Polonia Warszawa
Encyclopedia
Polonia Warsaw is a Polish
sports club
with football
and basketball
teams, founded in 1911, and is the oldest such club in Warsaw
, where it is based.
.
Initially the players played in black-and-white striped shirts, but in the spring of 1912, they switched to their now traditional design of all black shirts. The legendary patriotic explanation for this color scheme was that it was a sign of mourning for the occupied and divided motherland of Poland. This lasting devotion to tradition resulted in the club's popular name: The Black Shirts. The uniform's white shorts and red socks come from the colors of the Polish flag.
The club's first match on 19 November 1911 was against a strong local rival, Korona, and ended 3–4 in favor of Korona. Two years later, in February 1913, The Black Shirts defeated Korona 4–0.
Hatred divided their supporters early in the clubs' history and continues to this day, driving strong emotions during the matches and sometimes even greater emotions between matches.
In 1921, the Black Shirts came second in the first ever season of the Polish football championship. In 1926 they also finished the season as joint-champions. Polonia was Warsaw's favorite club – the great majority of the city's inhabitants were devoted Black Shirt supporters. In late 1930s, Polonia became one of powerhouses of Polish football, with players, such as Jerzy Bulanow
, Wladyslaw Szczepaniak
, Erwin Nyc
and Henryk Jaznicki
capping for the national team. The friendship between Polonia and Cracovia – the prewar Polish football legend and the first ever champions of Poland (1921) – dates back to those days.
in the final.
In 1952, Polonia Warsaw won their first Polish Cup. In the final, Polonia managed to outscore local rivals Legia Warsaw 1-0, much to the delight of Warsaw's fans, who mainly supported the Black Shirts.
During the Stalinist
period, Polonia's name and colors were changed – Warsaw's oldest club was renamed Kolejarz (which means "Railroad worker"), as the team was now tied to the Polish National Railroad company. The Black Shirts were banned, as the Stalinist regime was trying to erase everything which was associated with Warsaw from before the war. Every Polish football club got a 'sponsor', such as the army, militia or mining industry. Unfortunately, at the time, the railroad was one of the poorest sponsors, even choosing another club, (Lech Poznań
) as the main club they were investing in. Polonia's management also struggled to face the problems that the club came across, which contributed to its eventual relegation to the Polish second division.
Fifteen years later, there were still thousands of fans on Konwiktorska Street. Nobody even thought it would take 40 years for Polonia to come back to top flight football.
. In 1998 "The Black Shirts" finished runner-up in the top flight and in 1999 reached the semi-finals of the Intertoto Cup.
(who later became the coach of the Polish national team, which qualified for the World Cup 2002) and Dariusz Wdowczyk (former Polish international). During the winter break, Polonia signed two talented players in Tomasz Wieszczycki and Tomasz Kielbowicz. In the spring round, the Black Shirts lost only two games and drew one.
Polonia won the Polish Championship after thrashing Legia Warszawa
at Wojska Polskiego Stadium 3:0. Prior to that, the team also won a League Cup yet again beating Legia Warszawa away 2:1. In July, they confirmed their place as the best that year, by winning the Super Cup in a match against Polish Cup winners Amica Wronki
by a score of 4:2.
In the Champions League qualifiers, the Black Shirts won in the 2nd qualification round against Dinamo Bucureşti
(4:3, 3:1 aggregate), just to lose at the hands of Panathinaikos Athens (2:2,1:2) in the final qualification round. Despite losing the battle for Champions League, Polonia Warszawa started in 1t round of the UEFA Cup
where they lost to Udinese Calcio
twice 0:1 and 0:2.
In 2000/2001, the Black Shirts lost their form, playing poorly in the 1st division, yet still managing to win The Polish Cup. During the next few years, Polonia managed to stay in the top division, however finishing mainly in the bottom part of the table. During this time, the club was owned and sponsored by a long time supporter, Jan Raniecki, a car parts company entrepreneur. Unfortunately, Raniecki died after a heart attack on 1 March 2006. His family, who inherited the club, were not interested in running and sponsoring Polonia, so the search for a new owner began.
, the owner of JW Construction, the biggest housing development company in Poland. The club budget was strengthened and at first it seemed, that Polonia would quickly become one of the main forces in Polish football yet again. However, the club was relegated to the 2nd division after ending in last place in 2005/2006.
In 2006/2007 Polonia struggled to get promoted to the 1st division again, coming close but ultimately failing, finishing in seventh place. There were reports in the newspapers since, that some of older players in the squad were not interested in promotion, as they, likely, would have lost the place in the team had Polonia gone up.
