Lech Poznań facts for kids
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| Full name | Kolejowy Klub Sportowy Lech Poznań S.A. | |||
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| Nickname(s) | Kolejorz (The Railwayman) Pyry (Greater Poland potatoes) KKS Duma Wielkopolski (The Pride of Greater Poland) Poznańska Lokomotywa (The Poznań Locomotive) |
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| Founded | 19 March 1922 (as KS Lutnia Dębiec) |
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| Ground | Poznań Stadium | |||
| Capacity | 42,837 | |||
| Owner | Piotr Rutkowski (66,66%) Maja Rutkowska (33,33%) |
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| Co-chairmen | Karol Klimczak Piotr Rutkowski |
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| Head coach | Niels Frederiksen | |||
| League | Ekstraklasa | |||
| 2024–25 | Ekstraklasa, 1st of 18 (champions) | |||
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Kolejowy Klub Sportowy Lech Poznań S.A. is a Polish professional football club. It is based in Poznań, a city in Poland. The team plays in the Ekstraklasa, which is the highest football league in Poland.
The club started on March 19, 1922, as KS Lutnia Dębiec. Over the years, its name changed several times. Until 1994, the club was connected to the Polish State Railways. This is why its popular nickname is Kolejorz, meaning The Railwayman in local slang. Lech Poznań first played in Poland's top league in 1948. Their best years were in the early 1980s and 1990s. During this time, they won 5 Polish league titles, 3 Polish Cups, and a Polish Super Cup. Overall, Lech has won the Polish league nine times, most recently in 2025. It is the most popular football club in the Greater Poland region.
Contents
Club History
How Lech Poznań Started (1920–1945)
In August 1920, some teenagers from a Catholic youth group decided to create their own football team. The club was officially registered on March 19, 1922. Its first name was Towarzystwo Sportowe Liga Dębiec. By September 1922, the club had its own football pitch. Their first match in May 1922 ended in a 1–1 draw. The team started in a lower league called Class C.
Lech Poznań moved up to Class B in 1928. In 1932, they were promoted to Class A, where the region's biggest teams played. They hoped to reach the First National Division, but World War II started before they could. After the war in 1945, Lech was the first club from Poznań to be recognized.
Challenges and a Big Comeback (1947–1979)
In 1947, the Polish Football Association created the first national league, the Ekstraklasa. At first, Lech Poznań was not included. But the club, nicknamed Kolejorz, appealed. The league then decided to add more teams, including Lech. Their first match in the top league was a 3–4 loss to Widzew Łódź.
In 1957, the club changed its name to Klub Sportowy Lech Poznań. Later that year, it became Kolejowy Klub Sportowy Lech Poznań, which it mostly remained. 1957 was a tough year, as the team finished last and was moved down to the second division. This happened even with their top scorer, Teodor Anioła. He scored 141 goals for the club. Before this, Lech had finished third in the top division twice.
Lech returned to the top division in 1961. But after two bad seasons, they were relegated again in 1963. The club even dropped to the third division. This was one of their biggest challenges. In 1972, the club returned to the first division. They had to fight hard each season to stay there. Coach Jerzy Kopa joined in 1976 when the team was at the bottom. He helped the team avoid relegation. A year later, they finished third in the league. This allowed them to play in Europe for the first time. This amazing change was called "The Miracle of Błażejewko." Their first European game in the 1978–79 UEFA Cup was short. They were knocked out by MSV Duisburg.
Lech's Golden Era (1980–1993)
When coach Wojciech Łazarek arrived in 1980, things got even better. That year, the team reached the Polish Cup final for the first time. They lost 0–5 to Legia Warsaw. Two years later, in 1982, the club won its first ever title. They won the Polish Cup by beating Pogoń Szczecin 1–0.
The league championships in 1983 and 1984 were historic. They were Lech's first two league titles. They won by very small margins against Widzew Łódź. In 1983, Lech won the league by just one point. Player Mirosław Okoński scored 15 goals. The next season, both teams had the same points. Lech won because they had a better goal difference. That season was also special because they won the Polish Cup again. They beat Wisła Kraków 3–0. This was their first "double" (winning both the league and cup).
