Lech Poznań facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Lech Poznań

Full name	Kolejowy Klub Sportowy Lech Poznań S.A.
Nickname(s)	Kolejorz (The Railwayman) Pyry (Greater Poland potatoes) KKS Duma Wielkopolski (The Pride of Greater Poland) Poznańska Lokomotywa (The Poznań Locomotive)
Founded	19 March 1922; 103 years ago (1922-03-19) (as KS Lutnia Dębiec)
Ground	Poznań Stadium
Ground Capacity	42,837
Owner	Piotr Rutkowski (66,66%) Maja Rutkowska (33,33%)
Co-chairmen	Karol Klimczak Piotr Rutkowski
Head coach	Niels Frederiksen
League	Ekstraklasa
2024–25	Ekstraklasa, 1st of 18 (champions)
Home colours Away colours

Kolejowy Klub Sportowy Lech Poznań S.A., usually called KKS Lech Poznań or just Lech Poznań, is a professional football club from Poznań, Poland. They play in the Ekstraklasa, which is the top 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 closely connected to the Polish State Railways. Because of this, their popular nickname is Kolejorz, which means The Railwayman in local slang. Lech Poznań first played in Poland's top league in 1948. The club's best times were in the early 1980s and 1990s, when they won 5 Polish league titles, 3 Polish Cups, and a Polish Super Cup. Lech has won the Polish league nine times, most recently in 2025. It is the most popular football club in the Greater Poland region.

Club Names Through the Years

Lech Poznań has had many names since it was founded. Here's how the club's name changed over time:

Club History

How Lech Poznań Started (1920–1945)

In August 1920, a group of young teenagers decided to create their own football team. The club was officially registered on March 19, 1922. Its first official name was Towarzystwo Sportowe Liga Dębiec. In September 1922, the club got its first football field. Their first match was in May 1922 against Urania Starołęka, ending in a 1–1 tie. The club started in a lower league called Class C.

Historic Ty51 steam locomotive with the Lech Poznań crest, showing the club's railway roots.

Lech Poznań moved up to Class B in 1928. By 1932, they were promoted to Class A, where the best teams in the region played. They hoped to reach the First National Division, but World War II started before they could. In 1945, after the war, Lech became the first football club from Poznań.

Challenges and a Big Comeback (1947–1979)

In 1947, the Polish Football Association created the first national league, the Ekstraklasa. Lech Poznań, then called Kolejowy Klub Sportowy Poznań, was initially not included. However, they appealed, and the league was expanded to include them. Their first match in the top league was a 3–4 loss to Widzew Łódź.

The club changed its name again in 1957 to Klub Sportowy Lech Poznań, and then to Kolejowy Klub Sportowy Lech Poznań. That year was tough, as they finished last and were sent down to the second division. This happened even though they had Teodor Anioła, the club's top scorer, who scored 141 goals. He was part of a famous trio called ABC, along with Edmund Białas and Henryk Czapczyk. Before being relegated, the club had finished third in the top division twice.

Lech returned to the top division in 1961 but was relegated again in 1963. They even dropped to the third division, which was a very difficult time for the club. In 1972, they returned to the first division. Coach Jerzy Kopa joined in 1976 when the team was at the bottom of the league. He helped the team avoid relegation and, a year later, they qualified for a European competition for the first time. This amazing turnaround was called "The Miracle of Błażejewko." Their first time in the UEFA Cup in 1978–79 was short, as they were eliminated early.

Lech's Golden Era (1980–1993)

When coach Wojciech Łazarek arrived in 1980, Lech Poznań started to achieve even more. That year, they reached the Polish Cup final for the first time but lost. Two years later, in 1982, the club won its first ever title, the Polish Cup.

Striker Andrzej Juskowiak was the top goalscorer in the Ekstraklasa in 1990 with 18 goals.

Lech won their first two league championships in 1983 and 1984. Both wins were very close. In 1983, they won by just one point. Key players like Mirosław Okoński and Krzysztof Pawlak helped them achieve this. In 1984, they tied on points with another team but won the championship because they had scored more goals. That season was historic because they also won the Polish Cup, completing their first "double" (winning both the league and the cup).