In July 2008, Polonia Warsaw merged with Dyskobolia Grodzisk Wielkopolski
(3rd in the Ekstraklasa in 2007/08) and took over its place in the Polish top division. Most of Dyskobolia's players moved to Warsaw
to form the core of Polonia's new team. Several players from Polonia's old squad stayed in the club too. The team managed to finish 4th at the end of the 2008/2009 season, and subsequently reached the 3rd qualification round of the Europa League.
In 2009/2010, after several changes in managerial positions, and with the team performing below expectations (15th place - mid-season), the club chairman Józef Wojciechowski
decided to employ the former FC Barcelona
captain José Mari Bakero
as manager. While the team was last in the league at that point, Bakero managed to save the season by avoiding relegation and winning against the local rivals Legia Warszawa
for the first time in 10 years. It was also Polonia's first win against its bitter rivals at home in 60 years sending supporters into the summer break ecstatic.
strengthened the squad significantly, by signing 6 new players – including Euzebiusz Smolarek
and Artur Sobiech
- raising the expectations and hopes of fans for the new season dramatically.
Things got off to a good start with 3 wins (including a 3:0 trashing of Legia Warsaw) and a draw from 4 matches and first place in the standings. However, the press was reporting difficulties with the relationship between the team owner and the coach. After suffering the first defeat of the season to Korona Kielce
at home, Józef Wojciechowski
and Jose Bakero parted company - against the supporters' wishes. The former Polish
national team manager Paweł Janas, already working at the club as football director, was installed as a replacement for the Spaniard, signing a 2 year contract.
It all went from bad to worse for Polonia from that point on. A string of unconvincing performances from the team, left Polonia in 8th place, 10 points from the top of the table after the 1st round. On 6 January 2011, Dutch national Theo Bos
was confirmed as the new manager of the club. However he lasted only 5 matches in charge as he was dismissed after losing in the Polish Cup and scoring only 1 point in 3 games in the league, leaving the club only 3 points above the relegation zone. Assistant coach Piotr Stokowiec has been promoted to the head role, but as his predecessors he also did not last long - just one deafeat against Widzew Lodz
. Tarnobrzeg
born Jacek Zielinski
, who has been sacked from Polonia Warsaw back in 2009 by Jozef Wojciechowski
, has been appointed as a new head coach. Polonia won 5 out of 7 matches under Zielinski saving itself from relegation and finally took 7th place in 2010–11 Ekstraklasa
. On the 11th of october 2011 Polish footballing legend Włodzimierz Lubański was appointed as vice-chairman/sports director to relieve Józef Wojciechowski of his duties, and to secure continuity to Polonia's future.
is a match between Legia Warsaw and Polonia.
neighborhood where Polonia's stadium is also located.
Relations between the fans of both teams are hostile. Legia's supporters have vandalized Polonia's stadium many times. For example, during the Warsaw derby
match between the two teams in 1997 played in Polonia's stadium, Legia's supporters intentionally set the stadium on fire burning some buildings down. Another time, somebody at night changed Polonia's seats so that they resembled the Polish vulgar word "KURWA" (eng. whore, prostitute) instead of POLONIA.
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
sports club
Sports club
A sports club or sport club, sometimes athletics club or sports association is a club for the purpose of playing one or more sports...
with football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
and basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
teams, founded in 1911, and is the oldest such club in Warsaw
Warsaw
Warsaw is the capital and largest city of Poland. It is located on the Vistula River, roughly from the Baltic Sea and from the Carpathian Mountains. Its population in 2010 was estimated at 1,716,855 residents with a greater metropolitan area of 2,631,902 residents, making Warsaw the 10th most...
, where it is based.
History
Polonia Warsaw was formed in the autumn of 1911 as a union of two school teams. The founder of the club was captain Wacław Denhoff-Czarnocki, who also came up with the name of the club. Polonia is Latin for "Poland" and is often used by Polish ex-patriates in reference to their communities in other countries. The choice of such a name was a brave decision at the time, since Poland was not an independent country, and Warsaw was a part of Russian partitionPartitions of Poland
The Partitions of Poland or Partitions of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth took place in the second half of the 18th century and ended the existence of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, resulting in the elimination of sovereign Poland for 123 years...
.
Initially the players played in black-and-white striped shirts, but in the spring of 1912, they switched to their now traditional design of all black shirts. The legendary patriotic explanation for this color scheme was that it was a sign of mourning for the occupied and divided motherland of Poland. This lasting devotion to tradition resulted in the club's popular name: The Black Shirts. The uniform's white shorts and red socks come from the colors of the Polish flag.
