Lech Poznań

Kolejowy Klub Sportowy Lech Poznań S.A., commonly referred to as KKS Lech Poznań or simply Lech Poznań (Polish pronunciation: [lɛx ˈpɔznaj̃]), is a Polish professional football club based in Poznań and currently competing in the Ekstraklasa, the nation's highest division. The club is named after Lech, the legendary founder of the Polish nation.

Lech Poznań
Full nameKolejowy Klub Sportowy Lech Poznań S.A.[1]
Nickname(s)Kolejorz (The Railwaymen)
Founded19 March 1922 (1922-03-19) (as KS Lutnia Dębiec)
GroundStadion Poznań,
Poznań, Poland
Capacity43,269[2]
ChairmanKarol Klimczak
CoachJohn van den Brom
LeagueEkstraklasa
2021–221st of 18
WebsiteClub website
Away colours

The club was established on 19 March 1922 as KS Lutnia Dębiec, later changing its name several times. From 1930 until 1994, the club was closely linked to Polish State Railways (PKP). As a result, its popular nickname is Kolejorz [kɔˈlɛjɔʂ], which means The Railwayman in local slang. The club's debut in the Polish top division took place in the year 1948. The brightest era of Lech was in the early 1980s and early 1990s. Lech has won the Polish league a total of eight times, most recently in 2022, and is the most popular football club in the Greater Poland region.[3]

History

Formation and early years (1920–1945)

In August 1920, a group of young activists from the Catholic Youth Association decided to split off and form their own football team. The founders of the club were: Jan Nowak, Antoni Dyzman, Jan Dyzman, Leon Nowicki, Józef Magdziak, Kazimierz Zmuda, Stanisław Nowicki, Stefan Fiedler, Józef Gośliński, Leon Stachowski, Józef Blumreder and Jan Wojtek. The origin of Lech can be traced back to 19 March 1922, when it was officially registered as a football club.[4] The club's first official name was Towarzystwo Sportowe Liga Dębiec. In September 1922 the club gained a football pitch on Grzybowa street. The first match for the club was played in May 1922 against Urania Starołęka, which ended in a 1–1 draw. The club started its foundation in a low tier league, which at the time was the Class C.
The club achieved promotion in 1928 to the Class B after six years of being in Class C. In 1932 the club was promoted to Class A where the biggest teams of the region played. From there they could get promoted to the First National Division, but the club would not achieve that goal before the outbreak of World War II. In autumn of 1933 the Klub Sportowy Kolejowego Przysposobienia Wojskowego Poznań ("Poznań Military Training Railway Sports Club") was founded or KPW. In 1945, shortly after the war ended, sporting officials made Lech the first club from the city.

Downfall and the Miracle of Błażejewo (1947–1979)

In 1947, the Polish Football Association (PZPN) decided to create the first national division (Ekstraklasa). At first, the club was not admitted to the top flight, but the Kolejorz ("the railwayman", the popular nickname of the club) filed an appeal and the PZPN decided, in a special meeting, to extend the First Division to 14 teams, including the KKS (at that time called Kolejowy Klub Sportowy Poznań) and Widzew Łódź. The first match was against Widzew Łódź which Widzew won 4–3.
The club changed its name again in January 1957, this time to Klub Sportowy Lech Poznań and in December to Kolejowy Klub Sportowy Lech Poznań, which lasted throughout the history of the team. That same year turned out to be one of the worst for the club, since it finished last and was relegated to the second division. Lech only gained twelve points in 22 games, despite having striker Teodor Anioła, the club's top scorer, with 141 goals and top scorer of the Polish championship in three consecutive editions (1949-1951).[5] Along with Edmund Białas and Henryk Czapczyk, Anioła formed the famous trio known as ABC. During that period, the club managed to finish third in the First Division twice, as the best result, before its relegation to second division.
Lech managed to return to the first division in 1961, but after two seasons with poor results, the blue team was relegated again in 1963. The club was even demoted to the third division, then known as the Interprovincial Division (Liga międzywojewódzka), in one of the biggest sports crisis of the organization. In 1972 the club returned to the first division, in which they had to fight again to avoid relegation every season. Coach Jerzy Kopa, who arrived from Szombierki Bytom, was responsible for reviving Lech spectacularly. He took over the team in 1976, when they were bottom of the table. Kopa gathered players at a training camp in Błażejewo, saved the team from relegation and twelve months later qualified for the first time to play in Europe after finishing third in the league, just two points behind the champion, Wisła Kraków. Therefore, this transformation became known as The Miracle of Błażejewo.[6] The club's first participation in the UEFA Cup in 1978-79 was brief, as they were eliminated in the first round by MSV Duisburg.

Golden age of Lech (1980–1993)

The arrival of coach Wojciech Łazarek in 1980 at the club was key to overcome third place and European participation. That year the team reached the final of the Polish Cup for the first time, losing 0–5 to Legia Warsaw in Częstochowa. Two years later, the club managed to win the first title in its history, the Polish Cup, by defeating Pogoń Szczecin 1–0 in Wroclaw.

The striker Andrzej Juskowiak, top goalscorer and champion in the Ekstraklasa in 1990 with 18 goals.

The league championships of 1983 and 1984 went down in history as they were the first two league titles of the Kolejorz and for winning on such tight margins against Widzew Łódź. The first league championship for Lech was a point of advantage (39) over Widzew (38). The 15 goals scored by the top scorer of the tournament, Mirosław Okoński and the participation of other players like Krzysztof Pawlak and Józef Adamiec were very important to win their first league championship. Meanwhile, the championship of the following season both teams staged an exciting tournament and tied at 42 points. Lech defended championship by having a better difference of goals than Widzew to break the tie. That season was historic for the blue team, as they got their first double by becoming champions of the Polish Cup, after winning in the final at Wisła Kraków (3–0).

