AFC Chindia Târgoviște

Chindia Târgoviște
Full nameAsociația Fotbal Club Chindia Târgoviște[1]
Nickname
  • Roș-albaștrii (The Red and Blues)
    Dâmbovițenii (The Dâmbovița People)
Short nameChindia
Founded11 August 2010 (2010-08-11)
GroundEugen Popescu
Capacity8,400
OwnersMarius Pavel
Dâmbovița County Council
Târgoviște Municipality
General managerFlorin Gardoș
Head coachNicolae Croitoru
LeagueLiga II
2025–26Liga II, 6th of 22
Websitehttps://www.afcchindiatargoviste.ro/

Asociația Fotbal Club Chindia Târgoviște (Romanian pronunciation: [kinˈdi.a tɨrˈɡoviʃte]), commonly known as Chindia Târgoviște or simply Chindia, is a Romanian professional football club based in Târgoviște, Dâmbovița County, competing in Liga II.

The club was founded in 2010 by the Târgoviște Municipality, together with former international Gheorghe Popescu and former referee Ion Crăciunescu, following a dispute with the owner of the city's former club, FCM Târgoviște.[2] Chindia retained several elements associated with FCM, including its red and blue colours and the "Chindia" identity.[3]

The club first reached the Romanian top flight in 2019–20 and finished seventh in 2020–21. It plays its home matches at the Eugen Popescu Stadium, which reopened in 2023 after reconstruction.

History

FCM Târgoviște (1948–2010)

The first major football club from Târgoviște was founded in 1948 and competed under several names, including Metalul Târgoviște, Energia, CS Târgoviște, Oțelul, Chindia and FCM Târgoviște. The club spent nine seasons in the Romanian top flight, achieving its best result with a seventh-place finish in the 1978–79 Divizia A. Its most notable generation included players such as Nicolae Dobrin and Silviu Dumitrescu.[4]

After relegation in 1984, the club returned to the first division only in 1996, under the name CF Chindia. The team of that period, largely built around local players, became known as Micul Ajax (lit. 'the Little Ajax') because of its playing style.[5]

Financial problems intensified during the 2000s. Businessman Ghiorghi Zotic took control of the club in 2004, but relations with the Târgoviște Municipality and the club's supporters deteriorated. In 2010, after the lease of Eugen Popescu Stadium was not renewed, FCM moved to Șotânga, while football in Târgoviște entered a new phase.

Rebirth as Chindia (2010–present)

On 11 August 2010, the Târgoviște Municipality, together with former Romanian international Gheorghe Popescu and former referee Ion Crăciunescu, established FC Chindia Târgoviște on the structure of CSM Târgoviște. The project was initially conceived with a strong emphasis on youth development.[6][7]

Chindia won Series III of the 2010–11 Liga III under Costel Pană and earned promotion to Liga II.[8] After two seasons in the second tier, the club was relegated in 2012–13. Popescu and Crăciunescu subsequently left the project, while the Municipality, Dâmbovița County Council and Valahia University continued to support the club.[9] Chindia narrowly missed promotion in 2013–14 before winning Series III of the 2014–15 Liga III under Nicolae Croitoru and returning to Liga II.

The club became one of the stronger sides in Liga II during the following years, finishing third in 2015–16 and again in 2017–18. In the latter season, Chindia reached the promotion/relegation play-off against FC Voluntari, losing 0–1 away before winning the return leg 1–0 and eventually being eliminated 0–3 in the penalty shoot-out.[10]

In June 2018, Viorel Moldovan became head coach and led Chindia to the 2018–19 Liga II title, securing the club's first promotion to Liga I under its current identity and bringing top-flight football back to Târgoviște after 21 years.[11]

