This is a list of all seasons played by Zimbru Chișinău in national football, from 1947 (the year the club was officially founded) to the most recent completed season.Throughout history the club has been known by various names.
1.Soviet Top League = Class A 1956–1962, Class A (First group) 1963–1964, Higher League 1974,1983.
2.Soviet First League = Second group 1947–1949, Class B 1950–1955, Class A (Second group) 1965–1969, Class A (First group) 1970, First League 1971–1973, 1975–1982, 1984–1986, 1989–1991.
Notes: 2 points for a win, 1 point for a draw, 0 points for a loss.
In the table above, in the seasons 1961,1962,1965,1985,in the 2nd stage,are shown only the number of games played by Zimbru in this part of the league.However,a complete table after this stage looked differently.
In the seasons 1961 and 1985,all the results of the 1st stage were taken into account in the final table.
In the season 1962,only the results with teams that finished in the top 6 (1st stage) have been taken into account for the 2nd stage.
In the season 1965 ,only the results with teams that finished in the top 8 (1st stage) have been taken into account for the 2nd stage.
The complete table for these 4 seasons are shown below.
In 1973 was introduced a new rule,that lasted only one season.According to new regulation,in the case of draw the winner of the match had to be decided by penalty shoot-out.The winner in the penalty shoot-out received 1 point (instead of 2 for a win in 90 minutes).The loser gets no points.In 1973 season 7 games were decided on penalties.Zimbru won twice and lost 5 times.The total number of points in the season was 52 (50 points earned for 25 wins in the regular time,and 2 points after penalty shoot-outs).[1]
In the overall seasons statistics,these 7 games are counted as draws.
In 1978 was introduced a Draw limit rule.This restriction was abolished at the end of 1988 season.The only time Zimbru was affected by this rule,was in 1979 season.The limit for the draws earned was 12.For 2 draws that exceeded the limit,Zimbru earn no points.
Soviet Play-off
Three times Zimbru defended their right to play in the Soviet First League (Class B in those years) by taking part in the play-off matches.The regulation that had been introduced since 1950 and abolished in 1957 states that the team that became the champion of the Moldavian SSR,had a right for promotion in the play-off games against the other team from Moldavian SSR,which already plays in Class A or B,and has taken the lowest place in the league.However,in the early 50s Zimbru was the only team that represented Moldavian SSR in the Soviet League,so the final place in the Class B table did not matter,considering play-offs.It should be mentioned that not always these play-off matches were held.It was played only at the discretion of Moldavian SSR national committee.The play-off rule was active for 8 seasons,but has been applied only 3 times.The results of Burevestnik(current Zimbru) are shown below.[2]
Notes: 2 points for a win, 1 point for a draw, 0 points for a loss.
Starting with 1994-95 season: 3 points for a win, 1 point for a draw, 0 points for a loss.
Players in bold were also Top league scorers that season.
In 1992 season, both Tiligul Tiraspol and Zimbru finished the league with equal number of points (35).Moldovan Football Federation decided that the additional match has to be played at the neutral venue,on June 28.The location has been chosen city of Bălți. However,Tiligul refused to participate in a golden match,and Zimbru were crowned champions of Moldova.
In the overall seasons table,the golden match is included as a technical win (+:-).