As Polish champions, Lech participated for the first time in the European Cup, although they could not pass the first round in the two seasons. In its first season it was eliminated by Athletic Club. In the first leg in Poland, Mariusz Niewiadomski and Mirosław Okoński scored the first two Lech goals in the tournament and the team won 2–0. However, the return match in San Mamés was a nightmare for the Poles and the Spanish team qualified by winning 4–0. The following season the team faced the current champion, F.C. Liverpool, who won by a 5–0 aggregate.
In 1988, Lech won another Cup by beating Legia in Łódź in the penalty shootout. In the second round of the European Cup, Lech faced Barcelona, coached by Johan Cruyff. After finishing the two games in a 1–1 draw, Barcelona, in the end the tournament, could only eliminate Lech in the penalty shootout.
Jerzy Kopa returned to Lech in 1990 along with Andrzej Strugarek and Kolejorz returned to be proclaimed league champions for the third time. Andrzej Juskowiak was the top scorer of the tournament with 18 goals and his team finished with 42 points, two more than the runner-up, Zagłębie Lubin. Henryk Apostel, however, was the coach who led Lech to two new championships in 1992 and 1993. The first one was achieved with a win over GKS Katowice, while the second one tied in points with the second team, Legia, and only won because Legia was penalized for disputed match fixing.
In the autumn of 1990, Lech played one of the most spectacular qualifiers of the last decade in the European Cup. At Bułgarska street stadium the Polish club defeated Olympique Marseille 3–2 in the first leg of the second round. The return match at the Stade Vélodrome, the French team, thrashed Lech 6–1, in a match in which most of the Polish players complained of food poisoning. Since 1993 the club entered into a major financial crisis and had to sell its most important players to continue in professional football.

New disappointments and successes (1994–present)

Lech managed to stay in the middle of the table and their best result was fourth place in 1999, which allowed him to play in the 1999–00 UEFA Cup, where they eliminated Liepājas Metalurgs in the qualifying round and were defeated by IFK Göteborg in the first round. However, just a few months later, in 2000, Lech was relegated to the second division after 28 years of presence in the top flight. Lech's first season in the second division was a disaster, as they were very close to falling to the third division. It was only with a great effort that the club was saved from relegation and even won the promotion the next season to the first division.

Robert Lewandowski scored 32 goals in 58 matches with Lech Poznań (2008–2010).

In their first year of the return to the I league (2002–03) Lech focused on ensuring permanence. The following season began with a very negative dynamic for the Kolejorz. After five days, the club hired a new coach, Czesław Michniewicz.[7] The unexpected appointment of the young coach turned out to be a shock, since Lech finished the season in sixth position. Most important, however, was the conquest of a Polish Cup by defeating their great rival, Legia Warsaw, in the final two games in 2004. Several days later, the fans in Poznań celebrated the victory of Lech in the Super Cup against Wisła Kraków. Although the next two seasons did not bring any success of that proportion, Lech managed to finish at the top of the table of each season with coach Franciszek Smuda.

Smuda formed a strong team with the arrival at the club of players like Robert Lewandowski, Hernan Rengifo, Semir Štilić, Marcin Zając and Rafał Murawski. In the Ekstraklasa 2008–09 season, Lech had a great season and finished in third place and qualified for the UEFA Europa League thanks, in part, to the 14 goals scored by Robert Lewandowski. On 19 May 2009, Lech won the Cup for the fifth time by beating Ruch Chorzów with a solo goal by Sławomir Peszko at Stadion Śląski.

The following season, Jacek Zieliński replaced Franciszek Smuda, who was hired as the manager of the Poland national team. With many of the players who achieved third place and the cup last season, Zieliński managed to lead Lech to the sixth championship in their history in the 2009–10 season. The striker Robert Lewandowski returned to be a reference in attack and was top scorer of the championship with 18 goals. In their participation in the 2010–11 Champions League, they were eliminated by Sparta Prague in the third round and without Lewandowski, who was transferred to Borussia Dortmund. One of their most successful European appearance was in the 2010–11 UEFA Europa League, in which they eliminated Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk to enter the group stage of the tournament for the first time. Lech finished second in their group with Manchester City, leaving Juventus and FC Salzburg out of the tournament. However, they were eliminated by S.C. Braga, runner-up of the tournament months later, in the round of 32 after winning in Poland (1–0) and losing in Portugal (2–0).

In the 2021–22 season, during which Lech celebrated its 100th anniversary, the team led by Maciej Skorża finished runners-up in the Polish Cup, losing 3–1 against Raków Częstochowa,[8] and won the club's eighth championship, their first in seven years.[9]

