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Polish association football club From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Kolejowy Klub Sportowy Lech Poznań S.A., commonly referred to as KKS Lech Poznań or simply Lech Poznań (Polish pronunciation: [lɛx ˈpɔznaj̃]), is a Polish professional football club based in Poznań and currently competing in the Ekstraklasa, the nation's highest division.
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| Full name | Kolejowy Klub Sportowy Lech Poznań S.A.[1] | |||
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| Nickname(s) | Kolejorz (The Railwayman) Pyry (Greater Poland potatoes) KKS Duma Wielkopolski (The Pride of Greater Poland) Poznańska Lokomotywa (The Poznań Locomotive) | |||
| Founded | 19 March 1922 (as KS Lutnia Dębiec) | |||
| Ground | Enea Stadion | |||
| Capacity | 42,837[2] | |||
| Owner | Piotr Rutkowski (66,66%)[3] Maja Rutkowska (33,33%)[4] | |||
| Co-chairmen | Karol Klimczak Piotr Rutkowski | |||
| Head coach | Niels Frederiksen | |||
| League | Ekstraklasa | |||
| 2023–24 | Ekstraklasa, 5th of 18 | |||
| Website | http://www.lechpoznan.pl/ | |||
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The club was established on 19 March 1922 as KS Lutnia Dębiec, later changing its name several times. Until 1994, the club was closely linked to Polish State Railways (PKP). As a result, its popular nickname is Kolejorz [kɔˈlɛjɔʂ], which means The Railwayman in local slang. The club's debut in the Polish top division took place in the year 1948. The brightest era of Lech was in the early 1980s and early 1990s. Lech has won the Polish league a total of eight times, most recently in 2022, and is the most popular football club in the Greater Poland region.[5]
| Years | Name |
|---|---|
| 1920–1922 | KS Lutnia Dębiec |
| 1922–1925 | TS Liga Dębiec |
| 1925–1930 | TS Liga Poznań |
| 1930–1933 | KS KPW Poznań Dworzec |
| 1933–1945 | KS KPW Poznań |
| 1945–1948 | KKS Poznań |
| 1948–1949 | KS ZZK Poznań |
| 1949–1957 | ZS Kolejarz Poznań |
| 1957 | KS Lech Poznań |
| 1957–1994 | KKS Lech Poznań |
| 1994–1998 | PKP Lech Poznań |
| 1998–2006 | WKP Lech Poznań |
| 2006– | KKS Lech Poznań |
In August 1920, a group of young teenagers from the Catholic Youth Association decided to split off and form their own football team. The founders of the club were: Jan Nowak, Antoni Dyzman, Jan Dyzman, Leon Nowicki, Józef Magdziak, Kazimierz Zmuda, Stanisław Nowicki, Stefan Fiedler, Józef Gośliński, Leon Stachowski, Józef Blumreder and Jan Wojtek. The origin of Lech can be traced back to 19 March 1922, when it was officially registered as a football club.[6] The club's first official name was Towarzystwo Sportowe Liga Dębiec. In September 1922 the club gained a football pitch on Grzybowa street. The first match for the club was played in May 1922 against Urania Starołęka, which ended in a 1–1 draw. The club started its foundation in a low tier league, which at the time was the Class C.
The club achieved promotion in 1928 to the Class B after six years of being in Class C. In 1932 the club was promoted to Class A where the biggest teams of the region played. From there they could get promoted to the First National Division, but the club would not achieve that goal before the outbreak of World War II. In autumn of 1933 the Klub Sportowy Kolejowego Przysposobienia Wojskowego Poznań ("Poznań Military Training Railway Sports Club") was founded or KPW. In 1945, shortly after the war ended, sporting officials made Lech the first club from the city.
In 1947, the Polish Football Association (PZPN) decided to create the first national division (Ekstraklasa). At first, the club was not admitted to the top flight, but the Kolejorz ("the railwayman", the popular nickname of the club) filed an appeal and the PZPN decided, in a special meeting, to extend the First Division to 14 teams, including the KKS (at that time called Kolejowy Klub Sportowy Poznań) and Widzew Łódź. The first match was against Widzew Łódź, lost 3–4.
