia_b/divizia_b_istorie.shtml|publisher=romaniansoccer.ro|access-date=29 March 2018}}</ref> Relegated to Divizia C, Ceahlăul was promoted back after [[1964–65 Divizia C|one season]]; the club finished first, four points ahead of second-place [[Textila Buhuși]].<ref name="liga3"/>

It played for many years in the second league, except for a Divizia C season in 1979–1980. Coached by [[Petre Steinbach]], the team finished seventh in 1965–66, ninth in 1966–67, and fifth in 1967–68 and 1968–69.<ref>{{cite web|title=Ceahlăul a avut un antrenor legendar, Petre Steinbach|date=25 November 2013 |trans-title=Ceahlăul had a legendary coach, Petre Steinbach|url=http://zch.ro/ceahlaul-a-avut-un-antrenor-legendar-petre-steinbach/|publisher=zch.ro|access-date=29 March 2018}}</ref> After Steinbach's departure, the team finished 12th in 1969–70, eighth in 1970–71, 10th in 1971–72, 13th in 1972–73 and sixth in 1973–74.<ref name="liga2"/>

Coached by Al Constantinescu, Ceahlăul finished fourth in 1974–75{{snd}}one point behind third-place [[SCM Gloria Buzău|Gloria Buzău]] and four points behind second-place [[ACS Dacia Unirea Brăila|Progresul Brăila]].<ref name="liga2"/> The team finished 13th in 1975–76, 10th in 1976–77 and 12th in 1977–78.

During the summer of 1978, the club changed its name from Ceahlăul Piatra Neamț to Relon Ceahlăul Piatra Neamț and had one of its weakest seasons since its last promotion in 1965. Finishing 15th out of 18 teams, it was relegated to Divizia C after 14 years in the second league;<ref name="istoriafotbalului.ro"/> six points separated Divizia B fourth-place [[SSC Farul Constanța|FC Constanța]] from 17th-place [[Club Sportiv Sporting Tecuci|Victoria Tecuci]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Sezonul 1978–79|trans-title=1978–79 season|url=http://www.romaniansoccer.ro/divizia_b/tables/1978_79.shtml|publisher=romaniansoccer.ro|access-date=29 March 2018}}</ref>

Relon Ceahlăul Piatra Neamț changed its name back to Ceahlăul Piatra Neamț during the summer of 1979.<ref name="istoriafotbalului.ro"/> Ceahlăul finished first, seven points ahead of second-place [[Foresta Fălticeni]], and was promoted back to the second league after one season in Divizia C.<ref name="liga3"/>

Coached by [[Dumitru Dumitriu]], the team finished ninth in 1980–81, 10th in 1981–82 and seventh in 1982–83. Dumitriu was replaced by V. Copil in 1983, and the team finished fourth (a club record at the time) in 1983–84.<ref name="liga2"/> Ceahlăul finished 11th in 1984–85 and 1985–86, eighth in 1986–87, ninth in 1987–88 and 11th in 1988–89. The team finished 14th in 1989–90 during the [[Romanian Revolution]], just avoiding relegation.<ref name="liga2"/>

[[File:Ceahlăul Piatra Neamț 1992-1993.jpg|thumb|alt=A color team photo|250px|The 1992–93 team, which was promoted to [[Liga I|Divizia A]] for the first time in club history]]
The 1989 revolution was the beginning of the end for teams such as [[Victoria București]], [[CSM Flacăra Moreni|Flacăra Moreni]] and [[FC Olt Scornicești|Olt Scornicești]], but was a restart for Ceahlăul. Long a mediocre Divizia B team, the yellow-and-blacks finished third in 1990–91 (three points out of second) and 1991–92 (three points behind second-place [[FC Minerul Baia Mare|FC Baia Mare]] and 10 points ahead of Metrom Brașov.<ref name="liga2"/>

{{football squad on pitch|align=right
| GK  = [[Radu Lefter|Lefter]]
| RB  = [[Gheorghe Axinia|Axinia I]]
| RCB = Ivanov (C)
| LCB = Anghelinei
| LB  = [[Codruț Domșa|Domșa]]
| RM  = Atomulesei
| RCM = [[Ovidiu Marc|Ov. Marc]]
| LCM = [[Mihai Dan Ionescu|Ionescu]]
| LM  = Pantazi
| RCF = [[Florin Axinia|Axinia II]]
| LCF = [[Costel Enache|Enache]]
| caption = The 1992–93 squad
}}

[[Ioan Sdrobiș]] ("The Father"), a coach known for promoting young players, was hired as manager during the summer of 1992. Gheorghe Ștefan became the club president, and [[FC Argeș Pitești|FC Argeș]], [[ASA Târgu Mureș (1962)|ASA Târgu Mureș]], [[SCM Gloria Buzău|Gloria Buzău]] and [[FC Politehnica Iași (1945)|Politehnica Iași]] were rivals for promotion. Two teams were related to the former political regime: Steaua Mizil (a [[FC Steaua București|Steaua București]] satellite team) and [[CSM Flacăra Moreni|Flacăra Moreni]]. During the winter break, Sdrobiș left the team in first place after disputes with Ștefan and signed with [[ACS Dacia Unirea Brăila|Dacia Unirea Brăila]]. He was replaced by former [[FC Dinamo București|Dinamo București]] and [[Fenerbahçe S.K. (football)|Fenerbahçe]] player [[Ion Nunweiller]]. The yellow-and-blacks were promoted to [[Liga I|Divizia A]] for the first time in club history with 20 victories, seven draws, seven losses, 54 goals scored and 24 conceded for 47 points, six points ahead of Steaua Mizil, [[FC Argeș Pitești|FC Argeș]] and [[CSM Flacăra Moreni|Flacăra Moreni]]. The team consisted of coaches Sdrobiș (matches 1–17) and Nunweiller (matches 18–34) and players Anghelinei, [[Vasile Șoiman|Șoiman]], [[Gheorghe Axinia|Axinia I]], [[Florin Axinia|Axinia II]], Dinu, Alexa, Cozma, Gălan, Coșerariu, [[Costel Enache|Enache]], Bârcă, Ghioane, Grosu, Ivanov, [[Gigi Ion]], [[Mihai Dan Ionescu|Ionescu]], [[Radu Lefter|Lefter]], [[Ovidiu Marc|Ov. Marc]], Mirea, Nichifor, Pantazi, Săvinoiu, Șoimaru, Urzică, Buliga, Oprea, Breniuc, Apachiței and Vrânceanu; the administrative leadership was ensured by: Gheorghe Ștefan, Gh. Chivorchian, Iulian Țocu, Liviu Tudor, Ioan Strătilă and Luigi Bodo.<ref>{{cite web|title=22 de ani de la cea mai importantă promovare fotbalistică|date=5 September 2015 |trans-title=22 years from the most important football promotion|url=http://mesagerulneamt.ro/2015/09/22-de-ani-de-la-cea-mai-importanta-promovare-fotbalistica/|publisher=mesagerulneamt.ro|access-date=29 March 2018}}</ref> For six months in 1993, it was known as Ceahlăul Simpex for sponsorship reason.<ref name="istoriafotbalului.ro"/>
Contributions to the team during this period were also made by I. Iovicin, M. Crețu, Radu Toma, V. Rizea, Tr. Coman, N. Zaharia, T. Anghelini, Toader Șteț, M. Nedelcu, M. Radu and Fl. Hizo (coaches) and C. Acatincăi, Gh. Ocneanu, D. Lospa and M. Contardo (presidents).<ref name="istoriafotbalului.ro"/>