The club's first match on 19 November 1911 was against a strong local rival, Korona, and ended 3–4 in favor of Korona. Two years later, in February 1913, The Black Shirts defeated Korona 4–0.
Prewar period
The first match between Polonia and Legia Warsaw was played on 29 April 1917, ending in a 1:1 draw. It was the first historic "Great Derby of Warsaw" – the clash of these two rival teams. A month later, there was a second match between the teams, ending with the same score.Hatred divided their supporters early in the clubs' history and continues to this day, driving strong emotions during the matches and sometimes even greater emotions between matches.
In 1921, the Black Shirts came second in the first ever season of the Polish football championship. In 1926 they also finished the season as joint-champions. Polonia was Warsaw's favorite club – the great majority of the city's inhabitants were devoted Black Shirt supporters. In late 1930s, Polonia became one of powerhouses of Polish football, with players, such as Jerzy Bulanow
Jerzy Bulanow
Jerzy Bulanow was a Russian-Polish footballer.As a teenager, started playing soccer in Nazdar Moscow, then moved to another local team - MKLS Moscow...
, Wladyslaw Szczepaniak
Wladyslaw Szczepaniak
Władysław Szczepaniak was a Polish football player. A defender for his entire career, he played for Polonia Warsaw, where he was the captain...
, Erwin Nyc
Erwin Nyc
Erwin Peter Nytz or Edward Piotr Nyc was an interwar Polish soccer midfield player of Upper Silesian origin. Born Erwin Nytz his Silesian homeland became Poland after Treaty of Versailles and he changed his last name to its Polonized version in 1934...
and Henryk Jaznicki
Henryk Jaznicki
Henryk Jaźnicki was a Polish football player, forward representing Polonia Warsaw and Polish National Team. Jaźnicki played in only one international friendly, without scoring a goal. His lone match occurred on August 27, 1939 in Warsaw, versus Hungary...
capping for the national team. The friendship between Polonia and Cracovia – the prewar Polish football legend and the first ever champions of Poland (1921) – dates back to those days.
The first Championship, the first Polish Cup and relegation
In 1946, Polonia finally won the Polish Championship title. It was symbolic among the ruins of the bombed and burned capital. The final match was played on "Wojska Polskiego"(the Polish Army's – Legia's – ground) Stadium on Lazienkowska Street, because Polonia's stadium on 6 Konwiktorska Street (which lay close to the Jewish ghetto area) had been ruined during the war. The Black Shirts defeated AKS ChorzówAKS Chorzów
AKS Chorzów is a sports club in based in Chorzów, Poland. It is one of the earliest sports organizations in Upper Silesia and is still well-known nationally for its football and handball teams...
in the final.
In 1952, Polonia Warsaw won their first Polish Cup. In the final, Polonia managed to outscore local rivals Legia Warsaw 1-0, much to the delight of Warsaw's fans, who mainly supported the Black Shirts.
During the Stalinist
Stalinism
Stalinism refers to the ideology that Joseph Stalin conceived and implemented in the Soviet Union, and is generally considered a branch of Marxist–Leninist ideology but considered by some historians to be a significant deviation from this philosophy...
period, Polonia's name and colors were changed – Warsaw's oldest club was renamed Kolejarz (which means "Railroad worker"), as the team was now tied to the Polish National Railroad company. The Black Shirts were banned, as the Stalinist regime was trying to erase everything which was associated with Warsaw from before the war. Every Polish football club got a 'sponsor', such as the army, militia or mining industry. Unfortunately, at the time, the railroad was one of the poorest sponsors, even choosing another club, (Lech Poznań
Lech Poznan
Lech Poznań is a Polish football club based in Poznań, Poland. The club is named after Lech, the legendary founder of Polish nation.The club was established in 1922 as Lutnia Dębiec, later changing its name several times. From 1933 until 1994, the club was closely linked to Polish State Railways...
) as the main club they were investing in. Polonia's management also struggled to face the problems that the club came across, which contributed to its eventual relegation to the Polish second division.
Fifteen years later, there were still thousands of fans on Konwiktorska Street. Nobody even thought it would take 40 years for Polonia to come back to top flight football.
Back to top flight
In the 1992–93 season, after 40 years playing in the lower leagues, Polonia Warsaw was finally promoted to the first division. The organization of the club was insufficient to compete with the strongest clubs in Polish football - the biggest problems being lack of money and a sound training base. After one season, the team was relegated yet again, but only for a year as in the 1995–96 seaso,n Polonia Warszawa won promotion again. In 1996, Janusz Romanowski took over as chairman of Polonia, having just backed out from sponsoring local rivals Legia WarszawaLegia Warszawa
Legia Warszawa is a professional football club based in Warsaw, Poland. It was founded in March 1916 in the area of Maniewicze in Volhynia as the football club of the Polish Legions...