The club changed its name again in January 1957, this time to Klub Sportowy Lech Poznań and in December to Kolejowy Klub Sportowy Lech Poznań, which lasted throughout the history of the team. That same year turned out to be one of the worst for the club, since it finished last and was relegated to the second division. Lech only gained twelve points in 22 games, despite having striker Teodor Anioła, the club's top scorer, with 141 goals and top scorer of the Polish championship in three consecutive editions (1949–1951).[7] Along with Edmund Białas and Henryk Czapczyk, Anioła formed the famous trio known as ABC. During that period, the club managed to finish third in the top division twice, as the best result, before its relegation to second division.
Lech managed to return to the top division in 1961, but after two seasons with poor results, the blue team was relegated again in 1963. The club was even demoted to the third division, then known as the Interprovincial Division (Liga międzywojewódzka), in one of the biggest sports crisis of the organization. In 1972 the club returned to the first division, in which they had to fight again to avoid relegation every season. Coach Jerzy Kopa, who arrived from Szombierki Bytom, was responsible for reviving Lech spectacularly. He took over the team in 1976, when they were bottom of the table. Kopa gathered players at a training camp in Błażejewko, saved the team from relegation and twelve months later qualified for the first time to play in Europe after finishing third in the league, just two points behind the champion, Wisła Kraków. Therefore, this transformation became known as The Miracle of Błażejewko.[8] The club's first participation in the UEFA Cup in 1978–79 was brief, as they were eliminated in the first round by MSV Duisburg.
The arrival of coach Wojciech Łazarek in 1980 at the club was key to overcome third place and European participation. That year the team reached the final of the Polish Cup for the first time, losing 0–5 to Legia Warsaw in Częstochowa. Two years later, the club managed to win the first title in its history, the Polish Cup, by defeating Pogoń Szczecin 1–0 in Wrocław.
The league championships of 1983 and 1984 went down in history as they were the first two league titles of the Kolejorz and for winning on such tight margins against Widzew Łódź. The first league championship for Lech was a point of advantage (39) over Widzew (38). The 15 goals scored by the top scorer of the tournament, Mirosław Okoński and the participation of other players like Krzysztof Pawlak and Józef Adamiec were very important to win their first league championship. Meanwhile, the championship of the following season both teams staged an exciting tournament and tied at 42 points. Lech defended championship by having a better difference of goals than Widzew to break the tie. That season was historic for the blue team, as they got their first double by becoming champions of the Polish Cup, after winning in the final at Wisła Kraków (3–0).
As Polish champions, Lech participated for the first time in the European Cup, although they could not pass the first round in the two seasons. In its first season it was eliminated by Athletic Club. In the first leg in Poland, Mariusz Niewiadomski and Mirosław Okoński scored the first two Lech goals in the tournament and the team won 2–0. However, the return match in San Mamés was a nightmare for the Poles and the Spanish team qualified by winning 4–0. The following season the team faced the current champion, Liverpool F.C., who won by a 5–0 aggregate.
In 1988, Lech won another Cup by beating Legia in Łódź in the penalty shootout. In the second round of the European Cup, Lech faced Barcelona, coached by Johan Cruyff. After finishing the two games in a 1–1 draw, Barcelona, in the end the tournament, could only eliminate Lech in the penalty shootout.
Jerzy Kopa returned to Lech in 1990 along with Andrzej Strugarek and Kolejorz returned to be proclaimed league champions for the third time. Andrzej Juskowiak was the top scorer of the tournament with 18 goals and his team finished with 42 points, two more than the runner-up, Zagłębie Lubin. Henryk Apostel, however, was the coach who led Lech to two new championships in 1992 and 1993. The first one was achieved with a win over GKS Katowice, while the second one tied in points with the second team, Legia, and only won because Legia was penalized for disputed match fixing.
In the autumn of 1990, Lech played one of the most spectacular qualifiers of the last decade in the European Cup. At Bułgarska street stadium the Polish club defeated Olympique Marseille 3–2 in the first leg of the second round. The return match at the Stade Vélodrome, the French team, thrashed Lech 6–1, in a match in which most of the Polish players complained of food poisoning. Since 1993 the club entered into a major financial crisis and had to sell its most important players to continue in professional football.
