Polonia Warsaw facts for kids
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| Full name | Polonia Warszawa S.A. | ||
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| Nickname(s) | Czarne koszule (Blackshirts) – men's team Czarne syrenki (Black Mermaids) – women's team |
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| Short name | KSP (Klub Sportowy Polonia) | ||
| Founded | 19 November 1911 | ||
| Ground | General Kazimierz Sosnkowski Stadium | ||
| Capacity | 7,150 | ||
| Owner | Grégoire Nitot | ||
| Chairman | Grégoire Nitot | ||
| Manager | Mariusz Pawlak | ||
| League | I liga | ||
| 2023–24 | I liga, 15th of 18 | ||
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Polonia Warsaw (Polish: Polonia Warszawa) is a famous sports club from Warsaw, the capital of Poland. It was started on November 19, 1911, making it the oldest existing sports club in the city. Polonia Warsaw is best known for its exciting football and basketball teams.
Besides football and basketball, the club also has teams for track and field, swimming, chess, mountain biking, and contract bridge. In the past, it also had sections for ice hockey, fencing, tennis, volleyball, hazena, cycling, and boxing. The football team currently plays in the I liga, which is the second-highest league in the Polish football league system.
Contents
History of Polonia Warsaw
The Early Years (20th Century)
How it all started
Polonia Warsaw was formed in the autumn of 1911. It brought together several school teams, like "Stella" and "Merkury." Wacław "Denhoff" Czarnocki helped start the club and came up with its name. "Polonia" is a Latin word for "Poland." It was a brave choice for a name back then. Poland was not an independent country, and Warsaw was under Russian rule. Poles faced harsh treatment from the Russian authorities. Because of this, Polonia could not be officially registered until World War I began.
At first, the players wore black-and-white striped shirts. But in 1912, they changed to their famous all-black shirts. This was thanks to Janusz Mück, a long-time player. The black color became a symbol of mourning for Poland, which was occupied and divided. This strong tradition led to the club's nickname: Czarne koszule ("The Black Shirts"). The team's white shorts and red socks come from the colors of the Polish flag.
Polonia's first match was on November 19, 1911, against Korona. Korona won 4:3. Two years later, Polonia beat Korona 4:0. During World War I, German occupiers allowed sports clubs to register. So, on October 15, 1915, Polonia officially became a football club. It had been playing illegally for four years before that.
The first "Great Derby of Warsaw" was played on April 29, 1917. Polonia played against its younger rival, Legia Warsaw. The match ended in a 1:1 draw. A month later, they drew again with the same score. The rivalry between these two teams has been strong ever since. It creates a lot of excitement during matches.
Between the World Wars
In 1921, Polonia finished second in the first Polish football championship. In 1926, they were also joint-champions. Polonia was Warsaw's favorite club at the time. Most people in the city supported the Black Shirts. In the late 1930s, Polonia became one of the best teams in Polish football. Players like Władysław Szczepaniak played for the national team. Polonia and KS Cracovia became friends during this time. Both teams welcomed players from different backgrounds.
Polonia had many successes between the world wars. It had sections for hockey, athletics, football, fencing, tennis, volleyball, basketball, swimming, hazena, cycling, and boxing. The official start of the Warsaw derby was on June 10, 1921. Polonia beat Legia Warszawa 8:0. The rivalry grew, and Polonia won 14 out of 27 matches against Legia. Polonia's own stadium started being built in 1925 and finished in 1928. In 1938, Polonia was named the best Polish sports club.
World War II and Resistance
When World War II began, Poland was occupied by Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union. Warsaw was in the Nazi German zone. The German authorities banned Poles from playing sports. But Polonia continued to play secretly. They won the underground Warsaw Championship in 1942 and 1943.
Many Polonia players joined the resistance movement against the Nazis. Some died in concentration camps or were executed. Tadeusz Gebethner, one of the club's founders, was a brave example. He joined the resistance in 1940. From 1942, he hid a Jewish family in his home, risking his life. He fought in the Warsaw Uprising and was wounded. He died in a prisoner-of-war camp in 1944. In 1981, he was honored as Righteous Among the Nations.
Polonia's stadium was badly damaged during the war. It was used as a battlefield during the Warsaw Uprising. The stadium was rebuilt by the 1950s. Murals honoring Polish resistance fighters are painted on the stadium walls.
First Championship, First Polish Cup, and Challenges
In 1946, Polonia finally won the Polish Championship title. This was very meaningful among the ruins of Warsaw. The final match was played at Legia's stadium because Polonia's stadium was destroyed. Polonia defeated AKS Chorzów in the final.