. In 1998 "The Black Shirts" finished runner-up in the top flight and in 1999 reached the semi-finals of the Intertoto Cup.
The second Championship, the second Polish Cup and relegation (again!)
In the 1999/2000 season, Polonia were not considered challengers for the title. At the end of the autumn round, the Black Shirts were for the first time in club's history leading the league. That team had two managers – Jerzy EngelJerzy Engel
Władysław Jerzy Engel was a Polish footballer and coach. Engel began his career in football at an early age playing at local club Junak Wloclawek, before moving to Polonia Warsaw , Hutnik Warszawa and several other clubs.Engel, nicknamed "Jurek", began playing in midfield or attack before, at...
(who later became the coach of the Polish national team, which qualified for the World Cup 2002) and Dariusz Wdowczyk (former Polish international). During the winter break, Polonia signed two talented players in Tomasz Wieszczycki and Tomasz Kielbowicz. In the spring round, the Black Shirts lost only two games and drew one.
| Club Achievements | |
|---|---|
| Domestic | Years |
| League League system A league system is a hierarchy of leagues in a sport, usually with a system of promotion and relegation between consecutive levels of the hierarchy. They are often called pyramids due to their tendency to split into an increasing number of regional divisions the further down the pyramid one descends... |
|
| Champions (2) | 1946, 2000 |
| Runner-up (3) | 1921, 1926, 1998 |
| Polish Cup Polish Cup The Polish Cup in football or officially Remes Puchar Polski, is an elimination tournament for Polish football clubs, held continuously from 1950, and is the second most important national title in Polish football after the Ekstraklasa title... |
|
| Winner (2) | 1952, 2001 |
| Polish SuperCup Polish SuperCup The Polish SuperCup in football is an annually held match between the champion of the Ekstraklasa and the Polish Cup winner. To this date the Polish SuperCup has been played out 21 times with the Polish Cup winner taking the trophy 13 times, while the Ekstraklasa champions had won the trophy 8 times... |
|
| Winner (1) | 2000 |
| Polish League Cup Ekstraklasa Cup The Ekstraklasa Cup was an elimination tournament for Polish football clubs who play in the Polish 1st Division Ekstraklasa. The first ever Ekstraklasa Cup was held in 1952 in which Wawel Kraków came out victorious over Cracovia Kraków with the final score being 5-1. Two tournements were also held... |
|
| Winner (1) | 2000 |
| Europe | Years |
| UEFA Intertoto Cup UEFA Intertoto Cup The UEFA Intertoto Cup, also abbreviated as UI Cup and originally called the International Football Cup, was a summer football competition for European clubs that had not qualified for one of the two major UEFA competitions, the Champions League and the UEFA Cup. The competition was discontinued... |
|
| Semi-Finalist (1) | 1999 |
Polonia won the Polish Championship after thrashing Legia Warszawa
Legia Warszawa
Legia Warszawa is a professional football club based in Warsaw, Poland. It was founded in March 1916 in the area of Maniewicze in Volhynia as the football club of the Polish Legions...
at Wojska Polskiego Stadium 3:0. Prior to that, the team also won a League Cup yet again beating Legia Warszawa away 2:1. In July, they confirmed their place as the best that year, by winning the Super Cup in a match against Polish Cup winners Amica Wronki
Amica Wronki
Amica Wronki was a Polish football club based in Wronki, Poland.The history of SSA Amica Sport goes back to 1992 when the Amica company wanted to sponsor a football team in the town of Wronki where their factory was located. The company's increasing profits gave the new team tremendous financial...
by a score of 4:2.
In the Champions League qualifiers, the Black Shirts won in the 2nd qualification round against Dinamo Bucureşti
Dinamo Bucuresti
Fotbal Club Dinamo Bucureşti is a Romanian professional football club based in Bucharest. Dinamo is one of the two most successful football teams in Romania, having won 18 Romanian Liga I titles, 12 Romanian Cups and 1 Romanian Supercup....