Honours

Domestic

  • Ekstraklasa (First Division):
    • Champions (8): 1982–83, 1983–84, 1989–90, 1991–92, 1992–93, 2009–10, 2014–15, 2021–22
  • Polish Cup:
    • Winners (5): 1981–82, 1983–84, 1987–88, 2003–04, 2008–09
    • Runners-up (6): 1979–80, 2010–11, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2021–22
  • Polish Super Cup:
    • Winners (6): 1990, 1992, 2004, 2009, 2015, 2016
    • Runners-up: 1983, 1988, 2010, 2022
  • Youth Teams
    • Polish U-19 Champion: 1987, 1995, 2018
    • Polish U-19 Runner-up: 1998, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2015
    • Polish U-19 Bronze Medal: 1937, 1985, 1992, 1994, 2014, 2016, 2017
    • Polish U-17 Champion: 2009, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017
    • Polish U-17 Runner-up: 1996, 2012, 2019, 2021
  • Ekstraklasa top goalscorers (12):
Teodor Anioła (1949 - 20, 1950 - 21, 1951 - 20)
Mirosław Okoński (1982–83 - 15)
Andrzej Juskowiak (1989–90 - 18)
Jerzy Podbrożny (1991–92 - 20, 1992–93 - 25)
Piotr Reiss (2006–07 - 15)
Robert Lewandowski (2009–10 - 18)
Artjoms Rudņevs (2011–12 - 22)
Marcin Robak (2016–17 - 18)
Christian Gytkjær (2019–20 - 24)

Europe

European participation

As of 16 December 2010, Lech Poznań had played a total of 62 games in European competition during the years 1978–10. Among the most memorable games in the club's history were the clashes against Barcelona in the 1988–89 season of the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup second round. After both matches ended with 1–1 draw, Lech Poznań lost the penalty shoot-out with 4–5. Barcelona eventually went on to win the tournament.

During the 1983–84 European Cup season, Lech earned a 2–0 win at home against Spanish champions Athletic Bilbao. During the 1990–91 season, Lech eliminated the Greek champions Panathinaikos in the first round, with a 5–1 score on aggregate. In the next tie Lech was knocked out by Marseille but won the first leg 3–2 at home.

During the 2008–09 UEFA Cup season, Lech made it to the group stage of the competition after knocking out higher seeded teams of Grasshopper (notching its greatest margin of victory with a 6–0 win at home) and Austria Wien (scoring the decisive goal in the last minute of extra-time). In the group stage, Lech finished third-placed ahead of Nancy and Feyenoord to secure a place in the Third Round, where it was knocked out by the Italian side Udinese.

Their home ground Stadion Poznań has been totally rebuilt and completed in September 2010 for UEFA Euro 2012, during which it is expected to host 3 games in Group C.

Burić
Bosacki
Arboleda
Kikut
Henríquez
Injac
Đurđević
Peszko
Krivets
Štilić
Rudņevs
Starting line-up for the 2010–11 UEFA Europa League group stage home match against Manchester City won by Lech 3–1.[10]

Kolejorz wrote another glorious chapter in club's history during its 2010–11 UEFA Europa League campaign. After being knocked out by Sparta Prague during Champions League qualification, they made it to the group stage of the Europa League. This time the Polish underdog had to face the big names: Juventus and Manchester City. In Turin a hat-trick by Artjoms Rudņevs earned them a surprising 3–3 draw. After defeating the English side at home 3–1, Lech made it to the top of the group. The game against Juventus was played in very bad, snowy conditions and ended in a 1–1 draw. This was enough to put Lech Poznań into the knockout phase of the Europa League.

