Wisła Kraków

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Towarzystwo Sportowe Wisła Kraków Spółka Akcyjna, commonly referred to as Wisła Kraków (Polish pronunciation: [ˈviswa ˈkrakuf]), is a Polish professional football club based in Kraków. They currently compete in the I liga, the second level of Polish football league system, following relegation from the 2021–22 Ekstraklasa season. It ranks fourth in the number of national titles won (13), behind Górnik Zabrze, Ruch Chorzów (both on 14), and Legia Warsaw (15), and second in all-time victories. Wisła was founded in 1906 under the name TS Wisła (Polish: Towarzystwo Sportowe Wisła). The team plays its home matches at Henryk Reyman Stadium.

Wisła Kraków
Full nameTowarzystwo Sportowe Wisła Kraków Spółka Akcyjna[1]
Nickname(s)Biała Gwiazda (The White Star)
Founded1906; 118 years ago (1906)
GroundHenryk Reyman Stadium
Capacity33,326[2]
Owner
PresidentJarosław Królewski
ManagerMariusz Jop
LeagueI liga
2023–24I liga, 10th of 18
Websitewww.wislakrakow.com
Current season

The club's coat of arms is a white star on a red background crossed by a blue ribbon.

Wisła Kraków was one of the most successful Polish football clubs of 2000s, winning eight league championships since 1999. Along with league titles, Wisła also won the Polish Cup on five occasions, including the first-ever edition in 1926, and are the current cup holders. Wisła also enjoyed some success in European competitions in the 1970s, reaching the quarter-finals in the 1978–79 European Cup.

History

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1907 Wisła Kraków side

Wisła Kraków was founded in 1906 when students of the Second Practical School in Kraków, inspired by their professor Tadeusz Łopuszański, formed a football club.[3]

In this first, historic season of the League, the fight for the championship was decided between two teams: Wisła Kraków and 1. FC Kattowitz. This rivalry was treated very seriously, not only by the two sides involved, but also by the whole nation. 1. FC was regarded as the team supported by the German minority, while Wisła, at the end of this historic season, represented ambitions of all Poles.

 
1927 Wisła Kraków side.

Some time in the fall of 1927 in Katowice, an ill-fated game between 1.FC and Wisła took place. Stakes were very high – the winner would become the Champion. Kraków's side won 2–0 and became the Champion. 1.FC finished second, third was Warta Poznań.

During the German occupation of Poland (World War II), the club operated secretly. Co-founder Franciszek Brożek and pre-war player Adam Obrubański were among Poles murdered by the Russians in the large Katyn massacre in April–May 1940.[4]

In 1949, the club was renamed to Gwardia-Wisła Kraków. In 1955 the club returned to its original name, TS Wisła. In 1967, the club was once again renamed, to GTS Wisła, a name which held until 1990 when the club reverted to its original name, TS Wisła. In the late 1990s, the football section of the club was incorporated and was renamed Wisła Kraków SSA.

The club has had its ups and downs, winning national championships and earning European qualification. It was also relegated to the second division on three occasions. Since the football section has been bought by Tele-Fonika Kable S.A. in 1998, the team has been far and away the most successful club in Poland, winning seven national championships and finishing in second place three times, totalling ten top two finishes in 12 years.

At international level, Wisła has competed in all three of the European competitions. The club's greatest success came in the 1978–79 season, when Wisła was able to reach the quarter-finals of the European Cup, eventually to be knocked out by Malmö FF 3–5 on aggregate. Most recently, Wisła narrowly missed out on a chance to compete in the 2005–06 UEFA Champions League group stage, being defeated 4–5 by Panathinaikos after extra time.[5]

Wisła also twice reached the second round of the European Cup Winners' Cup in 1967–68 and 1984–85, falling 0–5 and 2–3 by Hamburger SV and Fortuna Sittard, respectively. The White Star has competed in the UEFA Cup ten times.

