Sepsi OSK Sfântu Gheorghe


Asociația Club Sportiv Sepsi OSK Sfântu Gheorghe, commonly known as Sepsi Sfântu Gheorghe, Sepsi OSK, or simply Sepsi, is a Romanian professional football club based in Sfântu Gheorghe, Covasna County.
Sepsi was founded in 2011 and enrolled in the fifth division, which it immediately went on to win. Six years later, it became the first team from Covasna—a county with a majority of Székely ethnics—to achieve promotion to the highest tier of Romanian football, the Liga I.
In its first season in the league, Sepsi finished ninth out of 14, and in 2020 played the Cupa României final, which it lost to FCSB. "The Red and Whites" hold their home games at the 5,200-capacity Municipal Stadium.

History

Sepsi OSK Sfântu Gheorghe was established in 2011 to continue the football tradition in the city of Sfântu Gheorghe, following the dissolution of Oltul Sfântu Gheorghe. Team founders László Diószegi and Dávid Kertész were fans of Oltul, choosing "OSK", an acronym for Oltul Sport Klub, as a tribute to the defunct team. "Sepsi" is part of Sepsiszentgyörgy, the Hungarian name for Sfântu Gheorghe, and refers to the area which the ancestors of the local Székely population had previously inhabited.
In their debut season, Sepsi won the Liga V – Covasna County and were promoted to the fourth league. They finished the latter competition on the second place, eight points behind local rival Viitorul Sfântu Gheorghe. At the end of the 2013–14 campaign, Sepsi effortlessly won the Liga IV and qualified for the Liga III promotion play-off, where they faced the champion of Vrancea County, Selena Jariștea. Sepsi managed to win 7–6 after a penalty shoot-out, being subsequently promoted to the third division.
The first Liga III season was satisfying for "the Székelys", who finished third and announced their intentions for the future. In the 2015–16 Liga III season, Sepsi won its series and was promoted, which represented a notable performance for the team and for the city. Sepsi managed a consecutive promotion after it came second in the Liga II, thus equalling the best ranking of dissolved Oltul Sfântu Gheorghe and becoming the first club from Covasna County to play in the Liga I, the highest level of the Romanian football league system.
In the 2017–18 season, Sepsi finished third in the relegation play-outs—and ninth overall—and maintained its place in the first division. The following year, the club managed to qualify for the championship play-offs and reached the quarter-finals of the Cupa României.
On 22 July 2020, Sepsi played against FCSB in a Cupa României final hosted by the Ilie Oană Stadium in Ploiești. On its route to the ultimate game, Sepsi eliminated Ripensia Timișoara, Astra Giurgiu, Petrolul Ploiești and Politehnica Iași; In all but one of the five matches "the Székelys" scored at least three goals. Eventually, Sepsi lost the final due to a goal from FCSB's Dennis Man in the 65th minute.

Ownership and finances

One of the two club founders and current owner, László Diószegi, is an entrepreneur who runs the Diószegi chain of bakeries. Initially consisting in one shop opened in the 1990s in Sfântu Gheorghe by his family and another associate, the business expanded in several cities in the country and also abroad in England.
In addition to several other sponsors, Sepsi receives financing from the Government of Hungary, which has sparked controversy in Romania. However, the sum is meant to be invested exclusively in club infrastructure development and the youth sector.

Grounds

Sepsi OSK plays its home matches at the Stadionul Municipal in Sfântu Gheorghe, which has a capacity of 5,200 seats. After the Liga I promotion, Sepsi was forced to move to the Stadionul Silviu Ploeșteanu in nearby Brașov, as their stadium did not meet the licensing requirements. The team also played two home matches on the Ilie Oană Stadium in Ploiești, before returning to Sfântu Gheorghe in March 2018.
The club announced the plan of building a new stadium with a capacity of 8,000 seats, due to be opened by the year 2021.

Support

The club's main group of supporters is named Székely Légió. They usually display flags of the Székely Land and Hungary.

Honours

Domestic

Leagues

First team squad

Other players under contract

Out on loan

Club officials

Board of directors

RoleName
Owner László Diószegi
President Dávid Kertész
Executive president Cornel Șfaițer
General director Attila Hadnagy
Economic director Ildikó Bardocz
Marketing manager Péter Fazakas
Technical coordinator Gyula Berecz
Youth center manager Lóránt Veress
Organizers of competitions Attila Czine
Responsible for Order and Safety János Rendi
Secretary Elvira Török
Press officer Edit Kiss

RoleName
Manager Leontin Grozavu
Assistant managers Róbert Ilyés
Goalkeeping coach Cornel Cernea
Fitness coach Ovidiu Chiribici
Club doctor Gheorghe Popa
Physiotherapist Balázs Kancsulik
Masseurs Cătălin Gheța
Leonard Silișteanu
Storeman Attila Nistor

League">Romanian football league system">League history

SeasonTierDivisionPlaceCupa României
2019–201Liga ITBDFinal
2018–191Liga I6thQuarter-finals
2017–181Liga I9thRound of 32
2016–172Liga II2ndRound of 32

SeasonTierDivisionPlaceCupa României
2015–163Liga III 1stThird Round
2014–153Liga III 3rdThird Round
2013–144Liga IV 1st