FC Zimbru Chișinău

Association football club in Moldova From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Fotbal Club Zimbru Chișinău, commonly known as Zimbru Chișinău or simply Zimbru, is a Moldovan professional football club based in Chișinău, which competes in the Moldovan Liga, the highest tier of Moldovan football.

Full nameFotbal Club Zimbru Chișinău
NicknamesGalben-verzii (The Yellow-Greens), Zimbrii
Founded
  • 16 May 1947; 78 years ago (1947-05-16)
    as Dinamo Chișinău
GroundZimbru Stadium
Quick facts Full name, Nicknames ...
Zimbru Chișinău
Full nameFotbal Club Zimbru Chișinău
NicknamesGalben-verzii (The Yellow-Greens), Zimbrii
Founded
  • 16 May 1947; 78 years ago (1947-05-16)
    as Dinamo Chișinău
GroundZimbru Stadium
Capacity10,104
OwnerNicolae Ciornîi [ro]
PresidentAndriy Semenchuk
Head coachOleg Kubarev
LeagueMoldovan Liga
2024–25Super Liga, 3rd of 8
Websitezimbru.md
Current season
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Founded in the Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic in 1947, Zimbru entered the Soviet Top League in 1956 and totaled eleven participations before their last relegation in 1983. The club remained the leader of Moldovan football during most of the Soviet period and was the only one that reached and played at the Soviet top tier. After the independence of Moldova in 1991, the team established itself as an early force in the country, winning all the first five national titles and eight of the first nine, but have not won since.

Zimbru play their home matches at the 10,104-seater Zimbru Stadium.

History

See also: List of FC Zimbru Chișinău seasons

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 Dinamo, 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.[1]
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 League (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 once.

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

Main article: Zimbru Stadium

FC Zimbru's home ground is Zimbru Stadium, a football-specific stadium in Botanica sector of Chișinău. It was opened in 2006. The stadium has a natural grass playing surface, and its capacity is 10,104.[2]

Rivalries

In the 1990s (the first decade of Moldova's independence), Zimbru's rival was Constructorul, the other team from Chișinău, until the club relocated to Cioburciu in 2001. Another rivalry was established in the mid-2000s when Dacia Chișinău, another team from Chișinău, became one of Moldova's top teams. However, Dacia Chișinău ceased to exist in 2018. The match between them was known as "The Derby of the capital" (Romanian: Derbiul capitalei).[3] In 1997, a new team was founded in Tiraspol, Sheriff Tiraspol. In a few years, Sheriff was promoted to the top league and became a force in Moldovan football. Considering the strength of team and the tensions between Moldova and Transnistria, the match between Zimbru and Sheriff became a derby, the most important match in country. Thus, it has been named "Derby of Moldova", being labelled even as "Moldovan El Clasico" (Romanian: El Clasico de Moldova).[4][5]

Player of the year

Zimbru players who received the award Moldovan Footballer of the Year:

More information Year, Winner ...
Year Winner
1992Moldova Alexandru Spiridon
1993Moldova Alexandru Curtianu
1994Moldova Serghei Cleșcenco
1995Moldova Ion Testemițanu
1997Moldova Ion Testemițanu
1999Moldova Sergiu Epureanu
2002Moldova Boris Cebotari
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Squad

As of 14 March 2026[6]

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

More information No., Pos. ...
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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.

More information No., Pos. ...
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Honours

Moldova

Soviet Union

League history

Table

More information Season, Tier ...
Season Tier Pos Pld W D L GF GA Pts Cup Super Cup Europe Top scorer (league)
19921st1st221552401535Quarter-finals ——Moldova Alexandru Spiridon
Moldova Iurie Miterev – 8
1992–931st302262661750Round of 16 ——Moldova Alexandru Spiridon – 12
1993–941st302523862252Semi-finals —UCLPRMoldova Serghei Cleșcenco – 14
1994–951st262141691067Runners-up —UCPRMoldova Serghei Cleșcenco – 11
1995–961st3026311101181Quarter-finals —UC2RMoldova Vladislav Gavriliuc – 34
1996–972nd3022441122170Winners —UCPRMoldova Iurie Miterev – 34
1997–981st26223175869Winners —UCWCQRMoldova Serghei Cleșcenco – 25
1998–991st26187143961Quarter-finals —UCL1QMoldova Vladislav Gavriliuc – 10
1999–001st362574782182Runners-up —UCL
UC		3Q
1R		Moldova Victor Berco – 15
2000–012nd282062461566Semi-finals —UCL
UC		3Q
1R		Moldova Iurie Miterev – 8
2001–023rd2812106522046Semi-finals —UCQRMoldova Victor Berco – 12
2002–032nd241554472050Winners —UC1RUzbekistan Vladimir Shishelov – 13
2003–043rd281477402349Winners Runners-upUC1RUzbekistan Vladimir Shishelov – 15
2004–055th281279291543Quarter-finals Runners-up—Moldova Sergiu Chirilov – 7
2005–062nd281585472053Semi-finals ——Moldova Sergiu Chirilov – 11
2006–072nd362187632371Winners —UC2QRussia Alexei Zhdanov – 14
2007–085th3013134432152Semi-finals Runners-upUC1QRussia Alexei Zhdanov – 12
2008–094th3013710423046Semi-finals ——Moldova Oleg Andronic – 16
2009–104th331788472959Quarter-finals —UEL2QMoldova Andrei Secrieru – 7
2010–114th3922107562076Round of 16 ——Moldova Oleg Andronic – 9
2011–123rd3317106472461Quarter-finals ——Moldova Oleg Molla – 14
2012–136th33121011533846Quarter-finals —UEL2QMoldova Oleg Molla – 7
2013–144th331878562461Winners ——Russia Sergey Tsyganov – 13
2014–156th247611231927Quarter-finals WinnersUELPOMoldova Alexandru Dedov – 4
2015–163rd271548422649Quarter-finals ——Portugal Rui Miguel – 9
2016–175th3013710322946Semi-finals —UEL2QPortugal Hugo Neto – 6
20178th18549172119Runners-up ——Brazil Jean Theodoro – 5
20185th289910283736Semi-finals ——Moldova Ilie Damașcan
Moldova Ion Nicolaescu – 5
20197th283718164316Quarter-finals ——Moldova Dan Pîslă – 5
2020–218th366723396325Round of 16 ——Moldova Artur Pătraș – 10
2021–227th287615324627Quarter-finals ——Moldova Eugen Sidorenco – 5
2022–233rd247107272631Quarter-finals ——Moldova Alexandru Dedov – 8
2023–243rd241338332342Runners-up —UECL2QCape Verde João Paulino
Nigeria Emmanuel Alaribe – 7
2024–253rd241437542545Semi-finals —UECL2QNigeria Justice Ohajunwa
Moldova Vlad Răileanu – 8
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European record

Main article: FC Zimbru Chișinău in European football
More information Season, Competition ...
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Club officials

More information Role, Name ...
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Former players

For a list of many former and current FC Zimbru players, see Category:FC Zimbru Chișinău players.

Former managers

For a full list of FC Zimbru managers, see List of FC Zimbru Chișinău managers.

References

External links

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