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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Lech Poznań is a famous Polish football club. It is based in the city of Poznań. The team plays in the Ekstraklasa, which is Poland's top football league.
The club started on March 19, 1922. Its first name was KS Lutnia Dębiec. For many years, until 1994, the club was connected to the Polish State Railways. This is why its popular nickname is Kolejorz, meaning The Railwayman. Lech Poznań first played in the top Polish league in 1948. The club had a very successful time in the 1980s and early 1990s. During this period, they won many national titles. Lech has won the Polish league ten times, most recently in the 2025–26 season. It is the most loved football club in the Greater Poland region.
Contents
Club Names Through the Years
Lech Poznań has had several names since it was founded. Here are some of the names the club used:
- KS Lutnia Dębiec (1920–1922)
- TS Liga Dębiec (1922–1925)
- TS Liga Poznań (1925–1930)
- KS KPW Poznań (1933–1945)
- KKS Poznań (1945–1948)
- ZS Kolejarz Poznań (1949–1957)
- KS Lech Poznań (1957)
- KKS Lech Poznań (1957–1994)
- PKP Lech Poznań (1994–1998)
- WKP Lech Poznań (1998–2006)
- KKS Lech Poznań (2006–present)
History of Lech Poznań
How Lech Poznań Started (1920–1945)
In August 1920, some teenagers decided to create their own football team. The club officially started on March 19, 1922. Its first name was Towarzystwo Sportowe Liga Dębiec. In September 1922, the club got its first football field. Their very first match in May 1922 ended in a 1–1 draw. The team began playing in a lower league called Class C.
Lech Poznań moved up to Class B in 1928. They reached Class A in 1932, where the best regional teams played. However, World War II started before they could reach the top national league. After the war ended in 1945, Lech became the first official football club in Poznań.
Early Challenges and a Big Comeback (1947–1979)
In 1947, Poland created its first national football league, the Ekstraklasa. Lech Poznań, then called KKS Poznań, was added to the league after an appeal. Their first match in the top league was a 3–4 loss.
In 1957, the club changed its name to Kolejowy Klub Sportowy Lech Poznań. This year was tough for the team. They finished last and moved down to the second division. This happened even with their star striker, Teodor Anioła. He scored 141 goals for the club and was the league's top scorer three times. Anioła, along with Edmund Białas and Henryk Czapczyk, formed a famous attacking trio called ABC.
Lech returned to the top league in 1961 but was relegated again in 1963. The club even dropped to the third division, which was a very difficult time. In 1972, they made it back to the first division. Coach Jerzy Kopa joined in 1976 when the team was struggling. 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 European game was in the 1978–79 UEFA Cup, but they were eliminated early.
The Golden Age of Lech (1980–1993)
Coach Wojciech Łazarek joined the club in 1980. He helped the team reach the Polish Cup final for the first time. Two years later, Lech won its first-ever title, the Polish Cup, in 1982.
Lech Poznań won its first two league titles in 1983 and 1984. These wins were very close against Widzew Łódź. In 1983, Lech won by just one point. Star player Mirosław Okoński scored 15 goals that season. In 1984, both teams had the same points, but Lech won due to a better goal difference. That season, Lech also won the Polish Cup, achieving their first "double" (winning both the league and cup).
As champions, Lech played in the European Cup. In 1983, they beat Athletic Bilbao 2–0 at home but lost the return match. The next season, they faced Liverpool F.C. and were eliminated. In 1988, Lech won another Polish Cup. They then faced FC Barcelona in a European competition. After two draws, Barcelona won in a penalty shootout.
Coach Jerzy Kopa returned in 1990, and Lech won its third league title. Striker Andrzej Juskowiak was the top scorer with 18 goals. Coach Henryk Apostel led Lech to two more championships in 1992 and 1993. The 1993 title was won after their rival, Legia, faced penalties. In 1990, Lech beat Olympique de Marseille 3–2 at home in a European match. However, they lost the away game. After 1993, the club faced financial problems and had to sell many players.