Lech managed to stay in the middle of the table and their best result was fourth place in 1999, which allowed him to play in the 1999–00 UEFA Cup, where they eliminated Liepājas Metalurgs in the qualifying round and were defeated by IFK Göteborg in the first round. However, just a few months later, in 2000, Lech was relegated to the second division after 28 years of presence in the top flight. Lech's first season in the second division was a disaster, as they were very close to falling to the third division. It was only with a great effort that the club was saved from relegation and even won the promotion the next season to the first division.
In their first year of the return to the I league (2002–03) Lech focused on ensuring permanence. The following season began with a very negative dynamic for the Kolejorz. After five days, the club hired a new coach, Czesław Michniewicz.[9] The unexpected appointment of the young coach turned out to be a shock, since Lech finished the season in sixth position. Most important, however, was the conquest of a Polish Cup by defeating their great rival, Legia Warsaw, in the final two games in 2004. Several days later, the fans in Poznań celebrated the victory of Lech in the Super Cup against Wisła Kraków. Although the next two seasons did not bring any success of that proportion, Lech managed to finish at the top of the table of each season with coach Franciszek Smuda.
Smuda formed a strong team with the arrival at the club of players like Robert Lewandowski, Hernan Rengifo, Semir Štilić, Marcin Zając and Rafał Murawski. In the Ekstraklasa 2008–09 season, Lech had a great season and finished in third place and qualified for the UEFA Europa League thanks, in part, to the 14 goals scored by Robert Lewandowski. On 19 May 2009, Lech won the Cup for the fifth time by beating Ruch Chorzów with a solo goal by Sławomir Peszko at Stadion Śląski.
The following season, Jacek Zieliński replaced Franciszek Smuda, who was hired as the manager of the Poland national team. With many of the players who achieved third place and the cup last season, Zieliński managed to lead Lech to the sixth championship in their history in the 2009–10 season. The striker Robert Lewandowski returned to be a reference in attack and was top scorer of the championship with 18 goals. In their participation in the 2010–11 Champions League, they were eliminated by Sparta Prague in the third round and without Lewandowski, who was transferred to Borussia Dortmund. One of their most successful European appearance was in the 2010–11 UEFA Europa League, in which they eliminated Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk to enter the group stage of the tournament for the first time. Lech finished second in their group with Manchester City, leaving Juventus and FC Salzburg out of the tournament. However, they were eliminated by S.C. Braga, runner-up of the tournament months later, in the round of 32 after winning in Poland (1–0) and losing in Portugal (2–0).
In the 2021–22 season, during which Lech celebrated its 100th anniversary, the team led by Maciej Skorża finished runners-up in the Polish Cup, losing 3–1 against Raków Częstochowa,[10] and won the club's eighth championship, their first in seven years.[11]
Skorża left the team shortly after, citing personal reasons, and was replaced by Dutchman John van den Brom for the 2022–23 season. Lech crashed out of the UEFA Champions League first qualifying round after losing to Azerbaijani side Qarabağ 1–5 on aggregate.[12] The team went on to have a successful UEFA Europa Conference League campaign, reaching second place in the group stage which included Villarreal, Austria Wien and Hapoel Be'er Sheva,[13] then eliminating Nordic teams Bodø/Glimt and Djurgårdens IF to reach the quarter-finals,[14] where their successful run ended after a 4–6 defeat on aggregate to Fiorentina.[15] They were the first Polish team to win a knockout phase round of a European competition that took place after the winter break since Legia Warsaw in 1991, and the first to move through two post-winter rounds since Górnik Zabrze in 1970.[16]
The following 2023–24 campaign was marked by disappointment. Lech failed to progress past the third qualifying round of the Europa Conference League, losing to Slovak side Spartak Trnava 3–4 on aggregate, despite winning the first game at home 2–1.[17] In December 2023, trailing in the league by eight points by the winter break, van den Brom was dismissed and replaced with Mariusz Rumak,[18] returning to the role after nine-and-a-half years. Lech's form did not improve under Rumak; they were unable to take the lead in the table, lost to lower-placed teams Puszcza Niepołomice and Ruch Chorzów,[19][20] and were eliminated from the 2023–24 Polish Cup after conceding in the 119th minute of a quarter-final match against Pogoń Szczecin.[21] Still in title contention with three games to go,[22] Lech finished the season in 5th after losing at home to Korona Kielce on 25 May, hours after their reserve team was demoted to the fourth division,[23] allowing Korona to stay in the top-flight in lieu of Lech's neighbors Warta.[24][25]
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Lech Poznań has played over 150 matches in European competition since 1978. Among the most memorable games in the club's history were the clashes against Barcelona in the 1988–89 season of the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup second round. After both matches ended with 1–1 draw, Lech Poznań lost the penalty shoot-out 4–5. Barcelona eventually went on to win the tournament.
