CSM București (women's handball)

Clubul Sportiv Municipal București, also known as CSM București, CSM or CSM Bucharest, is a professional women's handball team based in Bucharest, Romania, that competes in the Liga Naţională and the EHF Champions League. Founded in 2007, the club has traditionally worn a blue kit since inception. The team has played its home matches in the 5,300-capacity Polyvalent Hall in the Tineretului Park in southern Bucharest. CSM București established itself as a major force in both Romanian and European handball in the late 2010s, winning EHF Champions League in its debut season and reaching the Final Four three consecutive times. This success was replicated in the league, where the club won four consecutive times. The official CSM mascot is a "tiger". CSM Bucharest is one of the most widely supported handball clubs in Romania.

CSM București
Full nameClubul Sportiv Municipal București
Nickname(s)Tigroaicele (The Tigresses)
Short nameCSM
Founded2007; 17 years ago (2007)
ArenaSala Polivalentă
Capacity5,300
PresidentRomania Iulian Pîslaru
Head coachRomania Adrian Vasile
CaptainRomania Cristina Neagu
LeagueLiga Naţională
2022-23Liga Națională, 1st of 14
Club colours   
Team colours
Team colours
Team colours
Team colours
Home
Team colours
Team colours
Team colours
Team colours
Away
Website
Official site
Location of CSM București
Bucuresti
Bucuresti
Location of CSM București

History edit

 
The club crest from 2007 to 2023.

Early years edit

CSM București was formed in 2007 by the General Council of Bucharest, as part of the program to promote handball among capital's youth.[1] The team played in the second division of Romania for two seasons without notable results. At the end of the 2008–2009 season, Rapid București experienced financial problems and eleven of their players along with coach Vasile Mărgulescu, moved to CSM. Benefiting from the experience of several new players, the club won all its Divizia A matches and promoted to the Liga Națională.[2] Since 2010, CSM Bucharest were a constant presence of the Liga Națională,[3] and finished third in their debut season, after Oltchim Vâlcea and Universitatea Cluj-Napoca. The team made European debut playing in the 2011–2012 season of the EHF Cup, where they reached the Round of 16 but unfortunately being eventually beaten by Romanian HC Zalău. In the following two seasons they played in the Liga Națională without significant results.

First national title (2015) edit

Mărgulescu was fired after a poor start in 2014 and replaced with Mette Klit.[4] The ambitious board aimed to win the Liga Națională next season, wanting to become even a threat to win the Champions League.[5] In the spring of 2014, four Brazilian World Championship winners (Mayssa Pessoa, Ana Paula Rodrigues, Deonise Cavaleiro and Fernanda da Silva), plus 2014 European Championship's stars Carmen Martín and Linnea Torstenson, signed contracts at CSM.[6] A strong squad was filled with local talent including Oana Manea, Iulia Curea or Talida Tolnai.[6] The club hosted first edition of Bucharest Trophy in preseason.[7] The hosts took the home advantage to win the final against Champions League Runners-Up ŽRK Budućnost.[8] The Tigresses won their first eight matches of the season[9] before losing to title rivals HCM Baia Mare.[10] But at the second part of the season, CSM took revenge on Baia Mare with 29–23 win in Bucharest. They secured a spot in the playoffs and second place in the regular season. Eventually, they won 6 consecutive games, earning gold medal. CSM București beat HCM Baia Mare in both legs of the Championship Play Off Final. Previously they defeated HC Dunărea Brăila and Corona Braşov.[11]