During the Stalinist period, Polonia's name and colors were changed. Many Polish clubs got national sponsors. Polonia was renamed Kolejarz ("Railroad worker") and linked to the Polish State Railways. This was a poor sponsor, and Polonia was relegated to the second division. The traditional black shirts were banned. In 1952, Polonia Warsaw won its first Polish Cup. They beat local rivals Legia Warsaw 1:0 in the final. After Stalin's death, Polonia returned to its original name in 1956.
For 40 years, Polonia played in lower leagues. Legia Warsaw became more popular and successful. One reason was that young, talented footballers had to join the army. Many of them were offered to play for the army-sponsored Legia Warsaw. This helped Legia achieve great success in the 1960s. Polonia fans still believe Legia's popularity came from this support.
Back to the Top League
In the 1992–1993 season, Polonia Warsaw was promoted to the first division after 40 years. However, the club didn't have enough money or a good training base. After one season, they were relegated again. But they came back up in the 1995–1996 season. In 1996, Janusz Romanowski became chairman. He helped Polonia return to the top league, Ekstraklasa. In 1998, the Czarne koszule finished second. In 1999, they reached the semi-finals of the Intertoto Cup.
The 21st Century
Another Championship and Cup, then Challenges
In the 1999–2000 season, Polonia was not expected to win the title. But they led the league by the end of the autumn round. The team had two managers, Jerzy Engel and Dariusz Wdowczyk. Polonia also signed talented players like Tomasz Wieszczycki. They got sponsorship from Hoop Cola. In the spring, they lost only two games.
KSP won the Polish Championship in 2000 by beating Legia Warsaw 3:0 at their stadium. Before that, they also won a League Cup, again beating Legia 2:1. In July, they won the Super Cup against Amica Wronki 4:2. These were also the times of Emmanuel Olisadebe. He was a Nigerian footballer who became a Polish legend. He played for the national team and was the first black player on the Poland national team. Olisadebe started his career in Poland with Polonia Warsaw in 1997.
In the UEFA Champions League qualifiers, Polonia won against Dinamo București. But they lost to Panathinaikos Athens in the final round. Polonia then played in the UEFA Cup but lost to Udinese Calcio.
In the 2000/2001 season, Polonia's form dropped, but they still won the Polish Cup. For the next few years, Polonia stayed in the top division but finished lower in the table. During this time, Jan Raniecki, a club supporter, owned and sponsored Polonia. He sadly passed away in 2006. His family did not want to run the club, so a new owner was sought.
The JW Era Begins
In March 2006, Józef Wojciechowski, owner of JW Construction, bought the club. The club's money situation improved. It seemed Polonia would become a top team again. However, the club was relegated to the second division in 2005/2006.
In the 2006/2007 season, Polonia tried to get promoted but finished sixth. There were rumors that some older players didn't want promotion. In 2007, a bar called Czarna Koszula (Black Shirt) opened at the stadium. It became a popular meeting place for fans, players, and staff.
In July 2008, Polonia Warsaw joined with Dyskobolia Grodzisk Wielkopolski. Polonia took Dyskobolia's place in the top league. Most of Dyskobolia's players moved to Warsaw. Polonia finished 4th in the 2008/2009 season. They reached the 3rd qualification round of the UEFA Europa League. After winning two matches, Polonia lost to the Dutch team NAC Breda.
In 2009/2010, Polonia was not doing well. The chairman, Józef Wojciechowski, hired José Mari Bakero, a former FC Barcelona captain, as manager. Bakero helped the team avoid relegation. They also beat local rivals Legia Warsaw for the first time in 10 years. This was Polonia's first home win against Legia in 60 years, making fans very happy.
100th Birthday and Changes
For Polonia Warszawa's 100th anniversary (2010/11 season), Józef Wojciechowski strengthened the team. He signed six new players, including Ebi Smolarek. This raised fans' hopes.
The season started well with three wins and a draw, putting Polonia in first place. But there were problems between the owner and the coach. After a loss, Józef Wojciechowski and José Mari Bakero parted ways. Paweł Janas, a former Polish national team manager, took over.
Things got worse for Polonia. They had poor performances and were in 8th place. In January 2011, Theo Bos became the new manager. But he lasted only five matches. Assistant coach Piotr Stokowiec took over briefly. Then Jacek Zieliński was appointed. Polonia won five of seven matches under Zieliński, avoiding relegation and finishing 7th. In June 2011, Polonia's star player Adrian Mierzejewski was sold for a record fee.