On 15 May 2022, Wisła was relegated to the I liga for the first time since 1996, after losing 4–2 against Radomiak Radom.[6]

On 2 May 2024, they won their fifth Polish Cup title after defeating Pogoń Szczecin 1–2 in extra time, becoming the fifth second division team to win this competition, and the first since Ruch Chorzów in 1996.[7] The White Star itself finished the 2023–24 season ranked 10th in the second tier.[8]

Stadium

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Henryk Reyman Stadium is located at 22 Reymonta Street in Kraków. The stadium was originally built in 1953 and currently has a capacity of 33,326. The stadium was renovated in 2010, being upgraded to UEFA elite standards. The Wisła Stadium was also chosen as a reserve venue for the UEFA Euro 2012 tournament, jointly held in Poland and Ukraine. The record attendance of 45,000 at Wisła Stadium came on 29 September 1976 when Wisła defeated Celtic 2–0. The venue has been a fortress for Wisła, where the team is especially difficult to defeat. Wisła holds the all-time Polish football record for consecutive league home games without a loss. The streak began following a loss on 16 September 2001 to KSZO Ostrowiec Świętokrzyski, and ended more than five years later on 11 November 2006, when GKS Bełchatów defeated Wisła 4–2. The number of matches without a loss was then settled at 73, overcoming the former Polish record of 48 which belonged to Legia Warsaw. During the 2008–09 season, Wisła lost points at home only twice, drawing with ŁKS Łódź and being defeated by Lech Poznań.

Supporters and rivalries

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Fan friendlies

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Wisła fans formerly had long friendships relations with Lechia Gdańsk and Śląsk Wrocław, known as the "Three Kings of Great Cities" alliance until 2016, when their alliance fell apart.[citation needed] They formed a new group with Ruch Chorzów and Widzew Łódź (and by extension Elana Toruń, Slovan Bratislava and KKS Kalisz), which divided Wisła fans.

The fans have an amicable relationship with Polonia Przemyśl. Although Garbarnia Kraków, Puszcza Niepołomice and Kmita Zabierzów have no organised fan movements they are known to have local Wisła fans attend their games. Kmita was founded initially as Wisła Zabierzów as a local branch of the Wisła sports club.

The club also has close relations with Italian side Lazio since their Rome derby match in 2016, as well private contacts with CSKA Moscow and VfL Bochum.

The fans formerly held relations with Unia Tarnów, Jagiellonia Białystok, Siarka Tarnobrzeg, Resovia Rzeszów and Zagłębie Wałbrzych.

Rivalries

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With Cracovia

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Friendly match with KS Cracovia in 1909

The term "Holy War" refers to the intense rivalry between the two Kraków-based teams; Wisła and KS Cracovia. In 1906, the establishment of the two first Polish football clubs, Cracovia and Wisła, created a rivalry that now dates back more than 100 years. The term "Holy War" was first used to describe the rivalry of Kraków's Jewish teams, Makkabi and Jutrzenka. A Jutrzenka defender, Ludwik Gintel, who later joined the Cracovia side referred to the derby match against Wisła as the "Holy War". The phrase was incorporated into a song and has since been popular amongst both Wisła and Cracovia fans.

The first recorded Kraków Derby was contested on 20 September 1908, a 1–1 draw. A historic derby match between Cracovia and Wisła occurred on 8 May 1913. It was the first time Polish teams played a championship game officially sanctioned by FIFA; Cracovia won 2–1. The most famous derby took place in 1948 when after the first post-war season, both Cracovia and Wisła accumulated an even number of points and the championship had to be decided by an additional game played at a neutral venue. On 5 December 1948, Cracovia defeated Wisła 3–1 and was crowned national champions. As of May 2011, the Kraków derby game between Wisła and Cracovia has been contested 183 times, with Wisła winning 82 times, tying 42 times and Cracovia winning 59 times.

With Legia Warsaw

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Away game with Legia Warsaw in the 2014–15 Ekstraklasa

The match contested between Wisła Kraków and Legia Warsaw, dubbed "The Derby of Poland", is commonly recognized as one of the greatest rivalries in Polish club football. Historically the two sides have been the most successful clubs in Poland, both in the top two in the all-time table. The rivalry between two of Poland's premier cities of Kraków and Warsaw sparks the rivalry even more. The regional differences of Kraków (south) and Warsaw (north), and the fact that Kraków used to be the capital of Poland before Warsaw (in the years 1038–1079 and 1138–1596) and the full official name of Kraków is Stołeczne Królewskie Miasto Kraków, or "Royal Capital City of Kraków" in English, also add a greater meaning to the match.