EHF Champions League triumph and domination in Romania (2016–) edit

By winning the national title, CSM qualified automatically for the groups of the 2015–16 EHF Champions League edition.[12] Once again, the club makes another number of top transfers including Isabelle Gulldén,[13] Romanian legend Aurelia Brădeanu and Danish duo Line Jørgensen and Maria Fisker.[14] Between 20 and 23 August, Bucharest hosted in preseason the second Bucharest Trophy event and grabbed a second consecutive title by defeating Corona Braşov, ŽRK Vardar and ŽRK Budućnost in the final. In September 2015, Mette Klit was replaced in CSM, her Danish fellow Kim Rasmussen taking over. Under Rasmussen, The Tigresses attained a milestone of 25 consecutive league victories. A second championship was won in April 2016.[15] In 2016, CSM won the treble winning all the country titles, including the Cup and the Supercup (both against HCM Roman).[16] CSM București made Champions League debut playing against ŽRK Budućnost, IK Sävehof and SPR Lublin SSA in the group stage. Four wins over the opponents from Sweden and Poland, as well the Montenegro draw, secured second place. Into the main round, CSM bothered by injury.[17] Győri Audi ETO KC and ŽRK Vardar defeated CSM but the team reached the knockout phase where the Romanian side beat undefeated Rostov-Don twice in the quarterfinals.[18] At the continent finals, in May 2016, București qualified for Final 4 finals for the first time after a semifinal victory over ŽRK Vardar, winning 27–21.[19] On 8 May, CSM București won their title beating Győri Audi ETO KC in the final after a nail-biting penalty shootout. Playmaker Isabelle Gulldén scored 15 goals for CSM and finished as Europe's top scorer, whilst Aurelia Brădeanu scored the final spot-kick.[17] Goalkeeper Jelena Grubišić was named Finals MVP.[20] CSM regained the trophy for Romania after a 52-year break.[21]

Kits edit

Honours edit

Domestic competitions edit

 
CSM Bucharest celebrating their Bucharest Trophy 2014 win against ŽRK Budućnost

European competitions edit

Other competitions edit

Team edit

Current squad edit

Squad for the 2023–24 season
Squad information
No. Nat. Player Position Date of birth In Contract until Previous club
1   Laura Glauser Goalkeeper 20 August 1993 2022 2024   Győri ETO KC
2   Mihaela Mihai Right Wing 15 December 2004 2022 2026
3   Emilie Hegh Arntzen Left Back 1 January 1994 2021 2025   Vipers Kristiansand
7   Grâce Zaadi Centre Back 7 July 1993 2022 2024   Metz Handball
8   Cristina Neagu Left Back 26 August 1988 2017 2025   ŽRK Budućnost Podgorica
9   Andreea Rotaru Centre Back 20 February 1994 2023 2026   Gloria Buzău
10   Ștefania Stoica Left Back 24 August 2003 2020 2024
12   Marie Davidsen Goalkeeper 20 August 1993 2021 2025   Thüringer HC
14   Željka Nikolić Right Wing 12 July 1991 2023 2024   Gloria Bistrița
16   Evelina Eriksson Goalkeeper 20 August 1996 2022 2026   Vipers Kristiansand
17   Elizabeth Omoregie Centre Back 29 December 1996 2018 2026   RK Krim
18   Jennifer Gutiérrez Left Wing 20 February 1995 2023 2025   Rapid București
20   Laura Flippes Right Back 13 December 1994 2023 2025   Paris 92
21   Alexandra Dindiligan Left Wing 16 February 1997 2021 2025   HC Zalău
25   Trine Østergaard Right Wing 17 October 1991 2023 2025   SG BBM Bietigheim
28   Monika Kobylińska Right Back 9 April 1995 2023 2025   Brest Bretagne Handball
49   Andreea Ailincăi Line Player 15 December 2003 2021 2026
51   Vilde Ingstad Line Player 18 December 1994 2023 2025   Team Esbjerg
77   Crina Pintea Line Player 3 April 1990 2022 2026   Győri ETO KC

Transfers edit

Transfers for the season 2024–25[22]

Personnel edit

Current technical staff edit

Selected former players edit

Kit manufacturers and shirt sponsors edit

Season Kit manufacturer Brands
2015–2016 Kempa Electromontaj / Toyota / Diangi Bak 2
2016–2017 Electromontaj / Borsec / Diangi Bak 2
2017–2018 Engie / Borsec / Novatik
2018–2019 Engie / BMW / Borsec / Novatik
2019–2020 Engie / Fiat / Borsec / Novatik
2020–2021 Engie / Unibet / Borsec / Novatik
Engie / Banca Transilvania / Unibet / Borsec / Cocomax
2021–2022 Game World Casino / Engie / Fiterman Pharma / Borsec / Cocomax / DCNEu
2022–2023 Game World Casino / Engie / Fiterman Pharma / Borsec / Cocomax / DCNEu / Fratelli
2023– Game World Casino / Engie / Fiterman Pharma / Borsec / Tesla

European competitions edit

EHF competitions
Season Competition Pld W D L GF GA Diff
2015–16 EHF Champions League 16 10 1 5 416 387 +29
2016–17 EHF Champions League 16 10 1 5 427 407 +20
2017–18 EHF Champions League 16 10 1 5 455 395 +60
2018–19 EHF Champions League 14 6 1 7 400 380 +20
2019–20 EHF Champions League 12 7 1 4 314 288 +26
Total 74 43 5 26 2012 1857 +155

Pld – Played; W – Won; D – Drawn; L – Lost; GF – Goals for; GA – Goals against; Diff – Difference.

