Wisła Kraków

It currently competes in the I liga, the second level of Polish football league system. 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).

Wisła Kraków

Full name	Towarzystwo Sportowe Wisła Kraków Spółka Akcyjna
Nickname(s)	Biała Gwiazda (The White Star)
Founded	1906; 118 years ago (1906)
Ground	Stadion Miejski im. Henryka Reymana
Capacity	33,326
Owner	Jarosław Królewski (53.69%) Jakub Błaszczykowski (15.30%)
President	Jarosław Królewski
Manager	Albert Rudé
League	I liga
2022–23	I liga, 4th of 18
Website	Club website
Home colours Away colours
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 four occasions. Wisła also enjoyed some success in European competitions in the 1970s, reaching the quarter-finals in the 1978–79 European Cup

 

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.

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.

 

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.

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.

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.

Wisła's 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.

Fan Friendlies

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

With Cracovia

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

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 1041–1596) 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

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

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.

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

As of February 2024

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 5 DF   SWE Joseph Colley 6 DF   POL Alan Uryga 7 MF   POL Igor Sapała 8 MF   ESP Marc Carbó 9 FW   ESP Ángel Rodado 10 MF   ESP Miki Villar 11 FW   ALB Dejvi Bregu 14 FW   POL Michał Żyro 15 FW   POL Marcin Bartoń 17 FW   ESP Jesús Alfaro 18 FW   POL Bartosz Talar 19 DF   ESP Eneko Satrústegui 21 MF   POL Patryk Gogol 22 MF   ESP Joan Román 23 FW   POL Szymon Sobczak

No. Pos. Nation Player 25 DF   POL Bartosz Jaroch 26 DF   POL Igor Łasicki (captain) 28 DF   ESP David Juncà 31 GK   POL Mikołaj Biegański 41 MF   POL Kacper Duda 43 DF   POL Dawid Szot 50 MF   POL Mariusz Kutwa 51 FW   POL Karol Tokarczyk 52 DF   POL Jakub Krzyżanowski 66 MF   ALB Vullnet Basha 77 MF   ESP Ángel Baena 80 MF   POL Dawid Olejarka 92 GK   ESP Álvaro Ratón — MF   MKD Enis Fazlagić — FW   POL Wiktor Szywacz — GK   BLR Anton Chichkan — FW   ALG Billel Omrani

Out on loan

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

No. Pos. Nation Player — DF   POL Kacper Skrobanski (at Wieczysta Kraków until 30 June 2024)

No. Pos. Nation Player — DF   POL Piotr Starzyński (at Górnik Łęczna until 30 June 2024)

As of 7 January 2024

Manager	Albert Rudé
Assistant coaches	Mariusz Jop   Kazimierz Kmiecik   Eric Lira Fernández   Michał Siwierski
Fitness coach	Kazimierz Piechnik
Strength & conditioning coach	Sebastian Szymczak
Goalkeeping coach	Łukasz Załuska
Analyst	Dominik Dyduła
Physiotherapists	Marcin Bisztyga   Bartłomiej Grzegorczyk   Dawid Ignacok
Team doctor	Mariusz Urban
Team manager	Jarosław Krzoska
Kit manager	Jan Batko

Domestic

• Ekstraklasa (First league):
  • Winners (14): 1927, 1928, 1949, 1950, 1951, 1977–78, 1998–99, 2000–01, 2002–03, 2003–04, 2004–05, 2007–08, 2008–09, 2010–11
  • 2nd place (10): 1930, 1931, 1936, 1948, 1965–66, 1980–81, 1999–2000, 2001–02, 2005–06, 2009–10
  • 3rd place (9): 1929, 1933, 1934, 1938, 1952, 1953, 1975–76, 1990–91, 1997–98

• Polish non-League Football Championship:
  • 2nd place (2): 1923, 1947
  • 3rd place (1): 1925
• Polish Cup:
  • Winners (4): 1926, 1966–67, 2001–02, 2002–03
  • Finalist (6): 1950–51, 1953–54, 1978–79, 1983–84, 1999–2000, 2007–08
• Polish SuperCup:
  • Winner (1): 2001
  • Finalist (4): 1999, 2004, 2008, 2009
• Polish League Cup:
  • Winner (1) : 2000–01
  • Finalist (1): 2001–02
• Polish First League (Second Division):
  • Winner (1) : 1964–65
  • 2nd Place (3): 1985–86, 1988–89, 1995–96
  • 3rd Place (1): 1994–95
• Galician Championship:
  • 2nd place (1): 1913

Europe

• European Cup/UEFA Champions League:
  • Quarterfinal: 1978–79
• UEFA Cup/UEFA Europa League:
  • Round of 16: 2002–03
• European Cup Winners' Cup
  • Round of 16: 1967–68, 1984–85
• Intertoto Cup:
  • Winners (3): 1969, 1970, 1973

Youth Teams

• Młoda Ekstraklasa:
  • Winner (1): 2008
  • 2nd place (1): 2009
• Polish U-19 Championship:
  • Winner (10: Polish record): 1936, 1937, 1958, 1975, 1976, 1982, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2014
  • 2nd place (1): 1938
  • 3rd place (3): 1974, 1987, 1998
• Polish U-17 Championship:
  • Winner (1): 2013
  • 2nd place (1): 2003

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 year. Wisła Kraków 7–0   Newtown, in Kraków, 29 July 1998.

