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Lech Poznań

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
For other uses, see Lech (disambiguation).
For the basketball section, see Lech Poznań (basketball).

Lech Poznań
Full nameKolejowy Klub Sportowy Lech Poznań S.A.[1]
Nickname(s)Kolejorz (The Railwayman)
Pyry (Greater Poland potatoes)
KKS
Duma Wielkopolski (The Pride of Greater Poland)
Poznańska Lokomotywa (The Poznań Locomotive)
Founded19 March 1922; 102 years ago (1922-03-19)
(as KS Lutnia Dębiec)
GroundEnea Stadion
Capacity42,837[2]
OwnerPiotr Rutkowski (66,66%)[3]
Maja Rutkowska (33,33%)[4]
Co-chairmenKarol Klimczak
Piotr Rutkowski
Head coachNiels Frederiksen
LeagueEkstraklasa
2023–24Ekstraklasa, 5th of 18
Websitehttp://www.lechpoznan.pl/
Current season

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 was established on 19 March 1922 as KS Lutnia Dębiec, later changing its name several times. 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.[5]

Names

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Years Name
1920–1922 KS Lutnia Dębiec
1922–1925 TS Liga Dębiec
1925–1930 TS Liga Poznań
1930–1933 KS KPW Poznań Dworzec
1933–1945 KS KPW Poznań
1945–1948 KKS Poznań
1948–1949 KS ZZK Poznań
1949–1957 ZS Kolejarz Poznań
1957 KS Lech Poznań
1957–1994 KKS Lech Poznań
1994–1998 PKP Lech Poznań
1998–2006 WKP Lech Poznań
2006– KKS Lech Poznań

History

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Formation and early years (1920–1945)

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In August 1920, a group of young teenagers 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.[6] 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.

Historic Ty51 steam locomotive with the Lech Poznań crest, representing the club's traditions, by the stadium in Poznań

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 Błażejewko (1947–1979)

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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, lost 3–4.

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).[7] 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 top division twice, as the best result, before its relegation to second division.

Lech managed to return to the top 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 Błażejewko, 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 Błażejewko.[8] 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)

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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 Wrocław.

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, Liverpool F.C., 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)

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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.[9] 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,[10] and won the club's eighth championship, their first in seven years.[11]

Skorża left the team shortly after, citing personal reasons, and was replaced by Dutchman John van den Brom for the 2022–23 season. Lech crashed out of the UEFA Champions League first qualifying round after losing to Azerbaijani side Qarabağ 1–5 on aggregate.[12] The team went on to have a successful UEFA Europa Conference League campaign, reaching second place in the group stage which included Villarreal, Austria Wien and Hapoel Be'er Sheva,[13] then eliminating Nordic teams Bodø/Glimt and Djurgårdens IF to reach the quarter-finals,[14] where their successful run ended after a 4–6 defeat on aggregate to Fiorentina.[15] They were the first Polish team to win a knockout phase round of a European competition that took place after the winter break since Legia Warsaw in 1991, and the first to move through two post-winter rounds since Górnik Zabrze in 1970.[16]

The following 2023–24 campaign was marked by disappointment. Lech failed to progress past the third qualifying round of the Europa Conference League, losing to Slovak side Spartak Trnava 3–4 on aggregate, despite winning the first game at home 2–1.[17] In December 2023, trailing in the league by eight points by the winter break, van den Brom was dismissed and replaced with Mariusz Rumak,[18] returning to the role after nine-and-a-half years. Lech's form did not improve under Rumak; they were unable to take the lead in the table, lost to lower-placed teams Puszcza Niepołomice and Ruch Chorzów,[19][20] and were eliminated from the 2023–24 Polish Cup after conceding in the 119th minute of a quarter-final match against Pogoń Szczecin.[21] Still in title contention with three games to go,[22] Lech finished the season in 5th after losing at home to Korona Kielce on 25 May, hours after their reserve team was demoted to the fourth division,[23] allowing Korona to stay in the top-flight in lieu of Lech's neighbors Warta.[24][25]

Honours

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Domestic

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League

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Lech players celebrate winning the 2014–15 league title

Cup

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Lech players celebrate winning the 2015 Polish Super Cup

Europe

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Youth

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European participation

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Lech Poznań has played over 150 matches in European competition since 1978. 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 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.