EHF Champions League edit

Season Competition Round Club Home Away Aggregate
2015–16 Champions League
  Winner
Group Matches
(Group D)
  SPR Lublin SSA 33–21 30–27 2nd
  IK Sävehof 28–17 27–22
  Budućnost 22–28 23–23
Main Round
(Group 2)
  FC Midtjylland 24–22 28–23 4th
  HC Vardar 25–30 21–22
  Győri Audi ETO KC 22–24 22–28
Quarter Final   Rostov-Don 26–25 29–28 55–53
Semi Final (F4)   HC Vardar 27–21
Final (F4)   Győri Audi ETO KC 29–26 (ET)
2016–17 Champions League
  Third place
Group Matches
(Group C)
  Rostov-Don 24–21 22–20 2nd
  FC Midtjylland 26–20 21–24
  Győri Audi ETO KC 24–27 25–33
Main Round
(Group 2)
  Larvik HK 26–26 33–35 3rd
  Team Esbjerg 33–25 25–20
  RK Krim 24–21 28–26
Quarter Final   FTC-Rail Cargo Hungaria 30–25 27–26 57–51
Semi Final (F4)   HC Vardar 33–38
3rd (F4)   Budućnost 26–20
2017–18 Champions League
  Third place
Group Matches
(Group A)
  RK Krim 30–18 33–30 1st
  Nykøbing Falster H. 39–26 22–25
  GTPR Gdynia 34–22 34–23
Main Round
(Group 1)
  Győri Audi ETO KC 28–22 24–28 3rd
  FC Midtjylland 29–24 31–26
  Rostov-Don 22–22 24–25
Quarter Final   Metz Handball 34–21 20–27 54–48
Semi Final (F4)   Győri Audi ETO KC 20–26
3rd (F4)   Rostov-Don 31–30
2018–19 Champions League Group Matches
(Group D)
  Vipers Kristiansand 26–31 29–27 1st
  FTC-Rail Cargo Hungaria 36–31 34–28
  SG BBM Bietigheim 32–24 28–30
Main Round
(Group 2)
  Győri Audi ETO KC 25–27 27–36 4th
  Krim Mercator 32–26 22–23
  Thüringer HC 23–23 38–30
Quarter Final   Metz Handball 26–31 22–23 48–54
2019–20 Champions League Group Matches
(Group B)
  Rostov-Don 23–23 22–23 3rd
  Team Esbjerg 21–25 24–22
  MKS Lublin 35–19 28–19
Main Round
(Group 1)
  Metz Handball 32–27 26–28 4th
  Vipers Kristiansand 28–22 25–23
  FTC-Rail Cargo Hungaria 27–24 23–33
Quarter Final   Győri Audi ETO KC Cancelled
2020–21 Champions League Group Matches
(Group A)
  Metz Handball 31–26 22–25 3rd
  Rostov-Don 22–27 10–0[nb 1]
  Vipers Kristiansand 22–29 25–30
  Team Esbjerg 28–26 30–29
  FTC-Rail Cargo Hungaria 25–19 27–31
  SG BBM Bietigheim 10–0[nb 1] 32–22
  RK Krim 22–22 25–23
Round of 16   SCM Râmnicu Vâlcea 33–24 21–27 54–51
Quarter-finals   CSKA Moscow 32–27 19–24 51–51(a)
2021–22 Champions League Group Matches
(Group A)
  Brest Bretagne Handball 29–30 21–24 5th
  FTC-Rail Cargo Hungaria 27–21 30–31
  Budućnost BEMAX 30–22 28–20
  BV Borussia 09 Dortmund 33–29 25–22
  Rostov-Don 27–30 0–10
  Team Esbjerg 29–29 21–22
  RK Podravka Koprivnica 29–21 36–31
Playoffs   CSKA Moscow 10–0 10–0 20–0
Quarter-finals   Team Esbjerg 25–26 27–27 52–53
2022–23 EHF Champions League Group A   Odense Håndbold 40–31 31–27 2nd
  Vipers Kristiansand 27–24 29–35
  RK Krim Mercator 30–28 26–28
  SG BBM Bietigheim 28–28 27–25
  Brest Bretagne Handball 30–30 33–26
  FTC-Rail Cargo Hungaria 30–24 33–29
  DHK Baník Most 40–25 35–26
Quarter-finals   Team Esbjerg 31–33 28–32 59–65
2023–24 EHF Champions League Group A   Győri ETO KC 23–27
  IK Sävehof 41–26
  Odense Håndbold 28–24
  Brest Bretagne Handball 28–30
  SG BBM Bietigheim 24–26
  ŽRK Budućnost Podgorica 44–26 29–24
  DVSC Schaeffler 29–29 30–23