With Hutnik Kraków

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The other Kraków derby is contested against Hutnik, historically the third team in Kraków representing Nowa Huta. Owing to Hutnik's lack of recent sporting success, the rivalry is mostly off-pitch and with Wisla's reserve team or in other sports sections of both clubs.

Other rivalries

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Other rivalries are with Lech Poznań, Arka Gdynia and Tarnovia Tarnów, an extension of the fierce rivalry with Cracovia as all three maintain good friendships with them.

Fans of Zagłębie Sosnowiec, Korona Kielce, GKS Katowice, and Polonia Warsaw are also inter-regional fierce rivals.

Additional teams

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In addition to the professional team, Wisła Kraków plays also in the Polish Junior league.[9]

Current squad

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As of 8 November 2024[10]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK   POL Kamil Broda
4 DF   POL Rafał Mikulec
5 DF   SWE Joseph Colley
6 DF   POL Alan Uryga (captain)
8 MF   ESP Marc Carbó
9 FW   ESP Ángel Rodado
10 FW   POR Frederico Duarte
11 MF   POL Mateusz Młyński
12 MF   NGA James Igbekeme
13 MF   HUN Tamás Kiss
17 FW   ESP Jesús Alfaro
18 MF   POL Bartosz Talar
19 MF   POL Olivier Sukiennicki
20 MF   POL Karol Dziedzic
21 MF   POL Patryk Gogół
No. Pos. Nation Player
22 FW   POL Piotr Starzyński
24 MF   MKD Enis Fazlagikj
25 DF   POL Bartosz Jaroch
26 DF   POL Igor Łasicki
28 GK   POL Patryk Letkiewicz
30 DF   GRE Giannis Kiakos
31 GK   BLR Anton Chichkan
41 MF   POL Kacper Duda
43 DF   POL Dawid Szot
50 DF   POL Mariusz Kutwa
75 DF   POL Kacper Skrobański
77 MF   ESP Ángel Baena
97 DF   POL Wiktor Biedrzycki
99 FW   POL Łukasz Zwoliński

Out on loan

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Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
52 DF   POL Jakub Krzyżanowski (at Torino until 30 June 2025)
No. Pos. Nation Player
80 MF   POL Dawid Olejarka (at Znicz Pruszków until 30 June 2025)

Coaching staff

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As of 27 September 2024[11][12]
Manager   Mariusz Jop
Assistant coaches   Bartosz Bąk
  Kazimierz Kmiecik
  Michał Siwierski
Fitness coach   Kazimierz Piechnik
Goalkeeping coach   Łukasz Załuska
Analyst   Krzysztof Siłka
Physiotherapists   Bartłomiej Grzegorczyk
  Marcin Sapalski
Team doctor   Mariusz Urban
Team manager   Kamil Binda
Kit manager   Jan Batko

Honours

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Domestic

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  1. ^ (In 1951 Wisła was league champion, however, the Polish Championship title was awarded to the Cup winner, Ruch Chorzów)

Europe

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Youth teams

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Records

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Team records

  • Biggest win: 21–0 (8–0) – in Polish Championship elimination match with Pogoń Siedlce in Kraków, 24 August 1947.
  • Highest home attendance: 45,000 – Wisła Kraków 2–0   Celtic (UEFA Cup), 29 September 1976.
  • Highest home league attendance: 40,000 – Wisła Kraków 2–1 Legia Warszawa (Polish league), 7 August 1977.
  • Debut in the league: 3 April 1927 in the first in league history.
  • In the table of all time: 2nd place
  • Consecutive matches without defeat in the league: 38 (25 October 2003 – 22 May 2005) – a record in the league
  • Consecutive home matches without defeat: 73 (16 September 2001 – 11 November 2006) – a record in the league
  • Biggest win in European competition:   WIT Georgia Tbilisi 2:8 Wisła Kraków, in Georgia, 27 July 2004. Wisła Kraków 7–0   Newtown, in Kraków, 29 July 1998.