List of results

As of 13 September 2022
CompetitionAppGamesWonDrawnLostGFGA
European Cup / UEFA Champions League826111142943
European Cup Winners' Cup / UEFA Cup Winners' Cup28422107
UEFA Cup / UEFA Europa League148033173011694
UEFA Europa Conference League1104422110
Intertoto Cup / UEFA Intertoto Cup630136115240
Overall31153653059228194
Season Competition Round Club Home Away Agg
1978–79 UEFA Cup 1R MSV Duisburg 2–5 0–5 2–10
1982–83 European Cup Winners' Cup 1R ÍBV 3–0 1–0 4–0
2R Aberdeen 0–1 0–2 0–3
1983–84 European Cup 1R Athletic Bilbao 2–0 0–4 2–4
1984–85 European Cup 1R Liverpool 0–1 0–4 0–5
1985 Intertoto Cup Group 3 Brøndby IF 5–1 0–2 2nd
Admira-Wacker Vienna 4–2 3–5
IFK Göteborg 1–4 2–0
1985–86 UEFA Cup 1R Borussia Mönchengladbach 0–2 1–1 1–3
1986 Intertoto Cup Group 9 Odense BK 1–1 5–1 1st
Siófoki Bányász 4–1 0–0
LASK Linz 0–0 1–1
1987 Intertoto Cup Group 6 AIK Solna 0–0 1–4 3rd
Plastika Nitra 3–0 1–2
Lyngby BK 0–1 0–0
1988–89 European Cup Winners' Cup 1R Flamurtari Vlorë 1–0 3–2 4–2
2R Barcelona 1–1 (a.e.t.) 1–1 2–2 (4–5 pen)
1990 Intertoto Cup Group 3 Bnei Yehuda Tel Aviv 3–0 4–2 1st
Maccabi Haifa 1–0 2–4
Siófok 3–1 2–0
1990–91 European Cup 1R Panathinaikos 3–0 2–1 5–1
2R Olympique de Marseille 3–2 1–6 4–8
1992–93 UEFA Champions League 1R Skonto 2–0 0–0 2–0
2R IFK Göteborg 0–3 0–1 0–4
1993–94 UEFA Champions League 1R Beitar Jerusalem 3–0 4–2 7–2
2R Spartak Moscow 1–5 1–2 2–7
1999–00 UEFA Cup Q Liepājas Metalurgs 3–1 2–3 5–4
1R IFK Göteborg 1–2 0–0 1–2
2004–05 UEFA Cup 2Q Terek Grozny 0–1 0–1 0–2
2005 UEFA Intertoto Cup 1R Karvan FK 2–0 2–1 4–1
2R RC Lens 0–1 1–2 1–3
2006 UEFA Intertoto Cup 2R FC Tiraspol 1–3 0–1 1–4
2008–09 UEFA Cup 1Q Khazar Lankaran 4–1 1–0 5–1
2Q Grasshopper 6–0 0–0 6–0
1R Austria Wien 4–2 (a.e.t.) 1–2 5–4
GR Nancy 2–2 3rd
CSKA Moscow 1–2
Deportivo La Coruña 1–1
Feyenoord 1–0
3R Udinese 2–2 1–2 3–4
2009–10 UEFA Europa League 3Q Fredrikstad 1–2 6–1 7–3
PO Club Brugge 1–0 0–1 (a.e.t.) 1–1 (3–4 pen)
2010–11 UEFA Champions League 2Q Inter Baku 0–1 (a.e.t.) 1–0 1–1 (9–8 pen)
3Q Sparta Praha 0–1 0–1 0–2
2010–11 UEFA Europa League PO Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk 0–0 1–0 1–0
GR Juventus 1–1 3–3 2nd
FC Salzburg 2–0 1–0
Manchester City 3–1 1–3
1/16 Braga 1–0 0–2 1–2
2012–13 UEFA Europa League 1Q Zhetysu 2–0 1–1 3–1
2Q Khazar Lankaran 1–0 1–1 2–1
3Q AIK 1–0 0–3 1–3
2013–14 UEFA Europa League 2Q FC Honka 2–1 3–1 5–2
3Q Žalgiris Vilnius 2–1 0–1 2–2 (a)
2014–15 UEFA Europa League 2Q Nõmme Kalju 3–0 0–1 3–1
3Q Stjarnan 0–0 0–1 0–1
2015–16 UEFA Champions League 2Q FK Sarajevo 1–0 2–0 3–0
3Q Basel 1–3 0–1 1–4
2015–16 UEFA Europa League PO Videoton 3–0 1–0 4–0
GR Belenenses 0–0 0–0 3rd
Basel 0–1 0–2
Fiorentina 0–2 2–1
2017–18 UEFA Europa League 1Q Pelister 4–0 3–0 7–0
2Q Haugesund 2–0 2–3 4–3
3Q Utrecht 2–2 0–0 2–2 (a)
2018–19 UEFA Europa League 1Q Gandzasar Kapan 2–0 1–2 3–2
2Q Shakhtyor Soligorsk 3–1 (a.e.t.) 1–1 4–2
3Q Genk 1–2 0–2 1–4
2020–21 UEFA Europa League 1Q Valmiera 3–0
2Q Hammarby IF 3–0
3Q Apollon Limassol 5–0
PO Charleroi 2–1
GR Benfica 2–4 0–4 4th
Rangers 0–2 0–1
Standard Liège 3–1 1–2
2022–23 UEFA Champions League 1Q Qarabağ 1–0 1–5 2–5
2022–23 UEFA Europa Conference League 2Q Dinamo Batumi 5–0 1–1 6–1
3Q Víkingur Reykjavík 4–1 (a.e.t.) 0–1 4–2
PO F91 Dudelange 2–0 1–1 3–1
GR Villarreal CF 3–4
Austria Wien 4–1
Hapoel Beer-Sheva 0–0 1–1

UEFA Team ranking

As of 12 August 2022.[11]

RankTeamPoints
168 Laçi7.500
168 Budućnost Podgorica7.500
168 Lech Poznań7.500
174 Randers7.000
174 Sarajevo7.000


Records

  • Highest victory, Ekstraklasa: 11–1 vs. Szombierki Bytom, 27 August 1950
  • Highest loss, Ekstraklasa: 0–8 vs. Wisła Kraków, 30 May 1976
  • Highest attendance overall: c. 65,000 vs. Zawisza Bydgoszcz, 25 June 1972
  • Highest attendance at the Stadion Poznań: c. 45,000 vs. Widzew Łódź, 8 April 1984
  • Highest average attendance, Ekstraklasa: 45,384 per game, in the 1972–1973 season (13 games)
  • Most appearances, Ekstraklasa: Hieronim Barczak, 367 (1973–86)
  • Most goals, Ekstraklasa: Teodor Anioła, 138 (1948–61)
  • Most goals in a season, Ekstraklasa: Jerzy Podbrożny, 25 (1992–93)
  • Most national caps: Luis Henríquez, 50 for Panama

Current squad

As of 30 August 2022[12]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK  UKR Artur Rudko (on loan from Metalist Kharkiv)
2 DF  POR Joel Pereira
3 DF  SCO Barry Douglas
5 DF  POR Pedro Rebocho
6 MF  SWE Jesper Karlström
7 MF  POR Afonso Sousa
9 FW  SWE Mikael Ishak (captain)
11 MF  POL Filip Marchwiński
14 MF  GEO Heorhiy Tsitaishvili (on loan from Dynamo Kyiv)
15 MF  POL Maksym Czekała
16 DF  CRO Antonio Milić
17 FW  POL Filip Szymczak
18 DF  POL Bartosz Salamon
19 FW  POL Norbert Pacławski
20 DF  POL Maksymilian Pingot
No. Pos. Nation Player
21 MF  POL Michał Skóraś
22 MF  POL Radosław Murawski
23 MF  NOR Kristoffer Velde
24 MF  POR João Amaral
25 DF  SWE Filip Dagerstål (on loan from Khimki)
27 DF  POL Mateusz Żukowski (on loan from Rangers)
30 MF  GEO Nika Kvekveskiri
31 GK  POL Krzysztof Bąkowski
35 GK  POL Filip Bednarek
37 DF  SVK Ľubomír Šatka
43 MF  POL Antoni Kozubal
44 DF  POL Alan Czerwiński
50 MF  CIV Adriel Ba Loua
74 MF  POL Jakub Antczak
90 FW  POL Artur Sobiech