As Polish champions, Lech played in the European Cup but were eliminated in the first round both times. In 1988, Lech won another Polish Cup. In the European Cup Winners' Cup, they faced Barcelona, coached by Johan Cruyff. After two games ended in a 1–1 draw, Barcelona only managed to win by a penalty shootout.

Jerzy Kopa returned to Lech in 1990, and the club won its third league championship. Andrzej Juskowiak was the top scorer with 18 goals. Coach Henryk Apostel then led Lech to two more championships in 1992 and 1993. The 1993 win was very close, as they tied with Legia Warsaw but won because Legia was penalized. In 1990, Lech played a memorable European Cup match against Olympique Marseille, winning the first game 3–2. However, they lost the return match 1–6, with many Polish players feeling unwell. After 1993, the club faced financial problems and had to sell many of its best players.

Recent Challenges and Successes (1994–Present)

Lech Poznań mostly stayed in the middle of the league table. Their best result was fourth place in 1999, which allowed them to play in the 1999–00 UEFA Cup. They were eliminated in the first round. In 2000, Lech was relegated to the second division after 28 years in the top league. Their first season in the second division was very difficult, but they managed to avoid falling to the third division and were promoted back to the first division the next season.

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

In 2004, Lech won the Polish Cup, beating their big rival, Legia Warsaw. A few days later, they also won the Polish Super Cup. Coach Franciszek Smuda built a strong team with players like Robert Lewandowski, Hernan Rengifo, and Rafał Murawski. In the 2008–09 season, Lech finished third in the Ekstraklasa and qualified for the UEFA Europa League. They won the Polish Cup for the fifth time in May 2009.

The next season, Jacek Zieliński became coach. With many of the same players, Lech won their sixth championship in the 2009–10 season. Robert Lewandowski was again the top scorer. In the 2010–11 UEFA Europa League, they had a very successful run. They made it past the group stage, finishing second in a tough group that included Manchester City and Juventus. They were eventually eliminated in the Round of 32.

In 2014, Maciej Skorża became manager. At the end of the 2014–15 season, Lech won their seventh league title. In the 2021–22 season, when Lech celebrated its 100th anniversary, the team, again led by Maciej Skorża, won their eighth championship, their first in seven years. They also reached the Polish Cup final but lost.

Skorża left the team, and John van den Brom became the new coach for the 2022–23 season. Lech was eliminated early from the UEFA Champions League. However, they had a very successful UEFA Europa Conference League campaign. They reached the quarter-finals, eliminating teams like Bodø/Glimt and Djurgårdens IF, before losing to Fiorentina. They were the first Polish team to win a knockout round in a European competition after the winter break since 1991.

The 2023–24 season was disappointing. Lech did not get far in the Europa Conference League. In December 2023, van den Brom was replaced by Mariusz Rumak. The team's performance did not improve, and they finished 5th in the league.

For the 2024–25 season, Niels Frederiksen became the manager. Lech Poznań had a strong finish to the season and won their ninth league title, their second in three years.

Club Achievements

National League Titles

• Ekstraklasa (Poland's Top League)
  • Champions: 9 times, including 1982–83, 1983–84, 1989–90, 1991–92, 1992–93, 2009–10, 2014–15, 2021–22, 2024–25
  • Runners-up: 3 times

Lech players celebrating their 2014–15 league title.

• I liga (Poland's Second League)
  • Champions: 2 times
  • Runners-up: 1 time

National Cup Titles

• Polish Cup
  • Winners: 5 times, including 1981–82, 1983–84, 1987–88, 2003–04, 2008–09
  • Runners-up: 6 times

• Polish Super Cup
  • Winners: 6 times, including 1990, 1992, 2004, 2009, 2015, 2016
  • Runners-up: 5 times

Lech players celebrating winning the 2015 Polish Super Cup.