Starting line-up for the 2010–11 UEFA Europa League group stage home match against Manchester City won by Lech 3–1.[26]

The 2010–11 European campaign saw Lech not only qualify for the group stage of the Europa League, but also progress from the group stage ahead of Italian giants Juventus, before losing at the Round of 32 to eventual finalists Braga. In the 2022–23 season, Lech reached their first ever European quarter-final at the Conference League, losing to Italian club Fiorentina.

List of results

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As of 17 August 2023
Competition App Games Won Drawn Lost GF GA
European Cup / UEFA Champions League 8 26 11 1 14 29 43
European Cup Winners' Cup / UEFA Cup Winners' Cup 2 8 4 2 2 10 7
UEFA Cup / UEFA Europa League 14 80 33 17 30 116 94
UEFA Europa Conference League 2 22 12 6 4 43 23
Intertoto Cup / UEFA Intertoto Cup 6 30 13 6 11 52 40
Overall 32 166 73 32 61 250 207
Season Competition Round Opponent Home Away Agg
1978–79 UEFA Cup 1R Germany MSV Duisburg 2–5 0–5 2–10
1982–83 European Cup Winners' Cup 1R Iceland ÍBV 3–0 1–0 4–0
2R Scotland Aberdeen 0–1 0–2 0–3
1983–84 European Cup 1R Spain Athletic Bilbao 2–0 0–4 2–4
1984–85 European Cup 1R England Liverpool 0–1 0–4 0–5
1985 Intertoto Cup Group 3 Denmark Brøndby 5–1 0–2 2nd
Austria Admira-Wacker Vienna 4–2 3–5
Sweden IFK Göteborg 1–4 2–0
1985–86 UEFA Cup 1R Germany Borussia Mönchengladbach 0–2 1–1 1–3
1986 Intertoto Cup Group 9 Denmark Odense BK 1–1 5–1 1st
Hungary Siófoki Bányász 4–1 0–0
Austria LASK 0–0 1–1
1987 Intertoto Cup Group 6 Sweden AIK 0–0 1–4 3rd
Czechoslovakia Plastika Nitra 3–0 1–2
Denmark Lyngby BK 0–1 0–0
1988–89 European Cup Winners' Cup 1R Albania Flamurtari 1–0 3–2 4–2
2R Spain Barcelona 1–1 (a.e.t.) 1–1 2–2 (4–5 pen)
1990 Intertoto Cup Group 3 Israel Bnei Yehuda Tel Aviv 3–0 4–2 1st
Israel Maccabi Haifa 1–0 2–4
Hungary Siófok 3–1 2–0
1990–91 European Cup 1R Greece Panathinaikos 3–0 2–1 5–1
2R France Marseille 3–2 1–6 4–8
1992–93 UEFA Champions League 1R Latvia Skonto 2–0 0–0 2–0
2R Sweden IFK Göteborg 0–3 0–1 0–4
1993–94 UEFA Champions League 1R Israel Beitar Jerusalem 3–0 4–2 7–2
2R Russia Spartak Moscow 1–5 1–2 2–7
1999–00 UEFA Cup Q Latvia Liepājas Metalurgs 3–1 2–3 5–4
1R Sweden IFK Göteborg 1–2 0–0 1–2
2004–05 UEFA Cup 2Q Russia Terek Grozny 0–1 0–1 0–2
2005 UEFA Intertoto Cup 1R Azerbaijan Karvan FK 2–0 2–1 4–1
2R France RC Lens 0–1 1–2 1–3
2006 UEFA Intertoto Cup 2R Moldova Tiraspol 1–3 0–1 1–4
2008–09 UEFA Cup 1Q Azerbaijan Khazar Lankaran 4–1 1–0 5–1
2Q Switzerland Grasshopper 6–0 0–0 6–0
1R Austria Austria Wien 4–2 (a.e.t.) 1–2 5–4
GR France Nancy 2–2 — 3rd
Russia CSKA Moscow — 1–2
Spain Deportivo La Coruña 1–1 —