==={{anchor|Golden Age of Ceahlăul (1993–2004)}}Golden age (1993–2004)===
[[File:Ion Nunweiller (1971).jpg|thumb|200px|alt=Ion Nunweiller as a player|[[Ion Nunweiller]] ''(pictured in 1971)'', who coached the club to its first [[Liga I|Divizia A]] promotion in 1993]]
At the start of the [[1993–94 Divizia A]] season, Ceahlăul was a well-known second-league team but largely unknown to most of Romania's first-division teams. With former player Mircea Nedelcu as the new coach, the team finished halfway down the table in 10th place. It finished fifth at the end of the [[1994–95 Divizia A|1994–95]] season and qualified for a European Cup.<ref name="liga1">{{cite web|title=Sezoane Liga I|trans-title=Liga I seasons|url=http://www.romaniansoccer.ro/divizia_a/divizia_a.shtml|publisher=romaniansoccer.ro|access-date=29 March 2018}}</ref>

The club played in the [[1995 UEFA Intertoto Cup]], winning a group consisting of [[FC Groningen]], [[K.S.K. Beveren|Beveren]], [[FC Zbrojovka Brno|Boby Brno]] and [[FC Etar (Veliko Tarnovo)|Etar Veliko Tarnovo]] (2–0 against Etar, 2–0 against Beveren, 2–0 against Brno and 0–0 against Groningen). In the round of 16, the ''nemțenii'' lost to [[FC Metz]] of France 0–2, with goals scored by [[Jocelyn Blanchard]] and [[Franck Meyrignac]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Amintiri cu eroii vremii|date=13 December 2013 |trans-title=Memories with the heroes of the old times|url=http://ziarulceahlaul.ro/amintiri-cu-eroii-vremii/|publisher=ziarulceahlaul.ro|access-date=29 March 2018}}</ref> The club did less well during the regular season, finishing 15th (six points from the relegation zone).

Under coach [[Florin Marin]], the yellow-and-blacks revived in the [[1996–97 Divizia A|1996–97]] season to finish sixth. [[Florin Marin]], Mircea Nedelcu, [[Nicolae Manea]] and [[Viorel Hizo]] coached the team to two consecutive ninth-place finishes in [[1997–98 Divizia A|1997–98]] and [[1998–99 Divizia A|1998–99]]. Ceahlăul prepared for the [[1999 UEFA Intertoto Cup]], eliminating two teams: [[FK Ekranas|Ekranas]] (2–0 on aggregate) and [[NK Jedinstvo Bihać|Jedinstvo Bihać]] (5–2 on aggregate). In the third round, Ceahlăul played two home-and-away matches against [[Juventus FC|Juventus]]. The team drew 1–1 at Piatra Neamț, with goals by Scânteie in the 28th minute and [[Alessio Tacchinardi]] in the 58th. In Italy, at [[Stadio Dino Manuzzi|Dino Manuzzi Stadium]] in [[Cesena]], they played a scoreless draw and were eliminated.<ref>{{cite web|title=Acum 18 ani, pe stadionul "Ceahlăul"|date=18 July 2017 |trans-title=Ceahlăul Stadium, 18 years ago|url=http://zch.ro/video-acum-18-ani-pe-stadionul-ceahlaul/|publisher=zch.ro|access-date=29 March 2018}}</ref> Ceahlăul finished fourth in Divizia A for the [[1999–2000 Divizia A|best performance]] in club history. Coached by Viorel Hizo, its players were [[Eugen Anghel]], [[Costel Câmpeanu]], [[Radu Lefter]] – [[Angelo Alistar]], Cristinel Atomulesei, [[Adrian Baldovin]], [[Dumitru Botez]], [[Codruț Domșa]], [[Costel Enache]], [[Leontin Grozavu]], [[Constantin Ilie]], [[Mihai Dan Ionescu]], [[Ovidiu Marc]], [[Mihai Nemțanu]], Gheorghe Pantazi, [[Dănuț Perjă]], [[Daniel Scînteie]], [[Adrian Solomon]], [[Tiberiu Șerban]], Tudorel Șoimaru and [[Lavi Hrib]].

{{football squad on pitch|align=right
| GK  = [[Radu Lefter|Lefter (C)]]
| RB  = Șoimaru
| RCB = [[Dănuț Perjă|Perjă]]
| LCB = [[Leontin Grozavu|Grozavu]]
| LB  = [[Codruț Domșa|Domșa]]
| RM  = [[Constantin Ilie|Ilie]]
| RCM = [[Ovidiu Marc|Ov. Marc]]
| LCM = [[Costel Enache|Enache]]
| LM  = [[Dumitru Botez|Botez]]
| RCF = [[Daniel Scînteie|Scînteie]]
| LCF = [[Florin Axinia|Axinia II]]
| caption = The 1999–2000 squad
}}

[[File:Viorel Hizo.jpg|thumb|200px|alt=Viorel Hizo, holding up a prize check in 1994|Coach [[Viorel Hizo]], who obtained Ceahlăul's best results]]
In 2000, Ceahlăul again played in the [[2000 UEFA Intertoto Cup|UEFA Intertoto Cup]]. After a 9–4 aggregate score against Estonia's [[JK Narva Trans|Narva Trans]] in the first round, the team defeated Spain's [[RCD Mallorca|Mallorca]] 4–3. In the third round, the ''nemțenii'' drew 2–2 in Piatra Neamț against [[FK Austria Wien|Austria Wien]] before losing 0–3 at [[Franz Horr Stadium]] in [[Wien]] with goals scored by [[Michael Wagner (footballer, born 1975)|Wagner]], Leitner and [[Ernst Dospel|Dospel]].

