Lech Poznań

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Lech Poznań
KKS Lech Poznań.svg
Full nameKolejowy Klub Sportowy Lech Poznań, S.A.
Nickname(s)Kolejorz (The Railwaymen)
Founded19 March 1922; 99 years ago (1922-03-19)
as KS Lutnia Dębiec
GroundStadion Poznań,
Poznań, Poland
Capacity43,269[1]
ChairmanKarol Klimczak
CoachMaciej Skorża
LeagueEkstraklasa
2020–2111th of 16
WebsiteClub website
Away colours
Current season

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.

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 seven times, most recently in 2015, and is the most popular football club in the Greater Poland region.[2]

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.[3] 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).[4] 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 even went down 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.[5] 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 1990, 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 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.[6] 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 new Polish Cup by defeating their great rival, Legia Warsaw, in the final two games in 2004. Several days later, the fans celebrated in Poznań 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 at the end 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 the Silesian stadium.
The following season, Jacek Zieliński replaced Franciszek Smuda (who was hired as national coach) as coach of Lech. With many of the players who achieved third place and the cup last season, Zieliński managed to make Lech champion for the sixth time in its 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 goal differential. In their participation in the Champions League 2010–11 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 UEFA Europa League 2010–11, in which they eliminated Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk to enter the group stage of the tournament for the first time. Lech managed to qualify as second in the group with Manchester City, leaving Juventus and FC Salzburg out of the tournament. However, they were eliminated by 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).

Honours[]

Domestic[]

Poland Teodor Anioła (1949 - 20, 1950 - 21, 1951 - 20)
Poland Mirosław Okoński (1982–83 - 15)
Poland Andrzej Juskowiak (1989–90 - 18)
Poland Jerzy Podbrożny (1991–92 - 20, 1992–93 - 25)
Poland Piotr Reiss (2006–07 - 15)
Poland Robert Lewandowski (2009–10 - 18)
Latvia Artjoms Rudņevs (2011–12 - 22)
Poland Marcin Robak (2016–17 - 18)
Denmark Christian Gytkjær (2019–20 - 24)

Europe[]

  • UEFA Europa League:
    • Round of 32 (2): 2009, 2011

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.

Starting line-up for the 2010–11 UEFA Europa League group stage home match against Manchester City won by Lech 3–1.[7]

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 10 December 2020
Competition App Games Won Drawn Lost GF GA
European Cup / UEFA Champions League 7 24 10 1 13 27 38
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
Intertoto Cup / UEFA Intertoto Cup 6 30 13 6 11 52 40
Overall 29 142 60 26 56 205 179
hideSeason Competition Round Club 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 IF 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 Linz 0–0 1–1
1987 Intertoto Cup Group 6 Sweden AIK Solna 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 Vlorë 1–0 3–2 4–2
2R Spain Barcelona 1–1 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 Olympique de 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
2005 UEFA Intertoto Cup 1R Azerbaijan Karvan FK 2–0 2–1 4–1
2R France RC Lens 0–1 1–2 1–3
2004–05 UEFA Cup 2Q Russia Terek Grozny 0–1 0–1 0–2
2006 UEFA Intertoto Cup 2R Moldova FC 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 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 1–1 (3–4 pen)
2010–11 UEFA Champions League 2Q Azerbaijan Inter Baku 0–1 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 FC 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 FK 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 Switzerland Basel 0–1 0–2 3rd
Italy Fiorentina 0–2 2–1
Portugal Belenenses 0–0 0–0
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 1–1 4–2 (a.e.t.)
3Q Belgium Genk 1–2 0–2 1–4
2020–21 UEFA Europa League 1Q Latvia Valmiera 3–0 N/A N/A
2Q Sweden Hammarby IF N/A 3–0 N/A
3Q Cyprus Apollon Limassol N/A 5–0 N/A
PO Belgium Charleroi N/A 2–1 N/A
GR Portugal Benfica 2–4 0–4 4th
Belgium Standard Liège 3–1 1–2
Scotland Rangers 0–2 0–1

UEFA Team ranking[]