(4:3, 3:1 aggregate), just to lose at the hands of Panathinaikos Athens (2:2,1:2) in the final qualification round. Despite losing the battle for Champions League, Polonia Warszawa started in 1t round of the UEFA Cup
UEFA Cup
The UEFA Europa League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1971 for eligible European football clubs. It is the second most prestigious European club football contest after the UEFA Champions League...
where they lost to Udinese Calcio
Udinese Calcio
Udinese Calcio is an Italian football club based in Udine, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, and currently plays in the Serie A. Founded in 1896, Udinese is the second oldest club in the Serie A, after Genoa....
twice 0:1 and 0:2.
In 2000/2001, the Black Shirts lost their form, playing poorly in the 1st division, yet still managing to win The Polish Cup. During the next few years, Polonia managed to stay in the top division, however finishing mainly in the bottom part of the table. During this time, the club was owned and sponsored by a long time supporter, Jan Raniecki, a car parts company entrepreneur. Unfortunately, Raniecki died after a heart attack on 1 March 2006. His family, who inherited the club, were not interested in running and sponsoring Polonia, so the search for a new owner began.
The Józef Wojciechowski's era
In March 2006, the club was bought out by a new owner, Józef WojciechowskiJózef Wojciechowski
Józef Wojciechowski - Polish developer, owner of J.W. Construction Holding S.A., and Polonia Warsaw football club.On 28 May 2010 Wojciechowski was reported to be interested in taking over control of English League Championship side Leicester City F.C. from Milan Mandaric.-References:...
, the owner of JW Construction, the biggest housing development company in Poland. The club budget was strengthened and at first it seemed, that Polonia would quickly become one of the main forces in Polish football yet again. However, the club was relegated to the 2nd division after ending in last place in 2005/2006.
In 2006/2007 Polonia struggled to get promoted to the 1st division again, coming close but ultimately failing, finishing in seventh place. There were reports in the newspapers since, that some of older players in the squad were not interested in promotion, as they, likely, would have lost the place in the team had Polonia gone up.
In July 2008, Polonia Warsaw merged with Dyskobolia Grodzisk Wielkopolski
Dyskobolia Grodzisk Wielkopolski
Dyskobolia Grodzisk Wielkopolski is a Polish football club based in Grodzisk Wielkopolski, Poland.- History :Dyskobolia Grodzisk Wielkopolski was founded on April 30, 1922....
(3rd in the Ekstraklasa in 2007/08) and took over its place in the Polish top division. Most of Dyskobolia's players moved to Warsaw
Warsaw
Warsaw is the capital and largest city of Poland. It is located on the Vistula River, roughly from the Baltic Sea and from the Carpathian Mountains. Its population in 2010 was estimated at 1,716,855 residents with a greater metropolitan area of 2,631,902 residents, making Warsaw the 10th most...
to form the core of Polonia's new team. Several players from Polonia's old squad stayed in the club too. The team managed to finish 4th at the end of the 2008/2009 season, and subsequently reached the 3rd qualification round of the Europa League.
In 2009/2010, after several changes in managerial positions, and with the team performing below expectations (15th place - mid-season), the club chairman Józef Wojciechowski
Józef Wojciechowski
Józef Wojciechowski - Polish developer, owner of J.W. Construction Holding S.A., and Polonia Warsaw football club.On 28 May 2010 Wojciechowski was reported to be interested in taking over control of English League Championship side Leicester City F.C. from Milan Mandaric.-References:...
decided to employ the former FC Barcelona
FC Barcelona
Futbol Club Barcelona , also known as Barcelona and familiarly as Barça, is a professional football club, based in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain....
captain José Mari Bakero
José Mari Bakero
José María Bakero Escudero is a retired Spanish footballer, and the current coach of Lech Poznań in Poland.Having played mainly for Real Sociedad and FC Barcelona, he began his career as a forward but was converted into an attacking midfielder, who possessed passing and netting ability José María...
as manager. While the team was last in the league at that point, Bakero managed to save the season by avoiding relegation and winning against the local rivals Legia Warszawa
Legia Warszawa
Legia Warszawa is a professional football club based in Warsaw, Poland. It was founded in March 1916 in the area of Maniewicze in Volhynia as the football club of the Polish Legions...
for the first time in 10 years. It was also Polonia's first win against its bitter rivals at home in 60 years sending supporters into the summer break ecstatic.
100th birthday
For the 100th anniversary of Polonia Warszawa's (season 2010/11), its owner Józef WojciechowskiJózef Wojciechowski
Józef Wojciechowski - Polish developer, owner of J.W. Construction Holding S.A., and Polonia Warsaw football club.On 28 May 2010 Wojciechowski was reported to be interested in taking over control of English League Championship side Leicester City F.C. from Milan Mandaric.-References:...
strengthened the squad significantly, by signing 6 new players – including Euzebiusz Smolarek
Euzebiusz Smolarek
Euzebiusz "Ebi" Smolarek is a Polish footballer who is currently player of Qatari Al-Khor. He has played 46 times for the Polish national football team. Smolarek plays primarily as a striker or winger.-Club career:...
and Artur Sobiech
Artur Sobiech
-Career:After spending four years at Ruch Chorzów, where he started his professional career, he joined Polonia Warszawa in July 2010. Polonia paid 1 million euros for him....