European Competitions

• UEFA Europa League
  • Reached Round of 32: 2 times

• UEFA Europa Conference League
  • Reached Quarter-finals: 1 time (2022–23)

Youth Team Achievements

• Polish Under-19 Championship
  • Champions: 4 times
  • Runners-up: 5 times
• Polish Under-17 Championship
  • Champions: 5 times
  • Runners-up: 4 times

European Matches

Lech Poznań has played over 150 matches in European competitions since 1978. Some of their most memorable games include:

• Against Barcelona: In the 1988–89 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup, Lech played against Barcelona. Both matches ended in a 1–1 draw, but Lech lost in a penalty shootout. Barcelona went on to win the tournament that year.
• Against Athletic Bilbao: In the 1983–84 European Cup, Lech won 2–0 at home against Spanish champions Athletic Bilbao.
• Against Panathinaikos and Marseille: In the 1990–91 season, Lech beat Greek champions Panathinaikos 5–1 overall. In the next round, they lost to Marseille but won the first home game 3–2.
• 2008–09 UEFA Cup: Lech reached the group stage, beating teams like Grasshopper (with a huge 6–0 home win) and Austria Wien. They finished third in their group and made it to the Third Round, where they were knocked out by Udinese.
• 2010–11 UEFA Europa League: Lech not only qualified for the group stage but also advanced from it, finishing ahead of Italian giants Juventus. They lost in the Round of 32 to Braga.
• 2022–23 UEFA Europa Conference League: Lech reached their first ever European quarter-final in the Conference League, losing to Italian club Fiorentina.

The Stadion Poznań, Lech's home ground, was rebuilt for UEFA Euro 2012.

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.

European Competition Results

Best European Results

Season	Achievement	Notes
European Cup/UEFA Champions League
1990–91	Round of 16	lost to Marseille
UEFA Cup Winners' Cup
1982–83	Round of 16	lost to Aberdeen
1988–89	Round of 16	lost to Barcelona in a penalty shootout
UEFA Conference League
2022–23	Quarter-final	lost to Fiorentina

Club Records

• Biggest Win in Ekstraklasa: 11–1 against Szombierki Bytom (August 27, 1950)
• Biggest Loss in Ekstraklasa: 0–8 against Wisła Kraków (May 30, 1976)
• Highest Overall Attendance: Around 65,000 fans against Zawisza Bydgoszcz (June 25, 1972)
• Highest Attendance at Stadion Poznań: Around 45,000 fans against Widzew Łódź (April 8, 1984)
• 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 Season (Ekstraklasa): Jerzy Podbrożny, 25 goals (1992–93)
• Most National Team Appearances: Luis Henríquez, 50 games for Panama

Current Team Players

No. Position Player 2 DF Joel Pereira 3 DF Alex Douglas 4 DF João Moutinho 5 DF Elias Andersson 7 MF Afonso Sousa 8 FW Ali Gholizadeh 9 FW Mikael Ishak (captain) 10 FW Patrik Wålemark 11 FW Daniel Håkans 14 MF Leo Bengtsson 15 DF Michał Gurgul 16 DF Antonio Milić 17 FW Filip Szymczak 18 DF Bartosz Salamon 19 FW Bryan Fiabema

No. Position Player 20 DF Robert Gumny 21 MF Bartłomiej Barański 22 MF Radosław Murawski (vice-captain) 23 MF Gísli Þórðarson 24 MF Filip Jagiełło 27 DF Wojciech Mońka 31 GK Krzysztof Bąkowski 33 GK Mateusz Pruchniewski 41 GK Bartosz Mrozek 43 MF Antoni Kozubal 44 MF Tymoteusz Gmur 53 MF Sammy Dudek 56 MF Kornel Lisman 72 DF Mateusz Skrzypczak

Other Players Under Contract

No. Position Player MF Jakub Antczak DF Bartosz Tomaszewski

No. Position Player MF Filip Wilak

Players on Loan

No. Position Player 20 DF Ian Hoffmann (at Kristiansund until 31 December 2025) GK Mateusz Mędrala (at Sokół Kleczew until 30 June 2026)

Retired Jersey Numbers

• 12 – This number is retired for the fans, who are called "the 12th player" because of their strong support.

Coaching Team

Position	Staff
Manager	Niels Frederiksen
Assistant manager	Sindre Tjelmeland
Assistant coaches	Markus Uglebjerg 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

Home Stadiums

Dębiec Stadium

The club's first stadium was in the Dębiec area, located between two train tracks. It belonged to the Polish state railways (PKP). This stadium was taken down in 2013 after not being used for a long time.