Netherlands Feyenoord — 1–0
3R Italy Udinese 2–2 1–2 3–4
2009–10 UEFA Europa League 3Q Norway Fredrikstad 1–2 6–1 7–3
PO Belgium Club Brugge 1–0 0–1 (a.e.t.) 1–1 (3–4 pen)
2010–11 UEFA Champions League 2Q Azerbaijan Inter Baku 0–1 (a.e.t.) 1–0 1–1 (9–8 pen)
3Q Czech Republic Sparta Praha 0–1 0–1 0–2
2010–11 UEFA Europa League PO Ukraine Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk 0–0 1–0 1–0
GR Italy Juventus 1–1 3–3 2nd
Austria Red Bull Salzburg 2–0 1–0
England Manchester City 3–1 1–3
1/16 Portugal Braga 1–0 0–2 1–2
2012–13 UEFA Europa League 1Q Kazakhstan Zhetysu 2–0 1–1 3–1
2Q Azerbaijan Khazar Lankaran 1–0 1–1 2–1
3Q Sweden AIK 1–0 0–3 1–3
2013–14 UEFA Europa League 2Q Finland FC Honka 2–1 3–1 5–2
3Q Lithuania Žalgiris Vilnius 2–1 0–1 2–2 (a)
2014–15 UEFA Europa League 2Q Estonia Nõmme Kalju 3–0 0–1 3–1
3Q Iceland Stjarnan 0–0 0–1 0–1
2015–16 UEFA Champions League 2Q Bosnia and Herzegovina Sarajevo 1–0 2–0 3–0
3Q Switzerland Basel 1–3 0–1 1–4
2015–16 UEFA Europa League PO Hungary Videoton 3–0 1–0 4–0
GR Portugal Belenenses 0–0 0–0 3rd
Switzerland Basel 0–1 0–2
Italy Fiorentina 0–2 2–1
2017–18 UEFA Europa League 1Q North Macedonia Pelister 4–0 3–0 7–0
2Q Norway Haugesund 2–0 2–3 4–3
3Q Netherlands Utrecht 2–2 0–0 2–2 (a)
2018–19 UEFA Europa League 1Q Armenia Gandzasar Kapan 2–0 1–2 3–2
2Q Belarus Shakhtyor Soligorsk 3–1 (a.e.t.) 1–1 4–2
3Q Belgium Genk 1–2 0–2 1–4
2020–21 UEFA Europa League 1Q Latvia Valmiera 3–0 — —
2Q Sweden Hammarby IF — 3–0 —
3Q Cyprus Apollon Limassol — 5–0 —
PO Belgium Charleroi — 2–1 —
GR Portugal Benfica 2–4 0–4 4th
Scotland Rangers 0–2 0–1
Belgium Standard Liège 3–1 1–2
2022–23 UEFA Champions League 1Q Azerbaijan Qarabağ 1–0 1–5 2–5
2022–23 UEFA Europa Conference League 2Q Georgia (country) Dinamo Batumi 5–0 1–1 6–1
3Q Iceland Víkingur Reykjavík 4–1 (a.e.t.) 0–1 4–2
PO Luxembourg F91 Dudelange 2–0 1–1 3–1
GR Spain Villarreal 3–0 3–4 2nd
Austria Austria Wien 4–1 1–1
Israel Hapoel Beer-Sheva 0–0 1–1
KPO Norway Bodø/Glimt 1–0 0–0 1–0
1/8 Sweden Djurgårdens IF 2–0 3–0 5–0
QF Italy Fiorentina 1–4 3–2 4–6
2023–24 UEFA Europa Conference League 2Q Lithuania Kauno Žalgiris 3–1 2–1 5–2
3Q Slovakia Spartak Trnava 2–1 2–2 4-3
2023–24 UEFA Europa Conference League Play-off round Croatia Rijeka 2–1 1–1 (a.e.t.) 3–2
Group A Slovenia Olimpija Ljubljana 2–0 2–0 1st
Faroe Islands KÍ 3–0 0–0
Slovakia Slovan Bratislava 2–1 1–1
Round of 16 Austria Sturm Graz 1–1 3–0 4–1
Quarter-finals England Aston Villa 2–1 (a.e.t.) 1–2 3–3 (3–4 p)
2024–25 UEFA Europa League League Phase  France Lyon 2–0 (A)
 Portugal Braga 3–0 (H)
 Sweden Malmö 0–1 (A)
 Scotland Rangers 1–1 (H)
 Romania FCSB 1-0 (A)
 Netherlands Twente
 Portugal Porto
 Azerbaijan Qarabağ