As Polish champions, Lech played in the European Cup. But they were eliminated in the first round both times. In 1988, Lech won another Polish Cup. They beat Legia in a penalty shootout. In the European Cup Winners' Cup, Lech faced Barcelona. Barcelona was coached by Johan Cruyff. Both games ended in a 1–1 draw. Barcelona won only after a penalty shootout.
Jerzy Kopa returned to Lech in 1990. Lech won the league for the third time. Andrzej Juskowiak was the top scorer with 18 goals. Henryk Apostel then led Lech to two more championships in 1992 and 1993. The 1993 title was won even though Legia had the same points. Legia was penalized for issues with match fixing. In 1990, Lech played an exciting European Cup match. They beat Olympique Marseille 3–2 at home. But in the return match, Marseille won 6–1. Many Lech players said they had food poisoning. After 1993, the club faced big money problems. They had to sell their best players.
Recent Times: Ups and Downs (1994–Present)
Lech managed to stay in the middle of the league table. Their best result was fourth place in 1999. This allowed them to play in the 1999–00 UEFA Cup. However, in 2000, Lech was moved down to the second division. This was after 28 years in the top league. Their first season in the second division was very difficult. They almost dropped to the third division. But with a lot of effort, they avoided relegation. The next season, they won promotion back to the first division.
In 2004, Lech won the Polish Cup. They beat their big rival, Legia Warsaw. A few days later, they won the Super Cup against Wisła Kraków. Coach Franciszek Smuda built a strong team. Players like Robert Lewandowski joined the club. In the 2008–09 season, Lech finished third in the league. They qualified for the UEFA Europa League. Robert Lewandowski scored 14 goals. In May 2009, Lech won the Polish Cup for the fifth time.
The next season, Jacek Zieliński became coach. With many of the same players, Lech won their sixth league championship in the 2009–10 season. Robert Lewandowski was again the top scorer with 18 goals. In the 2010–11 UEFA Europa League, Lech did very well. They finished second in their group, ahead of Juventus. They were eliminated in the round of 32 by S.C. Braga.
In the 2021–22 season, Lech celebrated its 100th anniversary. The team, led by Maciej Skorża, won their eighth league championship. This was their first title in seven years.
In the 2022–23 season, Lech had a great run in the UEFA Europa Conference League. They reached the quarter-finals. They were the first Polish team to win a knockout round in a European competition after the winter break since 1991. Their journey ended after losing to Fiorentina.
The 2023–24 season was disappointing. Lech did not get past the third qualifying round of the Europa Conference League. Coach John van den Brom was replaced by Mariusz Rumak. However, the team's performance did not improve. They finished 5th in the league.
For the 2024–25 season, Niels Frederiksen became the new manager. Lech won their ninth league title, their second in three years. They secured the championship on the last day of the season.
Club Achievements
Lech Poznań has won many titles in Poland and has also done well in European competitions.
Polish League Titles
- Ekstraklasa (Poland's top league)
- Champions: 1982–83, 1983–84, 1989–90, 1991–92, 1992–93, 2009–10, 2014–15, 2021–22, 2024–25
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- I liga (Poland's second league)
- Champions: 1960 (Western group), 2001–02
Polish Cup Competitions
- Polish Cup
- Winners: 1981–82, 1983–84, 1987–88, 2003–04, 2008–09
- Polish Super Cup
- Winners: 1990, 1992, 2004, 2009, 2015, 2016
European Competitions
- UEFA Europa League
- Round of 32: 2008–09, 2010–11
- UEFA Europa Conference League
- Quarter-finals: 2022–23
Youth Team Success
- Polish Under-19 Championship
- Champions: 1987, 1995, 2018, 2023
- Polish Under-17 Championship
- Champions: 2009, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017
European Adventures
Lech Poznań has played over 150 matches in European competitions since 1978. Some memorable games include matches against Barcelona in 1988–89. Both games ended 1–1, and Lech lost after a penalty shootout. Barcelona went on to win that tournament.