Because Eugen Popescu Stadium was undergoing reconstruction, Chindia played its home matches away from Târgoviște during much of its four-season stay in Liga I. In 2019–20, the club avoided relegation by defeating CS Mioveni 3–1 on aggregate in the play-off.[12] Under Emil Săndoi, Chindia produced its best top-flight campaign in 2020–21, finishing seventh overall and reaching the European qualification play-off, where it was defeated 2–3 by Viitorul Constanța. The following season, Chindia again survived through a relegation play-off, defeating Concordia Chiajna on penalties.[13]

Chindia's four-year spell in the top division ended in 2022–23. After a poor start under Adrian Mihalcea, Anton Petrea took over, but the team ultimately finished 15th after the play-out and was relegated to Liga II.[14]

The return to Liga II was marked by instability. Chindia finished ninth in the regular season of 2023–24 and second in its play-out group under Italian coach Diego Longo.[15] The 2024–25 season was significantly more difficult, with Marian Vătavu and later Costel Pană in charge. Chindia finished near the bottom of its play-out group but retained its second-tier status after defeating CSC Dumbrăvița 4–2 on aggregate in the relegation play-off.[16]

Chindia recovered strongly in the 2025–26 season and qualified for the promotion play-off, returning to the top six of the second tier. The club competed in the ten-round play-off alongside FC Voluntari, Sepsi OSK, Corvinul Hunedoara, Steaua București and FC Bihor Oradea.[17] Although Chindia did not secure promotion, it recorded notable late-season results, including a 1–0 home victory over Corvinul and a 1–1 away draw against Sepsi in the final round.[18][19]

Chindia remained in Liga II for the 2026–27 season, with the Romanian Football Federation listing the club among the fourteen teams continuing in the competition from the previous second-tier campaign.[20]

Ground

Chindia Tower, the symbol of Târgoviște after which the team is named.

The club plays its home matches on Eugen Popescu Stadium in Târgoviște, which has a capacity of 6,500 seats. Opened in 1982 and originally having a capacity of 12,500 seats, the stadium is situated 200 meters away from the Chindia Tower.

In 2014, the second stand and half of the east end were closed for safety reasons, significantly reducing the arena's capacity. In the spring of 2019, due to team's performances and a potential (and ultimately secured) promotion to the top flight, the Târgoviște Municipality announced the renovation of the stadium for the amount of €16 million. During the renovation work, the team played its home matches on the Ilie Oană and Municipal stadiums, from the nearby cities of Ploiești and Buzău, respectively.[21]

Support

Chindia Târgoviște has an important group supporters in the city and also in Dâmbovița County, the majority of them being past supporters of FCM Târgoviște. The Chindia ultras faction is known as Cavalerii Cetății ("The Knights of the Fortress").[22]

Rivalries

Chindia does not have many important rivalries, however, a local one between the old FCM and Flacăra Moreni was born before 1989, when the club from Moreni had the support of the communist regime. Tense matches and even incidents were also noted over time in the matches against Petrolul Ploiești and even if between the two clubs is not a proper rivalry, the supporters are not very friendly with each other.[22]

An unusual rivalry also appeared between 2010 and 2015, when on the occasion of six matches, Chindia played against the original FCM Târgoviște, the first club of the city, moved to Șotânga at the time. This encounter was similar to derbies such as ASU Politehnica Timișoara vs ACS Poli Timișoara or CS Universitatea Craiova vs FC U Craiova 1948, entities which assert to be successors of the same teams.[23]

