Lechia Gdańsk
 |
This article includes a list of references, related reading or external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations. Please improve this article by introducing more precise citations. (April 2010) |
 |
|||
| Full name | Klub Sportowy Lechia Gdańsk Spółka Akcyjna[1] | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname(s) |
Betony (The Concretes), Biało-zieloni (White-green), Lechiści, founded = 1945 |
||
| Ground | PGE Arena Gdańsk, ul. Pokoleń Lechii Gdańsk 1, Gdańsk, Poland (Capacity: (44,000 [2]) |
||
| Chairman |  Maciej Turnowiecki |
||
| Manager | Paweł Janas |
||
| League | Ekstraklasa | ||
| 2010–11 | 8th | ||
|
|||
 Current season |
|||
Lechia Gdańsk (Polish pronunciation: [ˈlɛxja ˈɡdaɲsk]) is a Polish football club based in Gdańsk, Poland. The club's name comes from Lechia, a poetic name for Poland. The club was founded by people expelled from Lwów, who were supporters of Lechia Lwów. Founded in 1945, Lechia was a powerhouse in Polish football during the mid-1950s. Next decades were lean, the team returned to form in early the 1980s, winning a Cup of Poland, a Super Cup, and playing in the UEFA Cup Winners Cup, where it lost to Juventus Turin. In May 2008 the club was promoted again to the Polish top division.
Contents |
[edit] Achievements
- Ekstraklasa:
- 3rd Place:: 1956
- Polish Cup:
- Winner:(1): 1983
- Finalist:(1) 1955
- Semi-Finalist:(2) 2010, 2011
- Polish SuperCup:
- Winner:(1): 1983
- UEFA Cup Winners Cup:
- 1st round: 1983-84
[edit] History
The club was founded in 1945 in Gdańsk named at the time "BOP Baltia Gdańsk". In 1946 the club name was changed to "Lechia". The first historic promotion to the Polish Ekstraklasa occurred in 1948.
- Debut Match in Ekstraklasa: March 20, 1949, Cracovia - Lechia Gdańsk 5:1
- 1st Win in Ekstraklasa: March 27, 1949, Lechia Gdańsk - Ruch Chorzów 5:3
After a season in the Polish Ekstraklasa, Lechia was relegated in 1949 to the Second Division. The club again changed its name to "Budowlani", advancing to the Polish Ekstraklasa in 1951 and being relegated again in 1953 for a season. In the 1956 season, Lechia finished 3rd in the Polish Ekstraklasa, which is the greatest achievement in the club's history so far. Lechia was relegated for the third time after the 1962-1963 season of the Polish Ekstraklasa, and then was relegatged from the Second Division in the 1966-1967 season. They returned to the Second Division in the 1972-1973 season, but was short lived as they were relegated after the 1981-1982 season.
In spite of that the 1980s have been regarded as the rebirth of the club. Lechia was promoted to the Polish 2nd Division in the 1982-1983 season. In 1983 the club achieved his biggest successes so far: first by winning the Polish Cup with a 2-1 victory over Piast Gliwice in the final and later by winning the Polish Supercup. In 1984 Lechia finally managed to get promoted to Ekstraklasa after 21 years of absence. The club played in the top league 4 years but in 1988 suffered a decline in form which resulted in another relegation to second division. Lechia normally relegated from West (Zachodnia) Group of second division bu merged with Olimpia Poznań, was Ekstraklasa club, and became Lechia/Olimpia Gdańsk in 1995 summer. Lechia/Olimpia Gdańsk relegated to second division in 1995-96 season and third division in 1996-97 one. After relegation to second division Olimpia left from the merger in 1996 but Lechia kept Lechia/Olimpia name. After end of 1997-98 season Lechia merged with Polonia Gdańsk, was second division club, and became Lechia/Polonia Gdańsk in 1998 summer. Lechia/Polonia merger was broken up after relegation to third division. Lechia began from Gdansk 4 Group of Klasa A, which was sixth level of Polish league in 2001-2002. Lechia promoted to second division in 2005 after successive four promotions as champions: To Group Gdansk 2 of Klasa okręgowa in 2002, Pomerania (Pomorska) Group of fourth league in 2003, Second Group (Grupa II) of Third League in 2004. Lechia finished second division (now First League) as 10th in 2005-2006 season and 5th in 2006-2007 one.
At the end of the 2007/08 season Lechia managed to get promoted to extraklasa again as champions.
On 28 January 2009 the members of OSP Lechia Gdańsk signed a document that formed the new Lechia Gdańsk S.A.
[edit] Historic Club Names
- 1945: Baltia Gdańsk
- 1946: Klub Sportowy Lechia Gdańsk
- 1950: Budowlani Gdańsk
- 1955: Budowlany Klub Sportowy Lechia Gdańsk
- 1992: FC Lechia (S.A.)
- 1995: Lechia/Olimpia Gdańsk
- 1996: Klub Sportowy Lechia Gdańsk
- 1998: Lechia/Polonia Gdańsk
- 2001: Ośrodek Szkolenia Piłkarskiego Lechia Gdańsk
- 2009: Lechia Gdańsk (S.A.)
[edit] Managers
[edit] The Fans
In the 1980s many of the club's fans were active in the Solidarity movement which was fighting the communist regime in Poland. It is therefore not unusual to see anticommunist slogans or phrases like "we make history" on the stands. The leader of the movement, Lech Wałęsa is a supporter of the club together with other prominent figures in polish politics such as Prime Minister Donald Tusk.
The archrivals are Arka Gdynia which come from the same region, the Tricity. Lechia's fans have an alliance with Śląsk Wrocław and Wisła Kraków fans.
[edit] Stadium
PGE Arena Gdańsk is the home stadium of Lechia Gdańsk.
[edit] Current squad
- As of 28 February 2012
Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
|
|
[edit] Out on loan
Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
|
[edit] Lechia in Europe
| Season | Competition | Round | Club | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1983/84 | UEFA Cup Winners' Cup | 1R |  |
Juventus | 0-7, 2-3 |
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Spółka Akcyjna = Stock Corporation
- ^ http://lechia.pl/21654
[edit] External links
 |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to: BKS Lechia Gdańsk |
- Official website (in Polish)
- Fan's website
- Fan's website (in Polish)
|
|||||
Coordinates: 54°22′4.59″N 18°37′15.79″E / 54.3679417°N 18.6210528°E