- raising the expectations and hopes of fans for the new season dramatically.
Things got off to a good start with 3 wins (including a 3:0 trashing of Legia Warsaw) and a draw from 4 matches and first place in the standings. However, the press was reporting difficulties with the relationship between the team owner and the coach. After suffering the first defeat of the season to Korona Kielce
Korona Kielce
Korona Kielce, , is a Polish football club, currently playing in the Ekstraklasa. In the years 2002-2008 Club belonged to Polish holding company Kolporter Holding and achieved its greatest success - in 2005, winning promotion to the first division...
at home, Józef Wojciechowski
Józef Wojciechowski
Józef Wojciechowski - Polish developer, owner of J.W. Construction Holding S.A., and Polonia Warsaw football club.On 28 May 2010 Wojciechowski was reported to be interested in taking over control of English League Championship side Leicester City F.C. from Milan Mandaric.-References:...
and Jose Bakero parted company - against the supporters' wishes. The former Polish
Poles
thumb|right|180px|The state flag of [[Poland]] as used by Polish government and diplomatic authoritiesThe Polish people, or Poles , are a nation indigenous to Poland. They are united by the Polish language, which belongs to the historical Lechitic subgroup of West Slavic languages of Central Europe...
national team manager Paweł Janas, already working at the club as football director, was installed as a replacement for the Spaniard, signing a 2 year contract.
It all went from bad to worse for Polonia from that point on. A string of unconvincing performances from the team, left Polonia in 8th place, 10 points from the top of the table after the 1st round. On 6 January 2011, Dutch national Theo Bos
Theo Bos (footballer)
Theo Bos is a Dutch former footballer and current coach of FC Dordrecht.-Playing career:Bos spent his entire playing career for Vitesse Arnhem, making a total 369 appearances in 14 seasons with his club.-Coaching career:...
was confirmed as the new manager of the club. However he lasted only 5 matches in charge as he was dismissed after losing in the Polish Cup and scoring only 1 point in 3 games in the league, leaving the club only 3 points above the relegation zone. Assistant coach Piotr Stokowiec has been promoted to the head role, but as his predecessors he also did not last long - just one deafeat against Widzew Lodz
Widzew Lódz
RTS Widzew Łódź , is a professional Polish football club based in Łódź, Poland.The club was founded in 1910 and named after the "Widzew" district of the city where it is based; its home is the Stadion im. Ludwika Sobolewskiego at 138 Pilsudski street. Widzew has won four Polish league championships...
. Tarnobrzeg
Tarnobrzeg
Tarnobrzeg is a city in south-eastern Poland, on the east bank of the river Vistula, with 49,419 inhabitants, as of December 31, 2009. Situated in the Subcarpathian Voivodeship since 1999, it had previously been the capital of Tarnobrzeg Voivodeship...
born Jacek Zielinski
Jacek Zielinski (b. 1961)
Jacek Zieliński is a Polish footballer, and football coach.-Career:Zieliński began his career at Siarka Tarnobrzeg, and became captain in the 1977 season.-Manager career:...
, who has been sacked from Polonia Warsaw back in 2009 by Jozef Wojciechowski
Józef Wojciechowski
Józef Wojciechowski - Polish developer, owner of J.W. Construction Holding S.A., and Polonia Warsaw football club.On 28 May 2010 Wojciechowski was reported to be interested in taking over control of English League Championship side Leicester City F.C. from Milan Mandaric.-References:...
, has been appointed as a new head coach. Polonia won 5 out of 7 matches under Zielinski saving itself from relegation and finally took 7th place in 2010–11 Ekstraklasa
2010–11 Ekstraklasa
The 2010–11 Ekstraklasa was the 77th season of the highest level of football leagues in Poland since its establishment in 1927. It began on 6 August 2010 and concluded on 29 May 2011. A total of 16 teams participated, 14 of which competed in the league during the 2009–10 season, while the remaining...
. On the 11th of october 2011 Polish footballing legend Włodzimierz Lubański was appointed as vice-chairman/sports director to relieve Józef Wojciechowski of his duties, and to secure continuity to Polonia's future.