As of 3 December 2020.[8]
Rank Team Points
187 Poland Lech Poznań 6.000
Montenegro Budućnost Podgorica
Kazakhstan Kairat
Croatia Osijek
Albania Kukësi
Romania Universitatea Craiova
Malta Valletta
Belarus Dinamo Minsk
Sweden AIK

Records[]

Current squad[]

As of 2 September 2021.[9]

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 Netherlands NED Mickey van der Hart
2 DF Portugal POR Joel Pereira
3 DF Scotland SCO Barry Douglas
4 DF Norway NOR Thomas Rogne
5 DF Portugal POR Pedro Rebocho
6 MF Sweden SWE Jesper Karlström
7 MF Poland POL Jakub Kamiński
9 FW Sweden SWE Mikael Ishak (Captain)
10 MF Spain ESP Dani Ramírez
11 MF Poland POL Filip Marchwiński
16 DF Croatia CRO Antonio Milić
17 FW Poland POL Filip Wilak
18 DF Poland POL Bartosz Salamon
19 FW Poland POL Norbert Pacławski
21 MF Poland POL Michał Skóraś
22 MF Poland POL Radosław Murawski
24 MF Portugal POR João Amaral
No. Pos. Nation Player
25 MF Portugal POR Pedro Tiba (Vice-captain)
27 MF Poland POL Mateusz Skrzypczak
28 DF Poland POL Filip Borowski
30 MF Georgia (country) GEO Nika Kvekveskiri
33 GK Poland POL Bartosz Mrozek
34 MF Poland POL Tymoteusz Klupś
35 GK Poland POL Filip Bednarek
37 DF Slovakia SVK Ľubomír Šatka
38 MF Poland POL Jakub Karbownik
43 MF Poland POL Antoni Kozubal
44 DF Poland POL Alan Czerwiński
50 MF Ivory Coast CIV Adriel Ba Loua
74 DF Poland POL Krystian Palacz
88 FW Croatia CRO Roko Baturina (on loan from Ferencváros)
90 FW Poland POL Artur Sobiech
99 GK Poland POL Miłosz Mleczko

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
8 MF Czech Republic CZE Jan Sýkora (at Viktoria Plzeň until the end of 2021–22 season)
15 MF Croatia CRO Karlo Muhar (at CSKA Sofia until the end of 2021–22 season)
23 FW Poland POL Filip Szymczak (at GKS Katowice until the end of 2021–22 season)
No. Pos. Nation Player
31 GK Poland POL Krzysztof Bąkowski (at Stomil Olsztyn until the end of 2021–22 season)
40 DF Poland POL Jakub Niewiadomski (at GKS Jastrzębie until the end of 2021–22 season)
MF Poland POL Juliusz Letniowski (at Widzew Łódź until the end of 2021–22 season)

Retired numbers[]

12 - number retired for fans, called "12th player"[10]

Coaching staff[]

Position Staff
Coach Poland Maciej Skorża
Assistant coach Poland Rafał Janas
Assistant coach Poland Maciej Kędziorek
Assistant coach/Analyst Poland Wojciech Makowski
Assistant coach Poland Dariusz Dudka
Goalkeeping coach Poland Maciej Palczewski
Fitness coach Czech Republic Antonin Čepek
Fitness coach Poland Karol Kikut
Match analyst Poland Hubert Barański
Team Doctor Poland Krzysztof Pawlaczyk
Team Doctor Poland Paweł Cybulski
Team Doctor Poland Andrzej Pyda
Team Doctor Poland Damian Bartkiewicz
Physiotherapist Poland Maciej Łopatka
Physiotherapist Poland Marcin Lis
Physiotherapist Poland Maciej Smuniewski
Physiotherapist Poland Paweł Tota
Dietician Poland Patryk Wiśniewski
Team Manager Poland Mariusz Skrzypczak
Kit Manager Poland Sławomir Mizgalski
Cook Poland Artur Dzierzbicki

Source: Lech Poznań

Stadiums[]

Dębiec Stadium[]

Initially the club's first stadium was located in the Dębiec district between two train tracks.[11] It belonged to PKP (the Polish state railways) and was demolished in 2013 after a long period of inactivity.[12]

Edmund Szyc Stadium[]