UEFA Team ranking

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See also: UEFA coefficient

As of 31 October 2023.[27]

Rank Team Points
75 Belgium Royal Antwerp 21.000
76 Germany Borussia Mönchengladbach 21.000
77 Poland Lech Poznań 20.500
78 Germany SC Freiburg 19.000
79 Bulgaria Ludogorets Razgrad 19.000

Best results in European competitions

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Season Achievement Notes
European Cup/UEFA Champions League
1990–91 Round of 16 lost to France Marseille 3–2 in Poznań, 1–6 in Marseille
UEFA Cup Winners' Cup
1982–83 Round of 16 lost to Scotland Aberdeen 0–2 in Aberdeen, 0–1 in Poznań
1988–89 Round of 16 lost to Spain Barcelona 1–1 in Barcelona, 1–1 (a.e.t., 4–5 pen) in Poznań
UEFA Conference League
2022–23 Quarter-final lost to Italy Fiorentina 1–4 in Poznań, 3–2 in Florence

Records

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Current squad

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As of 23 September 2024[28]

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

No. Pos. Nation Player
2 DF Portugal POR Joel Pereira
3 DF Sweden SWE Alex Douglas
5 DF Sweden SWE Elias Andersson
7 MF Portugal POR Afonso Sousa
8 MF Iran IRN Ali Gholizadeh
9 FW Sweden SWE Mikael Ishak (captain)
10 FW Sweden SWE Patrik Wålemark (on loan from Feyenoord)
11 FW Finland FIN Daniel Håkans
15 DF Poland POL Michał Gurgul
16 DF Croatia CRO Antonio Milić
17 FW Poland POL Filip Szymczak
18 DF Poland POL Bartosz Salamon
19 FW Norway NOR Bryan Fiabema
20 DF United States USA Ian Hoffmann
21 MF Bosnia and Herzegovina BIH Dino Hotić
No. Pos. Nation Player
22 MF Poland POL Radosław Murawski (vice-captain)
24 MF Poland POL Filip Jagiełło
25 DF Sweden SWE Filip Dagerstål
31 GK Poland POL Mateusz Mędrala
33 MF Bosnia and Herzegovina BIH Stjepan Lončar
35 GK Poland POL Filip Bednarek
41 GK Poland POL Bartosz Mrozek
43 MF Poland POL Antoni Kozubal
44 MF Poland POL Tymoteusz Gmur
50 MF Ivory Coast CIV Adriel Ba Loua
54 MF Poland POL Filip Wilak
55 DF Poland POL Maksymilian Pingot
56 MF Poland POL Kornel Lisman
90 DF Poland POL Wojciech Mońka

