List of Polish football champions explained

The Polish football champions are the annual winners of Poland's premier annual football competition. The title has been contested since 1920 in varying forms of competition. From 1921 to 1926 the championship was decided in a series of tournaments until the league was formed in 1927. Since then the title was awarded the winners of the highest league in Polish football. In 1951 the title was awarded to the winner of the Polish Cup.[1]

Pre-independence era (1913–1914)

Before Poland regained its independence in 1918, Polish clubs had held their own championships in Austrian and Prussian partitions.

Galicia (Austrian partition)

Competitions were organized by the original Polish Football Association, which was part of the Austrian Football Association.

SeasonChampionsRunners-upThird PlaceTop scorer(s)
1913Wisła Kraków
1914Abandoned due to World War I, as of June 21, 1914, Cracovia was 1st, Czarni Lwów 2nd, and Pogoń Lwów 3rd.

Province of Posen (Prussian partition)

Competitions were organized by Association of Polish Sports Societies for the German Reich (now Greater Poland Football Association, a part of Polish Football Association).

Not to be confused with Posen Football Championship, the regional competition organized by South Eastern German Association, a part of German Football Association in 1908–1914.

SeasonChampions
(number of titles)
Runners-upThird Place
1913Warta PoznańPosnaniaOstrovia
1914Warta Poznań (2)PosnaniaOstrovia
1919Unia PoznańWarta PoznańPosnania

Under German occupation (1940–1944)

Warsaw Championship

SeasonChampionsRunners-upThird Place
1942Polonia WarsawOkęcie WarsawOlimpia Warsaw
1943Polonia Warsaw (2)PiasecznoMarymont Warsaw
1944Abandoned due to Warsaw Uprising, as of the last played matchday, KS Grochów was 1st, Korona Warsaw 2nd, and Wawel Warsaw 3rd.

Kraków Championship

SeasonChampionsRunners-upThird Place
1940Wisła KrakówZwierzyniecki KrakówGarbarnia Kraków
1941Wisła Kraków (2)CracoviaAKS Kraków
1943CracoviaWisła KrakówGarbarnia Kraków
1944Abandoned due to Warsaw Uprising, as of July 30, 1944, Nadwiślan Kraków was 1st, Wisła Kraków 2nd, and Garbarnia Kraków 3rd.

List of champions

The performance of various clubs is shown in the following table:[2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13] [14] [15]