In the 1983–84 European Cup, Lech won 2–0 at home against Spanish champions Athletic Bilbao. In the 1990–91 season, Lech beat Greek champions Panathinaikos 5–1 over two games. They were then knocked out by Marseille, but won the first game at home 3–2.
During the 2008–09 UEFA Cup, Lech reached the group stage. They beat strong teams like Grasshopper (winning one game 6–0) and Austria Wien. In the group stage, Lech finished third. This allowed them to move to the next round, where they lost to Udinese.
The 2010–11 UEFA Europa League was a big success. Lech not only reached the group stage but also moved past it. They finished ahead of Italian giants Juventus. They were eventually knocked out by S.C. Braga. In the 2022–23 season, Lech reached their first ever European quarter-final in the Conference League. They lost to Italian club Fiorentina.
Club Records
- Biggest win in Ekstraklasa: 11–1 against Szombierki Bytom on August 27, 1950.
- Biggest loss in Ekstraklasa: 0–8 against Wisła Kraków on May 30, 1976.
- Highest attendance ever: Around 65,000 fans against Zawisza Bydgoszcz on June 25, 1972.
- Most games played in Ekstraklasa: Hieronim Barczak, 367 games (1973–86).
- Most goals scored in Ekstraklasa: Teodor Anioła, 138 goals (1948–61).
- Most goals in one Ekstraklasa season: Jerzy Podbrożny, 25 goals (1992–93).
Current Team Players
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Players on Loan to Other Teams
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Special Retired Number
- 12 – This number is retired for the fans. They are called "the 12th player" because of their strong support.
Coaching Staff
| Position | Staff |
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| Manager |  Niels Frederiksen |
| Assistant manager |  Sindre Tjelmeland |
| Assistant coaches |  Dariusz Dudka Hubert Wędzonka |
| Goalkeeping coach | Dominik Kubiak |
| Fitness coaches |  Antonin Čepek Karol Kikut Michał Włodarczyk |
| Match analyst | Hubert Barański |
| Head of medical department | Rafał Hejna |
| Team doctors | Tomasz Jaśkowiak Aleksander Zych |
| Physiotherapists | Bartosz Górecki Marcin Lis Maciej Łopatka Maciej Smuniewski |
| Dietician | Patryk Wiśniewski |
| Team manager | Mariusz Skrzypczak |
| Kit manager | Sławomir Mizgalski |
| Cook | Artur Dzierzbicki |
Source: Lech Poznań
Home Stadiums
Dębiec Stadium
Lech's first stadium was in the Dębiec area. It was between two train tracks. This stadium belonged to the Polish State Railways. It was taken down in 2013 after not being used for a long time.
Edmund Szyc Stadium
The Edmund Szyc Stadium is now in ruins. It is in the Wilda district. It was named after Edmund Szyc, one of the founders of Warta Poznań. This stadium is the historic home of Warta Poznań. However, Lech also played there sometimes between the 1950s and 1970s.
Stadion Poznań
The Stadion Poznań is the main home ground for Lech Poznań. It was one of the stadiums used for the Euro 2012 football tournament. It can hold 42,837 seated fans. The stadium was built between 1968 and 1980. Lech Poznań has used it as its main stadium since it opened in August 1980. Since 2010, Warta Poznań also uses it. The stadium is located on ul. Bułgarska 17 in the southwestern part of Poznań.
Between 2003 and 2010, the stadium was completely rebuilt. This included adding four new covered stands. It is now the fifth largest stadium in Poland. The grand opening after the renovation was on September 20, 2010. It featured a concert by Sting.
Fan Culture
Lech Poznań has some of the strongest fan support in Poland. This is because of the large number of fans who attend games. The atmosphere during matches is often very exciting.
Most of Lech's fans are from the Greater Poland region. They also have fan clubs in many other towns.
Friendships and Rivalries
For over ten years, Lech fans have been friends with supporters from Arka Gdynia and KS Cracovia. This group is sometimes called the Wielka Triada, or The Great Triad. Lech fans also have close friendships with supporters of KSZO Ostrowiec Świętokrzyski and ŁKS Łódź. Some fans also have private connections with supporters of Spartak Moscow and Radnički Kragujevac from Serbia.