New Challenges and Triumphs (1994–Present)
Lech Poznań stayed in the middle of the league table for a while. In 1999, they finished fourth and played 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. The first season in the second division was very difficult. However, they managed to avoid dropping further and earned promotion back to the first division the next season.
In 2004, Lech won the Polish Cup by beating their rival, Legia Warsaw. A few days later, they also won the Polish Super Cup. Coach Franciszek Smuda built a strong team. Players like Robert Lewandowski, Hernan Rengifo, and Rafał Murawski joined the club. In the 2008–09 season, Lech finished third in the league. They also won the Polish Cup for the fifth time in 2009.
In the 2009–10 season, Lech won its sixth league championship. Robert Lewandowski was again the top scorer with 18 goals. In the 2010–11 UEFA Europa League, Lech had a great run. They made it out of their group, beating teams like Juventus FC and FC Red Bull Salzburg. They were eventually eliminated in the Round of 32.
In the 2014–15 season, Lech won its seventh league title. This was under coach Maciej Skorża. In the 2021–22 season, Lech celebrated its 100th anniversary. The team, again led by Maciej Skorża, won its eighth championship. This was their first league title in seven years.
In the 2022–23 season, Lech had a successful run in the UEFA Europa Conference League. They reached the quarter-finals, which was a first for the club in a major European competition. They were eliminated by ACF Fiorentina. They were the first Polish team to win a knockout round in Europe after the winter break since 1991.
The 2023–24 season was disappointing for Lech. They were eliminated early from the Europa Conference League. Coach John van den Brom was replaced by Mariusz Rumak. The team finished 5th in the league. For the 2024–25 season, Niels Frederiksen became the manager. Lech won its ninth league title that season. In the 2025–26 season, Lech Poznań won its tenth league title, securing the championship on the final matchday. They also reached the Round of 16 in the 2025–26 UEFA Conference League.
Club Achievements
National League Titles
- Ekstraklasa (Polish Top League)
- Champions (10 times): 1982–83, 1983–84, 1989–90, 1991–92, 1992–93, 2009–10, 2014–15, 2021–22, 2024–25, 2025–26
- Runners-up: 2012–13, 2013–14, 2019–20
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- I liga (Second Division)
- Champions: 1960, 2001–02
National Cup Titles
- Polish Cup
- Winners: 1981–82, 1983–84, 1987–88, 2003–04, 2008–09
- Runners-up: 1979–80, 2010–11, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2021–22
- Polish Super Cup
- Winners: 1990, 1992, 2004, 2009, 2015, 2016
- Runners-up: 1983, 1988, 2010, 2022, 2025
European Competitions
- UEFA Europa League
- Round of 32: 2008–09, 2010–11
- UEFA Europa Conference League
- Quarter-finals: 2022–23
Youth Team Achievements
- Polish Under-19 Championship
- Champions: 1987, 1995, 2018, 2023
- Polish Under-17 Championship
- Champions: 2009, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017
European Participation
Lech Poznań has played over 160 matches in European competitions since 1978. Some memorable games include clashes against FC Barcelona in 1988–89. After two draws, Lech lost in a penalty shootout.
In the 1983–84 European Cup, Lech won 2–0 at home against Spanish champions Athletic Bilbao. In 1990–91, Lech eliminated Greek champions Panathinaikos F.C. with a 5–1 total score. They later won the first leg 3–2 at home against Olympique de Marseille.
During the 2008–09 UEFA Cup, Lech reached the group stage. They finished third in their group, ahead of AS Nancy and Feyenoord. They were then knocked out by Udinese Calcio.
The 2010–11 European season was very successful. Lech qualified for the UEFA Europa League group stage. They even advanced from their group, leaving behind big teams like Juventus FC. They lost in the Round of 32 to S.C. Braga. In later years, they reached the UEFA Europa League group stages two more times.
In the 2022–23 season, Lech reached its first-ever European quarter-final in the UEFA Europa Conference League. They were eliminated by Italian club ACF Fiorentina. In 2025, after playing in the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League qualifiers, they entered the 2025–26 UEFA Conference League. They reached the Round of 16, where they were knocked out by Ukrainian side FC Shakhtar Donetsk.
