Legia Warsaw

Before World War II

Legia was formed between 5 and 15 March 1916 during military operations in World War I on the Eastern Front in the neighborhood of Maniewicze in Volhynia, as the main football club of the Polish Legions. The team had started its first training earlier in the spring of 1915, in the city of Piotrków Trybunalski. In July 1916, due to the Brusilov Offensive, Legia permanently moved to the capital city of Warsaw.

Its first game in Warsaw was played on 29 April 1917 against the local rival Polonia Warsaw. The score was a draw – 1–1. Until the end of World War I, Legia had played nine games in Warsaw; it won six and drew three. Its first away game was against KS Cracovia, which Legia won 2–1. With the win over Cracovia, at that time the current Polish first league champion, Legia was baptized as the unofficial champion of the country.

Legia played its first match in Polish first league in Łódź on 8 May 1927 against ŁKS Łódź, winning 6–1. Marian Łańko scored the first league goal for the club (in the same game he scored a hat-trick). Since 1930, Legia has played at the Polish Army Stadium, the construction of which was a gift to the club from Józef Piłsudski. In 1936 Legia was relegated to the second division, where it remained until the end of World War II.

After World War II

After World War II, Legia boosted its squad with many new players and at the end of 1949 the club changed its name again, this time to Centralny Wojskowy Klub Sportowy (Central Army Sports Club). Eventually Kazimierz Górski joined the club and became a player for both the team and the Poland national team.

The 1970s

The 1970s were known as Poland's golden age of football. From the 1960s to the 1970s, Legia's roster included powerful football players such as Jan Tomaszewski, Kazimierz Deyna, and Robert Gadocha. In the 1969–70 European Cup Legia achieved a successful campaign by reaching the semi-finals alongside Feyenoord, Leeds United, and Celtic. The following year, Legia reached the quarter-finals where they lost to Atlético Madrid.

The 1980s

Though the club had many national team players including Kazimierski, Okoński, Dziekanowski, Janas, Majewski, Buncol, Kubicki, Wdowczyk and others, the club had problems winning any league titles. However, thanks to winning four Polish Cups, the team was able to compete in European competitions.

One of the more memorable European runs was the near upset against Internazionale during the UEFA Cup 1985–86, after two 0–0 games Legia lost in extra time. The next season Legia were yet again drawn against Inter, this time winning at home 3–2 but losing away 1–0 thus losing on away goals.

Legia also won its first Polish SuperCup defeating Ruch Chorzów 3–0 in 1989.

The 1990s

Winning the Polish Cup for the 9th time in the 1989–90 season Legia subsequently played in the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup. The team then managed by Władysław Stachurski went through to the semi-finals of the competition facing Manchester United. Legia lost the first match in Warsaw 1–3 and had drawn in Manchester 1–1. After winning the 1994–95 season, Legia qualified for the 1995–96 UEFA Champions League. The team got through to the quarter-finals stage against Panathinaikos drawing the first game 0–0 and losing 3–0 in the second.

2000–2010

In 2002, Legia lifted the seventh Ekstraklasa champion title. As a result, Legia qualified for the 2002–03 UEFA Champions League. Following a win with Vardar in the second qualifying round, Legia lost the third qualifying round to Barcelona. In 2002, after a 3–0 win and 1–2 loss against Wisła Kraków, Legia won the Ekstraklasa Cup. The 2005–06 Ekstraklasa season resulted in Legia's eighth Polish championship.

2011–present

Legia won its 10th title with another league championship at the end of the 2013–14 Ekstraklasa season. Legia qualified for the 2016-17 Champions League group stages for the first time in 21 years after defeating Dundalk on August 23, 2016. The Legionnaires found themselves in group F with the likes of Real Madrid, Borussia Dortmund, and Sporting Lisbon. They finished third place after winning 1–0 against Sporting Lisbon on the last match day in the group stages, sending them to the round of 32 in the 2016–17 Europa League. Legia was drawn against Ajax where the first match fell goalless in Warsaw.

Stadium

Legia plays its games at Legia Warsaw Municipal Stadium of Marshal Józef Piłsudski (Polish: Stadion Miejski Legii Warszawa im. Marszałka Józefa Piłsudskiego), traditionally also referred to as the Polish Army Stadium (Polish: Stadion Wojska Polskiego), which is an all-seater football-specific stadium in Warsaw, Poland. Legia has been playing there since 9 August 1930. With space for 31,800 spectators it is the 5th biggest football stadium in the Ekstraklasa. The stadium underwent significant reconstruction between 2008 and 2011, during which all of the stands were demolished and replaced with bigger and more modern ones which increased the stadium's capacity from 13,500 to 31,800 seats. The former Polish Army Stadium is currently owned by the City of Warsaw.

Supporters and rivalries

As one of the most successful clubs in Poland, Legia Warsaw is also one of its most popular clubs. Legia has gained devotion from generations of fans from Warsaw as well as around the country. Legia supporters are generally considered very spontaneous, dedicated and sometimes fanatical. Accordingly, in terms of quality of football support, they are also often described as the best supporters in Poland. Groups of fans follow Legia on practically all away matches, both domestic and international. Supporters of Legia occasionally attract also some negative attention, in particular after events such as riots in Lithuania during a match against Vėtra Vilnius on 10 July 2007.

Traditionally, the most devoted and spontaneous fans occupy the Żyleta stand in their stadium. Before the stadium renovation (2008–11), the "old" Żyleta referred only to the center section within the eastern stand of the stadium (occasionally, it would also refer to eastern stand as a whole). There is a special exhibition dedicated to the "old" Żyleta in the Legia club museum. Today, after the stadium's renovation, the "new" Żyleta means the whole northern stand of stadium (located behind the goal).

As regards their political sentiments, the supporters of Legia tend to be more right wing. During communist times, in particular during the 1980s, Legia fans showed their patriotic and strongly anti-communistic views. Today, the fans actively participate in annual commemorations of the Warsaw Uprising and Polish Independence Day. Legia fans are also vocal with their views on domestic issues, e.g. their conflict with former Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, as well as on international politics, e.g. by way of displaying banners reading "Kosovo is Serbian" at the stadium. On 22 October 2014, when Legia played with the Ukrainian Metalists they displayed a banner with the names Lwów (Lviv) and Wilno (Vilnius) along with the coat of arms of Rzeczpospolita and flag of Poland on background, what led to negative reactions. On 19 August 2015, in Lviv and Kiev, where Legia played with Zorya, clashes between Ukrainian and Polish fans occurred. Legia Warsaw supporters maintain friendly relations with fans of Zagłębie Sosnowiec and Olimpia Elbląg. Internationally, Legia supporters maintain friendly relations with fans of ADO Den Haag and Juventus. Their main rivals include Polonia Warsaw, Lech Poznań, Wisła Kraków and Widzew Łódź.

Warsaw derby

The Warsaw derby is a match between Legia and Polonia Warsaw.

Domestic

Europe

Legia in Europe

Note: Bold means home results, italics means neutral place results or penalised result

UEFA Team ranking

As of 24 February 2017.

Club records

Current squad

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

Out on loan

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

Reserve team

Retired numbers

10 – Kazimierz Deyna, Midfielder (1966–78) – Posthumous honour.

Hall of Fame

This is a list of former players and coaches who have been inducted into the Legia Warsaw Hall of Fame.