Edmund Szyc Stadium is a currently ruined multi-purpose stadium in the Wilda district, named after , one of founders of Warta Poznań.[13] It is the historical home of the other football team Warta Poznań,[14] 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 I Liga.[15] 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.[16] 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).[17] 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 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[]

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.[18][19] ,[20] (of which is a part of),[21][22] [23] and 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.[24][25]

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 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. 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[]

  • Poland Teodor Anioła - striker, the best all-time scorer in club's history with 141 goals in the First league (1948–57).
  • Poland Jarosław Araszkiewicz - midfielder/striker, won all five championship titles with Lech Poznań. Finished his career in the age of 38.
  • Poland Jacek Bąk - defender, played in the 2002 FIFA World Cup and 2006 FIFA World Cup, former player of French clubs Lyon and Lens.
  • Poland Jarosław Bako – the goalkeeper of Poland national football team in the early 1990s.
  • Poland Hieronim Barczak - defender, 367 league appearances for Lech.
  • Poland Jan Bednarek - defender, midfielder, Polish national team member in the 2018 FIFA World Cup, currently playing for Southampton.
  • Poland Edmund Białas - striker, along with Anioła and Henryk Czapczyk, created an offensive trio called A-B-C, which was very successful in the 1950s.
  • Poland Bartosz Bosacki - defender, played in the 2006 FIFA World Cup scoring two goals against Costa Rica, and in Bundesliga for 1. FC Nürnberg.
  • Poland Jerzy Brzęczek - midfielder, silver medalist with Poland in the 1992 Summer Olympics, former Polish national team captain.
  • United States Jimmy Conrad - defender, USA national team member in the 2006 FIFA World Cup.
  • Poland Henryk Czapczyk - vice-captain and later coach of Lech during the club's rise in the 50s and 60s.
  • Poland Jacek Dembiński - striker, played in German Bundesliga with Hamburger SV, currently plays for Lech.
  • Serbia 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.
  • Poland Roman Jakóbczak - midfielder, Polish national team member in the 1974 FIFA World Cup.
  • Poland Andrzej Juskowiak - striker, silver medalist with Poland in the 1992 Summer Olympics, former player of Sporting Lisbon, Olympiacos, Borussia Mönchengladbach and VfL Wolfsburg.
  • Poland Mirosław Justek - defender, Polish national team member in the 1978 FIFA World Cup.
  • Poland Jerzy Karasiński - goalkeeper, considered one of Lech Poznań's all-time best players, prominent during a lean period in the club's history
  • Poland Waldemar Kryger - defender, former player of German club VfL Wolfsburg.
  • Poland Janusz Kupcewicz - midfielder, bronze medalist in the 1982 FIFA World Cup.
  • Poland 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 Bayern Munich.
  • Poland Karol Linetty - midfielder, Polish national team member in the UEFA Euro 2016, currently playing for Sampdoria.
  • Poland Adam Majewski - midfielder, Polish national team member in 2001
  • Poland Henryk Miłoszewicz - midfielder, Polish national team member in 1980
  • Poland Mariusz Mowlik - defender, Polish national team member in 2004, Piotr's son.
  • Poland Piotr Mowlik - goalkeeper, Polish national team member 1974–1981, Mariusz's father.
  • Poland 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.
  • Poland Bogusław Pachelski - prolific striker who scored 41 goals in 149 appearance over 5 years.
  • Poland Krzysztof Pawlak - defender, played in the 1986 FIFA World Cup.
  • Poland Jerzy Podbrożny - played also in MLS with the Chicago Fire.