Summary of European Matches
| Competition | Games Played | Wins | Draws | Losses | Goals For | Goals Against | |
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| European Cup / UEFA Champions League | 9 | 30 | 13 | 2 | 15 | 39 | 48 |
| European Cup Winners' Cup | 2 | 8 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 10 | 7 |
| UEFA Cup / UEFA Europa League | 15 | 82 | 34 | 17 | 31 | 119 | 100 |
| UEFA Conference League | 3 | 32 | 18 | 7 | 7 | 61 | 35 |
| Intertoto Cup / UEFA Intertoto Cup | 6 | 30 | 13 | 6 | 11 | 52 | 40 |
| Overall | 35 | 182 | 82 | 34 | 66 | 281 | 230 |
Best European Results
| Season | Achievement | Notes | |
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| European Cup/UEFA Champions League | |||
| 1990–91 | Round of 16 | lost to  Marseille |
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| UEFA Cup Winners' Cup | |||
| 1982–83 | Round of 16 | lost to  Aberdeen |
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| 1988–89 | Round of 16 | lost to  Barcelona in a penalty shootout |
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| UEFA Conference League | |||
| 2022–23 | Quarter-final | lost to  Fiorentina |
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Club Records
- Biggest League Win: 11–1 vs. Szombierki Bytom, August 27, 1950
- Biggest European Win:
- UEFA Champions League: 7–1 vs. Breiðablik, July 22, 2025
- UEFA Cup: 6–0 vs. Grasshopper, August 14, 2008
- Biggest League Loss: 0–8 vs. Wisła Kraków, May 30, 1976
- Highest Attendance Overall: around 60,000 vs. Zawisza Bydgoszcz, June 25, 1972
- Most League Appearances:
Hieronim Barczak, 367 games (1973–86) - Most League Goals: Teodor Anioła, 140 goals (1945–61)
- Most Goals in a Season: Jerzy Podbrożny, 25 goals (1992–93)
- Most National Team Caps:
Luis Henríquez, 50 caps for Panama
Players
Current Squad
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Players on Loan
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Retired Jersey Numbers
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Famous Former Players
- Teodor Anioła – The club's all-time top league goalscorer.
- Jarosław Araszkiewicz – Won five championship titles with Lech Poznań.
- Jacek Bąk – A defender who played in two FIFA World Cups.
- Hieronim Barczak – Played 369 league games for Lech, a club record.
- Jan Bednarek – A defender who played for Poland in major tournaments.
- Edmund Białas – Part of the famous "ABC" attacking trio in the 1950s.
- Bartosz Bosacki – Scored two goals for Poland in the 2006 FIFA World Cup.
- Jerzy Brzęczek – Won a silver medal with Poland at the 1992 Summer Olympics.
Jimmy Conrad – A defender who played for the USA national team.- Jacek Dembiński – A striker who also played in the German Bundesliga.
Ivan Đurđević – Played over 100 games for Lech and later managed the team.- Andrzej Juskowiak – Won a silver medal with Poland at the 1992 Summer Olympics.
- Jakub Kamiński – A winger who 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 now plays for FC Barcelona.
- Karol Linetty – A midfielder who played for Poland in several major tournaments.
- Mirosław Okoński – A club legend who won two championships with Lech.
- Piotr Reiss – Scored 109 league goals for Lech.
Artjoms Rudnevs – A striker who later played for German clubs.- Bartosz Salamon – A defender who played for Poland in European Championships.
- Michał Skóraś – A winger who played for Poland in the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
- Piotr Świerczewski – Won a silver medal with Poland at the 1992 Summer Olympics.
- Łukasz Teodorczyk – A striker who played for Poland in the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
- Maciej Żurawski – A striker who played in two FIFA World Cups for Poland.