During the early 2000s, coaching changes (11 in four years, including from Mircea Nedelcu to [[Florin Halagian]] and from [[Florin Marin]] to [[Marin Barbu]], Viorel Hizo and [[Marius Lăcătuș]]) led to poor results: 11th place in [[2000–01 Divizia A|2000–01]], eighth in [[2001–02 Divizia A|2001–02]], and 14th in [[2003–04 Divizia A|2003–04]]. Ceahlăul was relegated in 2004 after 11 years and 10 seasons in the first league, with Hizo coaching the first half and Lăcătuș the second half.<ref>{{cite web|title=Retrogradarea, minut cu minut|trans-title=Relegation minute by minute|url=http://jurnalul.ro/sport/retrogradarea-minut-cu-minut-67767.html|publisher=jurnalul.ro|access-date=29 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180330143748/http://jurnalul.ro/sport/retrogradarea-minut-cu-minut-67767.html|archive-date=30 March 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref> The team finished fifth in [[2002–03 Divizia A|2002–03]] and again played in the [[2003 UEFA Intertoto Cup|UEFA Intertoto Cup]], eliminated in the first round by [[Tampere United]] of Finland.<ref>{{cite web|title=Ceahlaul a fost eliminata de "schiorii" de la Tampere|trans-title=Ceahlăul was eliminated by the "skiers" from Tampere|url=http://www.gds.ro/Sport/2003-07-01/Ceahlaul+a+fost+eliminata+de+%E2%80%9Eschiorii%E2%80%9C+de+la+Tampere/|publisher=gds.ro|access-date=29 March 2018}}</ref>

Club president Gheorghe Ștefan (nicknamed "Pinalti" because of his demands for a penalty in [[Moldavian dialect|Moldavian]]) was accused of conspiring with Jean "Tata Jean" Pădureanu (the Gloria Bistrița president), father of the "Football Cooperative": a group of teams known for match-fixing in the 1990s. In addition to Ceahlăul, teams such as [[ACF Gloria Bistrița|Gloria Bistrița]], [[SR Brașov|FC Brașov]], [[FC Steaua București|Steaua București]] and [[FC Dinamo București|Dinamo București]] were involved. Despite the lack of an official investigation, statements by players, coaches, and presidents and eyewitness reports attest to strange matches during the period. "Reciprocities" included sharing points to win a championship, qualifying for the European Cups or avoiding relegation. Pressure on referees gave the city (and Ceahlăul) the nickname "[[Kosovo War|Kosovo]]".<ref>{{cite web|title="Pinalti", omul care a transformat Piatra Neamț în "Kosovo". "M-au făcut arbitrii de mi-era rușine de rușinea lor. Le-am deranjat vestiarul, le-am făcut pagubă", spune un antrenor care a cedat nervos după un meci cu Ceahlăul|date=4 October 2016 |trans-title="Pinalti", the man who turned Piatra Neamt into "Kosovo". "The referees made me ashamed of their shame. I disturbed the locker room, damaged them, "says a coach who succumbed nervously after a match with Ceahlăul|url=http://evz.ro/pinalti-omul-care-a-transformat-piatra-neamt-in-kosovo.html|publisher=evz.ro|access-date=29 March 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Gheorghe Ștefan – Omul care a dus Cooperativa în politică|date=7 October 2016 |trans-title=Gheorghe Ştefan – The man who took the Cooperative into politics|url=http://mesagerulneamt.ro/2016/10/gheorghe-stefan-omul-care-a-dus-cooperativa-in-politica/|publisher=mesagerulneamt.ro|access-date=29 March 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Dosarul Cooperativa, episodul 2: El Clasico Ceahlăul – Bistriţa|date=30 December 2014 |trans-title=Cooperativa file, episode 2: El Clasico Ceahlăul – Bistriţa|url=https://sportescu.ro/cooperativa-episodul-2/|publisher=sportescu.ro|access-date=29 March 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Capii 'Cooperativei':Tata Jean & Pinalti|date=22 July 2007 |trans-title=Heads of the Cooperative: Tata Jean & Pinalti|url=https://www.libertatea.ro/sport/capii-cooperativeitata-jean-pinalti-202906|publisher=libertatea.ro|access-date=29 March 2018}}</ref> Another incident during "Ștefan's era" at Piatra Neamț occurred in 2000, before the first match of the third round of the [[UEFA Intertoto Cup]] against [[FK Austria Wien|Austria Wien]], when the president tried to offer prostitutes to the match referees; the club was suspended for a year from [[UEFA]] competitions, but "Pinalti" said that the girls were members of a folk ensemble.<ref>{{cite web|title=Atenție, cade Pietricica!|trans-title=Watch out for the Pietricica!|url=http://premium.gsp.ro/premium/reportaj/atentie-cade-pietricica-495983.html|publisher=premium.gsp.ro|access-date=29 March 2018}}</ref> The first signs of the "Football Cooperative" were noted in 1993, when it was suspected that Ceahlăul offered suitcases with money for teams in the first series to pull hard against opponents or ease up as desired. Gelu Crăcană, a passionate supporter of the team and a member of its entourage, said in 2016: ''"Mergeam cu genţi cu bani în majoritatea deplasărilor. Am mai cărat şi eu genţile, ţin minte că am purtat banii la mine când am mers la Autobuzul București"'' ("We went with money bags in most of the trips. I've also carried these bags; I remember that I took the money with me when we went to [[AFC Rocar București|Autobuzul București]]").<ref>{{cite web|title=Superreportaj despre căderea încă unei echipe de tradiție " Povești memorabile: de la promovarea cu valize la 1–1 cu Juventus|trans-title=Super reportage about the fall of another team of tradition "Memorable stories: from promoting with suitcases to 1–1 against Juventus|url=http://www.gsp.ro/fotbal/liga-b/superreportaj-despre-caderea-inca-unei-echipe-de-traditie-povesti-memorabile-de-la-promovarea-cu-valize-la-1-1-cu-juventus-495959.html|publisher=gsp.ro|access-date=29 March 2018}}</ref> Iulian Țocu, a director of the club at that time, described how many matches had been fixed that season.<ref>{{cite web|title=Gheorghe Ștefan în galben și negru|date=14 February 2017 |trans-title=Gheorghe Stefan in yellow and black|url=http://mesagerulneamt.ro/2017/02/gheorghe-stefan-in-galben-si-negru/|publisher=mesagerulneamt.ro|access-date=29 March 2018}}</ref>

===ABBA period (2004–2016)===
[[File:FC Ceahlăul Piatra Neamț logo.png|thumb|200px|alt=Oval orange-and-yellow team logo, with a stylized bear|Ceahlăul logo from 2006 to 2016, featuring a Carpathian bear]]
During this time, Ceahlăul was known as an "ABBA team" (a nickname used in Romania for clubs that used to alternate the presences between the first and the second league). After relegation, [[Florin Marin]] was hired as the new coach. Although the squad kept most of its players, Ceahlăul finished in fifth place{{snd}}18 points from the promotion place (occupied by [[FC Vaslui]]) and 22 from the first relegation place, occupied by FC Ghimbav. [[Marin Barbu]] replaced Marin the following season; the team was promoted, seven points ahead of second-place [[FC Forex Brașov|Forex Brașov]] and eight points ahead of [[SR Brașov|FC Brașov]].<ref name="liga2"/> The club changed its logo, replacing the black goat against the [[Ceahlău Massif]] background with a Carpathian bear; orange became the primary color, and the team was nicknamed ''"Urșii carpatini"'' ("The Carpathian Bears").

With many managerial changes and uninspired play, Ceahlăul finished the [[2006–07 Liga I]] season in 15th place and was relegated. During the summer of 2007, however, [[FC Delta Dobrogea Tulcea|Delta Tulcea]] (second place in [[Liga II]]) could not obtain a license for the upcoming Liga I season and Ceahlăul was accepted in its place.<ref>{{cite web|title=Delta Tulcea a promovat, Ceahlaul s-a salvat!|date=4 June 2007 |trans-title=Delta Tulcea promoted, Ceahlaul saved!|url=http://romanialibera.ro/sport/sporturi/delta-tulcea-a-promovat--ceahlaul-s-a-salvat--97219|publisher=romanialibera.ro|access-date=29 March 2018}}</ref> Coached by Hizo, the club was relegated after again finishing in 15th place.