In October 2011, Polish football legend Włodzimierz Lubański became vice-chairman. This was to help Polonia's future. But he stayed for only three months.
To celebrate Polonia Warsaw's 100th anniversary in 2011, the National Bank of Poland issued special coins. This was the first time a football club in Poland received such an honor.
On March 28, 2012, Czesław Michniewicz replaced Jacek Zieliński as manager. Polonia had some poor results and failed to qualify for the European league. Józef Wojciechowski decided to leave football. He sold the club to Ireneusz Król in July. Many players left, and the club almost stopped existing for a week. This ended the "JW era" and made many fans angry.
A New Start, Then More Problems
On July 24, 2012, Ireneusz Król bought the rights to Polonia's name and emblem for a very small price. He kept the club going, despite rumors of a merger. Youth coach Piotr Stokowiec became Polonia's first coach. He built a new team with surviving players and young talents.
However, Król turned out to be a financially unreliable owner. Payments to players were delayed. In 2013, Polonia lost more than half of its first team. Many high-priced players left for free. Star players like Vladimir Dvalishvili and Tomasz Brzyski joined main rivals Legia Warsaw. Young talent Łukasz Teodorczyk joined Lech Poznań. Polonia was left with very few players.
Despite the problems, some players like Paweł Wszołek chose to stay. Experienced players like Sebastian Przyrowski also remained. Manager Piotr Stokowiec had to rebuild the team from scratch twice. He succeeded far beyond expectations.
But off-field troubles continued. Ireneusz Król's company filed for bankruptcy. Debts grew, and Polonia's future was uncertain. On May 28, 2013, Polonia did not get a license for the next season. This was due to a large debt. The club lost its place in the Polish football system. On June 17, 2013, Ireneusz Król filed for Polonia Warszawa S.A. to go bankrupt. Despite finishing 6th, KSP dropped five league levels. This was the lowest point in its 101-year history.
Another Comeback
On June 20, 2013, the Mazovian Football Association confirmed a place for a new Polonia Warszawa team. This team was formed by Polonia supporters and based on youth players. It was placed in the semi-professional Liga okręgowa (6th tier). Later, it was moved up to the IV liga (5th tier).
Piotr Dziewicki was named the new manager. Within a month, they signed 26 players. Most of them had connections to Polonia's youth academy. The club regained control of its stadium. They also returned to their historical crest and black-and-white striped kits.
The new team's first game was in Łomianki. It started well, but was stopped due to hooligans. A week later, on August 25, 2013, Polonia had a dream debut. Fans filled the stadium, which was amazing for a 5th-tier game. Polonia beat Wkra Żuromin 6:0. Michał Strzałkowski scored three goals. Polonia quickly won promotion to III liga in June 2014.
Piotr Dziewicki was let go, despite his success. More changes happened, and some strong players left. Igor Gołaszewski, a club legend, became the head coach for the last six games. For the 2014/2015 season, the club finished just above relegation in the III liga.
Jerzy Engel's Time
On June 25, 2015, Polonia Warszawa S.A. (led by Jerzy Engel) took over the senior team. This helped bring Polonia Warsaw back from almost disappearing. The club returned to its old emblem and a sponsor from its championship-winning season.
Igor Gołaszewski remained the main coach. Former players like Wojciech Szymanek returned as coaching staff. The club signed new offensive players. Polonia Warszawa S.A. also announced plans to build a modern stadium by 2020. Their goal was to return to the Ekstraklasa.
In late 2018, Jerzy Engel resigned. The club wasn't having much success, and its finances worsened. The city authorities decided to build a municipal youth center instead of a new stadium. However, the president of Warsaw announced a design contest for a new stadium at Polonia's home ground. Money was set aside for the project. In May 2019, JSK Architekci won the competition. They designed a 15,500-seat stadium and sports complex.
Meanwhile, Polonia's finances became very bad. The new chairman couldn't bring stability. Polonia was again close to bankruptcy. Many players left. In 2020, coach Krzysztof Chrobak and fan-favorite player Krystian Pieczara also left.
"Bonjour Grégoire"
In February 2020, Grégoire Nitot, a French businessman, was negotiating to take over Polonia. Some rival fans tried to create problems. But the Polish football community started a campaign called "#BonjourGregoire" to welcome him. On March 5, 2020, Grégoire Nitot bought control of Polonia Warszawa S.A.. On March 19, he became the chairman. Football stopped due to the Coronavirus pandemic. Polonia was in the relegation zone. Wojciech Szymanek remained coach. In April, ambitious plans were announced to reach the Ekstraklasa by 2029. In May 2020, it was confirmed that no teams would be relegated due to the pandemic.
