# CFR Cluj appoints Marius Șumudică amid financial struggles

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/adrian-mutu-coaching-developments
> Updated: 2026-08-13T14:53:23.000Z. Sources: 17. Developments: 2.

CFR Cluj has officially appointed Marius Șumudică as its new head coach, marking his second term with the club. The agreement, negotiated by president Marian Copilu, is valid through the summer of 2027. This coaching change follows the dismissal of Antonio Folha after the team’s exit from the Conference League following a heavy aggregate defeat to Tromso.

While the club previously filed for insolvency at the Cluj Tribunal due to debts estimated at 25.5 million euros, owner Ioan Varga has denied rumors of insolvency, promising to resolve financial issues within two weeks. Despite these assurances, the club faces mounting pressure as veteran midfielder Damjan Djokovic has filed a memorandum with FIFA regarding unpaid wages and seeking contract termination.

On the pitch, Șumudică faces immediate tactical hurdles, including a weakened defense following the loss of key central defenders. To address this, the coach has requested three to four new signings, ideally through loan deals to manage costs. Șumudică is expected to make his debut on August 16 in a match against Corvinul Hunedoara.

## Claims

- Adrian Mutu has reached a verbal agreement to become the new head coach of CFR Cluj. (corroborated by 2 sources)
- CFR Cluj owner Neluţu Varga sought Marius Şumudică as a replacement for Antonio Folha, but negotiations failed. (corroborated by 2 sources)
- Zeljko Kopic and Leo Grozavu were also on the shortlist for the CFR Cluj coaching position. (corroborated by 2 sources)
- Antonio Folha was dismissed by CFR Cluj following a 0-5 loss to Tromso in the Conference League qualifiers. (corroborated by 2 sources)
- Adrian Mutu previously coached CFR Cluj from January to April 2024. (corroborated by 2 sources)
- Mutu's most recent coaching role was at Petrolul, which ended in March 2025. (corroborated by 2 sources)

## Timeline

### 2026-08-13: CFR Cluj appoints Marius Șumudică as head coach amid financial struggles

Marius Șumudică returns to CFR Cluj as head coach through 2027, amid financial instability and a FIFA complaint from player Damjan Djokovic regarding unpaid wages.

17 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/adrian-mutu-reaches-agreement-to-coach-cfr-cluj

### 2026-07-30: Spiridon Mutu, father of Romanian football star Adrian Mutu, dies at 75

Spiridon Mutu, father of ex‑Romanian striker Adrian Mutu, died at 75 on 30 July 2026; funeral set for 1 August in Voluntari.

11 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/spiridon-mutu-father-of-former-romanian-striker-adrian-mutu-dies-at-75

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Cite as: CFR Cluj appoints Marius Șumudică amid financial struggles. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/adrian-mutu-coaching-developments