Kraków Dragoons FC, founded in 2016, is an association football club based in Kraków, Poland.
The club was founded by a group of expats and started competing in the Polish football league system in the 2019âÂÂ20 season. The Dragoons played two seasons in Klasa B before eventually being crowned champions of their group at the end of the 2021âÂÂ22 season and winning promotion to Klasa A.
Since the 2022/2023 season, Dragoons FC has been competing in the Fenix Trophy, an UEFA sanctioned tournament for non-professional clubs.
Founded in 2016, Krakow Dragoons FC is one of the most unique football clubs in Poland. What began as casual kickabouts has grown into a remarkable journey â from grassroots football to league champions and even European competition. Today, the Dragoons proudly compete in KrakowâÂÂs Klasa A, the 8th division of Polish football, as a truly international team bringing players from around the world together on and off the pitch.
With over 20 nationalities in the squad, the Dragoons are the first foreign-founded, multinational football club competing in the Polish league system. More than just a team, the club provides a platform for expats in Krakow to connect, integrate, and share the universal language of football.
A common question we often hear is simple but important: why âÂÂDragoonsâ and not âÂÂDragonsâÂÂ? Since the name âÂÂKraków Dragonsâ was already taken by a local quidditch side, the founders sought an alternative. Eventually, we chose âÂÂDragoonsâ â somewhat of a foreign alternative to Hussars, PolandâÂÂs famous cavalry â which gave the club both a historical connection and a unique identity. Moreover, the Wawel Dragon, KrakowâÂÂs landmark symbol, still takes pride of place on the badge, linking the clubâÂÂs modern name to the cityâÂÂs legendary past.
From a group of strangers meeting for casual kickabouts to a competitive league side with international recognition, the Dragoonsâ story reflects what happens when football, friendship, and ambition come together. Above all, the club continues to grow both on and off the pitch, while inspiring new arrivals to Krakow to find a home in the beautiful game.
The story began in 2015 with casual kickabouts organised by founder Alex BÃÂcica. However, the group quickly grew in size and ambition, eventually deciding to formalise their passion into something more sustainable. By March 2018, the Dragoons had officially registered as KS Dragoons Kraków, and only a year later entered the Polish league system. At the same time, they received special dispensation to field more non-EU players, formal recognition of the clubâÂÂs unique community role in bringing together KrakowâÂÂs international residents.
On 28 July 2019, the Dragoons played their first competitive match in the Puchar Polski (Polish FA Cup). A scorching hot afternoon ended in style, with a 6-0 victory against SF Fairant â the perfect beginning to what would soon become a remarkable journey. Even now, that debut remains a cherished memory, not only for the players but also for the growing number of supporters who realised they were witnessing something special.
The Dragoons quickly earned a reputation for their possession-based football. The highlight came in 2021/22, when the team lifted their first league title after a 15-game winning streak, earning promotion to Klasa A. Furthermore, they proudly represented Poland in the Fenix Trophy, competing with community clubs from across Europe in a UEFA-affiliated tournament. That adventure marked a true landmark achievement, symbolising how far the team had come in such a short space of time.
The story of the Dragoons began when a group of strangers posted on Facebook to organise a kickabout at the J&J Sports Centre. From then on, weekly kickabouts quickly became a fixture in Krakow until winter arrived.
Future club president Alex BÃÂcica took charge of organising weekly games at Nadwià Âlan Kraków, a scenic venue near Wawel Castle. Meanwhile, social activities created a welcoming environment for newcomers. That year, the team chose the name âÂÂDragoons,â designed their first badge, and bought official kits to play proper 11-a-side matches. Soon, the Dragoons joined the Cracow Sunday Football League (CSFL) and Ashvin Asani lead the team as Head Coach. 2016 also marked a first trip to Warsaw for a six-a-side festival, with the trip becoming an annual tradition.
The Dragoons finished third in their first CSFL season, impressing against established sides. Inspired by English grassroots team Palmers FC, the club began recording matches and producing video highlights, helping to gain exposure. As interest grew, discussions started about transforming the Dragoons from a social club into a fully registered football club. Eventually, meetings with lawyers laid the groundwork for ambitious plans to enter the Polish league system.
After months of planning and negotiations with the , the Dragoons registered as Klub Sportowy Dragoons Kraków in the National Court. This milestone allowed the club to enter the Polish league system in 2019. That year, the Dragoons hosted their first international tournament, the GOAL! Festival, welcoming original English pioneers Wanderers FC. In addition, they gained international attention by participating in the Manchester United x DHL initiative, marking the clubâÂÂs first appearance in global football media.