Records individual

• Top scorer in the league:   Kazimierz Kmiecik – 153 goals in 304 matches
• Top scorer in the second league:   Grzegorz Kaliciak – 32 goals
• Top scorer (total):   Kazimierz Kmiecik – 181 goals in 350 matches
• Top scorer in European competition:   Maciej Żurawski – 23 goals
• Most matches in European Cups:   Marcin Baszczyński – 52 games
• Most meetings (total):   Arkadiusz Głowacki – 461 games
• The youngest debut:   Stefan Śliwa – 14 years, 268 days
• The oldest player:   Marcin Wasilewski – 40 years 39 days
• Most matches in the Poland national team:   Antoni Szymanowski – 65 games (a total of 82 games in the national team)
• Most goals in the Poland national team:   Maciej Żurawski – 14 goals
• Top scorer in one season:   Mieczysław Gracz and   Maciej Żurawski – 38 goals (all meetings),   Henryk Reyman – 37 goals (league only)
• All records

• Q = Qualifying
• PO = Play-Off

Season	Competition	Round		Club	Score
1967–68	European Cup Winners' Cup	1		HJK Helsinki	4–1, 4–0
		2		Hamburger SV	0–1, 0–4
1976–77	UEFA Cup	1		Celtic	2–2, 2–0
		2		Molenbeek	1–1, 1–1
1978–79	European Cup	1		Club Brugge	1–2, 3–1
		2		Zbrojovka Brno	2–2, 1–1
		1/4F		Malmö FF	2–1, 1–4
1981–82	UEFA Cup	1		Malmö FF	0–2, 1–3
1984–85	UEFA Cup Winners' Cup	1		ÍBV	4–2, 3–1
		2		Fortuna Sittard	0–2, 2–1
1998–99	UEFA Cup	Q1		Newtown	0–0, 7–0
		Q2		Trabzonspor	5–1, 2–1
		1		Maribor	2–0, 3–0
		2		Parma	1–1, 1–2
2000–01	UEFA Cup	Q		Željezničar Sarajevo	0–0, 3–1
		1		Real Zaragoza	1–4, 4–1
		2		Porto	0–0, 0–3
2001–02	UEFA Champions League	Q2		Skonto	2–1, 1–0
		Q3		Barcelona	3–4, 0–1
	UEFA Cup	1		Hajduk Split	2–2, 1–0
		2		Internazionale	0–2, 1–0
2002–03	UEFA Cup	Q		Glentoran	2–0, 4–0
		1		Primorje	2–0, 6–1
		2		Parma	1–2, 4–1
		3		Schalke 04	1–1, 4–1
		4		Lazio	3–3, 1–2
2003–04	UEFA Champions League	Q2		Omonia	5–2, 2–2
		Q3		Anderlecht	1–3, 0–1
	UEFA Cup	1		NEC	2–1, 2–1
		2		Vålerenga	0–0, 0–0
2004–05	UEFA Champions League	Q2		WIT Georgia	8–2, 3–0
		Q3		Real Madrid	0–2, 1–3
	UEFA Cup	1		Dinamo Tbilisi	4–3, 1–2
2005–06	UEFA Champions League	Q3		Panathinaikos	3–1, 1–4
	UEFA Cup	1		Vitória de Guimarães	0–3, 0–1
2006–07	UEFA Cup	Q2		SV Mattersburg	1–1, 1–0
		1		Iraklis	0–1, 2–0
		Group		Blackburn Rovers	1–2
				Nancy	1–2
				Basel	3–1
				Feyenoord	1–3
2008–09	UEFA Champions League	Q2		Beitar Jerusalem	1–2, 5–0
		Q3		Barcelona	0–4, 1–0
	UEFA Cup	1		Tottenham Hotspur	1–2, 1–1
2009–10	UEFA Champions League	Q2		Levadia Tallinn	1–1, 0–1
2010–11	UEFA Europa League	Q2		Šiauliai	2–0, 5–0
		Q3		Qarabağ	0–1, 2–3
2011–12	UEFA Champions League	Q2		Skonto	1–0, 2–0
		Q3		Litex Lovech	2–1, 3–1
		PO		APOEL	1–0, 1–3
	UEFA Europa League	Group		Twente	1–4, 2–1
				Fulham	1–0, 1–4
				OB	1–3, 2–1
		1/16F		Standard Liège	1–1, 0–0

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

Caretaker managers listed in italics.

Esports

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

Women's basketball

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.