Out on loan

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

No. Pos. Nation Player
28 DF Poland POL Filip Borowski (at Ruch Chorzów until 30 June 2025)
74 MF Poland POL Jakub Antczak (at GKS Katowice until 30 June 2025)
— GK Poland POL Krzysztof Bąkowski (at Stal Rzeszów until 30 June 2025)
No. Pos. Nation Player
— MF Poland POL Maksymilian Dziuba (at GKS Tychy until 30 June 2025)
— GK Poland POL Mateusz Pruchniewski (at Pogoń Siedlce until 30 June 2025)
— DF Poland POL Bartosz Tomaszewski (at Stal Stalowa Wola until 30 June 2025)

Retired numbers

[edit]

Coaching staff

[edit]
As of 19 July 2024[28]
Position Staff
Manager Denmark Niels Frederiksen
Assistant manager Norway Sindre Tjelmeland
Assistant coaches Poland Dariusz Dudka
Poland Hubert Wędzonka
Goalkeeping coach Poland Dominik Kubiak
Fitness coaches Czech Republic Antonin Čepek
Poland Karol Kikut
Match analyst Poland Hubert Barański
Head of medical department Poland Rafał Hejna
Team doctor Poland Patryk Buliński
Poland Tomasz Jaśkowiak
Physiotherapists Poland Bartosz Górecki
Poland Marcin Lis
Poland Maciej Łopatka
Poland Maciej Smuniewski
Dietician Poland Patryk Wiśniewski
Team manager Poland Mariusz Skrzypczak
Kit manager Poland Sławomir Mizgalski
Cook Poland Artur Dzierzbicki

Source: Lech Poznań

Stadiums

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Dębiec Stadium

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Initially the club's first stadium was located in the Dębiec district between two train tracks.[30] It belonged to PKP (the Polish state railways) and was demolished in 2013 after a long period of inactivity.[31]

Edmund Szyc Stadium

[edit]
Main article: Stadion Edmunda Szyca

Edmund Szyc Stadium is a currently ruined multi-purpose stadium in the Wilda district, named after Edmund Szyc, one of founders of Warta Poznań.[32] It is the historical home of the other football team Warta Poznań,[33] but Lech played there sporadically between the 1950s and 1970s.

Stadion Poznań

[edit]
Main article: 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 42,837 (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 Fortuna 1. Liga.[34] 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.[35] Currently it is the fifth largest stadium in Poland (after Kazimierz Górski National Stadium, Silesia Stadium, The Municipal Stadium in Wroclaw and PGE Arena Gdańsk) and third largest in Ekstraklasa (after the latter two).[36] The grand opening after final renovation took place on 20 September 2010, with Sting's Symphonicity Tour concert.

  • Exterior of the municipal stadium in Poznań
    Exterior of the municipal stadium in Poznań
  • Full Exterior of the stadium
    Full Exterior of the stadium
  • Full interior showing vip stand
    Full interior showing vip stand
  • Interior of the municipal stadium
    Interior of the municipal stadium

Fans

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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

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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

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Main article: The Poznań

The fans' goal celebration involving the turning of their backs to the pitch, joining arms and jumping up and down in unison—originated in 1961[citation needed]. 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

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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.[37][38] Evtis,[39] Ascetoholix,[40][41] Bzyk[42] 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.[43][44]

Other departments

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Lech Poznań II

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Main article: 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 1st round of the Polish Cup but were knocked out by Górnik Konin following a 3–1 loss. After the 2006–07 season, the reserve teams were scrapped in favour of a central youth league, 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

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Main article: Lech Poznań UAM

Lech's women section was opened on 26 August 2021.[45] It was formed through a partnership with Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań. It currently competes in the second division, and is coached by Alicja Zając.