Top Goalscorers in Ekstraklasa
- 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)
Coaching Staff
| Position | Staff |
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| Manager | Niels Frederiksen |
| Assistant manager |  Sindre Tjelmeland |
| Assistant coaches |  Andy Parslow Hubert Wędzonka |
| Goalkeeping coach | Dominik Kubiak |
| Fitness coaches |  Antonin Čepek Karol Kikut Józef Napierała Michał Włodarczyk |
| Match analyst | Hubert Barański |
| Head of medical department | Rafał Hejna |
| Team doctors | Patrick Bulinśki 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
Stadiums
Dębiec Stadium
The club's first stadium was in the Dębiec area. It was located 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 in the Wilda district. It is named after Edmund Szyc, one of the founders of Warta Poznań. While it is the home of Warta Poznań, Lech sometimes played there between the 1950s and 1970s.
Stadion Poznań
The Stadion Poznań is the main home stadium for Lech Poznań. It was one of the stadiums used for the UEFA Euro 2012 football tournament. The stadium can hold 42,837 seated fans. It was first built between 1968 and 1980. Lech Poznań has used it since its opening in 1980. Since 2010, Warta Poznań also uses this stadium. The stadium is located on Bułgarska street in the southwest of Poznań.
The stadium was fully rebuilt between 2003 and 2010. This included building four new covered stands. It is now the fifth largest stadium in Poland. The grand reopening was on September 20, 2010, with a concert by Sting.
Images for kids
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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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Supporters
Lech Poznań has a very passionate fan base. They are known for their strong support for the club.
Friendships and Rivalries
For over twenty years, Lech supporters have been friends with fans from Arka Gdynia and 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.
The biggest rival for Lech Poznań is Legia Warsaw. Their matches are known as the "Derby of Poland." Other rivals include Wisła Kraków, Lechia Gdańsk, and Śląsk Wrocław. These rivalries are often because of the friendships between fan groups. Local rival Warta Poznań has a neutral relationship with Lech. This is because they usually play in different leagues. Many fans even support both teams.
The Poznań Celebration
"The Poznań" is a special way fans celebrate goals. Supporters turn their backs to the field, link arms, and jump up and down together. This celebration started in 1961. It became famous worldwide after Manchester City F.C. fans started doing it. They saw Lech Poznań fans doing it during a European match in 2010. The term "the Poznan" was even added to the Cambridge English Dictionary in 2019.
Rap Music and the Club
Many Polish rappers from Poznań are big fans of Lech. The club often appears in their music. Famous rappers like Peja have been strong supporters. Fans have even created and released rap CDs about the club.
Other Club Sections
Lech Poznań II (Reserve Team)
The club has a reserve team called Lech Poznań II. They play in lower leagues. In the 2003–04 season, they were promoted to the third division. The reserve team was stopped for a few years but brought back in 2013.
Lech Poznań UAM (Women's Team)
Lech Poznań started a women's football section on August 26, 2021. This team was formed with Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań. They have been promoted three times in four years and now play in the top women's league.
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 team. These teams play in the Central Junior League. The academy is known for being one of the best in Poland. It has helped many young players join the senior team.
KKS Wiara Lecha
KKS Wiara Lecha is a football club started by Lech Poznań supporters in 2011. Only active supporters who have contributed to the fan community can play for this team.