With Marin again at the helm of a new generation which included players such as [[Andrei Vițelaru]], [[Alexandru Forminte]], [[Alexandru Ichim]], [[Daniel Barna]], [[Andrei Țepeș]], [[Vlad Achim]], [[Eugeniu Cebotaru]], [[Vlad Achim]], [[Ionuț Bădescu]] or [[Cristinel Gafița]], Ceahlăul was promoted back to [[Liga I]] with 69 points (22 victories, three draws, five losses, 52 goals scored and 17 allowed. Second-place [[FC Astra Giurgiu|CSM Ploiești]], two points behind, was also promoted.<ref name="liga2"/>

The Carpathian Bears were relegated for the third time in six years, finishing 17th out of 18 with 28 points in 34 matches. The club began the season with [[Florin Marin]], continued with [[Gheorghe Mulțescu]], and ended with ex-[[S.L. Benfica|Benfica]] player [[Zoran Filipović]].<ref name="liga1"/>

{{football squad on pitch|align=right
| GK  = [[Thomas Villadsen|Villadsen]]
| RB  = [[Florin Nohai|Nohai]]
| RCB = [[Alexandru Forminte|Forminte]]
| LCB = [[Andrei Vițelaru|Vițelaru]]
| LB  = [[Daniel Barna|Barna]]
| RM  = [[Ionuț Bădescu|Bădescu]]
| RCM = [[Vlad Achim|Achim]]
| LCM = [[Eugeniu Cebotaru|Cebotaru (C)]]
| LM  = [[Sebastian Chitoșcă|Chitoșcă]]
| RCF = [[Marian Constantinescu|Constantinescu]]
| LCF = [[Cristinel Gafița|Gafița]]
| caption = The 2010–2011 squad
}}

[[File:AUT vs. MDA 2015-09-05 (167).jpg|thumb|200px|alt=Eugeniu Cebotaru in 2015, running after the ball|[[Eugeniu Cebotaru]] played in 136 matches and scored 32 goals for Ceahlăul between 2006 and 2011, and was captain of the 2011 promotion squad.]]
Ceahlăul was again promoted at the end of the [[2010–11 Liga II]] season, this time with [[Marin Barbu]] as coach. The squad included [[Andrei Dumitraș]], [[Andrei Marc]] and [[Sebastian Chitoșcă]].<ref name="liga2"/> Due to its good financial situation, excellent training conditions, a combination of youth and experience and talented coaches such as [[Costel Enache]], [[Vasile Miriuță]] and [[Constantin Ilie]], Ceahlăul remained in the first league for four years and finished 11th in [[2011–12 Liga I|2011–12]], 14th in [[2012–13 Liga I|2012–13]], ninth in [[2013–14 Liga I|2013–14]] and 18th in [[2014–15 Liga I|2014–15]].

In 2014, the club began drowning in debt. Ștefan, who was the mayor of [[Piatra Neamț]] between 2004 and 2014, began to have legal problems and was arrested.<ref>{{cite web|title=Gheorghe Ştefan, în arest la domiciliu. "Pinalti" iese din închisoare după aproape 6 luni|date=15 April 2015 |trans-title=Gheorghe Ştefan, under house arrest. "Pinalti" comes out of prison after nearly six months|url=http://www.prosport.ro/sport-life/special/gheorghe-stefan-in-arest-la-domiciliu-pinalti-iese-din-inchisoare-dupa-aproape-6-luni-14122994|publisher=prosport.ro|access-date=29 March 2018}}</ref> Without his or the municipality's help, 55 percent of the club's shares were sold to Italian businessman [[Angelo Massone]] in December of that year. Massone brought a number of players from the lower Italian and Spanish leagues, and hired coaches such as [[Zé Maria (footballer, born 1973)|Zé Maria]] and [[Vanja Radinović]] to no avail.<ref>{{cite web|title=Un nou acţionar majoritar, Italianul Angelo Massone a preluat 55% din acţiunile FC Ceahlăul|date=29 December 2014 |trans-title=A new major shareholder, Italian Angelo Massone took over 55% of FC Ceahlăul|url=http://realitateamedia.ro/un-nou-actionar-majoritar-italianul-angelo-massone-a-preluat-55-din-actiunile-fc-ceahlaul/|publisher=realitateamedia.ro|access-date=29 March 2018}}</ref>

Returned to the [[Liga II]], without money from TV rights, without the help of the municipality and with an owner who did not seem to invest in the team, the media called the club as "Massone's Camp".<ref>{{cite web|title=Lagărul lui Massone. Jucătorii Ceahlăului au o masă pe zi, n-au cablu TV, apa caldă e cu porţia iar în camere e ca în Hotelul de Gheaţă. "Un calvar! Colegii mai tineri fac chetă să-şi ia seara pizza sau paste"|date=10 October 2015 |trans-title=Massone's camp. Ceahlău players have a meal a day, they do not have cable TV, hot water is in the portions, and the rooms are like in the Ice Hotel. "A calvary! My younger colleagues even collect money to take pizza or pasta in the evening"|url=http://www.prosport.ro/sport-life/special/lagarul-massone-jucatorii-ceahlaului-au-masa-zi-n-au-cablu-tv-apa-calda-e-portia-iar-camere-e-hotelul-gheata-calvar-colegii-tineri-fac-cheta-ia-seara-pizza-paste-14782081|publisher=prosport.ro|access-date=29 March 2018}}</ref> With uncertain finances, unpaid players, six coaches changed in a season and a policy of transfers from the lower Italian and Spanish leagues, Ceahlăul ended the regular season in 12th place and barely avoided relegation. The club withdrew from the championship with a few matches before the end of the play-out round and was relegated to the county leagues.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://liga2.prosport.ro/seria-1/adio-ceahlaul-clubul-nemtean-nu-s-a-prezentat-la-balotesti-si-e-exclusa-din-liga-2-final-de-poveste-la-97-de-ani-15321071|title=ADIO Ceahlăul. Clubul nemţean nu s-a prezentat la Baloteşti şi e exclusă din Liga 2. Final de poveste la 97 de ani|trans-title=GOODBYE Ceahlăul. The Neamț County club did not show up at Baloteşti and is expelled from Liga 2. End of the story after 97 years|publisher=[[ProSport]]|language=Romanian|date=14 May 2016}}</ref>
Its financial problems were unmanageable, and the club began dissolution in the spring of 2016.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://liga2.prosport.ro/seria-1/final-de-poveste-exclusa-din-competitiile-organizate-de-frf-ceahlaul-urmeaza-sa-intre-in-faliment-oficialii-clubului-vor-cere-asta-poate-fotbalul-va-renaste-la-piatra-neamt-15332141|title=Final de poveste. Exclusă din competiţiile organizate de FRF, Ceahlăul urmează să intre în faliment. Oficialii clubului vor cere asta. "Poate fotbalul va renaşte la Piatra Neamţ"|trans-title=Final story. Excluded from the competitions organized by FRF, Ceahlăul is about to go bankrupt. Club officials will ask for this. "Maybe football will be reviving in Piatra Neamt"|publisher=liga2.prosport.ro|language=Romanian|date=29 March 2018}}</ref>