The Dragoons won the CSFL and hosted the third GOAL! Festival, welcoming South Bank Cuaco FC. They became the first foreign-founded multinational club to enter PolandâÂÂs football pyramid. Making their maiden official appearance at Nadwià Âlan under the shadow of Wawel Castle, they crushed SF Fairant Kraków 6âÂÂ0 in the Puchar Polski. Portuguese national Daniel Silva scored their first ever goal and capped off the game with a hat-trick! Adrian Palià Â, Ernesto Bumba Jr. and Vitor Pereira were the other goal scorers in the historical match. The team started its league journey in Klasa B, narrowly losing their first match 2âÂÂ1 to GrÃÂbaà Âowianka II Kraków.
The Dragoons attended the SD Europe conference as a fan-owned club hosted by KSK Beveren. They signed their first sponsorship deal with Krakow Boat Party and produced a kit reveal video with volunteersâ help. Unfortunately, the coronavirus pandemic cut their debut Klasa B season short, leaving the team fourth. Despite this, the City of Krakow nominated the Dragoons as Multicultural Ambassadors, and the club produced a professional presentation video to showcase its values.
Thanks to a partnership with Bà Âonia Sport, the Dragoons moved into a modern training facility while continuing matches at Nadwià Âlan. Their second Klasa B season ended in fourth place again. However, the team impressed in the Puchar Polski, reaching the third round and defeating two Klasa A sides. The 2021/22 season began spectacularly, with the Dragoons winning twelve consecutive matches.
2022 became one of the clubâÂÂs most successful years as featured the team in a mini-documentary. The Dragoons also earned an invitation to represent Poland in the Fenix Trophy, a UEFA-accredited competition which involves European non-professional clubs, chosen for their exceptional social, historical and cultural distinctiveness. On the pitch, they won the Klasa B championship and secured promotion to Klasa A, with a total of 20 wins and 103 goals. Goalkeeper Gabriel Muñoz became the first Dragoon to play 50 matches for the club, holding 12 clean sheets along the way. Partnerships began to grow as the club moved home to the 1,300-capacity home ground of KS Pràdniczanka. Meanwhile, sponsorship deals with Real Recruitment Solutions, Promo Estates, and Xplicit Apparel followed, as well as a partnership with local sports manufacturer Power Canvas who created a brand new customised kit for the team. Additionally, the club also modernised further by purchasing a VEO camera, making the Dragoons one of the few lower-league Polish sides to live stream games.
The Dragoons hosted their first Fenix Trophy matches against Prague Raptors and DWS Amsterdam, with the latter featuring on Polish National Television (TVP3). With Ashvin AsaniâÂÂs departure in May, Hugo Cruz became interim Head Coach for the remainder of the 2023/24 season. The team finished their first Klasa A season in eighth place and Cruz took on the reigns permanently. Another Fenix Trophy campaign paired them against French YouTube sensation Vinsky FC and English non-league giants FC United of Manchester. Founder Alex BÃÂcica stepped down as club president, with Daniel Finnegan taking over as interim president. The highlight of the season came when the Dragoons hosted FC United of Manchester, attracting over 400 fans in Kraków.
The Dragoons signed an agreement with Secret Shirts to give the club jersey further international exposure. On the pitch, the club played in front of 571 people against FC United of Manchester in a challenging 14-0 defeat. The result saw the Dragoons break Fenix Trophy history with the record highest defeat in the competition. On a more positive note, 17-year-old Jan Krzyà ¼anowski, made his debut in the same game to become the youngest ever player. Back in the league, the team finished sixth in their second Klasa A season. Later in 2024, Gareth Davis, club supporter since day one and a regular attendee of the Nadwià Âlan kickabouts in the early days, was elected Club President by players and staff at the clubâÂÂs Annual General Meeting.
The Dragoons entered a new chapter. Gonçalo Ferreira replaced Hugo Cruz as head coach, aiming to guide the club to even greater achievements in the coming years. The team reached the fourth round of Puchar Polski for the first time in history, beating Prokocim, a team playing one division above the Expats, before being eliminated by Radziszowianka Radziszów, who are competing two tiers up, in V Liga. Captain Enrico Forabosco reached the incredible landmark of 100 appearances for the club, with nearly 8000 minutes in his legs, scoring 48 goals and assisting 44 times since joining in 2020.
(Captain)