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. The stadium can hold 42,837 seated fans. It was built between 1968 and 1980. Since it opened in August 1980, Lech Poznań has used it as their main stadium. The stadium is located on ul. Bułgarska 17 in the southwestern part of Poznań.

Between 2003 and 2010, the stadium was completely rebuilt. It is now the fifth largest stadium in Poland and the third largest in the Ekstraklasa. The grand reopening after the renovation was on September 20, 2010, with a concert by Sting.

Fans and Rivalries

Lech Poznań is known for having some of the strongest fan support in Poland. Many fans attend their games, creating a great atmosphere. Most of Lech's fans are from the Greater Poland region, but they also have fan clubs in many other towns.

Friendships and Rivalries

Lech supporters have a long-standing friendship with fans from Arka Gdynia and KS Cracovia, sometimes called the Wielka Triada (The Great Triad). They also have close friendships with fans of KSZO Ostrowiec Świętokrzyski and ŁKS Łódź.

Lech supporters during the 2014–15 Ekstraklasa season.

Their biggest rival is Legia Warsaw, and their matches are known as the "Derby of Poland." Other big rivals include Wisła Kraków, Lechia Gdańsk, and Śląsk Wrocław. These rivalries are often because of the friendships Lech fans have with other clubs. Korona Kielce and Widzew Łódź are also disliked by Lech fans. In the past, they had a local derby against Dyskobolia Grodzisk Wielkopolski. Their relationship with local rival Warta Poznań is neutral, as the clubs usually play in different leagues.

The Poznań Celebration

Lech Poznań fans have a unique goal celebration. They turn their backs to the field, link arms, and jump up and down together. This celebration started in 1961. It became known as "The Poznan" in English-speaking countries after Manchester City fans started using it. This happened after Manchester City played against Lech Poznań in a European match in 2010.

Other Club Sections

Lech Poznań II (Reserve Team)

The club has a reserve team, Lech Poznań II, which currently plays in the II liga, the third level of Polish football. They were promoted to this league in the 2003–04 season. The reserve teams were stopped between 2007 and 2013 but were brought back for the 2013–14 season.

Lech Poznań UAM (Women's Team)

Lech Poznań started a women's football section on August 26, 2021. This team was formed through a partnership with Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań. They have been promoted three times in four years and now play in the top women's league, the Ekstraliga.

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 Under-19 youth team. These teams play in the Central Junior League. Lech's youth system is considered one of the best and most advanced in Poland. It has helped many young players develop and go on to play for the senior team.

Notable Players

Many talented players have played for Lech Poznań. Here are some of them:

• Teodor Anioła – The club's all-time top league goalscorer.
• Jarosław Araszkiewicz – Won five championship titles with Lech.
• Jan Bednarek – A defender who played for Poland in the 2018 FIFA World Cup, UEFA Euro 2020, 2022 FIFA World Cup and UEFA Euro 2024.
• Bartosz Bosacki – Scored two goals for Poland in the 2006 FIFA World Cup.
• Andrzej Juskowiak – Won a silver medal with Poland at the 1992 Summer Olympics.
• Jakub Kamiński – Played for Poland in the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
• Robert Lewandowski – The current captain and all-time top scorer for the Poland national team. He is one of the world's best strikers.
• Karol Linetty – Played for Poland in the 2018 FIFA World Cup, UEFA Euro 2020 and 2022 FIFA World Cup.
• Jakub Moder – Played for Poland in the UEFA Euro 2020 and UEFA Euro 2024.
• Mirosław Okoński – A club legend, especially loved by fans, who helped win two championships.
• Piotr Reiss – Scored 109 Ekstraklasa goals for Lech.
• Artjoms Rudnevs – A striker who played in Germany.
• Bartosz Salamon – Played for Poland in the UEFA Euro 2016 and UEFA Euro 2024.
• Michał Skóraś – Played for Poland in the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

Top Goalscorers in Ekstraklasa

Several Lech Poznań players have been the top goalscorer in the Polish Ekstraklasa 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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  Exterior of the municipal stadium in Poznań

• 

  Full interior showing VIP stand

• 

  Interior of the municipal stadium

See also

In Spanish: Lech Poznań para niños