  • Poland 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.
  • Poland Piotr Reiss - striker, played also for Hertha BSC and MSV Duisburg.
  • Peru Hernan Rengifo - striker, played in Peru.
  • Latvia Artjoms Rudnevs - striker, played for German clubs Hamburger SV and 1. FC Köln.
  • Poland 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.
  • Poland Łukasz Teodorczyk - striker, currently playing for Anderlecht.
  • Poland Mirosław Trzeciak - striker, played in Spanish clubs Osasuna and Poli Ejido.
  • Poland 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[]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 19 October 2012. Retrieved 7 December 2011.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  2. ^ "1922 do dziś". Lech Poznań. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
  3. ^ "HISTORIA LECHA POZNAŃ" (in Polish). lechita.net. Retrieved 5 November 2017.
  4. ^ "Boiskowy Diabeł - Teodor Anioła" (in Polish). lechpoznan.pl. 22 November 2007. Retrieved 6 November 2017.
  5. ^ "W Lechu powtórka cudu?" (in Polish). przegladsportowy.pl. 17 September 2014. Retrieved 6 November 2017.
  6. ^ "Czesław Michniewicz: Dron meczu nie wygra, ale kilka punktów pomoże zdobyć" (in Polish). wyborcza.pl. 24 December 2016. Retrieved 8 November 2017.
  7. ^ "Bakero inspires Lech to City scalp". UEFA. 4 November 2010. Retrieved 8 November 2016.
  8. ^ "UEFA 5-year Club Ranking 2021". Bert Kassies. Retrieved 30 August 2020.
  9. ^ "Pierwsza drużyna" (in Polish). Lech Poznań. Retrieved 2 September 2021.
  10. ^ "Jóźwiak z "7", Gytkjaer z "9"" (in Polish). Lech Poznań. 5 July 2019. Retrieved 5 July 2019.
  11. ^ "Poznań: Na dawny stadion na Dębcu nie ma chętnych. Kiedy znikną ruiny?". 12 February 2013.
  12. ^ "Burzą stary stadion Lecha żeby zaoszczędzić".
  13. ^ "Warta była sensem istnienia mojego ojca".
  14. ^ http://magazyn.wp.pl/artykul/widok-jak-z-horroru-w-samym-centrum-miasta-stadion-ktory-straszy-od-lat
  15. ^ Zenon Kubiak (12 March 2010). "To pewne - Warta będzie grała na Bułgarskiej - Wieści - MM Moje Miasto" (in Polish). Mmpoznan.pl. Retrieved 7 December 2011.
  16. ^ "Stadion Miejski w Poznaniu (Stadion Lecha Poznań) –". Stadiony.net. Retrieved 7 December 2011.
  17. ^ "Stadiony piłkarskie w Polsce –". Stadiony.net. Retrieved 7 December 2011.
  18. ^ "PEJA SLUMS ATTACK - Oficjalna strona!".
  19. ^ "Peja o kibicach Lecha: W pełni ich rozumiem. Każdemu może skończyć się cierpliwość".
  20. ^ "To, że jeszcze żyjesz oznacza, że mnie nie spotkałeś! – raper i kibol grozi "lemingom"".
  21. ^ https://ekstraklasa.org/aktualnosci/liber-szacun-u-kibicow-6257
  22. ^ "Czysta Gra w Radiu Eska". 20 February 2007.
  23. ^ "Raper Bzyk: KOD broni demokracji?! Za Tuska za podobne transparenty były pały i gaz".
  24. ^ "Raperzy z Wiary Lecha. Zobacz ich w teledysku "Fanatycy Kolejorza" i na zdjęciach!". 30 October 2012.
  25. ^ https://kkslech.com/2014/02/05/nadchodzi-definicja-kibol-ii/
  26. ^ Jump up to: a b "Bjelica odchodzi z Lecha". Lech Poznań. 10 May 2018. Retrieved 17 May 2018.
  27. ^ Jump up to: a b "Ivan Djurdjević trenerem Lecha od nowego sezonu" (in Polish). Lech Poznań. 17 May 2018. Retrieved 3 June 2018.
  28. ^ "Ivan Djurdjević nie jest już trenerem Lecha" (in Polish). Lech Poznań. 4 November 2018. Retrieved 16 May 2019.
  29. ^ "Adam Nawałka trenerem Lecha Poznań" (in Polish). Lech Poznań. 25 November 2018. Retrieved 16 May 2019.
  30. ^ "Trener Adam Nawałka odchodzi z Lecha" (in Polish). Lech Poznań. 31 March 2019. Retrieved 16 May 2019.
  31. ^ "Dariusz Żuraw odchodzi z Lecha". 90minut. 6 April 2021. Retrieved 6 April 2021.
  32. ^ "Wielki powrót na Bułgarską! Trener Maciej Skorża znów poprowadzi Lecha Poznań". Lech Poznań's Twitter. 10 April 2021. Retrieved 11 April 2021.

Bibliography[]

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

External links[]

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