Out on loan

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
28 DF  POL Filip Borowski (at Zagłębie Sosnowiec until the end of 2022–23 season)
No. Pos. Nation Player
33 GK  POL Bartosz Mrozek (at Stal Mielec until the end of 2022–23 season)

Retired numbers

12 - number retired for fans, called "the 12th player"[13]

Coaching staff

Position Staff
Manager John van den Brom
Assistant manager Denny Landzaat
Assistant coach Maciej Kędziorek
Assistant coach/Analyst Hubert Wędzonka
Assistant coach Dariusz Dudka
Goalkeeping coach Maciej Palczewski
Fitness coach Antonin Čepek
Fitness coach Karol Kikut
Match analyst Hubert Barański
Team Doctor Krzysztof Pawlaczyk
Team Doctor Paweł Cybulski
Team Doctor Andrzej Pyda
Team Doctor Damian Bartkiewicz
Physiotherapist Maciej Łopatka
Physiotherapist Marcin Lis
Physiotherapist Maciej Smuniewski
Physiotherapist Paweł Tota
Dietician Patryk Wiśniewski
Team Manager Mariusz Skrzypczak
Kit Manager Sławomir Mizgalski
Cook Artur Dzierzbicki

Source: Lech Poznań

Stadiums

Dębiec Stadium

Initially the club's first stadium was located in the Dębiec district between two train tracks.[14] It belonged to PKP (the Polish state railways) and was demolished in 2013 after a long period of inactivity.[15]

Edmund Szyc Stadium

Edmund Szyc Stadium is a currently ruined multi-purpose stadium in the Wilda district, named after Edmund Szyc, one of founders of Warta Poznań.[16] It is the historical home of the other football team Warta Poznań,[17] but Lech played there sporadically between the 1950s and 1970s.

Stadion Poznań

The Stadion Poznań is the home ground of Lech Poznań, and was one of the venues for the group phase of Euro 2012. It has a league capacity of 43,269 (all seated). The stadium was originally built between 1968 and 1980. From its inauguration in August 1980 Lech Poznań has used the ground as its main venue; since 2010 it has also been used by Warta Poznań, which currently plays in Ekstraklasa.[18] The ground is situated on the street ul. Bułgarska 17 in the southwestern part of the city (Grunwald district).

In the years 2003–10 the stadium underwent a complete reconstruction, including the building of four new fully covered stands.[19] Currently it is the fifth largest stadium in Poland (after National Stadium, Silesia Stadium, The Municipal Stadium in Wroclaw and PGE Arena Gdańsk) and third largest in Ekstraklasa (after the latter two).[20] The grand opening after final renovation took place on 20 September 2010, with Sting's Symphonicity Tour concert.

Fans

Lech Poznań is considered to have one of the strongest fan support in Poland due to the club's high average attendance in the Ekstraklasa and the atmosphere during the games.

Lech's fanbase is mainly located in the Greater Poland region, with fan clubs in many other towns.

Friendships and rivalries

For over a decade Lech supporters have a fellowship with fans from Arka Gdynia and KS Cracovia sometimes called the Wielka Triada or The Great Triad. Close friendship links Lech fans also with KSZO Ostrowiec Świętokrzyski and ŁKS Łódź supporters. Among the more ardent element of supporters, there are some private contacts with Fratria, fans of Spartak Moscow, and Crveni Đavoli, fans of Radnički Kragujevac from Serbia.

Lech supporters during 2014-15 Ekstraklasa season

The biggest rival is Legia Warsaw with whom they contest the "Derby of Poland". Wisła Kraków, Lechia Gdańsk and Śląsk Wrocław are also big rivals due to the fans friendship with Arka and Cracovia, similarly Korona Kielce are disliked due to the friendship with KSZO and Widzew Łódź due to ŁKS. Other teams that can be considered rivals are Ruch Chorzów and Pogoń Szczecin. In past the "Greater Poland derby" was played against regional rivals Dyskobolia Grodzisk Wielkopolski before their decline.

Relations with local rival Warta Poznań are neutral as the clubs have almost always played in different leagues and many fans attend matches of both teams.

The Poznań

The fans' goal celebration involving the turning of their backs to the pitch, joining arms and jumping up and down in unisonoriginated in 1961. It is known in the English speaking world as "The Poznan" after Manchester City began using the celebration following their clash with Lech Poznań in the group stages of the 2010–11 UEFA Europa League. Also popular with fans of Scottish club Celtic who call their version "The Huddle", in homage to the team's pre-match ritual of a huddle before every game kicks off.

Rap music

Many Polish rappers who hail from Poznań have been strongly linked to the Lech supporter scene and the club prominently features in their music. Peja was an ardent supporter since he was 15 years old, and was active in the hooligan scene in the 90s.[21][22] Evtis,[23] Ascetoholix,[24][25] Bzyk[26] and DJ Decks are all prominent supporters. The fans have produced recorded and released two rap CD's called Definicja Kibol and Definicja Kibol 2 as compilation of various artists.[27][28]

Other departments

Lech Poznań II

The club operates a reserve team which currently plays in II liga, the third tier of the league pyramid.