Honours

Liga II

Liga III

Players

First team squad

As of 22 August 2026[24]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK  ROU Arsenie Mocan
2 DF  ROU Florin Gașpăr (on loan from Universitatea Craiova)
4 DF  CTA Dylan Mboumbouni
5 DF  ROU Marius Briceag
6 DF  ROU Daniel Celea (Vice-captain)
7 FW  ROU Alexandru Băluță
8 MF  ESP Totti
9 FW  ROU Rareș Mihai
10 FW  ROU Cristian Neguț
11 MF  ROU Georgian Honciu (Captain)
17 MF  CIV Kevin Doukouré
19 FW  ROU Valentin Dumitrache
No. Pos. Nation Player
20 MF  ROU Bogdan Petre
25 GK  ROU Nicolas Căușanu
30 DF  ROU Mario Brumă
33 GK  ROU Daniel Isvoranu
44 DF  ALB Amir Bilali
59 MF  ROU Doru Popadiuc
70 DF  ESP Xavi Estacio
77 FW  ROU Vlad Bogdan
98 MF  ROU David Constantin
99 DF  ROU Răzvan Tamași
-- FW  ROU Mario Vladu
-- DF  ROU Raul Gherman

Out on loan

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
— DF  ROU Eduard Coman (at Pucioasa)
— MF  ROU Ionatan Dogănoiu (at Flacăra Moreni)
No. Pos. Nation Player
— MF  ROU Răzvan Tache (at Urban Titu)

Club officials

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 AFC Chindia Târgoviște.

Romania
Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso
Lithuania
Moldova
Sweden
Switzerland