Club Managers
- Stanisław Kwiatkowski (January 1932 – June 1936)
László Marcai (July 1936 – May 1938)- A. Klemens Pawlak (May 1938 – August 1939)
- Franciszek Bródka (July 1945 – August 1946)
Pavel Lovas (August 1946 – March 1947)- Franciszek Bródka (April 1947 – May 1948)
- Marcel Demeunyck (June 1948 – February 1949)
- Antoni Böttcher (March 1949 – December 1949)
- Artur Walter (January 1950 – May 1950)
- Antoni Böttcher & F. Bródka (June 1950 – June 1951)
- Mieczysław Balcer (June 1951 – December 1952)
- Artur Woźniak (January 1953 – December 1953)
- Mieczysław Tarka (January 1954 – June 1957)
- Edmund Białas (June 1957 – July 1957)
- Vilém Lugr (August 1957 – November 1958)
- Henryk Czapczyk (December 1959 – September 1961)
- Mieczysław Tarka (September 1961 – November 1962)
- Zygfryd Słoma (November 1962 – June 1963)
- Edward Drabiński (August 1963 – April 1964)
- Henryk Czapczyk (April 1964 – June 1964)
- Zygfryd Słoma (July 1964 – September 1965)
- Edmund Białas (September 1965 – May 1966)
- Edward Brzozowski (May 1966 – July 1966)
- Edmund Białas (July 1966 – October 1966)
- Mieczysław Tarka (October 1966 – December 1968)
- Edmund Białas (September 1969 – June 1972)
- Mieczysław Chudziak (July 1972 – August 1972)
- Augustyn Dziwisz (August 1972 – April 1973)
- Janusz Pekowski (April 1973 – June 1975)
- Aleksander Hradecki (July 1975 – March 1976)
- E. Białas & M. Chudziak (April 1976 – September 1976)
- Jerzy Kopa (October 1976 – October 1979)
- Roman Łoś (August 1978, October 1979 – December 1979)
- Wojciech Łazarek (January 1980 – December 1984)
- Leszek Jezierski & Jacek Machciński (January 1985 – May 1985)
- Włodzimierz Jakubowski (May 1985 – November 1986)
- Bronisław Waligóra (December 1986 – August 1987)
- J. Kasalik & T. Napierała (May 1987 – May 1987, September 1987)
- Grzegorz Szerszenowicz (September 1987 – June 1988)
- Henryk Apostel (July 1988 – November 1988)
- Andrzej Strugarek (December 1988 – August 1989)
- J. Kopa & A. Strugarek (August 1989 – May 1991)
- Henryk Apostel (May 1991 – April 1993)
- Roman Jakóbczak (April 1993 – October 1993)
- Jan Stępczak (November 1993 – June 1994)
- Ryszard Matłoka (caretaker) (March 1994)
- Romuald Szukiełowicz (July 1994 – June 1995)
- Zbigniew Franiak (July 1995 – May 1996)
- Remigiusz Marchlewicz (May 1996 – June 1996)
- Ryszard Polak (July 1996 – May 1997)
- Remigiusz Marchlewicz (May 1997 – June 1997)
- Krzysztof Pawlak (July 1997 – March 1998)
- Remigiusz Marchlewicz (caretaker) (March 1998 – March 1998)
- Jerzy Kopa (March 1998 – April 1998)
- Remigiusz Marchlewicz (April 1998 – May 1998)
- Adam Topolski (May 1998 – September 1999)
- Marian Kurowski (September 1999 – April 2000)
- Zbigniew Franiak (caretaker) (April 2000 – April 2000)
- Wojciech Wąsikiewicz (April 2000 – May 2000)
Adolf Pinter (May 2000 – August 2000)- Adam Topolski (August 2000 – April 2001)
- Bogusław Baniak (April 2001 – September 2002)
- Czesław Jakołcewicz (caretaker) (September 2002 – November 2002)
- Bohumil Páník (November 2002 – June 2003)
- Libor Pala (June 2003 – September 2003)
- Czesław Michniewicz (September 2003 – June 2006)
- Franciszek Smuda (June 2006 – June 2009)
- Jacek Zieliński (June 2009 – November 2010)
- José Mari Bakero (November 2010 – February 2012)
- Mariusz Rumak (February 2012 – August 2014)
- Krzysztof Chrobak (caretaker) (August 2014 – September 2014)
- Maciej Skorża (September 2014 – October 2015)
- Jan Urban (October 2015 – August 2016)
Nenad Bjelica (August 2016 – May 2018)- Rafał Ulatowski (caretaker) (May 2018 – May 2018)
- Ivan Đurđević (May 2018 – November 2018)
- Dariusz Żuraw (caretaker) (November 2018 – November 2018)
- Adam Nawałka (November 2018 – March 2019)
- Dariusz Żuraw (April 2019 – April 2021)
- Janusz Góra (caretaker) (April 2021 – April 2021)
- Maciej Skorża (April 2021 – June 2022)
John van den Brom (June 2022 – December 2023)- Mariusz Rumak (December 2023 – June 2024)
- Niels Frederiksen (July 2024 – present)
See also
In Spanish: Lech Poznań para niños
- Football in Poland
- List of football teams
- Champions' Cup/League
- UEFA Cup