Records individual

Wisła in European football

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  • Q = Qualifying
  • PO = Play-Off
  • Group = Group stage
  • R32 = Round of 32
  • QF = Quarter final
Season Competition Round Club Score Aggregate
1967–68 European Cup Winners' Cup 1   HJK Helsinki 4–1, 4–0 8–1
2   Hamburger SV 0–1, 0–4 0–5
1976–77 UEFA Cup 1   Celtic 2–2, 2–0 4–2
2   Molenbeek 1–1, 1–1 1–1 (4–5 p)
1978–79 European Cup 1   Club Brugge 1–2, 3–1 4–3
2   Zbrojovka Brno 2–2, 1–1 3–3 (a)
QF   Malmö FF 2–1, 1–4 3–5
1981–82 UEFA Cup 1   Malmö FF 0–2, 1–3 1–5
1984–85 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup 1   ÍBV 4–2, 3–1 7–3
2   Fortuna Sittard 0–2, 2–1 2–3
1998–99 UEFA Cup 1Q   Newtown 0–0, 7–0 7–0
2Q   Trabzonspor 5–1, 2–1 7–1
1   Maribor 2–0, 3–0 5–0
2   Parma 1–1, 1–2 2–3
2000–01 UEFA Cup Q   Željezničar Sarajevo 0–0, 3–1 3–1
1   Real Zaragoza 1–4, 4–1 5–5 (4–3 p)
2   Porto 0–0, 0–3 0–3
2001–02 UEFA Champions League 2Q   Skonto 2–1, 1–0 3–1
3Q   Barcelona 3–4, 0–1 3–5
UEFA Cup 1   Hajduk Split 2–2, 1–0 3–2
2   Internazionale 0–2, 1–0 1–2
2002–03 UEFA Cup Q   Glentoran 2–0, 4–0 6–0
1   Primorje 2–0, 6–1 8–1
2   Parma 1–2, 4–1 5–3
3   Schalke 04 1–1, 4–1 5–2
4   Lazio 3–3, 1–2 4–5
2003–04 UEFA Champions League 2Q   Omonia 5–2, 2–2 7–4
3Q   Anderlecht 1–3, 0–1 1–4
UEFA Cup 1   NEC 2–1, 2–1 4–2
2   Vålerenga 0–0, 0–0 0–0 (3–4 p)
2004–05 UEFA Champions League 2Q   WIT Georgia 8–2, 3–0 11–2
3Q   Real Madrid 0–2, 1–3 1–5
UEFA Cup 1   Dinamo Tbilisi 4–3, 1–2 5–5 (a)
2005–06 UEFA Champions League 3Q   Panathinaikos 3–1, 1–4 4–5
UEFA Cup 1   Vitória de Guimarães 0–3, 0–1 0–4
2006–07 UEFA Cup 2Q   SV Mattersburg 1–1, 1–0 2–1
1   Iraklis 0–1, 2–0 2–1
Group   Blackburn Rovers 1–2 4th
  Nancy 1–2
  Basel 3–1
  Feyenoord 1–3
2008–09 UEFA Champions League 2Q   Beitar Jerusalem 1–2, 5–0 6–2
3Q   Barcelona 0–4, 1–0 1–4
UEFA Cup 1   Tottenham Hotspur 1–2, 1–1 2–3
2009–10 UEFA Champions League 2Q   Levadia Tallinn 1–1, 0–1 1–2
2010–11 UEFA Europa League 2Q   Šiauliai 2–0, 5–0 7–0
3Q   Qarabağ 0–1, 2–3 2–4
2011–12 UEFA Champions League 2Q   Skonto 1–0, 2–0 3–0
3Q   Litex Lovech 2–1, 3–1 5–2
PO   APOEL 1–0, 1–3 2–3
UEFA Europa League Group   Twente 1–4, 2–1 2nd
  Fulham 1–0, 1–4
  OB 1–3, 2–1
R32   Standard Liège 1–1, 0–0 1–1 (a)
2024–25 UEFA Europa League 1Q   Llapi 2–0, 2–1 4–1
2Q   Rapid Wien 1–2, 1–6 2–8
UEFA Conference League 3Q   Spartak Trnava 1–3, 3–1 4–4 (12–11 p)
PO   Cercle Brugge 1–6, 4–1 5–7