During the 1983–84 European Cup season, Lech earned a 2–0 win at home against Spanish champions Athletic Bilbao. During the 1990–91 season, Lech eliminated the Greek champions Panathinaikos in the first round, with a 5–1 score on aggregate. In the next tie Lech was knocked out by Marseille but won the first leg 3–2 at home.
During the 2008–09 UEFA Cup season, Lech made it to the group stage of the competition after knocking out higher seeded teams of Grasshopper (notching its greatest margin of victory with a 6–0 win at home) and Austria Wien (scoring the decisive goal in the last minute of extra-time). In the group stage, Lech finished third-placed ahead of Nancy and Feyenoord to secure a place in the Third Round, where it was knocked out by the Italian side Udinese.
Their home ground Stadion Poznań has been totally rebuilt and completed in September 2010 for UEFA Euro 2012, during which it is expected to host 3 games in Group C.
The 2010–11 European campaign saw Lech not only qualify for the group stage of the Europa League, but also progress from the group stage ahead of Italian giants Juventus, before losing at the Round of 32 to eventual finalists Braga. In the 2022–23 season, Lech reached their first ever European quarter-final at the Conference League, losing to Italian club Fiorentina.
| Competition | App | Games | Won | Drawn | Lost | GF | GA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| European Cup / UEFA Champions League | 8 | 26 | 11 | 1 | 14 | 29 | 43 |
| European Cup Winners' Cup / UEFA Cup Winners' Cup | 2 | 8 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 10 | 7 |
| UEFA Cup / UEFA Europa League | 14 | 80 | 33 | 17 | 30 | 116 | 94 |
| UEFA Europa Conference League | 2 | 22 | 12 | 6 | 4 | 43 | 23 |
| Intertoto Cup / UEFA Intertoto Cup | 6 | 30 | 13 | 6 | 11 | 52 | 40 |
| Overall | 32 | 166 | 73 | 32 | 61 | 250 | 207 |
As of 31 October 2023.[27]
| Rank | Team | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 75 |  Royal Antwerp | 21.000 |
| 76 |  Borussia Mönchengladbach | 21.000 |
| 77 |  Lech Poznań | 20.500 |
| 78 | SC Freiburg | 19.000 |
| 79 |  Ludogorets Razgrad | 19.000 |
| Season | Achievement | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| European Cup/UEFA Champions League | |||
| 1990–91 | Round of 16 | lost to  Marseille 3–2 in Poznań, 1–6 in Marseille | |
| UEFA Cup Winners' Cup | |||
| 1982–83 | Round of 16 | lost to  Aberdeen 0–2 in Aberdeen, 0–1 in Poznań | |
| 1988–89 | Round of 16 | lost to  Barcelona 1–1 in Barcelona, 1–1 (a.e.t., 4–5 pen) in Poznań | |
| UEFA Conference League | |||
| 2022–23 | Quarter-final | lost to  Fiorentina 1–4 in Poznań, 3–2 in Florence | |
 |
Hieronim Barczak, 367 (1973–86) Teodor Anioła, 138 (1948–61) Jerzy Podbrożny, 25 (1992–93)
Luis Henríquez, 50 for PanamaNote: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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| Position | Staff |
|---|---|
| Manager |  Niels Frederiksen |
| Assistant manager |  Sindre Tjelmeland |
| Assistant coaches | Dariusz Dudka Hubert Wędzonka |
| Goalkeeping coach | Dominik Kubiak |
| Fitness coaches |  Antonin Čepek Karol Kikut |
| Match analyst | Hubert Barański |
| Head of medical department | Rafał Hejna |
| Team doctor | Patryk Buliński Tomasz Jaśkowiak |
| Physiotherapists | Bartosz Górecki Marcin Lis Maciej Łopatka Maciej Smuniewski |
| Dietician | Patryk Wiśniewski |
| Team manager | Mariusz Skrzypczak |
| Kit manager | Sławomir Mizgalski |
| Cook | Artur Dzierzbicki |
Source: Lech Poznań
Initially the club's first stadium was located in the Dębiec district between two train tracks.[30] It belonged to PKP (the Polish state railways) and was demolished in 2013 after a long period of inactivity.[31]
Edmund Szyc Stadium is a currently ruined multi-purpose stadium in the Wilda district, named after Edmund Szyc, one of founders of Warta Poznań.[32] It is the historical home of the other football team Warta Poznań,[33] but Lech played there sporadically between the 1950s and 1970s.