==={{anchor|A new beginning (2016–present)}}New beginning (2016 – present)===
On 22 July 2016, the media reported that the club would be re-founded as CSM Ceahlăul Piatra Neamț. Its founders were Mihai Bătrânu and Cătălin Roca, owners of former team sponsors Moldocor and Ro Com Central Companies. The RIFIL Company, another sponsor represented by Luigi Bodo and Ioan Strătilă, has indicated support for the new team.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prosport.ro/fotbal-intern/liga-2/renaste-fotbalul-la-piatra-neamt-week-end-decisiv-pentru-mediul-de-afaceri-din-neamt-15506730|title=Renaşte fotbalul la Piatra-Neamţ? Week-end decisiv... pentru mediul de afaceri din Neamţ!|trans-title=Rebirth of the football from Piatra-Neamt? Decisive weekend...for the business environment from Neamt!|publisher=prosport.ro|language=Romanian|date=29 March 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://liga2.prosport.ro/special/renaste-fotbalul-la-piatra-neamt-noua-echipa-se-va-numit-csm-ceahlaul-15536525|title=Renaşte fotbalul la Piatra Neamţ. Noua echipă se va numit CSM Ceahlăul|trans-title=Football in Piatra Neamț is brought back to life. The new team will be named CSM Ceahlăul|publisher=prosport.ro|language=Romanian|date=22 July 2016}}</ref> On 17 August of that year, the new club was legally registered.<ref name="Founded">{{cite web|url=http://csmceahlaul.ro/contact/|title=Contact|publisher=csmceahlaul.ro|language=Romanian|date=24 January 2019}}</ref>

Its logo was also changed, the black goat and [[Ceahlău Massif]] returning to the foreground in a restyled form, and the club colors returned to the original yellow and black. The team was enrolled in [[Liga V]], and Toader Șteț was hired as the new coach. The squad was formed from players who grew up at the Ceahlăul Football Academy, and after one season it was promoted to [[Liga IV]] after a first-place finish: 16 victories, no draws or losses, 136 goals scored and five conceded for 48 points (13 more than second-place Olimpia Grințieș.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ziarulceahlaul.ro/csm-ceahlaul-promovat-cu-victorii-pe-linie/|title=CSM Ceahlăul a promovat cu victorii pe linie|trans-title=CSM Ceahlăul promoted with victories on the line|publisher=ziarulceahlaul.ro|language=Romanian|date=29 March 2018}}</ref>

In the [[2017–18 Liga IV]] season, the ''nemțenii'' squad included Teodor Cîmpianu, Alexandru Smău, [[Marius Rusu]], Andrei Apostol, Cristian Copoț-Barb and Andrei Mateiciuc. The team entered the winter break in first place, when Toader Șteț was replaced by Gabriel Rădulescu.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mesagerulneamt.ro/2017/12/schimbare-de-antrenor-principal-la-csm-ceahlaul-radulescu-in-locul-lui-stet/|title=Schimbare de antrenor principal la CSM Ceahlăul: Rădulescu în locul lui Șteț|trans-title=Coach changing at CSM Ceahlăul: Radulescu instead of Şteţ|publisher=mesagerulneamt.ro|language=Romanian|date=29 March 2018}}</ref> In June 2023, seven years after it was relegated, the team returned to [[Liga II]].

==Youth program==
Youth academy of Ceahlăul Piatra Neamț is the biggest and most successful in [[Moldavia]], over time from this academy going into big football players such as: [[Vasile Avădanei]], [[Florin Axinia]], [[Mihai Bordeianu]], [[Lucian Burdujan]], [[Robert Căruță]], Gelu Chertic, Lidi Chertic [[Sebastian Chitoșcă]], [[Lucian Covrig]], [[Marian Drăghiceanu]], [[Costel Enache]], [[Alexandru Forminte]], [[Alexandru Ichim]], [[Constantin Ilie]], [[Mihai Dan Ionescu]], [[Andrei Marc]], [[Florin Nohai]], [[Doru Popadiuc]], Gabriel Rădulescu, [[Adrian Solomon]], Tudor Șoimaru, [[Andrei Țepeș]] or [[Andrei Vițelaru]]. Among the most important talent finders in Ceahlăul Football Academy were professors Radu Toma and Mihai Radu.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mesagerulneamt.ro/2015/11/dor-de-profesorul-radu-toma/|title=Dor de profesorul Radu Toma|trans-title=I missed Professor Radu Toma|publisher=mesagerulneamt.ro|language=Romanian|date=29 March 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://mesagerulneamt.ro/2017/02/fotbalul-pietrean-nu-o-sa-si-revina-nici-in-50-de-ani/|title="Fotbalul pietrean nu o să-și revină nici în 50 de ani"|trans-title="Piatra Neamț football will not be back in 50 years"|publisher=mesagerulneamt.ro|language=Romanian|date=29 March 2018}}</ref>

==Grounds==
[[File:Stadionul Ceahlăul - tribune (3).jpg|250px|thumbnail|right|Ceahlăul Stadium in 2013.]]
The club plays its home matches on [[Stadionul Ceahlăul]] from [[Piatra Neamț]]. Originally known as ''Borzoghean'' and still nicknamed in this mode by the supporters, the stadium had a capacity of 12,000 seats and the shape of letter "U". Between 2006 and 2007 the stadium was renovated, extended (a new End Sector was built), orange seats were mounted instead of the old yellow and black ones and a floodlight installation was also installed. The capacity reached 18,000 seats after other renovations which took place in the early 2010s. Stadionul Ceahlăul is a 3 star ranked in the [[UEFA stadium categories]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://csmceahlaul.ro/stadion/|title=Stadionul Municipal Ceahlăul|trans-title=Ceahlăul Municipality Stadium|publisher=csmceahlaul.ro|language=Romanian|date=29 March 2018}}</ref>

==Support==
Ceahlăul has many supporters in [[Piatra Neamț]] and especially in [[Neamț County]]. They are not exactly the ultras type, but despite this fact some ultras groups were formed over time such as: ''Brigate Ultras 2009'' and ''Tinerii Nemțeni''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://brigateultras.wgz.ro/menu/galerie|title=Ceahlaul Brigate Ultras Piatra Neamt|trans-title=Ceahlaul Brigate Ultras Piatra Neamt|publisher=brigateultras.wgz.ro|language=Romanian|date=29 March 2018}}</ref> In 2010 "the Yellow and Blacks" supporters surprised everyone by the fact that they had the first and only ultras leader in Romania, who is a woman, Geanina Ciocoiu.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gsp.ro/fotbal/liga-1/oraselul-vesel-o-femeie-sef-de-galerie-la-ceahlaul-191827.html|title=Orăşelul vesel " O femeie, şef de galerie la Ceahlăul|trans-title=Cheerful little town "A woman, head of the supporters at Ceahlăul|publisher=gsp.ro|language=Romanian|date=29 March 2018}}</ref>

===Rivalries===
Ceahlăul does not have important rivalries, most of them being regional, the so-called ''Derby-urile Moldovei'' ([[Western Moldavia|Moldavia Derbies]]) against teams such as: [[FCM Bacău]], [[FC Politehnica Iași (2010)|FC Politehnica Iași]] or [[ASC Oțelul Galați|Oțelul Galați]] and most recently against [[FC Vaslui]] or [[FC Botoșani]].