They gained promotion in the 2003–04 season to the third tier after winning the league and beating Jarota Jarocin 2–0 twice, 4–0 on aggregate. In that same season they reached the First Round of the Polish Cup but were knocked out by Górnik Konin 3–1. In the 2006–07 season the reserve teams were scrapped in favour of a central youth league, but in the 2013–14 season they were reinstated, meaning that between 2007 and 2013 the team ceased to exist. They were reinstated to their previous league position for the 2013–14 season.

Lech Poznań UAM

Lech's women section was opened on 26 August 2021.[29] It was formed through a partnership with Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań. It currently competes in the fourth women's league, and is coached by Alicja Zając.

Lech Poznań Academy

The Lech Poznań Academy (Polish: Akademia Lecha Poznań) is the club's youth system, with several teams across all children's ages up until its most senior U-19 youth team.[30] The teams play in the Central Junior League, which was at first formed to replace the clubs' reserve teams which participated in the league pyramid. The club's youth system is the most extensive and advanced in the country and has produced many players which went on to play in the senior team.

KKS Wiara Lecha

KKS Wiara Lecha is a football club founded by Lech Poznań supporters in 2011. Only active supporters can play in the team and they have to have made a contribution to the supporter scene in order to be admitted to the squad.

Notable players

  • Teodor Anioła - striker, the best all-time scorer in club's history with 141 goals in the First league (1948–57).
  • Jarosław Araszkiewicz - midfielder/striker, won all five championship titles with Lech Poznań. Finished his career in the age of 38.
  • Jacek Bąk - defender, played in the 2002 FIFA World Cup and 2006 FIFA World Cup, former player of French clubs Lyon and Lens.
  • Jarosław Bako – the goalkeeper of Poland national football team in the early 1990s.
  • Hieronim Barczak - defender, 367 league appearances for Lech.
  • Jan Bednarek - defender, midfielder, Polish national team member in the 2018 FIFA World Cup, currently playing for Southampton.
  • Edmund Białas - striker, along with Anioła and Henryk Czapczyk, created an offensive trio called A-B-C, which was very successful in the 1950s.
  • Bartosz Bosacki - defender, played in the 2006 FIFA World Cup scoring two goals against Costa Rica, and in Bundesliga for 1. FC Nürnberg.
  • Jerzy Brzęczek - midfielder, silver medalist with Poland in the 1992 Summer Olympics, former Polish national team captain.
  • Jimmy Conrad - defender, USA national team member in the 2006 FIFA World Cup.
  • Henryk Czapczyk - vice-captain and later coach of Lech during the club's rise in the 50s and 60s.
  • Jacek Dembiński - striker, played in German Bundesliga with Hamburger SV, currently plays for Lech.
  • Ivan Djurdjevic - midfielder, played over 100 games for Lech, managed the reserve team and 1st team of Lech in 2018, currently the manager of Chrobry Głogów.
  • Roman Jakóbczak - midfielder, Polish national team member in the 1974 FIFA World Cup.
  • Andrzej Juskowiak - striker, silver medalist with Poland in the 1992 Summer Olympics, former player of Sporting Lisbon, Olympiacos, Borussia Mönchengladbach and VfL Wolfsburg.
  • Mirosław Justek - defender, Polish national team member in the 1978 FIFA World Cup.
  • Jerzy Karasiński - goalkeeper, considered one of Lech Poznań's all-time best players, prominent during a lean period in the club's history
  • Waldemar Kryger - defender, former player of German club VfL Wolfsburg.
  • Janusz Kupcewicz - midfielder, bronze medalist in the 1982 FIFA World Cup.
  • Robert Lewandowski - striker, played in the 2018 FIFA World Cup holding a record of scoring 16 goals in a single European Qualification stage, currently playing for Barcelona.
  • Karol Linetty - midfielder, Polish national team member in the UEFA Euro 2016, currently playing for Sampdoria.
  • Adam Majewski - midfielder, Polish national team member in 2001
  • Henryk Miłoszewicz - midfielder, Polish national team member in 1980
  • Mariusz Mowlik - defender, Polish national team member in 2004, Piotr's son.
  • Piotr Mowlik - goalkeeper, Polish national team member 1974–1981, Mariusz's father.
  • Mirosław Okoński - striker, one of the club's icons, especially loved by the fans, after winning two consecutive championships with Lech in 1983 and 1984, transferred to Hamburger SV, played also for Greek side AEK.
  • Bogusław Pachelski - prolific striker who scored 41 goals in 149 appearances over 5 years.
  • Krzysztof Pawlak - defender, played in the 1986 FIFA World Cup.
  • Jerzy Podbrożny - played also in MLS with the Chicago Fire.
  • Arkadiusz Radomski - began his career with Lech, then moved to Dutch side SC Heerenveen, now playing for NEC. Made his appearance in the 2006 FIFA World Cup.
  • Piotr Reiss - striker, played also for Hertha BSC and MSV Duisburg.
  • Hernan Rengifo - striker, played in Peru.
  • Artjoms Rudnevs - striker, played for German clubs Hamburger SV and 1. FC Köln.
  • Piotr Świerczewski - midfielder, silver medalist with Poland in the 1992 Summer Olympics, played in the 2002 FIFA World Cup, former Bastia, Saint-Étienne and Marseille player.
  • Łukasz Teodorczyk - striker, currently playing for L.R. Vicenza.
  • Mirosław Trzeciak - striker, played in Spanish clubs Osasuna and Poli Ejido.
  • Maciej Żurawski - striker, played in the 2002 FIFA World Cup and 2006 FIFA World Cup, after playing for Lech, transferred to Wisła Kraków, then to Celtic, and on to Omonia.