The Stadion Poznań is the home ground of Lech Poznań, and was one of the venues for the group phase of Euro 2012. It has a league capacity of 42,837 (all seated). The stadium was originally built between 1968 and 1980. From its inauguration in August 1980 Lech Poznań has used the ground as its main venue; since 2010 it has also been used by Warta Poznań, which currently plays in Fortuna 1. Liga.[34] The ground is situated on the street ul. Bułgarska 17 in the southwestern part of the city (Grunwald district).
In the years 2003–10 the stadium underwent a complete reconstruction, including the building of four new fully covered stands.[35] Currently it is the fifth largest stadium in Poland (after Kazimierz Górski National Stadium, Silesia Stadium, The Municipal Stadium in Wroclaw and PGE Arena Gdańsk) and third largest in Ekstraklasa (after the latter two).[36] The grand opening after final renovation took place on 20 September 2010, with Sting's Symphonicity Tour concert.
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Lech Poznań is considered to have one of the strongest fan support in Poland due to the club's high average attendance in the Ekstraklasa and the atmosphere during the games.
Lech's fanbase is mainly located in the Greater Poland region, with fan clubs in many other towns.
For over a decade Lech supporters have a fellowship with fans from Arka Gdynia and KS Cracovia sometimes called the Wielka Triada or The Great Triad. Close friendship links Lech fans also with KSZO Ostrowiec Świętokrzyski and ŁKS Łódź supporters. Among the more ardent element of supporters, there are some private contacts with Fratria, fans of Spartak Moscow, and Crveni Đavoli, fans of Radnički Kragujevac from Serbia.
The biggest rival is Legia Warsaw with whom they contest the "Derby of Poland". Wisła Kraków, Lechia Gdańsk and Śląsk Wrocław are also big rivals due to the fans friendship with Arka and Cracovia, similarly Korona Kielce are disliked due to the friendship with KSZO and Widzew Łódź due to ŁKS. Other teams that can be considered rivals are Ruch Chorzów and Pogoń Szczecin. In past the "Greater Poland derby" was played against regional rivals Dyskobolia Grodzisk Wielkopolski before their decline.
Relations with local rival Warta Poznań are neutral as the clubs have almost always played in different leagues and many fans attend matches of both teams.
The fans' goal celebration involving the turning of their backs to the pitch, joining arms and jumping up and down in unison—originated in 1961[citation needed]. It is known in the English speaking world as "The Poznan" after Manchester City began using the celebration following their clash with Lech Poznań in the group stages of the 2010–11 UEFA Europa League. Also popular with fans of Scottish club Celtic who call their version "The Huddle", in homage to the team's pre-match ritual of a huddle before every game kicks off.
Many Polish rappers who hail from Poznań have been strongly linked to the Lech supporter scene and the club prominently features in their music. Peja was an ardent supporter since he was 15 years old, and was active in the hooligan scene in the 90s.[37][38] Evtis,[39] Ascetoholix,[40][41] Bzyk[42] and DJ Decks are all prominent supporters. The fans have produced recorded and released two rap CD's called Definicja Kibol and Definicja Kibol 2 as compilation of various artists.[43][44]
The club operates a reserve team which currently plays in II liga, the third tier of the league pyramid.