Green – Win; Yellow – Draw; Red – Lost.

  1. ^ a b The matches could not be played and were assessed by the EHF.

Domestic competitions edit

League Romanian Cup Romanian Supercup
Season Division Pos Pld W D L GF GA Diff
2010–2011 Liga Națională   26 17 4 5 825 788 +37
2011–2012 Liga Națională 7th 26 12 1 13 730 749 -19
2012–2013 Liga Națională 8th 20 8 0 12 525 533 -8
2013–2014 Liga Națională 7th 22 11 1 10 531 538 -7
2014–2015 Liga Națională   26 24 0 2 771 553 +218   Finalist   Finalist
2015–2016 Liga Națională   26 25 0 1 816 584 +233   Winner   Winner
2016–2017 Liga Națională   22 21 0 1 680 478 +202   Winner   Winner
2017–2018 Liga Națională   26 25 0 1 821 573 +248   Winner   Finalist
2018–2019 Liga Națională   24 22 0 2 708 565 +143   Winner   Winner
2019–2020 Liga Națională   17 14 1 2 467 386 +81   Finalist   Finalist
2020–2021 Liga Națională   28 26 1 1 839 625 +214   Finalist   Finalist
2021–2022 Liga Națională   26 22 2 2 769 622 +167   Winner   Winner
2022–2023 Liga Națională   26 25 1 0 844 658 +186   Winner   Winner
Total 315 252 11 52 9326 7099 +1696

Pos – Position; Pld – Played; W – Won; D – Drawn; L – Lost; GF – Goals for; GA – Goals against; Diff – Difference.

Statistics edit

Individual awards in the EHF Champions League edit

Season Player Award
2015–16   Isabelle Gulldén Top Scorer (108 goals)
  Jelena Grubišić Most Valuable Player of the Final Four
2016–17   Carmen Martín All–Star Team (Best Right Wing)
2017–18   Cristina Neagu Top Scorer (110 goals)
  Cristina Neagu All–Star Team (Best Left Back)
2018–19   Jovanka Radičević All-Star Team (Best Right Wing)
2019–20   Cristina Neagu All–Star Team (Best Left Back)
2020–21   Cristina Neagu All-Star Team (Best Left back)
2021–22   Cristina Neagu All-Star Team (Best Left back)
2021–22   Cristina Neagu Top Scorer (110 goals)
2022–23   Cristina Neagu All-Star Team (Best Left back)
Last updated on 11 November 2023

Coaches edit

Period Coaches
June 2007 — February 2014   Vasile Mărgulescu
February 2014 — February 2014   Lucian Ghiulai
February 2014 — September 2015   Mette Klit
September 2015 — May 2016   Kim Rasmussen
May 2016 — November 2016   Jakob Vestergaard
November 2016 — April 2017   Aurelian Roșca
April 2017 — June 2017   Per Johansson
June 2017 — March 2018   Helle Thomsen
March 2018 — May 2018   Per Johansson
July 2018 — October 2018   Magnus Johansson
October 2018 — May 2019   Dragan Đukić
July 2019 — October 2019   Tomas Ryde
October 2019 — Present   Adrian Vasile