Former managers

League and Cup history

References

  1. ↑ "AFC Chindia Târgovişte" (in Romanian). Romanian Football Federation. Archived from the original on 25 July 2021. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  2. ↑ "Liga "clonelor"! Cluburile din elita României se confruntă mai mult ca niciodată cu criza de identitate" [League of "clones"! Romania's elite clubs are facing a bigger than ever identity crisis] (in Romanian). Fanatik.ro. 14 July 2021. Archived from the original on 27 January 2024. Retrieved 15 July 2021. Chindia Târgoviște - founded in 2010, is not the successor of the former team from Târgoviște.
  3. ↑ "Fotbalul din Turnul Chindiei, de la berile cu Dobrin până la "FCSB vs. Steaua" în variantă dâmbovițeană" [Football from Chindia Tower, from the beers drunk with Dobrin to "FCSB vs. Steaua" in a Dâmbovița alternative] (in Romanian). Theplaymaker.ro. 8 October 2018. Archived from the original on 13 July 2019. Retrieved 20 May 2019.
  4. ↑ "Fotbal sub Turnul Chindiei, o carte eveniment" [Football under the Chindia Tower, an event book]. jurnaldedambovita.ro. Archived from the original on 30 April 2019. Retrieved 29 April 2019.
  5. ↑ "Creatorul "micului Ajax" a revenit pe banca tehnică a unei echipe românești" [The creator of the "Little Ajax" returned to the technical bench of a Romanian team]. gsp.ro. 28 March 2017. Archived from the original on 30 April 2019. Retrieved 29 April 2019.
  6. ↑ "Asociația "Fotbal Club Chindia Târgoviște"" [Association "Football Club Chindia Târgoviște"]. firme.info. Archived from the original on 17 February 2019. Retrieved 20 May 2019.
  7. ↑ "Gică Popescu vine la CSM Târgoviște!" (in Romanian). liga2.prosport.ro. 20 May 2010. Retrieved 4 January 2026.
  8. ↑ "Chindia Târgoviște a promovat în liga secundă" (in Romanian). adevarul.ro. 5 June 2011. Retrieved 4 January 2026.
  9. ↑ "Gică Popescu se retrage de la Chindia Târgoviște și are un alt obiectiv" (in Romanian). digisport.ro. 8 June 2013. Retrieved 4 January 2026.
  10. ↑ "Chindia - FC Voluntari 1-0 (0-3 d.l.d.). Echipa lui Mutu va juca în Liga 1 și sezonul viitor" (in Romanian). digisport.ro. 13 June 2018. Retrieved 4 January 2026.
  11. ↑ "Chindia e campioana Ligii 2 după 2-0 la Petroșani cu Energeticianul" (in Romanian). liga2.prosport.ro. 1 June 2019. Retrieved 7 December 2025.
  12. ↑ "Chindia s-a impus în barajul cu CS Mioveni și va continua în Liga 1 în sezonul 2020-2021" (in Romanian). Romanian Football Federation. 12 August 2020. Retrieved 7 December 2025.
  13. ↑ "Concordia Chiajna rămâne în Liga 2 după ce pierde la lovituri de departajare barajul cu Chindia" (in Romanian). liga2.prosport.ro. 29 May 2022. Retrieved 3 January 2026.
  14. ↑ "Adrian Mihalcea s-a despărțit de Chindia Târgoviște" (in Romanian). digisport.ro. 20 September 2022. Retrieved 4 August 2025.
  15. ↑ "Un nou antrenor italian în fotbalul românesc" (in Romanian). digisport.ro. 20 November 2023. Retrieved 4 August 2025.
  16. ↑ "Final în Chindia Târgoviște - CSC Dumbrăvița, returul barajului de menținere în Liga 2" (in Romanian). gsp.ro. 24 May 2025. Retrieved 6 August 2025.
  17. ↑ "Casetele de meci ale etapei 1 din play-off/play-out, Liga 2 Casa Pariurilor, ediția 2025–2026" (in Romanian). Romanian Football Federation. March 2026. Retrieved 15 August 2026.
  18. ↑ "Casetele de meci ale etapei 9 din play-off şi 7 din play-out, Liga 2 Casa Pariurilor, ediţia 2025–2026" (in Romanian). Romanian Football Federation. 14 May 2026. Retrieved 15 August 2026.
  19. ↑ "Casetele de meci ale etapei 10 din play-off şi tur baraj retrogradare, Liga 2 Casa Pariurilor, ediţia 2025–2026" (in Romanian). Romanian Football Federation. 20 May 2026. Retrieved 15 August 2026.
  20. ↑ "Procedura de programare a jocurilor din campionatul Liga 2 Casa Pariurilor, sezon 2026/2027" (in Romanian). Romanian Football Federation. 21 July 2026. Retrieved 15 August 2026.
  21. ↑ "Chindia nu va mai juca la Mioveni în Liga 1! Echipa lui Viorel Moldovan a închiriat unul dintre cele mai moderne stadioane ale ţării pentru sezonul următor" [Chindia will not play at Mioveni in Liga 1! Viorel Moldovan's team rented, for the next season, one of the most modern stadiums of the country.]. liga2.prosport.ro. 27 June 2019. Archived from the original on 2 July 2019. Retrieved 28 June 2019.
  22. 1 2 ""Lupii Galbeni" au furat steagul "Cavalerilor Cetății"! Filmul unui scenariu spectaculos, care a făcut înconjurul țării" [The "Yellow Wolves" have stolen the "Knights of the Fortress" flag! The film of a spectacular scenario that has made around the country]. sportimpact.ro. 10 March 2019. Archived from the original on 5 March 2021. Retrieved 20 May 2019.
  23. ↑ "DERBY-UL MARILOR ORGOLII FCM Târgovişte – Chindia Târgovişte. Astăzi, ora 17:00, stadion Academia "Ghiorghi Zotic"" [Derby of the big egos FCM Târgovişte – Chindia Târgovişte. Today, at 17:00, Academia "Ghiorghi Zotic" Stadium]. ziardambovita.ro. 5 September 2013. Archived from the original on 24 August 2020. Retrieved 20 May 2019.
  24. ↑ "Echipa Seniori" [Senior squad] (in Romanian). Chindia Târgoviște. Archived from the original on 25 January 2024. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
  25. ↑ "Organizare AFC CHINDIA TARGOVISTE - Liga Profesionistă de Fotbal". lpf.ro. Archived from the original on 2019-07-12. Retrieved 2019-07-12.
  26. ↑ "Echipa Seniori | A.F.C. CHINDIA TÂRGOVIȘTE". www.afcchindiatargoviste.ro. Archived from the original on 2019-07-28. Retrieved 2018-01-26.
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