width=2%Seasonwidth=15%Champions[16]
(number of titles)
width=15%Runners-upwidth=15%Third Placewidth=17%Top scorer(s)
1920Final tournament not played due to the Polish–Soviet War.
1921CracoviaPolonia WarsawWarta PoznańJózef Kałuża (Cracovia): 9
1922Pogoń LwówWarta PoznańCracovia and ŁKS ŁódźWacław Kuchar (Pogoń Lwów): 21
1923Pogoń Lwów (2) Wisła KrakówMieczysław Batsch (Pogoń Lwów): 17
1924Not played due to the 1924 Summer Olympics in Paris.
1925Pogoń Lwów (3)Warta PoznańWisła KrakówHenryk Reyman (Wisła Kraków): 11
1926Pogoń Lwów (4)Polonia WarsawWarta Poznań
1927Wisła Kraków1. FC KatowiceWarta PoznańHenryk Reyman (Wisła Kraków): 37
1928Wisła Kraków (2)Warta PoznańLegia WarsawLudwik Gintel (Cracovia): 28
1929Warta PoznańGarbarnia KrakówWisła KrakówRochus Nastula (Czarni Lwów): 25
1930Cracovia (2)Wisła KrakówLegia WarsawKarol Kossok (Cracovia): 24
1931Garbarnia KrakówWisła KrakówLegia WarsawWalerian Kisieliński (Wisła Kraków): 24
1932Cracovia (3)Pogoń LwówWarta PoznańKajetan Kryszkiewicz (Warta Poznań): 16
1933Ruch Wielkie HajdukiPogoń LwówWisła KrakówArtur Woźniak (Wisła Kraków): 19
1934Ruch Wielkie Hajduki (2)CracoviaWisła KrakówErnest Wilimowski (Ruch Wielkie Hajduki): 33
1935Ruch Wielkie Hajduki (3)Pogoń LwówWarta PoznańMichał Matyas (Pogoń Lwów): 22
1936Ruch Wielkie Hajduki (4)Wisła KrakówWarta Poznań
1937Cracovia (4)AKS ChorzówRuch Wielkie HajdukiArtur Woźniak (Wisła Kraków): 12
1938Ruch Wielkie Hajduki (5)Warta PoznańTeodor Peterek (Ruch Wielkie Hajduki): 21
1939Abandoned due to World War II, as of August 31, 1939, Ruch Wielkie Hajduki was 1st, Wisła Kraków 2nd, and Pogoń Lwów 3rd.Ernest Wilimowski (Ruch Wielkie Hajduki): 26
1940–45Not played due to World War II.
1946Polonia WarsawWarta PoznańAKS ChorzówHenryk Spodzieja (AKS Chorzów): 8
1947Warta Poznań (2)Wisła KrakówAKS ChorzówMieczysław Gracz (Wisła Kraków): 4
1948Cracovia (5)Wisła KrakówRuch ChorzówJózef Kohut (Wisła Kraków): 31
1949Gwardia Kraków (3)Ogniwo KrakówKolejarz PoznańTeodor Anioła (Kolejarz Poznań): 21
1950Gwardia Kraków (4)Unia ChorzówKolejarz PoznańTeodor Anioła (Kolejarz Poznań): 20
1951Unia Chorzów (6)Gwardia KrakówBudowlani Chorzów and Kolejarz WarsawHenryk Spodzieja (Budowlani Chorzów): 7
1952Unia Chorzów (7)Ogniwo BytomOgniwo KrakówGerard Cieślik (Unia Chorzów): 11
1953Unia Chorzów (8)OWKS KrakówWisła KrakówGerard Cieślik (Unia Chorzów): 24
1954Ogniwo BytomŁKS-Włókniarz ŁódźUnia ChorzówErnest Pol (CWKS Warsaw): 24
1955CWKS WarsawStal SosnowiecUnia-Ruch ChorzówStanisław Hachorek (Gwardia Warsaw): 16
1956CWKS Warsaw (2)Ruch ChorzówLechia GdańskHenryk Kempny (CWKS Warsaw): 21
1957Górnik ZabrzeGwardia WarszawaŁKS ŁódźLucjan Brychczy (Legia Warsaw): 19
1958ŁKS ŁódźPolonia BytomGórnik ZabrzeWładysław Soporek (ŁKS Łódź): 19
1959Górnik Zabrze (2)Polonia BytomGwardia Warszawa
1960Ruch Chorzów (9)Legia WarsawGórnik ZabrzeMarian Norkowski (Polonia Bydgoszcz): 17
1961Górnik Zabrze (3)Polonia BytomLegia WarsawErnest Pol (Górnik Zabrze): 24
1962Polonia Bytom (2)Górnik ZabrzeZagłębie SosnowiecJan Liberda (Polonia Bytom): 16
1962–63Górnik Zabrze (4)Ruch ChorzówZagłębie SosnowiecMarian Kielec (Pogoń Szczecin): 18
1963–64Górnik Zabrze (5)Zagłębie SosnowiecOdra Opole
1964–65Górnik Zabrze (6)Szombierki BytomLucjan Brychczy (Legia Warsaw): 20
1965–66Górnik Zabrze (7)Wisła KrakówPolonia BytomWłodzimierz Lubański (Górnik Zabrze): 23
1966–67Górnik Zabrze (8)Zagłębie SosnowiecRuch ChorzówWłodzimierz Lubański (Górnik Zabrze): 18
1967–68Ruch Chorzów (10)Legia WarsawGórnik ZabrzeWłodzimierz Lubański (Górnik Zabrze): 24
1968–69Legia Warsaw (3)Górnik ZabrzePolonia BytomWłodzimierz Lubański (Górnik Zabrze): 22
1969–70Legia Warsaw (4)Ruch ChorzówGórnik ZabrzeAndrzej Jarosik (Zagłębie Sosnowiec): 18
1970–71Górnik Zabrze (9)Legia WarsawZagłębie WałbrzychAndrzej Jarosik (Zagłębie Sosnowiec): 13
1971–72Górnik Zabrze (10)Zagłębie SosnowiecLegia WarsawRyszard Szymczak (Gwardia Warsaw): 16
1972–73Stal MielecRuch ChorzówGwardia WarszawaGrzegorz Lato (Stal Mielec): 13
1973–74Ruch Chorzów (11)Górnik ZabrzeStal MielecZdzisław Kapka (Wisła Kraków): 15