Lech Poznań Academy

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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.[46] 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

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Main article: 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

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Ekstraklasa top goalscorers

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Managers

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Kolejowy Klub Sportowy "LECH" w Poznaniu". szukajwarchiwach.gov.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 20 March 2022.
  2. ^ "Enea Stadion - O Stadionie". Retrieved 25 July 2023.
  3. ^ "Komunikat klubu KKS Lech Poznań" (in Polish). Lech Poznań. 27 January 2021. Retrieved 8 July 2024.
  4. ^ "Sprawozdanie finansowe roczne" (PDF) (in Polish). Lech Poznań. 30 August 2023. Retrieved 8 July 2024.
  5. ^ "1922 do dziś". Lech Poznań. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
  6. ^ "HISTORIA LECHA POZNAŃ" (in Polish). lechita.net. Retrieved 5 November 2017.
  7. ^ "Boiskowy Diabeł – Teodor Anioła" (in Polish). lechpoznan.pl. 22 November 2007. Retrieved 6 November 2017.
  8. ^ "W Lechu powtórka cudu?" (in Polish). przegladsportowy.pl. 17 September 2014. Retrieved 6 November 2017.
  9. ^ "Czesław Michniewicz: Dron meczu nie wygra, ale kilka punktów pomoże zdobyć" (in Polish). wyborcza.pl. 24 December 2016. Retrieved 8 November 2017.
  10. ^ "Fortuna Puchar Polski. Raków broni trofeum! Czarna passa Lecha trwa". sport.tvp.pl/ (in Polish). 2 May 2022. Retrieved 14 June 2022.
  11. ^ "Oficjalnie: Lech Poznań mistrzem Polski. Na kolejny tytuł czekał siedem lat". gol24.pl (in Polish). 14 May 2022. Retrieved 14 June 2022.
  12. ^ "Qarabağ FK – Lech Poznań 5:1". www.lechpoznan.pl. 12 July 2022. Retrieved 17 March 2023.
  13. ^ "Lech Poznań advances to UEFA Europa Conference League group stage". tvpworld.com. Retrieved 17 March 2023.
  14. ^ "Football: Poland's Lech Poznań beat Sweden's Djurgårdens 2-0 in Europa Conference League". polskieradio.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 17 March 2023.
  15. ^ "Lech krok od cudu". 90minut.pl (in Polish). 20 April 2023.
  16. ^ "Lech Poznań pisze piękną historię. Polska czeka na to pół wieku". sportowefakty.wp.pl (in Polish). 16 March 2023. Retrieved 20 April 2023.
  17. ^ "Liga Konferencji: Lech przegrywa w Trnavie. Katastrofa "Kolejorza", koniec marzeń o pucharach". polskieradio24.pl (in Polish). 17 August 2023. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
  18. ^ a b "Komunikat klubu" (in Polish). Lech Poznań. 17 December 2023. Retrieved 17 December 2023.
  19. ^ Ptak, Jakub (13 April 2024). "Lech zaginął w Puszczy. Kompromitacja Kolejorza [WIDEO]". sport.tvp.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 19 May 2024.
  20. ^ Wieczorek, Bartosz (3 May 2024). "Sensacja w Chorzowie. Lech przegrał i oddalił się od mistrzostwa Polski". sport.tvp.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 19 May 2024.
  21. ^ "Lech Poznań - Pogoń Szczecin 0:1 (pd.), 27.02.2024". laczynaspilka.pl (in Polish). 27 February 2024. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
  22. ^ "PKO Ekstraklasa 2023/2024". 90minut.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 25 May 2024.
  23. ^ Dyśko, Maksymilian (25 May 2024). "Lech II Poznań z hukiem spada z 2. ligi. Lechici okazali się gorsi, niż rezerwy najgorszej drużyny ekstraklasy!". gloswielkopolski.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 25 May 2024.
