[2] In the 1995–96 Divizia A season, he moved to the oldest Romanian city, Constanța where he signed a one-year contract with FC Farul Constanta and made a few appearances in the 1995 UEFA Intertoto Cup though his side were eliminated by SC Heerenveen in the Round of 16.

Cioabă began his managerial career in Morocco with Raja Casablanca where he worked as an assistant for Alexandru Moldovan in the first few rounds of the 2005–06 Botola.

In his one-year stay as the assistant coach of the Casablanca-based club, he helped his side win the 2005 Coupe du Trône.

He then moved to Egypt in 2006 and again worked as an assistant to Alexandru Moldovan for Egyptian Premier League side, Al-Masry SC.

[8] His next move out of Romania was to Kuwait in 2009 where he again worked as an assistant to Costică Ștefănescu and Alexandru Moldovan for Al-Farwaniya-based, Al-Tadamun SC of Kuwaiti Premier League.

[9] He made appearances as the head coach of the Dormaa Ahenkro-based club in the 2011 CAF Champions League where his side lost 3–1 on aggregate to Morocco's Wydad Casablanca.

Soon after the Second Round of the 2013–14 Oman Professional League, Saham SC's management decided to part company with the Petroșani-born coach.

[22][23][24][25] His club began the 2015–16 Oman Professional League campaign on 14 September 2015 in a 2–1 hard fought victory over Al-Khaboura SC.