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "HOTĂRÂREA Nr. 156 din 19.06.2007 privind înființarea Clubului Sportiv Municipal București, instituție publică în subordinea Consiliului General al Municipiului București" (PDF) (in Romanian). MONITORUL OFICIAL AL MUNICIPIULUI BUCUREȘTI. Retrieved 2018-03-05.
  2. ^ "CSM București a promovat în Liga I de handbal". Evenimentul Zilei. Retrieved 2018-03-05.
  3. ^ "Nou promovata CSM București e revelaţia Ligii Naţionale de handbal feminin" (in Romanian). Libertatea. Retrieved 2018-03-05.
  4. ^ "Mette Klit, noul antrenor al echipei CSM București: M-am întors în România pentru atmosfera de aici" (in Romanian). mediafax. Retrieved 2017-03-05.
  5. ^ "EXCLUSIV: "Vestergaard vine la discuții pe 15 februarie". CSM București anunță o nouă revoluție în handbal/" (in Romanian). Pro Sport. Retrieved 2018-03-05.
  6. ^ a b "Oficial: Manea, Tolnai și Torstenson, doi ani la CSM București" (in Romanian). Pro Sport. Retrieved 2018-03-05.
  7. ^ "Final 4-ul Ligii Campionilor se "mută" în București. CSM București aduce Buducnost în România şi aşteaptă o confirmare şi de la Gyor" (in Romanian). Gazeta Sporturilor. Retrieved 2018-03-05.
  8. ^ "Aer de Ligă – CSM Bucureşti a învins aseară finalista Ligii Campionilor, 24-20, la Bucharest Trophy 2014" (in Romanian). Pro Sport. Retrieved 2018-03-05.
  9. ^ "VIDEO CSM București – Corona 25-19. Gazdele, la un punct de liderul Baia Mare" (in Romanian). Digi Sport. Retrieved 2018-03-05.
  10. ^ "FOTO Baia Mare e mai tare! – HCM s-a impus în duelul cu CSM București şi îşi securizează prima poziţie, scor 24-21" (in Romanian). Gazeta Sporturilor. Retrieved 2018-03-05.
  11. ^ "VIDEO HCM Baia Mare – CSM București 17-20. Echipa pregătită de Mette Klit a câștigat titlul" (in Romanian). Digi Sport. Retrieved 2018-03-05.
  12. ^ "CSM București, noua campioană a handbalului feminin din România – Jucătoarele lui Mette Klit vor juca în Liga Campionilor" (in Romanian). Digi Sport. Retrieved 2018-03-05.
  13. ^ "Isabelle Gullden vine la CSM București. Cum va arăta echipa din Capitală începând din vară. Dublă lovitură pentru CSM: la echipa masculină ajunge portarul Linus Persson" (in Romanian). Pro Sport. Retrieved 2018-03-05.
  14. ^ "Transferuri importante anunţate de CSM București de sărbători: "Line Jorgensen şi Maria Fisker vin în ianuarie la București pentru vizita medicală". Cristina Neagu, în capul listei de achiziţii" (in Romanian). Pro Sport. Retrieved 2018-03-05.
  15. ^ "Titlul rămâne pe loc! CSM București a câștigat din nou campionatul la handbal feminin" (in Romanian). Gazeta Sporturilor. Retrieved 2018-03-05.
  16. ^ "Triplă istorică pentru CSM București – Azi a câștigat și Cupa României" (in Romanian). Gazeta Sporturilor. Retrieved 2018-03-05.
  17. ^ a b "Handbal feminin: HCM Baia Mare a câştigat derby-ul cu campioana CSM București" (in Romanian). Pro Sport. Retrieved 2018-03-05.
  18. ^ "Final 4 Bucharest – CSM București a învins-o pe Rostov Don și în retur și s-a calificat în Final Four-ul Ligii" (in Romanian). Gazeta Sporturilor. Retrieved 2018-03-05.
  19. ^ "VIDEO CSM București – Vardar Skopje 27-21. Calificare în premieră în finala Ligii Campionilor pentru CSM" (in Romanian). Digi Sport. Retrieved 2018-03-05.
  20. ^ "CSM București este campioana Europei! Fetele s-au depășit pe ele, au întrecut pe Győr și au câștigat trofeul Champions League" (in Romanian). LEAD. Retrieved 2018-03-05.
  21. ^ "LIGA CAMPIONILOR: Trofeul la handbal feminin revine in Romania dupa 52 DE ANI. CSM Bucuresti a castigat finala cu Gyor" (in Romanian). PRO TV. Retrieved 2018-03-05.
  22. ^ JureD (2023-12-29). "V Krim Mercator prihaja Grace Zaadi, aktualna svetovna prvakinja". RK Krim Mercator (in Slovenian). Retrieved 2023-12-29.
  23. ^ "Staff". csmbucuresti.ro.

External links edit