===Trivia===
In 2006, Gelu Crăcană, a fan of Ceahlăul Piatra Neamț created a 420 square meters (500 including the sleeves) Ceahlăul Piatra Neamț jersey shirt with [[Florin Axinia]]'s name on it which entered the [[Guinness World Records]] Hall of fame.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.gsp.ro/fotbal/liga-1/de-la-tricoul-gigant-la-un-stadion-de-fotografii-povestea-unui-suporter-autentic-290007.html | title=De la tricoul-gigant, la un stadion de fotografii. Povestea unui suporter autentic| publisher=Gsp.ro| language=Romanian |trans-title=
From the giant shirt, to a photo stadium. The story of a genuine supporter| date=18 December 2011 | access-date=6 April 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.gsp.ro/fotbal/liga-2/record-din-inima-100323.html | title=Record din inimă| publisher=Gsp.ro| language=Romanian |trans-title=Record from the heart| date=29 September 2008 | access-date=6 April 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.libertatea.ro/sport/pentru-ceahlaul-si-cartea-recordurilor-140338 | title=Pentru Ceahlaul si Cartea Recordurilor| publisher=Libertatea.ro| language=Romanian |trans-title=
For Ceahlaul and the Book of Records| date=3 June 2006 | access-date=6 April 2020}}</ref>

==Honours==

===Domestic===

====Leagues====
*'''[[Liga II|Divizia B / Liga II]]'''
**'''Winners (4):''' [[Divizia B 1992–93|1992–93]], [[Divizia B 2005–06|2005–06]], [[Liga II 2008–09|2008–09]], [[2010–11 Liga II|2010–11]]
*'''[[Liga III|Divizia C / Liga III]]'''
**'''Winners (2):''' [[1964–65 Divizia C|1964–65]], [[1979–80 Divizia C|1979–80]]
**Runners-up (1): [[2022–23 Liga III|2022–23]]
*'''[[Liga IV]] – [[Neamț County]]'''
**'''Winners (1):''' [[2017–18 Liga IV|2017–18]]
*'''[[Liga V]] – [[Neamț County]]'''
**'''Winners (1):''' 2016–17

====Other leagues====
*'''Moldavia Championship'''
**'''Winners (1):''' 1926

====Cups====
*'''[[Cupa României]] – [[Neamț County]]'''
**'''Winners (1):''' 2017–18

===International===
*'''[[UEFA Intertoto Cup]]'''
** Third round (2): [[1999 UEFA Intertoto Cup|1999]], [[2000 UEFA Intertoto Cup|2000]]
** Round of 16 (1): [[1995 UEFA Intertoto Cup|1995]]

=== Other performances ===
*Appearances in [[Liga I]]: '''18'''
*Best finish in [[Liga I|Divizia A]]: '''4th''' place in the [[1999–2000 Divizia A|1999–2000]]
*Place '''22''' of 98 teams in the Liga I All-time table

==European record==
{{Main|CSM Ceahlăul Piatra Neamț in European football}}

===European cups all-time statistics===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
|-
!width="133" style="background:#DCDCDC"|Competition
!width="35" style="background:#DCDCDC"|{{Tooltip| S | Seasons}}
!width="35" style="background:#DCDCDC"|{{Tooltip| P | Played}}
!width="35" style="background:#DCDCDC"|{{Tooltip| W | Won}}
!width="35" style="background:#DCDCDC"|{{Tooltip| D | Drawn}}
!width="35" style="background:#DCDCDC"|{{Tooltip| L | Lost}}
!width="35" style="background:#DCDCDC"|{{Tooltip| GF | Goals for}}
!width="35" style="background:#DCDCDC"|{{Tooltip| GA | Goals against}}
!width="35" style="background:#DCDCDC"|{{Tooltip| GD | Goal difference}}
|-
|align=left|[[UEFA Intertoto Cup]]
|4||19||11||4||4||31||19||+ 12
|-
|-class="sortbottom"
! Total || 4 || 19 || 11 || 4 || 4 || 31 || 19 || + 12
|}

==Players==
===First team squad===
{{updated|18 June 2025}}
<!-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 -- Do NOT add new players before their signing is officially announced by the club.
 -- Do not add clubnumber until it's official.
 -- This is Wikipedia, not a football gazette.
&nbsp;– Thanks in advance.
 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------->
{{Fs start}}
{{Fs player|no= 1|nat=ROU|pos=GK|name=[[Laurențiu Brănescu]]}}
{{Fs player|no= 3|nat=ROU|pos=DF|name=Tudor Alistar}}
{{Fs player|no= 4|nat=POL|pos=DF|name=[[Kamil Wiktorski]]|other=[[Captain (association football)|4th captain]]}}
{{Fs player|no= 5|nat=ROU|pos=DF|name=Bogdan Curbăt}}
{{Fs player|no= 7|nat=BRA|pos=MF|name=Renan Sousa}}
{{Fs player|no= 8|nat=ROU|pos=MF|name=Cristian Copoț-Barb|other=[[Captain (association football)|Vice-captain]]}}
{{Fs player|no= 9|nat=NGA|pos=FW|name=Kelechi Nnochiri}}
{{Fs player|no=10|nat=ROU|pos=MF|name=[[Patrick Petre]]|other=[[Captain (association football)|Captain]]}}
{{Fs player|no=11|nat=ROU|pos=MF|name=[[Geani Crețu]]}}
{{Fs mid}}
{{Fs player|no=18|nat=GHA|pos=FW|name=Carl Davordzie}}
{{Fs player|no=22|nat=ROU|pos=DF|name=Mark Țuțu}}
{{Fs player|no=23|nat=MDA|pos=GK|name=Gabriel Tanas}}
{{Fs player|no=24|nat=ROU|pos=DF|name=Mihai Șandru}}
{{Fs player|no=25|nat=GHA|pos=DF|name=Emmanuel Asibey}}
{{Fs player|no=67|nat=ROU|pos=GK|name=[[Alexandru Barna]]|other=[[Captain (association football)|3rd captain]]}}
{{Fs player|no=88|nat=ROU|pos=MF|name=Mihai Nădășanu}}
{{Fs player|no=92|nat=ROU|pos=FW|name=Codrin Nica}}
{{Fs player|no=98|nat=ROU|pos=MF|name=Răzvan Neag}}
{{Fs end}}

===Out on loan===
{{Fs start}}
{{Fs player|no=|nat=ROU|pos=DF|name=Daniel Moroșanu|other=to [[CSM Bacău (football)|CSM Bacău]]}}
{{Fs end}}

