For most of its existence, Jiul has been a constant presence in the first two tiers of the Romanian football league system, making it a traditional club[clarification needed] in the country.

In 1990, the closure of the Jiu Valley mines, the main engine of the local economy, led to the decay of Jiul, annually putting the team in danger of bankruptcy.

Football was introduced to Jiu Valley in the early 20th century and was initially played in Petroșani at the present-day location of the Dâlja mine.

Coach Rudolf Jeny led the team, including players Kiss, Bredan, Zastulka, and Gheorghe Vâjdea, into the club's first season in Divizia A.

Top players remained static: Gheorghe Vâjdea, Gusti Emmerich, and Géza Medve, along with Ernest Skovrán, who also played for Romania B.

The squad only spent one season there before being promoted again under Coach Bazil Marian after defeating CSM Baia Mare in the series championship.

The squad focused on strengthening itself during that period and acquired players such as Florea Martinovici, Cornel Pavlovici, Emil Dumitriu, Petre Libardi, and Andrei Stocker.

Under Coach Traian Ivănescu, however, the squad — including players Ion Nițu, Gogu Tonca, Andrei Stocker, Alexandru Nagy, Petre Libardi, Árpád Szűcs, Gheorghe Mulțescu, Adalbert Rozsnyai, and Mihai Stoichiță — defeated Politehnica Timișoara 4–2 in the 1973–74 Romanian Cup final and brought home the trophy for the first time.

[4] Jiul Petroșani remained in the first league and jumped up to 5th place in the 1976-77 season under Coach Gheorghe Ene and with players including Iosif Cavai, Dragu Bădin, Grigore Ciupitu, Augustin Deleanu, Traian Stoica, Ionel Augustin, Gheorghe Mulțescu, and Florea Dumitrache After losing their original stadium after a fire in 1975, the team's new stadium opened in Lunca Jiului park in 1982.

The two subsequent years in the first league were the height of players like Ioan Varga, Marian Bâcu, Horațiu Lasconi, Aristică Cioabă, Ion Sburlea, and Damian Militaru.

[5] Under Coach Ion "Liță" Dumitru and with standout players Leontin Toader, Aristică Cioabă, Marin Tudorache, and Fănel Țîră, Jiul Petroșani returned to the first league for the 1995-96 season.

[6] Ion Bivolaru, Cristian Pușcaș, Romulus Bealcu, Tudorel Zamfirescu and Tiberiu Csik joined the club over the next two years.

[7] Despite its disastrous 2001-02 season, Jiul Petroșani only spent one year in Divizia C, winning the sixth series with 8 points over CS Certej.

They finished the subsequent season in the third series tied with Gaz Metan Mediaș and were promoted back to Divizia A due to their better goal average.

They finished at the top of the league, five points above Minerul Uricani in 2nd, but lost 0–1 in the promotion match against Flacăra Făget from Timis County.

On that day, a match was scheduled with FC Politehnica Iași, which was announced to be extremely tense due to the critical situation in which the miners were relegated from Division A.

It was improved to new standards after the recent promotion to the Romanian Superliga in 2005, when the entire surface was covered with plastic seats, a training ground was illuminated and the press stand benefited from sockets and internet access.

[12] Balkans Cup Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply.