Wisła Kraków

Wisła Kraków

Full name	Wisła Kraków Spółka Akcyjna
Nickname(s)	Biała Gwiazda (The White Star)
Founded	1906
Ground	Stadion im. Henryka Reymana (Capacity: (33,680)
Chairman	Bogdan Basałaj
Manager	Robert Maaskant
League	Ekstraklasa
Ekstraklasa 2009–10	Ekstraklasa, 2nd
Home colours Away colours Third colours
Current season

Wisła Kraków (Polish pronunciation: [ˈviswa ˈkrakuf]) is a Polish football club based in Kraków, Poland. In the years 1906–1945 and then from 1990 to 1997 the club was officially known as a Sports Society Wisła (pol. Towarzystwo Sportowe Wisła). Following the end of World War II the club became known as Wisła Kraków.

The club's coat of arms is a white star on a red background crossed by a blue ribbon. The club has been the most successful football in Poland in recent years, having won a total of 12 Polish league championships, 7 of them since 1999.

History

Birth of the Club 1906

The ancestor of today’s Wisła Kraków was a football team formed in the fall of 1906 by the students of 2nd Practical School, under the direction of Józef Szkolnikowski, who also served as the team captain. In September 1906 “Szkolnikowski’s Team” took part in a Fall Tournament organized by Dr. Tadeusz Konczyński, which took place at Kraków’s Błonia meadows. “Szkolnikowski’s Team” wore blue jerseys for the competition, and because of this, the team began to be knows as “the Blues”.

In 1907 “The Blues” merged with another Kraków team, “The Reds” founded and administrated by Jenker. Following the merger the team's primary color became red, but it was the members of the Blues who came up with the name Wisla to call their new association. Though the team jerseys were red they bore 2 blue stars in order to show that the team was created from the fusion of 2 others. In 1911 the blue stars were replaced by a single white star placed on the left side of the uniform. In 1936 the official coat of arms was established consisting of a white star on a red shield crossed by a blue ribbon, alluding to the colors of the 2 founding teams.

Early Success Polish Champions 1927–1928

1927 Wisła Kraków side.

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In this first, historic season of the League, fight for Championship was decided between two powerful teams – Wisła Kraków and 1.FC Katowice. 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 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. According to numerous sources, PZPN's officials went out of their way not to let the Germans win. The referee, Zygmunt Hanke, clearly favored Wisła, as a result of which Kraków's side won 2–0 and became the Champion. 1.FC finished second, third was Warta Poznań.

In 1949 the club was renamed to Gwardia Kraków. In 1956 the club was once again renamed, to GTS Wisła Kraków, a name which held true until 1990 when the club reverted to its original name: TS Wisla Kraków. In the late nineteen-nineties the football (soccer) section of the club was incorporated and was renamed Wisła Kraków SSA.

The club has had its ups and downs, winning national championships and gaining European qualification. It was also relegated to the second division on three occasions. Since the football section has been bought by Tele-Fonika in 1998, the team has been far and away the most successful club in Poland, winning 7 national championships and placing second 3 times, totaling 10 top 2 finishes in 12 years.

On the international stage Wisła has competed in all three of the European competitions. The clubs greatest success came in the 1978/79 season, when Wisla was able to reach the quarter-finals of the European Cup eventually to be knocked out by Malmö FF,by a aggregate score of 3:5. Most recently Wisła narrowly missed out on a chance to compete in the 2005/06 Champions League group stage, being defeated 4:5 by Greek side Panathinaikos after extra time and under controversial circumstances.

Wisła also twice reached the second round of the Cup Winners Cup in 1967/68 and 1984/85, being beaten 0:5 and 2:3 by Hamburger SV and Fortuna Sittard respectively.

"The White Star" has competed ten times in the UEFA Cup, for instance in 1976/77, 1981/1982 and 1998/99. Twice gaining entry into the second phase only to be knocked out on penalties by R.W.D. Molenbeek and 2:3 by AC Parma

Supporters and rivalries

Fan Friendlies

Wisla has tremendous fan relations between Lechia Gdansk and Slask Wroclaw. The fellow supporters are eager to support each other during home and away matches, ignoring any Ekstraklasa rivalry. Wisla Krakow supporters are known as some of the most renowned and passionate fans in Poland, if not in Europe. Support at home matches, and even many away matches, includes chants, songs, and overall, advert support.

The Holy War

Wisła spectators during a derby game against Cracovia.

The term Holy War refers to the intense rivalry between the two Kraków based teams; Wisła and Cracovia. In 1906 the establishment of the two first Polish football clubs, Cracovia and Wisła, created a rivalry that now dates back more than one hundred years. The term Holy War was first used to describe the rivalry of Kraków's Jewish teams, Makabbi and Jutrzenka. A Jutrzenka defender 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 among Wisła and Cracovia fans. In 2006, the 100 year anniversary match was played between Wisła Kraków and Cracovia. Nearly 1,000 police were on hand during the game along with vehicles armed with water cannons, riot vans, helicopters and police dogs.

Poland's Derby

The match contested between Wisła Kraków and Legia Warsaw is commonly recognized as the greatest rivalry in Polish club football. The two sides have been the most successful clubs in Poland during the past decade and 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) also add a greater meaning to the match.

Stadium

Wisła's Stadium is located on 22 Reymonta Street in Kraków, Poland. The stadium was built in 1953 and currently holds a capacity of 15,595. The stadium currently is being rebuilt to accommodate 34,000 spectators. The Wisła Stadium has also been chosen as a reserve venue for the Euro 2012 tournament being organized jointly by Poland and Ukraine. The record attendance of 45,000 at Wisła Stadium came on September 29, 1976 when Wisla defeated Celtic of Glasgow 2:0. The venue has been a fortress for Wisła, where the team is especially difficult to defeat. It is worth noting that Wisła holds the all-time European football record for home games without a loss in a row. The streak was started following a loss on September 16, 2001, to KSZO Ostrowiec Świętokrzyski and ended more than five years later on November 11, 2006, when GKS Bełchatów defeated Wisla 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 of Warsaw. During the latest season (2008–2009) Wisla lost points at home only twice; tying LKS and being defeated by Lech Poznan.

Achievements

Domestic

• Ekstraklasa (First league):
  • 1st place (12)*: 1927, 1928, 1949, 1950, 1978, 1999, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2008, 2009
  • 2nd place (13): 1923, 1930, 1931, 1936, 1947, 1948, 1951, 1966, 1981, 2000, 2002, 2006, 2010
  • 3rd place (10): 1925, 1929, 1933, 1934, 1938, 1952, 1953, 1976, 1991, 1998

(In 1951 Wisla finished premiere league competition in 1st place, however, the National Championship was awarded to the Cup winner, Ruch Chorzow)

• Polish Cup:
  • Winner (4): 1926, 1967, 2002, 2003
  • Finalist (6): 1951, 1954, 1979, 1984, 2000, 2008
• Polish SuperCup:
  • Winner (1): 2001
  • Finalist (4): 1999, 2004, 2008, 2009
• Polish League Cup:
  • Winner (1): 2001
  • Finalist (1): 2002

Europe

• UEFA Champions League:
  • Quarterfinal (1): 1979
• UEFA Cup Winners' Cup (UEFA Cup):
  • 4th Round (Round of 16) (3): 1968, 1985, 2003
• UEFA Intertoto Cup:
  • Winner (3): 1969, 1970, 1973

Intercontinental

• Chicago Trophy:
  • Winner (1): 2007

Wisła in Europe

Season	Competition	Round		Club	Score
1967/68	UEFA Cup Winners' Cup	1R		HJK Helsinki	4–1, 4–0
		2R		Hamburg	0–1, 0–4
1976/77	UEFA Cup	1R		Celtic	2–2, 2–0
		2R		Molenbeek	1–1, 1–1
1978/79	European Cup	1R		Club Brugge	1–2, 3–1
		2R		Zbrojovka Brno	2–2, 1–1
		1/4F		Malmö	2–1, 1–4
1981/82	UEFA Cup	1R		Malmö	0–2, 1–3
1984/85	UEFA Cup Winners' Cup	1R		Íþróttabandalag Vestmannaeyja	4–2, 3–1
		2R		Fortuna Sittard	0–2, 2–1
1998/99	UEFA Cup	1Q		Newtown	0–0, 7–0
		2Q		Trabzonspor	5–1, 2–1
		1R		Maribor	2–0, 3–0
		2R		Parma	1–1, 1–2
2000/01	UEFA Cup	Q		Željezničar Sarajevo	0–0, 3–1
		1R		Real Zaragoza	1–4, 4–1
		2R		Porto	0–0, 0–3
2001/02	UEFA Champions League	2Q		Skonto	2–1, 1–0
		3Q		FC Barcelona	3–4, 0–1
	UEFA Cup	1R		Hajduk Split	2–2, 1–0
		2R		Internazionale	0–2, 1–0
2002/03	UEFA Cup	Q		Glentoran	2–0, 4–0
		1R		Primorje	2–0, 6–1
		2R		Parma	1–2, 4–1
		3R		Schalke 04	1–1, 4–1
		4R		Lazio	3–3, 1–2
2003/04	UEFA Champions League	2Q		Omonia	5–2, 2–2
		3Q		Anderlecht	1–3, 0–1
	UEFA Cup	1R		NEC	2–1, 2–1
		2R		Vålerenga	0–0, 0–0
2004/05	UEFA Champions League	2Q		WIT Georgia	8–2, 3–0
		3Q		Real Madrid	0–2, 1–3
	UEFA Cup	1R		Dinamo Tbilisi	4–3, 1–2
2005/06	UEFA Champions League	3Q		Panathinaikos	3–1, 1–4
	UEFA Cup	1R		Vitória de Guimarães	0–3, 0–1
2006/07	UEFA Cup	2Q		Mattersburg	1–1, 1–0
		1R		Iraklis Thessaloniki	0–1, 2–0
		GR		Blackburn Rovers	1–2
				Nancy	1–2
				Basel	3–1
				Feyenoord	1–3
2008/09	UEFA Champions League	2Q		Beitar Jerusalem	1–2, 5–0
		3Q		FC Barcelona	0–4, 1–0
	UEFA Cup	1R		Tottenham Hotspur	1–2, 1–1
2009/10	UEFA Champions League	2Q		Levadia Tallinn	1–1, 0–1
2010/11	UEFA Europa League	2Q		FK Šiauliai	2–0, 5-0
		3Q		Qarabağ	0-1, 2-3

Current squad

Accurate as of 31 August 2010^[1] Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Position Player 1 GK Milan Jovanić 4 DF Osman Chávez 6 DF Gordan Bunoza 7 MF Radosław Sobolewski (c) 8 MF Piotr Brożek 9 FW Rafał Boguski 10 MF Łukasz Garguła 11 MF Wojciech Łobodziński 12 GK Filip Kurto 13 MF Dragan Paljić 16 MF Tomáš Jirsák 17 MF Andraž Kirm

No. Position Player 19 FW Patryk Małecki 21 FW Andrés Ríos 22 DF Erik Čikoš 23 FW Paweł Brożek 24 DF Mateusz Kowalski 25 DF Cléber 28 MF Cezary Wilk 30 MF Łukasz Burliga 35 MF Kamil Rado 74 MF Nourdin Boukhari 79 FW Maciej Żurawski 81 GK Mariusz Pawełek

Players 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.

No. Position Player 29 MF Krzysztof Mączyński (loaned to ŁKS Łódź)

Current coaching staff

Manager	Robert Maaskant
2nd Coach	Kazimierz Moskal
Assistant Coach	Ryszard Czerwiec
Goalkeeping Coach	Grzegorz Kurdziel
Fitness Coach	Andrzej Bahr
Club doctor	Jacek Jurka
Masseur	Marcin Bisztyga
Masseur	Zbigniew Woźniak
Physiotherapist	Filip Pięta
Reserve Team Head Coach	Tomasz Kulawik
U-19 Team Head Coach	Dariusz Marzec
U-17 Team Head Coach	Kazimierz Moskal

UEFA Ranking

Club Ranking for 2009 (Previous year rank in italics, UEFA Club Coefficients in parentheses)

• 149 (129) PAOK (9.632)
• 149 (148) Egaleo (9.632)
• 151 (133) Wisła Kraków (9.583)
• 152 (163) Metalurh Zaporizhya (9.370)
• 153 (138) Marítimo (9.292)
• Full List

Notable players former and serving

Manager history

See also

• TS Wisła Can-Pack Kraków – women basketball team STBL
• Football in Poland
• History of football in Poland

References

External links

• Official site
• Official Wisla Supporters website