==Club Officials==
{{col-start}}
{{col-4}}

===Board of directors===

{| class="toccolours"
|-
! style="background:#FFD800;color:#000000;border:1px solid #000000;" |Role
! style="background:#FFD800;color:#000000;border:1px solid #000000;" |Name
|-
| Owners
| {{Flagicon|ROU}} Anton Măzărianu <br> {{Flagicon|ROU}} [[Piatra Neamț|Piatra Neamț Municipality]]
|-
| President
| {{Flagicon|ROU}} [[Marcel Pușcaș]]
|-
| Sporting Director
| {{Flagicon|ROU}} Flavius Mestecăneanu
|-
| Team Manager
| {{Flagicon|ROU}} [[Angelo Alistar]]
|-
| Press Officer
| {{Flagicon|ROU}} Marcel Mihalcea
|}
{{col-4}}

===Current technical staff===

{| class="toccolours"
|-
! style="background:#FFD800;color:#000000;border:1px solid #000000;" |Role
! style="background:#FFD800;color:#000000;border:1px solid #000000;" |Name
|-
| Head coach
| {{Flagicon|ITA}} [[Marco Veronese]]
|-
| Assistant coach
| {{Flagicon|ROU}} [[Vasile Avădanei|Valentin Avădanei]]
|-
| Goalkeeping coach
| {{Flagicon|ROU}} Florin Anton
|-
| Fitness coach
| {{Flagicon|ROU}} Vlad Țăran
|-
| Kinetotherapist
| {{Flagicon|ROU}} Constantin Stan
|-
| Masseur
| {{Flagicon|ROU}} Ioan Stan
|}
{{col-end}}

==League history==

{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:90%"
! Season || Tier || Division || Place || [[Cupa României]]
|-
| [[2025–26 Liga II|2025–26]] || '''2''' || [[Liga II]] || TBD ||
|-
| [[2024–25 Liga II|2024–25]] || '''2''' || Liga II || 9th || [[2024–25 Cupa României#Group stage|Group stage]]
|-
| [[2023–24 Liga II|2023–24]] || '''2''' || Liga II || 7th || [[2023–24 Cupa României#Play-off round|Play-off round]]
|-
| [[2022–23 Liga III#Seria 1|2022–23]] || '''3''' || [[Liga III]] <small>(Seria I)</small> || align=center bgcolor=silver| '''2nd (P)''' || First Round
|-
| [[2021–22 Liga III#Seria 1|2021–22]] || '''3''' || Liga III <small>(Seria I)</small> || 5th || Second Round
|-
| [[2020–21 Liga III#Seria I|2020–21]] || '''3''' || Liga III <small>(Seria I)</small> || align=center bgcolor=bronze| 3rd || Round of 32
|-
| [[2019–20 Liga III#Seria I|2019–20]] || '''3''' || Liga III <small>(Seria I)</small> || align=center bgcolor=bronze| 3rd || Third Round
|- 
| [[2018–19 Liga III#Seria I|2018–19]] || '''3''' || Liga III <small>(Seria I)</small> || 10th || Third Round 
|-
| [[2017–18 Liga IV|2017–18]] || '''4''' || [[Liga IV]] <small>([[Neamț County|NT]])</small> || align=center bgcolor=gold| '''1st''' '''(C, P)''' || County Phase
|-
| [[2015–16 Liga II|2015–16]] || '''2''' || [[Liga II]] <small>(Seria I)</small> || align=center bgcolor=#FFCCCC| '''12th''' '''(R)''' || [[2015–16 Cupa României|Fifth Round]]
|-
| [[2014–15 Liga I|2014–15]] || '''1''' || [[Liga I]] || align=center bgcolor=#FFCCCC| '''18th (R)''' || [[2014–15 Cupa României|Round of 16]]
|-
| [[2013–14 Liga I|2013–14]] || '''1''' || Liga I || 9th || Round of 32
|-
| [[2012–13 Liga I|2012–13]] || '''1''' || Liga I || 14th || [[2012–13 Cupa României|Quarter-finals]]
|-
| [[2011–12 Liga I|2011–12]] || '''1''' || Liga I || 11th || Round of 32
|-
| [[2010–11 Liga II|2010–11]] || '''2''' || [[Liga II]] <small>(Seria I)</small> || align=center bgcolor=gold| '''1st (C, P)''' || Round of 32
|-
| [[2009–10 Liga I|2009–10]] || '''1''' || [[Liga I]] || align=center bgcolor=#FFCCCC| '''17th (R)''' || Round of 32
|-
| [[2008–09 Liga II|2008–09]] || '''2''' || [[Liga II]] <small>(Seria I)</small> || align=center bgcolor=gold| '''1st (C, P)''' || 
|-
| [[2007–08 Liga I|2007–08]] || '''1''' || [[Liga I]] || align=center bgcolor=#FFCCCC| '''15th (R)''' || [[2007–08 Cupa României|Round of 16]]
|}
{{col-2}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:90%"
! Season || Tier || Division || Place || [[Cupa României]]
|-
| [[2006–07 Liga I|2006–07]] || '''1''' || Liga I || 15th || Round of 32
|-
| [[2005–06 Divizia B|2005–06]] || '''2''' || [[Divizia B]] <small>(Seria I)</small> || align=center bgcolor=gold| '''1st (C, P)''' ||
|-
| [[2004–05 Divizia B|2004–05]] || '''2''' || Divizia B <small>(Seria I)</small> || 5th ||
|-
| [[2003–04 Divizia A|2003–04]] || '''1''' || [[Divizia A]] || align=center bgcolor=#FFCCCC| '''14th (R)''' || Round of 32
|-
| [[2002–03 Divizia A|2002–03]] || '''1''' || Divizia A || 5th || Round of 32
|-
| [[2001–02 Divizia A|2001–02]] || '''1''' || Divizia A || 8th || [[2001–02 Cupa României|Quarter-finals]]
|-
| [[2000–01 Divizia A|2000–01]] || '''1''' || Divizia A || 11th || [[2000–01 Cupa României|Round of 16]] 
|-
| [[1999–2000 Divizia A|1999–00]] || '''1''' || Divizia A || 4th || [[1999–2000 Cupa României|Round of 16]]
|-
| [[1998–99 Divizia A|1998–99]] || '''1''' || Divizia A || 9th || [[1998–99 Cupa României|Round of 16]]
|-
| [[1997–98 Divizia A|1997–98]] || '''1''' || Divizia A || 9th || Round of 32
|-
| [[1996–97 Divizia A|1996–97]] || '''1''' || Divizia A || 6th || [[1996–97 Cupa României|Round of 16]]
|-
| [[1995–96 Divizia A|1995–96]] || '''1''' || Divizia A || 15th || [[1995–96 Cupa României|Round of 32]] 
|-
| [[1994–95 Divizia A|1994–95]] || '''1''' || Divizia A || 5th || [[1994–95 Cupa României|Round of 32]]
|-
| [[1993–94 Divizia A|1993–94]] || '''1''' || Divizia A || 10th || [[1993–94 Cupa României|Round of 32]]
|-
| [[1992–93 Divizia B|1992–93]] || '''2''' || [[Divizia B]] <small>(Seria I)</small> || align=center bgcolor=gold| '''1st (C, P)''' || 
|-
| [[1991–92 Divizia B|1991–92]] || '''2''' || Divizia B <small>(Seria III)</small> || align=center bgcolor=bronze| 3rd || [[1991–92 Cupa României|Round of 32]]
|-
| [[1990–91 Divizia B|1990–91]] || '''2''' || Divizia B <small>(Seria I)</small> || align=center bgcolor=bronze| 3rd ||
|-
| [[1989–90 Divizia B|1989–90]] || '''2''' || [[1989–90 Divizia B|Divizia B]] <small>(Seria I)</small> || 14th || 
|}
{{col-end}}