After play resumed, Polonia finished 4th in the 2020–2021 season. In August 2021, Polonia started its women's football section again after 64 years. This was a big event for Polish women's football. The Czarne syrenki ("Black Mermaids") won their first matches.
November 2021 marked Polonia's 110th anniversary. It was celebrated loudly. The club and fans created special items. The Poczta Polska (Polish Post) even issued a special postage stamp. Fans recorded a new song. Famous buildings in Warsaw were lit up in Polonia's colors. Messages were displayed on public transport. Polonia won a match 2:0 on the anniversary day. They ended the autumn round in a strong second place.
The Polonia men's basketball team was promoted to the first league. They won 36 games in a row without a single defeat! The 2021/2022 season brought many successes. The men's football team finished first in their group. They returned to the II liga after five years. A sold-out match against Legionovia Legionowo attracted 5000 fans. Polonia was promoted to the I liga in the 2022/2023 season. They secured the title as leaders of the II liga.
Supporters and Rivalries
Friendships
Polonia used to have the oldest friendship in Poland with KS Cracovia. This started in the 1930s. Although officially ended in 2017, friendly relations between the clubs and their fans still exist. Polonia fans also have friendships with fans of Sandecja Nowy Sącz and Real Zaragoza from Spain. Some Polonia supporters, known as "Black Rebels," have links with anti-fascist fans of Partizan Minsk and Arsenal Kyiv.
Support and Famous Fans
The shirt number 12 is saved for the club's supporters. This shows how important they are.
Many famous people support Polonia. These include actors, writers, and sports figures. Adam Bahdaj wrote a famous book called Do przerwy 0:1 (0:1 at half-time). It is about children playing football, inspired by Polonia's team.
In the 1990s, when some hooligan groups became a problem in Polish football, some Polonia fans formed an anti-fascist movement. This group was called Kibice Polonii przeciw faszyzmowi ("Polonia Fans Against Fascism"). It was one of the first of its kind in Poland. In 2011, they took the name "Black Rebels." In 2013, they faced attacks from far-right groups. Many clubs across Europe sent messages of support to the Black Rebels.
In August 2004, Polonia fans adopted a black jaguar from the Warsaw Zoo. They named her Beata Konwiktorska VI. This name honored the club's stadium address. Beata became a popular club and fan symbol. She was chosen as the most beautiful cat at the Warsaw zoo in 2019. She passed away on January 16, 2020, at 16 years old.
Warsaw Derby
Polonia's main rival is the local team Legia Warsaw. They play in the exciting Warsaw derby. For many years, these two teams played in the top league. After Polonia was relegated in 2013, matches against Legia Warsaw II became a substitute for the derby.
Here are the results of all matches between Polonia and Legia:
| All Matches | |||
| Matches | Legia Wins | Draws | Polonia Wins |
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| 78 | 29 | 20 | 29 |
Honours
Domestic Titles
- Ekstraklasa (Top Polish League)
- Champions: 1946, 1999–2000
- I liga (Second Polish League)
- Champions: 1992–93 (East), 1995–96 (East)
- II liga (Third Polish League)
- Champions: 2022–23
- III liga (Fourth Polish League)
- Champions: 2021–22 (group I)
- Polish Cup:
- Winners: 1952, 2000–01
- Polish Super Cup:
- Winners: 2000
- Polish League Cup
- Winners: 1999–2000
Youth Team Titles
- Polish U19 Championship
- Champions: 1977
- Runners-up: 1991, 2000, 2005, 2008
- Third place: 2001, 2015
- Polish U17 Championship
- Runners-up: 1998
Polonia in European Competitions
Polonia Warsaw has also played in various European club competitions:
| Season | Competition | Round | Club | Score | |
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| 1997 | Intertoto Cup | GR |  |
AaB | 0–2 |
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Dinamo-93 Minsk | 1–4 | |||
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Heerenveen | 0–0 | |||
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Duisburg | 0–0 | |||
| 1998–99 | UEFA Cup | 1Q |  |
Tallinna Sadam | 2–0, 3–1 |
| 2Q |  |
Dynamo Moscow | 0–1, 0–1 | ||
| 1999 | Intertoto Cup | 1R |  |
Tiligul Tiraspol | 4–0, 0–0 |
| 2R | |
Copenhagen | 1-1, 3-0 | ||
| 3R |  |
Vasas | 2–0, 2–1 | ||
| 1/2F |  |
Metz | 1–5, 1–1 | ||
| 2000–01 | UEFA Champions League | 2Q |  |
Dinamo București | 4–3, 3–1 |
| 3Q |  |
Panathinaikos | 2–2, 1–2 | ||
| 2000–01 | UEFA Cup | 1R |  |
Udinese | 0–1, 0–2 |