Best results in European competitions

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Season Achievement Notes
European Cup/UEFA Champions League
1978–79 Quarter-final lost to   Malmö 2–1 in Kraków, 1–4 in Malmö
UEFA Cup Winners' Cup
1967–68 Round of 16 lost to   Hamburger SV 0–1 in Kraków, 0–4 in Hamburg
1984–85 Round of 16 lost to   Fortuna Sittard 0–2 in Sittard, 2–1 in Kraków
UEFA Cup/UEFA Europa League
2002–03 Round of 16 lost to   Lazio 3–3 in Rome, 1–2 in Kraków
UEFA Conference League
2024–25 Play-off lost to   Cercle Brugge 1–6 in Kraków, 4–1 in Bruges

Notable players

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Had international caps for their respective countries. Players whose name is listed in bold represented their countries while playing for Wisła.

Managerial history

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Caretaker managers listed in italics.

Other sections

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Esports

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Wisła Kraków also has an esports division, with teams in Counter-Strike: Global Offensive and FIFA 20.[14]

Women's basketball

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The women's basketball section are one of the most successful clubs in the country, winning 25 national championships, 12 vice-championships, 13 Polish Cups and continental runners-up in 1970.

References

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  1. ^ "Towarzystwo Sportowe Wisła Kraków Spółka Akcyjna" (in Polish). Ministry of Justice's Krajowy Rejestr Sądowy. Archived from the original on 26 March 2022. Retrieved 20 March 2022.
  2. ^ "Informacje - Wisła Kraków". Wisła Kraków (in Polish). Archived from the original on 26 March 2019. Retrieved 26 March 2019.
  3. ^ "Historia TS Wisła w pigułce". Towarzystwo Sportowe Wisła (in Polish). Archived from the original on 20 September 2020. Retrieved 26 March 2019.
  4. ^ Ciesielski, Kacper (2021). "Sportowcy wśród ofiar zbrodni katyńskiej oraz powiązane z nimi artefakty grobowe i archiwalia w zbiorach Muzeum Katyńskiego". Łambinowicki rocznik muzealny (in Polish). 44. Opole: 145, 147. ISSN 0137-5199.
  5. ^ "Kotsios completes comeback". UEFA. 24 August 2005. Archived from the original on 23 January 2017. Retrieved 26 March 2019.
  6. ^ "Spadamy z Ekstraklasy! Radomiak - Wisła 4-2". Wisła Portal (in Polish). 15 May 2022. Archived from the original on 6 July 2022. Retrieved 17 July 2022.
  7. ^ "Olbrzymia niespodzianka w finale Pucharu Polski. Wisła Kraków wygrała z Pogonią Szczecin [WIDEO]". sport.tvp.pl (in Polish). 2 May 2024. Archived from the original on 2 May 2024. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
  8. ^ "Szybka reakcja! Wisła Kraków wydała oświadczenie". www.polsatsport.pl (in Polish). 26 May 2024. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
  9. ^ "Drużyny - Wisła Kraków S.A." Wisła Kraków (in Polish). Archived from the original on 26 March 2019. Retrieved 16 June 2020.
  10. ^ "Drużyna - Wisła Kraków". Wisła Kraków (in Polish). Archived from the original on 26 March 2019. Retrieved 17 June 2019.
  11. ^ Miga, Mateusz (4 June 2024). "Kazimierz Moskal trenerem Wisły Kraków". sport.tvp.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 4 June 2024.
  12. ^ "Sztab trenerski Kazimierza Moskala" (in Polish). Wisła Kraków. 20 June 2024. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
  13. ^ "Jerzy Brzęczek nowym trenerem Białej Gwiazdy". Wisła Kraków. 14 February 202. Archived from the original on 14 February 2022. Retrieved 14 February 2022.
  14. ^ "Wisla All in Games". Archived from the original on 13 November 2021. Retrieved 3 November 2020.
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