FC Bihor Oradea (2022) is a Romanian professional football club based in Oradea, Bihor County, Romania. It represents the re-establishment of the traditional FC Bihor Oradea club, which historically played in Romania's top football leagues before its dissolution in 2016. The "(2022)" designation refers to the year the club officially resumed play under the historical "FC Bihor Oradea" name.
History The original FC Bihor Oradea was founded in 1958 and was one of the most prominent football clubs in Bihor County for several decades, participating in the Liga I (the top-tier Romanian football league) for multiple seasons. However, due to severe financial difficulties, the club declared bankruptcy and was dissolved in 2016, leaving the city of Oradea without its traditional football representative.
Following the dissolution, there were various efforts to establish a new football club to continue the legacy. In 2021, the Clubul Sportiv Municipal (CSM) Oradea, a multi-sport club backed by the local municipality, established a football section, initially playing under the name CSM Oradea Fotbal. This team quickly gained support and was seen as the spiritual successor to the defunct FC Bihor.
In 2022, after a period of consolidation and an agreement that allowed the use of the historical name, CSM Oradea's football section officially rebranded and was re-registered as FC Bihor Oradea. This move was widely celebrated as the return of the beloved club name to Romanian football. The club inherited the red and blue colours and the fan base of the original entity, aiming to restore its former glory.
Club Identity The club plays its home matches at Stadionul Iuliu Bodola in Oradea, which was also the home ground of the original FC Bihor. The traditional colours of FC Bihor Oradea are red and blue, reflecting the colours of the city's coat of arms.
Competitions Upon its re-establishment in 2022, FC Bihor Oradea began its journey in the Liga III, the third tier of the Romanian football league system, with ambitions to climb back into Liga II and eventually Liga I. The club benefits from municipal support and aims to develop local talent while competing for promotions.