They gained promotion in the 2003–04 season to the third tier after winning the league and beating Jarota Jarocin 2–0 twice, 4–0 on aggregate. In that same season, they reached the 1st round of the Polish Cup but were knocked out by Górnik Konin following a 3–1 loss. After the 2006–07 season, the reserve teams were scrapped in favour of a central youth league, meaning that between 2007 and 2013 the team ceased to exist. They were reinstated to their previous league position for the 2013–14 season.
Lech's women section was opened on 26 August 2021.[45] It was formed through a partnership with Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań. It currently competes in the second division, and is coached by Alicja Zając.
The Lech Poznań Academy (Polish: Akademia Lecha Poznań) is the club's youth system, with several teams across all children's ages up until its most senior U-19 youth team.[46] The teams play in the Central Junior League, which was at first formed to replace the clubs' reserve teams which participated in the league pyramid. The club's youth system is the most extensive and advanced in the country and has produced many players which went on to play in the senior team.
KKS Wiara Lecha is a football club founded by Lech Poznań supporters in 2011. Only active supporters can play in the team and they have to have made a contribution to the supporter scene in order to be admitted to the squad.
Teodor Anioła – striker, the best all-time league goalscorer in the club's history, represented Lech from 1948 until 1957. Jarosław Araszkiewicz – attacking midfielder, won five championship titles with Lech Poznań. Finished his career in the age of 38. Jacek Bąk – defender, played in the 2002 FIFA World Cup and 2006 FIFA World Cup, former player of French clubs Lyon and Lens. Jarosław Bako – the goalkeeper of Poland national team in the early 1990s. Hieronim Barczak – defender, 369 league appearances for Lech. Jan Bednarek – defender, represented Poland at the 2018 FIFA World Cup, UEFA Euro 2020 and 2022 FIFA World Cup, currently playing for Southampton. Edmund Białas – striker, along with Anioła and Henryk Czapczyk, created an attacking trio called A-B-C, which was very successful in the 1950s. Bartosz Bosacki – defender, while playing for Lech he represented Poland at the 2006 FIFA World Cup, scoring twice against Costa Rica. Jerzy Brzęczek – midfielder, silver medalist with Poland at the 1992 Summer Olympics, former Poland national team captain and manager.
Jimmy Conrad – defender, USA national team member at the 2006 FIFA World Cup. Henryk Czapczyk – vice-captain and later coach of Lech during the club's rise in the 50s and 60s. Jacek Dembiński – striker, played in the German Bundesliga with Hamburger SV.
Ivan Đurđević – defender, played over 100 games for Lech, managed the reserve team and 1st team of Lech in 2018, most recently the manager of Śląsk Wrocław. Roman Jakóbczak – midfielder, Poland national team member at the 1974 FIFA World Cup. Andrzej Juskowiak – striker, silver medalist with Poland at the 1992 Summer Olympics, former player of Sporting Lisbon, Olympiacos, Borussia Mönchengladbach and VfL Wolfsburg. Mirosław Justek – defender, Poland national team member at the 1978 FIFA World Cup. Jakub Kamiński – winger, represented Poland at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, currently plays for German side VfL Wolfsburg. Jerzy Karasiński – goalkeeper, considered one of Lech Poznań's all-time best players, prominent during a lean period in the club's history. Waldemar Kryger – defender, former player of German club VfL Wolfsburg. Janusz Kupcewicz – midfielder, bronze medalist with Poland at the 1982 FIFA World Cup. Robert Lewandowski – striker, the current Poland national team captain and all-time top scorer, currently playing for Barcelona. Karol Linetty – midfielder, Poland national team member at the 2018 FIFA World Cup, UEFA Euro 2020 and 2022 FIFA World Cup, currently playing for Torino. Adam Majewski – midfielder, Poland national team member in 2001 Henryk Miłoszewicz – midfielder, Poland national team member in 1980 Piotr Mowlik – goalkeeper, Poland national team member (1974–1981), Mariusz's father. Mirosław Okoński – striker, one of the club's icons, especially loved by the fans, after winning two consecutive championships with Lech in 1983 and 1984, transferred to Hamburger SV, played also for Greek side AEK. Bogusław Pachelski – prolific striker who scored 41 goals in 149 appearances over 5 years. Krzysztof Pawlak – defender, played two games at the 1986 FIFA World Cup while representing Lech. Jerzy Podbrożny – played also in MLS with the Chicago Fire. Arkadiusz Radomski – began his career with Lech, then spent most of his career in the Netherlands. Made his appearance at the 2006 FIFA World Cup. Piotr Reiss – striker, scored 109 Ekstraklasa goals for Lech, the oldest goalscorer in the league's history (40 years and 305 days). He also played for Hertha BSC and MSV Duisburg.