1974–75Ruch Chorzów (12)Stal MielecGrzegorz Lato (Stal Mielec): 19
1975–76Stal Mielec (2)GKS TychyWisła KrakówKazimierz Kmiecik (Wisła Kraków): 20
1976–77Śląsk WrocławWidzew ŁódźGórnik ZabrzeWłodzimierz Mazur (Zagłębie Sosnowiec): 17
1977–78Wisła Kraków (5)Śląsk WrocławLech PoznańKazimierz Kmiecik (Wisła Kraków): 15
1978–79Ruch Chorzów (13)Widzew ŁódźStal MielecKazimierz Kmiecik (Wisła Kraków): 17
1979–80Szombierki BytomWidzew ŁódźLegia WarsawKazimierz Kmiecik (Wisła Kraków): 24
1980–81Widzew ŁódźWisła KrakówKrzysztof Adamczyk (Legia Warsaw): 18
1981–82Widzew Łódź (2)Śląsk WrocławStal MielecGrzegorz Kapica (Szombierki Bytom): 15
1982–83Lech PoznańWidzew ŁódźRuch Chorzów
1983–84Lech Poznań (2)Widzew ŁódźPogoń SzczecinWłodzimierz Ciołek (Górnik Wałbrzych): 14
1984–85Górnik Zabrze (11)Legia WarsawWidzew ŁódźLeszek Iwanicki (Motor Lublin): 14
1985–86Górnik Zabrze (12)Legia WarsawWidzew ŁódźAndrzej Zgutczyński (Górnik Zabrze): 20
1986–87Górnik Zabrze (13)Pogoń SzczecinGKS KatowiceMarek Leśniak (Pogoń Szczecin): 24
1987–88Górnik Zabrze (14)GKS KatowiceLegia WarsawDariusz Dziekanowski (Legia Warsaw): 20
1988–89Ruch Chorzów (14)GKS KatowiceGórnik ZabrzeKrzysztof Warzycha (Ruch Chorzów): 24
1989–90Lech Poznań (3)Zagłębie LubinGKS KatowiceAndrzej Juskowiak (Lech Poznań): 18
1990–91Zagłębie LubinGórnik ZabrzeWisła KrakówTomasz Dziubiński (Wisła Kraków): 21
1991–92Lech Poznań (4)GKS KatowiceWidzew Łódź
1992–93Lech Poznań (5)Legia WarsawŁKS ŁódźJerzy Podbrożny (Lech Poznań): 25
1993–94Legia Warsaw (5)GKS KatowiceGórnik ZabrzeZenon Burzawa (Miliarder Pniewy): 21
1994–95Legia Warsaw (6)Widzew ŁódźGKS KatowiceBogusław Cygan (Stal Mielec): 16
1995–96Widzew Łódź (3)Legia WarsawHutnik KrakówMarek Koniarek (Widzew Łódź): 29
1996–97Widzew Łódź (4)Legia WarsawOdra Wodzisław ŚląskiMirosław Trzeciak (ŁKS Łódź): 18
1997–98ŁKS Łódź (2)Polonia WarsawWisła Kraków
1998–99Wisła Kraków (6)Widzew ŁódźLegia WarsawTomasz Frankowski (Wisła Kraków): 21
1999–2000Polonia Warsaw (2)Wisła KrakówRuch ChorzówAdam Kompała (Górnik Zabrze): 19
2000–01Wisła Kraków (7)Pogoń SzczecinTomasz Frankowski (Wisła Kraków): 18
2001–02Legia Warsaw (7)Wisła KrakówAmica WronkiMaciej Żurawski (Wisła Kraków): 21
2002–03Wisła Kraków (8)Dyskobolia Grodzisk WielkopolskiGKS Katowice Stanko Svitlica (Legia Warsaw): 24
2003–04Wisła Kraków (9)Legia WarsawAmica WronkiMaciej Żurawski (Wisła Kraków): 20
2004–05Wisła Kraków (10)Dyskobolia Grodzisk WielkopolskiLegia WarsawTomasz Frankowski (Wisła Kraków): 25
2005–06Legia Warsaw (8)Wisła KrakówZagłębie LubinGrzegorz Piechna (Korona Kielce): 21
2006–07Zagłębie Lubin (2)GKS BełchatówLegia WarsawPiotr Reiss (Lech Poznań): 15
2007–08Wisła Kraków (11)Legia WarsawDyskobolia Grodzisk WielkopolskiPaweł Brożek (Wisła Kraków): 23
2008–09Wisła Kraków (12)Legia WarsawLech Poznań
2009–10Lech Poznań (6)Wisła KrakówRuch ChorzówRobert Lewandowski (Lech Poznań): 18
2010–11Wisła Kraków (13)Śląsk WrocławLegia WarsawTomasz Frankowski (Jagiellonia Białystok): 14
2011–12Śląsk Wrocław (2)Ruch ChorzówLegia Warsaw Artjoms Rudņevs (Lech Poznań): 22
2012–13Legia Warsaw (9)Lech PoznańŚląsk Wrocław Róbert Demjan (Podbeskidzie Bielsko-Biała): 14
2013–14Legia Warsaw (10)Lech PoznańMarcin Robak (Piast Gliwice, Pogoń Szczecin): 22
2014–15Lech Poznań (7)Legia WarsawKamil Wilczek (Piast Gliwice): 20
2015–16Legia Warsaw (11)Piast Gliwice Nemanja Nikolić (Legia Warsaw): 28
2016–17Legia Warsaw (12)Jagiellonia BiałystokLech Poznań
2017–18Legia Warsaw (13)Jagiellonia BiałystokLech Poznań Carlitos (Wisła Kraków): 24
2018–19Piast GliwiceLegia WarsawLechia Gdańsk Igor Angulo (Górnik Zabrze): 24
2019–20Legia Warsaw (14)Lech PoznańPiast Gliwice Christian Gytkjær (Lech Poznań): 24
2020–21Legia Warsaw (15) Raków CzęstochowaPogoń Szczecin Tomáš Pekhart (Legia Warsaw): 22
2021–22Lech Poznań (8) Raków CzęstochowaPogoń Szczecin Ivi (Raków Częstochowa): 20
2022–23Raków CzęstochowaLegia WarsawLech Poznań Marc Gual (Jagiellonia Białystok): 16
2023–24Jagiellonia BiałystokŚląsk WrocławLegia Warsaw Erik Expósito (Śląsk Wrocław): 19