==Notable former players==
The footballers enlisted below have had international cap(s) for their respective countries at junior and/or senior level and/or more than 100 caps for CSM Ceahlăul Piatra Neamț.
{{For|a list of all former and current CSM Ceahlăul Piatra Neamț players with a Wikipedia article|Category:CSM Ceahlăul Piatra Neamț players}}

{{Col-begin}}
{{Col-4}}
;Romania
* {{flagicon|ROU}} [[Vlad Achim]]
* {{flagicon|ROU}} [[Angelo Alistar]]
* {{flagicon|ROU}} [[Florin Axinia]]
* {{flagicon|ROU}} [[Gheorghe Axinia]]
* {{flagicon|ROU}} [[Vasile Avădanei]]
* {{flagicon|ROU}} [[Ionuț Bădescu]]
* {{flagicon|ROU}} [[Daniel Barna]]
* {{flagicon|ROU}} [[Dumitru Botez]]
* {{flagicon|ROU}} [[Lucian Burdujan]]
* {{flagicon|ROU}} [[Sebastian Chitoșcă]]
* {{flagicon|ROU}} [[Marian Constantinescu]]
* {{flagicon|ROU}} [[Lucian Covrig]]
* {{flagicon|ROU}} [[Codruț Domșa]]
* {{flagicon|ROU}} [[Cristian Dulca]]
* {{flagicon|ROU}} [[Andrei Dumitraș]]
* {{flagicon|ROU}} [[Costel Enache]]
* {{flagicon|ROU}} [[Alexandru Forminte]]
* {{flagicon|ROU}} [[Dorin Goian]]
* {{flagicon|ROU}} [[Lucian Goian]]
* {{flagicon|ROU}} [[Leontin Grozavu]]

{{Col-4}}
;Romania
* {{flagicon|ROU}} [[Alexandru Ichim]]
* {{flagicon|ROU}} [[Adrian Iencsi]]
* {{flagicon|ROU}} [[Mihai Dan Ionescu]]
* {{flagicon|ROU}} [[Constantin Ilie]]
* {{flagicon|ROU}} [[Radu Lefter]]
* {{flagicon|ROU}} [[Andrei Marc]]
* {{flagicon|ROU}} [[Ovidiu Marc]]
* {{flagicon|ROU}} [[Sebastian Moga]]
* {{flagicon|ROU}} [[Mihai Nemțanu]]
* {{flagicon|ROU}} [[Gheorghe Nițu]]
* {{flagicon|ROU}} [[Florin Nohai]]
* {{flagicon|ROU}} [[Dănuț Perjă]]
* {{flagicon|ROU}} [[Doru Popadiuc]]
* {{flagicon|ROU}} [[Marian Purică]]
* {{flagicon|ROU}} [[Ion Sburlea]]
* {{flagicon|ROU}} [[Tiberiu Șerban]]
* {{flagicon|ROU}} [[Vasile Șoiman]]
* {{flagicon|ROU}} [[Adrian Solomon]]
* {{flagicon|ROU}} [[Costel Solomon]]
* {{flagicon|ROU}} [[Andrei Vițelaru]]

{{Col-4}}
;Armenia
* {{flagicon|ARM}} [[Arman Karamyan]]

;Bosnia and Herzegovina
* {{flagicon|BIH}} [[Bojan Golubović]]
* {{flagicon|BIH}} [[Duško Stajić]]

;Lithuania
* {{flagicon|GHA}} [[Raman Chibsah]]

;Lithuania
* {{flagicon|LIT}} [[Vaidas Slavickas]]

;Macedonia
* {{flagicon|MKD}} [[Krste Velkoski]]

;Moldova
* {{flagicon|MDA}} [[Nicolae Calancea]]
* {{flagicon|MDA}} [[Eugeniu Cebotaru]]
* {{flagicon|MDA}} [[Viorel Frunză]]
* {{flagicon|MDA}} [[Alexandru Golban]]

{{Col-4}}
;DR Congo
* {{flagicon|DRC}} [[Rodrigue Dikaba]]

;Ghana
* {{flagicon|GHA}} [[Hamza Mohammed]]

;Guinea-Bissau
* {{flagicon|GNB}} [[Bruno Fernandes (footballer, born 1978)|Bruno Fernandes]]

;Peru
* {{flagicon|PER}} [[Piero Saldívar]]

;Rwanda
* {{flagicon|RWA}} [[Jimmy Mulisa]]

;Tunisia
* {{flagicon|TUN}} [[Haykel Guemamdia]]
{{Col-end}}

==Notable former managers==

{{For|a list of all former and current CSM Ceahlăul Piatra Neamț managers with a Wikipedia article|Category:CSM Ceahlăul Piatra Neamț managers}}
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
*{{Flagicon|ROU}} [[Ştefan Coidum]] (1963–1964)
*{{Flagicon|ROU}} [[Dumitru Dumitriu]] (1980–1982)
* {{flagicon|Romania}} [[Vasile Copil]] (1983–1984)
*{{Flagicon|ROU}} [[Florin Halagian]] (2000)
*{{Flagicon|MNE}} [[Zoran Filipović]] (2010)
*{{Flagicon|ROU}} [[Viorel Hizo]]
*{{Flagicon|ROU}} [[Florin Marin]]
*{{Flagicon|HUN}} [[Vasile Miriuță]]
*{{Flagicon|ROU}} [[Gheorghe Mulțescu]]
*{{Flagicon|ROU}} [[Mircea Nedelcu]]
*{{Flagicon|ROU}} [[Ion Nunweiller]]
*{{Flagicon|ROU}} [[Cristian Pustai]]
*{{Flagicon|ROU}} [[Ioan Sdrobiş]]
*{{Flagicon|ROU}} [[Petre Steinbach]]
*{{Flagicon|ROU}} [[Marin Barbu]]
{{div col end}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==

{{commons category|CSM Ceahlăul Piatra Neamț}}
* {{oweb|http://csmceahlaul.ro/}}
{{CSM Ceahlăul Piatra Neamț}}
{{Navboxes|titlestyle=background:#FFFF00;color:#000000;border:1px solid #000000|list1=
{{Liga II}}
{{Liga I}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Ceahlaul Piatra Neamt}}
[[Category:CSM Ceahlăul Piatra Neamț| ]]
[[Category:Football clubs in Neamț County]]
[[Category:Sport in Piatra Neamț]]
[[Category:Association football clubs established in 1919]]
[[Category:Liga I clubs]]
[[Category:Liga II clubs]]
[[Category:Liga III clubs]]
[[Category:Liga IV clubs]]
[[Category:1919 establishments in Romania]]