Current squad
Out on loan
Notable former players
| Arkadiusz Bąk Arkadiusz Bak Arkadiusz Bąk is a Polish footballer who currently plays for Flota Świnoujście.Having started in the 1992/1993 season, Bąk also played for Ruch Chorzów, Polonia Warszawa, Birmingham City, Widzew Łódź and Amica Wronki. He made thirteen appearances for Poland, including appearances in the 2002... Marek Citko Marek Citko Marek Citko is a retired Polish football player, who most frequently performed as an offensive midfielder. His first club was Włókniarz Białystok and hist last - Polonia Warsaw... Dariusz Dźwigała Zdzisław Gierwatowski Radosław Majewski Adrian Mierzejewski Adrian Mierzejewski Adrian Mierzejewski is a Polish football player who plays for Trabzonspor and the national team of Poland, as a midfielder.-Early career:... Erwin Nyc Erwin Nyc Erwin Peter Nytz or Edward Piotr Nyc was an interwar Polish soccer midfield player of Upper Silesian origin. Born Erwin Nytz his Silesian homeland became Poland after Treaty of Versailles and he changed his last name to its Polonized version in 1934...  Emmanuel OlisadebeEmmanuel Olisadebe Emmanuel Olisadebe is a Nigerian-born Polish football striker who plays for Greek football club Vyzas Megaron in Gamma Ethniki.... Euzebiusz Smolarek Euzebiusz Smolarek Euzebiusz "Ebi" Smolarek is a Polish footballer who is currently player of Qatari Al-Khor. He has played 46 times for the Polish national football team. Smolarek plays primarily as a striker or winger.-Club career:... Władysław Szczepaniak Tomasz Wieszczycki Tomasz Wieszczycki Tomasz Wieszczycki is former Polish football player.-National team:Wieszczycki appeared in 11 matches for the Poland national football team, scoring three goals.-External links:*... Marcin Żewłakow Michał Żewłakow Andreu Andreu Guerao Mayoral Andreu Guerao Mayoral , simply Andreu, is a Spanish footballer who plays for Auckland City FC in New Zealand, as a midfielder.-Football career:... |
Polonia in European Cups
| Season | Competition | Round | Club | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | Intertoto Cup | GR |  |
AaB AaB Football AaB Fodbold, also referred to as Aalborg BK or AaB, is a professional football team of Danish sports conglomerate Aalborg Boldspilklub, located in Aalborg. They play in the Danish Superliga and have won three Danish Superliga championships and two Danish Cup trophies.AaB became the first Danish... |
0–2 |
 |
Dinamo Minsk | 1–4 | |||
 |
Heerenveen | 0–0 | |||
 |
Duisburg MSV Duisburg MSV Duisburg is a German association football club based in Duisburg, North Rhine-Westphalia. Nicknamed "the Zebras" for their traditional striped jerseys, the club was one of the original members of the Bundesliga when it was formed in 1963.-Early years:... |
0–0 | |||
| 1998–99 | UEFA Cup UEFA Cup The UEFA Europa League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1971 for eligible European football clubs. It is the second most prestigious European club football contest after the UEFA Champions League... |
1Q |  |
Tallinna Sadam Tallinna Sadam Tallinna Sadam is a now defunct Estonian football club. The club won Estonian cup in 1996 and 1997 and were Estonian Meistriliiga runners up in 1997–1998 and 1998 seasons... |
2–0, 3–1 |
| 2Q |  |
Dynamo Moscow FC Dynamo Moscow Dynamo Moscow is a Russian football club based in Moscow, currently playing in the Russian Premier League. Dynamo's traditional kit colours are blue and white... |
0–1, 0–1 | ||
| 1999 | Intertoto Cup | 1R |  |
Tiligul Tiraspol | 4–0, 0–0 |
| 2R | |
Copenhagen F.C. Copenhagen F.C. Copenhagen is a professional Danish football club in Copenhagen, Denmark. It is part of the Parken Sport & Entertainment.... |
1-1, 3-0 | ||
| 3R |  |
Vasas Vasas SC Vasas SC is one of Hungary's major sports clubs. Most of its facilities are situated in Budapest's 13th district in the north of the town. Members of the Hungarian Union of Iron Workers founded the club as Vas-és Fémmunkások Sport Clubja, the "Sport Club of Iron and Steel Workers", on 16 March 1911... |
2–0, 2–1 | ||
| 1/2F |  |
Metz FC Metz Football Club de Metz, commonly referred to as simply Metz , is a French association football club based in Metz. The club was formed in 1932 and has spent most of its history in the Ligue 1, though they currently play in Ligue 2, the second level in French football league system. Metz plays its... |
1–5, 1–1 | ||
| 2000–01 UEFA Champions League 2000-01 The 2000–01 UEFA Champions League was the ninth edition of the UEFA Champions League, UEFA's premier European club football tournament, since it was renamed from the European Cup in 1992, and the 46th tournament overall. The competition was won by Bayern Munich , who beat Valencia 5–4 on... |