Managers

  • Stanisław Kwiatkowski (Jan 1932–June 36)
  • László Marcai (July 1936–May 38)
  • A. Klemens Pawlak (May 1938–August 39)
  • Franciszek Bródka (July 1945–August 46)
  • Pavel Lovas (August 1945–March 47)
  • Franciszek Bródka (April 1947–May 48)
  • Marcel Demeunyck (June 1948–Feb 49)
  • Antoni Böttcher (March 1949–Dec 49)
  • Artur Walter (Jan 1950–May 50)
  • Antoni Böttcher & F. Bródka (June 1950–June 51)
  • Mieczysław Balcer (June 1951–Dec 52)
  • Artur Woźniak (Jan 1953–July 53)
  • Edmund Białas (August 1953–Dec 53)
  • Mieczysław Tarka (Jan 1954–June 57)
  • Edmund Białas (June 1957–July 57)
  • Vilém Lugr (August 1957–Nov 58)
  • Henryk Czapczyk (Dec 1959–Sept 61)
  • Mieczysław Tarka (Sept 1961–Nov 62)
  • Zygfryd Słoma (Nov 1962–June 63)
  • Edward Drabski (Aug 1963–April 64)
  • Henryk Czapczyk (April 1964–June 64)
  • Zygfryd Słoma (July 1964–Sept 65)
  • Edmund Białas (Sept 1965–May 66)
  • Edward Brzozowski (May 1966–July 66)
  • Edmund Białas (July 1966–Oct 66)
  • Mieczysław Tarka (Oct 1966–Dec 68)
  • Edmund Białas (Sept 1969–June 72)
  • Mieczysław Chudziak (July 1972–Aug 72)
  • Augustyn Dziwisz (Aug 1972–April 73)
  • Janusz Pekowski (April 1973–June 75)
  • Aleksander Hradecki (July 1975–March 76)
  • M. Chudziak & E. Białas (April 1976–Sept 76)
  • Jerzy Kopa (1 Oct 1976–20 Oct 79)
  • Roman Łoś (Aug 1978, Oct 1979–Dec 79)
  • Wojciech Łazarek (1 Jan 1981–31 Dec 84)
  • Leszek Jezierski & Jacek Machciński (Jan 1985–May 86)
  • Włodzimierz Jakubowski (May 1985–Nov 86)
  • Bronisław Waligóra (Dec 1986–Aug 87)
  • J. Kasalik & T. Napierała (May 1987, Sept 1987)
  • Grzegorz Szerszenowicz (Sept 1987–June 88)
  • Henryk Apostel (1 July 1988–30 Nov 88)
  • Andrzej Strugarek (Dec 1988–Aug 89)
  • J. Kopa & A. Strugarek (22 Aug 1989–19 May 91)
  • Henryk Apostel (20 May 1991–5 April 93)
  • Roman Jakóbczak (6 April 1993–19 Oct 93)
  • Jan Stępczak (Nov 1993–June 94)
  • Ryszard Matłoka (March 1994)
  • Romuald Szukiełowicz (July 1994–June 95)
  • Zbigniew Franiak (1 July 1995–9 May 96)
  • Remigiusz Marchlewicz (May 1996–June 96)
  • Ryszard Polak (July 1996–May 97)
  • Remigiusz Marchlewicz (May 1997–June 97)
  • Krzysztof Pawlak (1 July 1997–18 March 98)
  • Remigiusz Marchlewicz (March 1998)
  • Jerzy Kopa (23 March 1998–29 April 98)
  • Remigiusz Marchlewicz (April 1998–May 98)
  • Adam Topolski (17 May 1998–5 Sept 99)
  • Marian Kurowski (9 Sept 1999–9 April 00)
  • Zbigniew Franiak (10 April 2000–17 April 00)
  • Wojciech Wąsikiewicz (17 April 2000–28 May 00)
  • Adolf Pinter (29 May 2000–28 Aug 00)
  • Adam Topolski (29 Aug 2000–1 April 01)
  • Bogusław Baniak (1 April 2001–30 Sept 02)
  • Czesław Jakołcewicz (30 Sept 2002–12 Feb 03)
  • Bohumil Páník (12 Feb 2003-5 June 03)
  • Libor Pala (6 June 2003–15 Sept 03)
  • Czesław Michniewicz (15 Sept 2003-17 May 06)
  • Franciszek Smuda (17 May 2006-5 June 09)
  • Jacek Zieliński (5 June 2009–2 Nov 10)
  • José Mari Bakero (3 Nov 2010–24 Feb 12)
  • Mariusz Rumak (27 Feb 2012–12 Aug 14)
  • Krzysztof Chrobak (12 Aug 2014–1 Sept 14)
  • Maciej Skorża (1 Sept 2014–12 Oct 15)
  • Jan Urban (12 Oct 2015–29 Aug 2016)
  • Nenad Bjelica (30 Aug 2016–10 May 2018)[31]
  • Rafał Ulatowski (10 May 2018–30 Jun 2018)[31][32]
  • Ivan Đurđević (1 Jul 2018–4 Nov 2018)[32][33]
  • Adam Nawałka (25 Nov 2018–31 Mar 2019)[34][35]
  • Dariusz Żuraw (31 March 2019 – 6 April 2021)[36]
  • Maciej Skorża (12 April 2021 – 6 June 2022)[37]
  • John van den Brom (19 June 2022 – present[38])