Lech's biggest rival is Legia Warsaw. Their matches are called the "Derby of Poland." Other big rivals include Wisła Kraków, Lechia Gdańsk, and Śląsk Wrocław. This is partly because of the friendships with Arka and Cracovia. Korona Kielce is also disliked due to the friendship with KSZO. Widzew Łódź is a rival because of the friendship with ŁKS. Other teams considered rivals are Ruch Chorzów and Pogoń Szczecin. In the past, the "Greater Poland derby" was played against Dyskobolia Grodzisk Wielkopolski.
Relations with local rival Warta Poznań are neutral. The clubs have usually played in different leagues. Many fans attend matches for both teams.
The Poznań Celebration
Lech fans have a special way to celebrate goals. They turn their backs to the field, link arms, and jump up and down together. This celebration started in 1961. It is known in English as "The Poznan." This name came about after Manchester City fans started using it. They saw Lech fans do it during a match in 2010–11. Fans of Scottish club Celtic also do a similar celebration. They call their version "The Huddle."
Other Club Sections
Lech Poznań II (Reserve Team)
The club has a reserve team called Lech Poznań II. This team currently plays in II liga, which is the third level of Polish football.
They were promoted to the third tier in the 2003–04 season. They won their league and beat Jarota Jarocin. In the same season, they reached the first round of the Polish Cup. The reserve teams were stopped between 2007 and 2013. They were brought back in 2013.
Lech Poznań UAM (Women's Team)
Lech's women's football section started on August 26, 2021. It was formed with a partnership with Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań. The team currently plays in the second division. It is coached by Alicja Zając.
Lech Poznań Academy (Youth System)
The Lech Poznań Academy is the club's youth system. It has many teams for children of all ages, up to the U-19 youth team. These teams play in the Central Junior League. Lech's youth system is one of the most advanced in Poland. It has helped many young players join the main senior team.
Famous Players
Many talented players have played for Lech Poznań. Here are a few:
- Teodor Anioła – A striker and the club's all-time top league goalscorer.
- Jan Bednarek – A defender who has played for the Poland national team in World Cups and Euros.
- Bartosz Bosacki – A defender who scored two goals for Poland in the 2006 FIFA World Cup.
- Andrzej Juskowiak – A striker who won a silver medal at the 1992 Summer Olympics.
- Robert Lewandowski – The current captain and all-time top scorer for the Poland national team. He now plays for Barcelona.
- Mirosław Okoński – One of the club's most loved players. He won two championships with Lech.
- Piotr Reiss – A striker who scored 109 goals for Lech in the Ekstraklasa.
Artjoms Rudnevs – A striker who played for German clubs.- Bartosz Salamon – A defender who has played for Poland in the Euros.
Top Goalscorers in Ekstraklasa
Several Lech Poznań players have been the top goalscorer in Poland's top league:
- Teodor Anioła (1949, 1950, 1951)
- Mirosław Okoński (1982–83)
- Andrzej Juskowiak (1989–90)
- Jerzy Podbrożny (1991–92, 1992–93)
- Piotr Reiss (2006–07)
- Robert Lewandowski (2009–10)
- Artjoms Rudņevs (2011–12)
- Marcin Robak (2016–17)
- Christian Gytkjær (2019–20)
Images for kids
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Historic Ty51 steam locomotive with the Lech Poznań crest, representing the club's traditions, by the stadium in Poznań
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The striker Andrzej Juskowiak, top goalscorer and champion in the Ekstraklasa in 1990 with 18 goals.
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Robert Lewandowski scored 32 goals in 58 matches with Lech Poznań (2008–2010).
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Exterior of the municipal stadium in Poznań
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Full Exterior of the stadium
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Full interior showing vip stand
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Interior of the municipal stadium
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Lech supporters during 2014–15 Ekstraklasa season
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In Spanish: Lech Poznań para niños
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