UEFA Champions League UEFA Champions League The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It... |
2Q |  |
Dinamo Bucureşti | 4–3, 3–1 |
| 3Q |  |
Panathinaikos | 2–2, 1–2 | ||
| UEFA Cup UEFA Cup The UEFA Europa League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1971 for eligible European football clubs. It is the second most prestigious European club football contest after the UEFA Champions League... |
1R |  |
Udinese Udinese Calcio Udinese Calcio is an Italian football club based in Udine, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, and currently plays in the Serie A. Founded in 1896, Udinese is the second oldest club in the Serie A, after Genoa.... |
0–1, 0–2 | |
| 2001–02 | UEFA Cup UEFA Cup The UEFA Europa League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1971 for eligible European football clubs. It is the second most prestigious European club football contest after the UEFA Champions League... |
Q |  |
The New Saints | 4–0, 2–0 |
| 1R | |
Twente FC Twente FC Twente is a Dutch professional football club from the city of Enschede, playing in the Eredivisie. The club was formed in 1965 by the merger of 1926 Eredivisie Champions, Sportclub Enschede and Enschedese Boys... |
1–2, 0–2 | ||
| 2002–03 | UEFA Cup UEFA Cup The UEFA Europa League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1971 for eligible European football clubs. It is the second most prestigious European club football contest after the UEFA Champions League... |
Q |  |
Sliema Wanderers Sliema Wanderers F.C. Sliema Wanderers Football Club are a Maltese football team from the town of Sliema, which currently plays in the Maltese Premier League.-History:The club was founded in 1909... |
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 FK Buducnost Podgorica FK Budućnost is a football club from Podgorica, Montenegro, currently competing in the First League of Montenegro. Its colours are blue and white. FK Buducnost is a part of the Budućnost sport society.-History:... |
2–0, 0–1 |
| 2Q |  |
Juvenes/Dogana | 1–0, 4–0 | ||
| 3Q | |
NAC Breda NAC Breda NAC Breda , simply often known as NAC, is a Dutch professional football club, based in Breda, Netherlands. NAC Breda play in the Rat Verlegh Stadium, named after their most important player, Antoon 'Rat' Verlegh. They play in the Dutch Eredivisie and are known by the fierce and fanatic support of... |
0–1, 1–3 |
Warsaw derby
The Warsaw derbyLocal derby
In many countries the term local derby, or simply just derby means a sporting fixture between two, generally local, rivals, particularly in association football...
is a match between Legia Warsaw and Polonia.
| All matches | |||
| Matches | Legia wins | Draws | Polonia wins |
|---|---|---|---|
| 68 | 27 | 19 | 22 |
Supporters
The average attendance at Polonia's matches is around 2,000. The main rival is the local team Legia Warsaw. While Legia's supporters are drawn from all parts of the city, Polonia's supporters mainly live and operate in MuranówMuranów
Muranów is a neighborhood consisting mainly of housing estates in the districts of Śródmieście and Wola in Warsaw founded in the 17th century. The name derived from the palace belonging to Józef Bellotti, a Venetian architect...
neighborhood where Polonia's stadium is also located.
Relations between the fans of both teams are hostile. Legia's supporters have vandalized Polonia's stadium many times. For example, during the Warsaw derby
Local derby
In many countries the term local derby, or simply just derby means a sporting fixture between two, generally local, rivals, particularly in association football...
match between the two teams in 1997 played in Polonia's stadium, Legia's supporters intentionally set the stadium on fire burning some buildings down. Another time, somebody at night changed Polonia's seats so that they resembled the Polish vulgar word "KURWA" (eng. whore, prostitute) instead of POLONIA.
See also
- Football in PolandFootball in PolandFootball is the most popular sport in Poland. Over 400,000 Poles play football regularly, with millions more playing occasionally. The first professional clubs were founded in the early 1900s, and the Polish national football team played its first international match in 1921.There are hundreds of...
- List of football teams
- Champions' Cup/LeagueUEFA Champions LeagueThe UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
- UEFA CupUEFA CupThe UEFA Europa League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1971 for eligible European football clubs. It is the second most prestigious European club football contest after the UEFA Champions League...