See also

References

  1. "Kolejowy Klub Sportowy "LECH" w Poznaniu". www.szukajwarchiwach.gov.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 20 March 2022.
  2. "KKS Lech Poznań - Strona Oficjalna". Archived from the original on 14 October 2012. Retrieved 7 December 2011.
  3. "1922 do dziś". Lech Poznań. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
  4. "HISTORIA LECHA POZNAŃ" (in Polish). lechita.net. Retrieved 5 November 2017.
  5. "Boiskowy Diabeł - Teodor Anioła" (in Polish). lechpoznan.pl. 22 November 2007. Retrieved 6 November 2017.
  6. "W Lechu powtórka cudu?" (in Polish). przegladsportowy.pl. 17 September 2014. Retrieved 6 November 2017.
  7. "Czesław Michniewicz: Dron meczu nie wygra, ale kilka punktów pomoże zdobyć" (in Polish). wyborcza.pl. 24 December 2016. Retrieved 8 November 2017.
  8. "Fortuna Puchar Polski. Raków broni trofeum! Czarna passa Lecha trwa". sport.tvp.pl/ (in Polish). 2 May 2022. Retrieved 14 June 2022.
  9. "Oficjalnie: Lech Poznań mistrzem Polski. Na kolejny tytuł czekał siedem lat". gol24.pl (in Polish). 14 May 2022. Retrieved 14 June 2022.
  10. "Bakero inspires Lech to City scalp". UEFA. 4 November 2010. Retrieved 8 November 2016.
  11. "Club coefficients | UEFA Coefficients". UEFA.com.
  12. "Pierwsza drużyna" (in Polish). Lech Poznań. Retrieved 16 February 2022.
  13. "Jóźwiak z "7", Gytkjaer z "9"" (in Polish). Lech Poznań. 5 July 2019. Retrieved 5 July 2019.
  14. "Poznań: Na dawny stadion na Dębcu nie ma chętnych. Kiedy znikną ruiny?". 12 February 2013.
  15. "Burzą stary stadion Lecha żeby zaoszczędzić".
  16. "Warta była sensem istnienia mojego ojca". 3 April 2016.
  17. "Widok jak z horroru w samym centrum miasta. Stadion, który straszy od lat – Magazyn WP".
  18. Zenon Kubiak (12 March 2010). "To pewne - Warta będzie grała na Bułgarskiej - Wieści - MM Moje Miasto" (in Polish). Mmpoznan.pl. Retrieved 7 December 2011.
  19. "Stadion Miejski w Poznaniu (Stadion Lecha Poznań) –". Stadiony.net. Retrieved 7 December 2011.
  20. "Stadiony piłkarskie w Polsce –". Stadiony.net. Retrieved 7 December 2011.
  21. "PEJA SLUMS ATTACK - Oficjalna strona!".
  22. "Peja o kibicach Lecha: w pełni ich rozumiem. Każdemu może skończyć się cierpliwość". epoznan.pl.
  23. "To, że jeszcze żyjesz oznacza, że mnie nie spotkałeś! – raper i kibol grozi "lemingom"".
  24. "Liber: Szacun u kibiców - LOTTO Ekstraklasa - Strona oficjalna". Archived from the original on 7 June 2019.
  25. "Czysta Gra w Radiu Eska". 20 February 2007.
  26. "Raper Bzyk: KOD broni demokracji?! Za Tuska za podobne transparenty były pały i gaz". niezalezna.pl.
  27. "Raperzy z Wiary Lecha. Zobacz ich w teledysku "Fanatycy Kolejorza" i na zdjęciach!". 30 October 2012.
  28. "Nadchodzi Definicja Kibol II - KKSLECH.com - KKS Lech Poznań - Serwis nieoficjalny".
  29. "Lech Poznań z sekcją kobiecą" (in Polish). Lech Poznań. 26 August 2021.
  30. "Akademia Lecha otwarta" (in Polish). Lech Poznań. 19 September 2012.
  31. "Bjelica odchodzi z Lecha". Lech Poznań. 10 May 2018. Retrieved 17 May 2018.
  32. "Ivan Djurdjević trenerem Lecha od nowego sezonu" (in Polish). Lech Poznań. 17 May 2018. Retrieved 3 June 2018.
  33. "Ivan Djurdjević nie jest już trenerem Lecha" (in Polish). Lech Poznań. 4 November 2018. Retrieved 16 May 2019.
  34. "Adam Nawałka trenerem Lecha Poznań" (in Polish). Lech Poznań. 25 November 2018. Retrieved 16 May 2019.
  35. "Trener Adam Nawałka odchodzi z Lecha" (in Polish). Lech Poznań. 31 March 2019. Retrieved 16 May 2019.
  36. "Dariusz Żuraw odchodzi z Lecha". 90minut. 6 April 2021. Retrieved 6 April 2021.
  37. "Wielki powrót na Bułgarską! Trener Maciej Skorża znów poprowadzi Lecha Poznań". Lech Poznań's Twitter. 10 April 2021. Retrieved 11 April 2021.
  38. "John van den Brom trenerem Lecha" (in Polish). Lech Poznań. 19 June 2022.

Bibliography

  • Jarosław Owsiański, Lech Poznań – przemilczana prawda, Poznań: Drukarnia Beyga, 2017, 978-83-939221-6-1.
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