Winning clubs

By number of championships

TitlesTeamSeason(s)
15 Legia Warsaw 1955, 1956, 1968–69, 1969–70, 1993–94, 1994–95, 2001–02, 2005–06, 2012–13, 2013–14, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2019–20, 2020–21
14 Górnik Zabrze 1957, 1959, 1961, 1962–63, 1963–64, 1964–65, 1965–66, 1966–67, 1970–71, 1971–72, 1984–85, 1985–86, 1986–87, 1987–88
Ruch Chorzów1933, 1934, 1935, 1936, 1938, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1960, 1967–68, 1973–74, 1974–75, 1978–79, 1988–89
13 Wisła Kraków1927, 1928, 1949, 1950, 1977–78, 1998–99, 2000–01, 2002–03, 2003–04, 2004–05, 2007–08, 2008–09, 2010–11
8 Lech Poznań 1982–83, 1983–84, 1989–90, 1991–92, 1992–93, 2009–10, 2014–15, 2021–22
5 Cracovia
4 Pogoń Lwów
Widzew Łódź 1980–81, 1981–82, 1995–96, 1996–97
2 ŁKS Łódź1958, 1997–98
Stal Mielec 1972–73, 1975–76
Śląsk Wrocław 1976–77, 2011–12
Zagłębie Lubin 1990–91, 2006–07
1946, 1999–2000
Warta Poznań1929, 1947
1 1931
Szombierki Bytom1979–80
Piast Gliwice2018–19
Raków Częstochowa2022–23
Jagiellonia Białystok2023–24
Bold indicates clubs currently playing in the top division.
Italics indicates clubs not existing anymore.