  24. ^ Ptak, Jakub (19 May 2024). "Koniec złudzeń Lecha. Nie będzie pucharów! [WIDEO]". sport.tvp.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 19 May 2024.
  25. ^ Rosiński, Tomasz (25 May 2024). "PKO Ekstraklasa: trzy gole w meczu Lecha Poznań z Koroną. Kielczanie utrzymali się!". sportowefakty.wp.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 25 May 2024.
  26. ^ "Bakero inspires Lech to City scalp". UEFA. 4 November 2010. Retrieved 8 November 2016.
  27. ^ "Club coefficients | UEFA Coefficients". UEFA.
  28. ^ a b "Pierwsza drużyna" (in Polish). Lech Poznań. Retrieved 4 February 2024.
  29. ^ "Jóźwiak z "7", Gytkjaer z "9"" (in Polish). Lech Poznań. 5 July 2019. Retrieved 5 July 2019.
  30. ^ "Poznań: Na dawny stadion na Dębcu nie ma chętnych. Kiedy znikną ruiny?". 12 February 2013.
  31. ^ "Burzą stary stadion Lecha żeby zaoszczędzić".
  32. ^ "Warta była sensem istnienia mojego ojca". 3 April 2016.
  33. ^ "Widok jak z horroru w samym centrum miasta. Stadion, który straszy od lat – Magazyn WP".
  34. ^ Zenon Kubiak (12 March 2010). "To pewne – Warta będzie grała na Bułgarskiej – Wieści – MM Moje Miasto" (in Polish). Mmpoznan.pl. Retrieved 7 December 2011.
  35. ^ "Stadion Miejski w Poznaniu (Stadion Lecha Poznań) –". Stadiony.net. Retrieved 7 December 2011.
  36. ^ "Stadiony piłkarskie w Polsce –". Stadiony.net. Retrieved 7 December 2011.
  37. ^ "PEJA SLUMS ATTACK – Oficjalna strona!".
  38. ^ "Peja o kibicach Lecha: w pełni ich rozumiem. Każdemu może skończyć się cierpliwość". epoznan.pl.
  39. ^ "To, że jeszcze żyjesz oznacza, że mnie nie spotkałeś! – raper i kibol grozi "lemingom"".
  40. ^ "Liber: Szacun u kibiców – LOTTO Ekstraklasa – Strona oficjalna". Archived from the original on 7 June 2019.
  41. ^ "Czysta Gra w Radiu Eska". 20 February 2007.
  42. ^ "Raper Bzyk: KOD broni demokracji?! Za Tuska za podobne transparenty były pały i gaz". niezalezna.pl.
  43. ^ "Raperzy z Wiary Lecha. Zobacz ich w teledysku "Fanatycy Kolejorza" i na zdjęciach!". 30 October 2012.
  44. ^ "Nadchodzi Definicja Kibol II – KKSLECH.com – KKS Lech Poznań – Serwis nieoficjalny".
  45. ^ "Lech Poznań z sekcją kobiecą" (in Polish). Lech Poznań. 26 August 2021.
  46. ^ "Akademia Lecha otwarta" (in Polish). Lech Poznań. 19 September 2012.
  47. ^ a b "Bjelica odchodzi z Lecha". Lech Poznań. 10 May 2018. Retrieved 17 May 2018.
  48. ^ a b "Ivan Djurdjević trenerem Lecha od nowego sezonu" (in Polish). Lech Poznań. 17 May 2018. Retrieved 3 June 2018.
  49. ^ "Ivan Djurdjević nie jest już trenerem Lecha" (in Polish). Lech Poznań. 4 November 2018. Retrieved 16 May 2019.
  50. ^ "Adam Nawałka trenerem Lecha Poznań" (in Polish). Lech Poznań. 25 November 2018. Retrieved 16 May 2019.
  51. ^ "Trener Adam Nawałka odchodzi z Lecha" (in Polish). Lech Poznań. 31 March 2019. Retrieved 16 May 2019.
  52. ^ "Dariusz Żuraw odchodzi z Lecha". 90minut. 6 April 2021. Retrieved 6 April 2021.
  53. ^ "Wielki powrót na Bułgarską! Trener Maciej Skorża znów poprowadzi Lecha Poznań". Lech Poznań's Twitter. 10 April 2021. Retrieved 11 April 2021.
  54. ^ "John van den Brom trenerem Lecha" (in Polish). Lech Poznań. 19 June 2022.
  55. ^ "Niels Frederiksen trenerem Lecha" (in Polish). Lech Poznań. 14 May 2024. Retrieved 14 May 2024.

Bibliography

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