Hernan Rengifo – striker, played also for Peru.
Artjoms Rudnevs – striker, played for German clubs Hamburger SV and 1. FC Köln. Bartosz Salamon – defender, represented Poland at the UEFA Euro 2016 and UEFA Euro 2024. Michał Skóraś – winger, made an appearance for Poland at the 2022 FIFA World Cup while at Lech, now playing for Belgian side Club Brugge. Piotr Świerczewski – midfielder, silver medalist with Poland at the 1992 Summer Olympics, represented Poland at the 2002 FIFA World Cup, former Bastia, Saint-Étienne and Marseille player. Łukasz Teodorczyk – striker, represented Poland at the 2018 FIFA World Cup, former Belgian First Division A top scorer. Mirosław Trzeciak – striker, played in Spanish clubs Osasuna and Poli Ejido. Maciej Żurawski – striker, played at the 2002 FIFA World Cup and 2006 FIFA World Cup, after playing for Lech, he transferred to Wisła Kraków, then to Celtic, and on to Omonia. Teodor Anioła (1949 – 20 goals, 1950 – 21 goals, 1951 – 20 goals) Mirosław Okoński (1982–83 – 15 goals) Andrzej Juskowiak (1989–90 – 18 goals) Jerzy Podbrożny (1991–92 – 20 goals, 1992–93 – 25 goals) Piotr Reiss (2006–07 – 15 goals) Robert Lewandowski (2009–10 – 18 goals) Artjoms Rudņevs (2011–12 – 22 goals) Marcin Robak (2016–17 – 18 goals) Christian Gytkjær (2019–20 – 24 goals) Stanisław Kwiatkowski (January 1932 – June 1936)
László Marcai (July 1936 – 10 May 1938) A. Klemens Pawlak (11 May 1938 – August 1939) Franciszek Bródka (July 1945 – 15 August 1946)
Pavel Lovas (15 August 1946 – 28 March 1947) Franciszek Bródka (April 1947 – May 1948) Marcel Demeunyck (June 1948 – 28 February 1949) Antoni Böttcher (1 March 1949 – 31 December 1949) Artur Walter (1 January 1950 – 31 May 1950) Antoni Böttcher & F. Bródka (1 June 1950 – 8 June 1951) Mieczysław Balcer (8 June 1951 – 31 December 1952) Artur Woźniak (1 January 1953 – 31 December 1953) Mieczysław Tarka (1 January 1954 – 4 June 1957) Edmund Białas (4 June 1957 – 31 July 1957) Vilém Lugr (1 August 1957 – 31 November 1958) Henryk Czapczyk (1 December 1959 – 10 September 1961) Mieczysław Tarka (10 September 1961 – 15 November 1962) Zygfryd Słoma (16 November 1962 – 30 June 1963) Edward Drabiński (1 August 1963 – 14 April 1964) Henryk Czapczyk (15 April 1964 – 15 June 1964) Zygfryd Słoma (16 July 1964 – 5 September 1965) Edmund Białas (12 September 1965 – 10 May 1966) Edward Brzozowski (10 May 1966 – 3 July 1966) Edmund Białas (4 July 1966 – 10 October 1966) Mieczysław Tarka (10 October 1966 – 31 December 1968) Edmund Białas (1 September 1969 – 30 June 1972) Mieczysław Chudziak (1 July 1972 – 16 August 1972) Augustyn Dziwisz (16 August 1972 – 6 April 1973) Janusz Pekowski (7 April 1973 – 30 June 1975) Aleksander Hradecki (1 July 1975 – 31 March 1976) E. Białas & M. Chudziak (1 April 1976 – 30 September 1976) Jerzy Kopa (1 October 1976 – 20 