By voivodeship

VoivodeshipChampionshipsClubs
Silesian33Ruch Chorzów (14), Górnik Zabrze (14), Polonia Bytom (2), Piast Gliwice (1), Raków Częstochowa (1), Szombierki Bytom (1)
Lesser Poland19Wisła Kraków (13), Cracovia (5), Garbarnia Kraków (1)
Masovian17Legia Warsaw (15), Polonia Warsaw (2)
Greater Poland10Lech Poznań (8), Warta Poznań (2)
Łódź6Widzew Łódź (4), ŁKS Łódź (2)
Lower Silesian4Śląsk Wrocław (2), Zagłębie Lubin (2)
Lwów4Pogoń Lwów (4)
Subcarpathian2Stal Mielec (2)
Podlachian1Jagiellonia Białystok (1)

By city

CityChampionshipsClubs
Kraków19Wisła Kraków (13), Cracovia (5), Garbarnia Kraków (1)
Warsaw17Legia Warsaw (15), Polonia Warsaw (2)
Chorzów14Ruch Chorzów (14)
Zabrze14Górnik Zabrze (14)
Poznań10Lech Poznań (8), Warta Poznań (2)
Łódź6Widzew Łódź (4), ŁKS Łódź (2)
Lwów4Pogoń Lwów (4)
Bytom3Polonia Bytom (2), Szombierki Bytom (1)
Lubin2Zagłębie Lubin (2)
Mielec2Stal Mielec (2)
Wrocław2Śląsk Wrocław (2)
Białystok1Jagiellonia Białystok (1)
Częstochowa1Raków Częstochowa (1)
Gliwice1Piast Gliwice (1)

Honoured teams

After 10 Polish Championship titles a representative Golden Star is placed above the team's badge to indicate 10 Polish Championship titles. The current (as of July 2020) officially sanctioned Championship stars are:

Statistics

At the end of 2023–24 Ekstraklasa.
RankTeamPodium Appearances
1st2nd3rd
1.Legia Warsaw151413
2. Ruch Chorzów1469
3.Górnik Zabrze1447
4.Wisła Kraków13139
5.Lech Poznań837
6.Cracovia522
7.Widzew Łódź473
8.Pogoń Lwów43
9.Warta Poznań257
10.Polonia Bytom242
Śląsk Wrocław242
12.Polonia Warsaw232
13.ŁKS Łódź213
Stal Mielec213
15.Zagłębie Lubin212
16.Jagiellonia Białystok121
17.Raków Częstochowa12
18.Piast Gliwice111
Szombierki Bytom111
20.Garbarnia Kraków11
21.GKS Katowice44
22.Zagłębie Sosnowiec43
23.Pogoń Szczecin23
24.Dyskobolia Grodzisk Wielkopolski21
25.AKS Chorzów13
26.Gwardia Warsaw12
26.1. FC Katowice1
GKS Bełchatów1
GKS Tychy1
Wawel Kraków1
31.Amica Wronki2
Lechia Gdańsk2
33.Hutnik Kraków1
Odra Opole1
Odra Wodzisław Śląski1
Zagłębie Wałbrzych1

Bold indicates clubs currently playing in the top division.
Italics indicates clubs not existing anymore.

Source: 90minut

See also

Notes

  1. Web site: Poland Final Tables (1st and 2nd level).
  2. Web site: Poland 2001/02.
  3. Web site: Poland 2002/03.
  4. Web site: Poland 2003/04.
  5. Web site: Poland 2004/05.
  6. Web site: Poland 2005/06.
  7. Web site: Poland 2006/07.
  8. Web site: Poland 2007/08.
  9. Web site: Poland 2008/09.
  10. Web site: Poland 2009/10.
  11. Web site: Poland 2010/11.
  12. Web site: Poland 2011/12.
  13. Web site: Poland 2012/13.
  14. Web site: Poland 2013/14.
  15. Web site: Poland 2014/15.
  16. Web site: 90minut.pl.

External links