| 2001–02 | UEFA Cup | Q |  |
The New Saints | 4–0, 2–0 |
| 1R | |
Twente | 1–2, 0–2 | ||
| 2002–03 | UEFA Cup | Q |  |
Sliema Wanderers | 3–1, 2–0 |
| 1R |  |
Porto | 0–6, 2–0 | ||
| 2003 | Intertoto Cup | 1R |  |
Tobol Kostanay | 0–3, 1–2 |
| 2009–10 | UEFA Europa League | 1Q |  |
Budućnost Podgorica | 2–0, 0–1 |
| 2Q |  |
Juvenes/Dogana | 1–0, 4–0 | ||
| 3Q | |
NAC Breda | 0–1, 1–3 |
Managers (1992–Present)
Mirosław Jabłoński (1992–1993)- Stefan Majewski (1994)
- Mirosław Jabłoński (1994–1995)
- Stefan Majewski (1995–1996)
- Jerzy Engel (1995–1996)
- Mieczysław Broniszewski (1996–1997)
- Dariusz Wdowczyk (1998–2000)
- Albin Mikulski (2000–2001)
Verner Lička (2001–2002)- Janusz Białek (2002)
- Krzysztof Chrobak (2002–2004)
- Mieczysław Broniszewski (2004)
- Marek Motyka (2004–2005)
- Dariusz Kubicki (2005)
- Jan Żurek (2006)
- Andrzej Wiśniewski (2006)
- Jerzy Engel, jr. (2006)
- Waldemar Fornalik (2006–2007)
- Dariusz Wdowczyk (2007–2008)
- Jerzy Kowalik (2008)
- Jacek Zieliński (2008–2009)
- Jacek Grembocki (2009)
Dušan Radolský (2009)- Michał Libich (caretaker) (2009)
José Mari Bakero (2009–2010)- Paweł Janas (2010)
- Theo Bos (2011)
- Jacek Zieliński (2011–2012)
- Piotr Stokowiec (caretaker) (2012)
- Czesław Michniewicz (2012)
- Piotr Stokowiec (2012–2013)
- Piotr Dziewicki (2013–2014)
- Piotr Szczechowicz (2014)
- Dariusz Dźwigała (2014)
- Marek Końko (2015)
- Igor Gołaszewski (2015–2017)
- Wojciech Szymanek (2017)
- Krzysztof Chrobak (2017–2019)
- Wojciech Szymanek (2020–2021)
- Rafał Smalec (2021–2024)
- Grzegorz Lech (caretaker) (2024)
- Mariusz Pawlak (2024–present)
Players
Current Squad
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Out on Loan
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Notable Players
Players who have played for their national teams
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Images for kids
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Old newspaper notes about Polonia Warsaw's first football match on November 19, 1911.
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Old newspaper notes about Polonia Warsaw's first football match on November 19, 1911.
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Polonia Warsaw team in 1912.
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Władysław Szczepaniak (first from right) playing for Polonia's hockey team in the early 1930s.
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Co-founder and footballer of KSP Tadeusz Gebethner became a resistance fighter during WWII.
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The front entrance of Kazimierz Sosnkowski Stadium.
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Polonia during the 1952 Polish Cup.
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The Czarna Koszula (Black Shirt) bar has been at the stadium since 2007.
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A home game with Arka Gdynia in May 2008.
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Polonia Warszawa playing against Arka Gdynia in May 2010.
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Polonia Warszawa playing against Jagiellonia Białystok in May 2011.
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Murals at the stadium showing the Warsaw Uprising, November 2012.
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Murals at the stadium showing the Warsaw Uprising, November 2012.
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Murals at the stadium showing the Warsaw Uprising, November 2012.
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Murals at the stadium showing the Warsaw Uprising, November 2012.
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Polonia Warsaw crest used from 2013 to 2015.
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Murals at the stadium have changed over the years.
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Murals at the stadium have changed over the years.
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Murals at the stadium have changed over the years.
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Murals at the stadium have changed over the years.
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Fans supporting their club on its 110th anniversary.
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Graffiti of Arka Gdynia with crests of friendly clubs Polonia Warsaw and Cracovia Kraków.
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Polonia Warsaw fans during an away derby match with Legia Warsaw in 2011.
See also
In Spanish: Polonia Varsovia para niños
- Football in Poland
- List of football teams