October 1979) Roman Łoś (26 August 1978, 20 October 1979 – 31 December 1979) Wojciech Łazarek (1 January 1980 – 31 December 1984) Leszek Jezierski & Jacek Machciński (1 January 1985 – 26 May 1985) Włodzimierz Jakubowski (27 May 1985 – 30 November 1986) Bronisław Waligóra (1 December 1986 – 31 August 1987) J. Kasalik & T. Napierała (9 May 1987 – 23 May 1987, 5 September 1987) Grzegorz Szerszenowicz (7 September 1987 – 30 June 1988) Henryk Apostel (1 July 1988 – 30 November 1988) Andrzej Strugarek (12 December 1988 – 22 August 1989) J. Kopa & A. Strugarek (22 August 1989 – 19 May 1991) Henryk Apostel (20 May 1991 – 5 April 1993) Roman Jakóbczak (6 April 1993 – 19 October 1993) Jan Stępczak (20 November 1993 – 30 June 1994) Ryszard Matłoka (caretaker) (19 March 1994) Romuald Szukiełowicz (1 July 1994 – 30 June 1995) Zbigniew Franiak (1 July 1995 – 9 May 1996) Remigiusz Marchlewicz (9 May 1996 – 30 June 1996) Ryszard Polak (1 July 1996 – 15 May 1997) Remigiusz Marchlewicz (16 May 1997 – 30 June 1997) Krzysztof Pawlak (1 July 1997 – 18 March 1998) Remigiusz Marchlewicz (caretaker) (18 March 1998 – 23 March 1998) Jerzy Kopa (23 March 1998 – 29 April 1998) Remigiusz Marchlewicz (29 April 1998 – 16 May 1998) Adam Topolski (17 May 1998 – 5 September 1999) Marian Kurowski (9 September 1999 – 9 April 2000) Zbigniew Franiak (caretaker) (10 April 2000 – 17 April 2000) Wojciech Wąsikiewicz (17 April 2000 – 28 May 2000)
Adolf Pinter (29 May 2000 – 28 August 2000) Adam Topolski (29 August 2000 – 1 April 2001) Bogusław Baniak (2 April 2001 – 28 September 2002) Czesław Jakołcewicz (caretaker) (29 September 2002 – 26 November 2002) Bohumil Páník (26 November 2002 – 30 June 2003) Libor Pala (30 June 2003 – 14 September 2003) Czesław Michniewicz (14 September 2003 – 30 June 2006) Franciszek Smuda (30 June 2006 – 30 June 2009) Jacek Zieliński (30 June 2009 – 2 November 2010) José Mari Bakero (3 November 2010 – 25 February 2012) Mariusz Rumak (27 February 2012 – 12 August 2014) Krzysztof Chrobak (caretaker) (12 August 2014 – 1 September 2014) Maciej Skorża (1 September 2014 – 12 October 2015) Jan Urban (12 October 2015 – 29 August 2016)
Nenad Bjelica (30 August 2016 – 10 May 2018)[47] Rafał Ulatowski (caretaker) (10 May 2018 – 20 May 2018)[47][48] Ivan Đurđević (21 May 2018 – 4 November 2018)[48][49] Dariusz Żuraw (caretaker) (4 November 2018 – 25 November 2018) Adam Nawałka (25 November 2018 – 31 March 2019)[50][51] Dariusz Żuraw (1 April 2019 – 6 April 2021)[52] Janusz Góra (caretaker) (7 April 2021 – 11 April 2021) Maciej Skorża (12 April 2021 – 6 June 2022)[53]
John van den Brom (19 June 2022 – 17 December 2023)[54] Mariusz Rumak (17 December 2023 – 30 June 2024)[18] Niels Frederiksen (1 July 2024 – present)[55]Seamless Wikipedia browsing. On steroids.
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