Legia Warszawa (), commonly referred to as Legia Warsaw or simply Legia, is a professional football club based in Warsaw, Poland. Legia is the most successful Polish football club in history, winning a record 15 champions titles, a record 21 Polish Cup and 6 Polish Super Cup trophies. The club's home venue is the Polish Army Stadium (Stadion Wojska Polskiego). Legia is the only Polish club never to have been relegated from the top flight of Polish football since World War II (see: 1936 Legia Warsaw season).
Legia was formed between 5 and 15 March 1916 during military operations in World War I, as the main football club of the Polish Legions. After the war, the club was reactivated on 14 March 1920 in an officer casino in Warsaw as Wojskowy Klub Sportowy Warszawa, renamed Legia in 1923 after merger with another local club, Korona. It became the main official football club of the Polish Army â Wojskowy Klub Sportowy Legia Warszawa (). From 1949 to 1957, Legia was known as CWKS Warszawa ()
Before 8 April 2004, it was owned by Pol-Mot and from 8 April 2004 (sold for 3 million zlotys) until 9 January 2014, it was owned by media conglomerate ITI Group. The club is currently owned by Dariusz Mioduski who serves as the club's chairman.
Legia was formed between 5 and 15 March 1916 during military operations in World War I on the Eastern Front in the village of Kostiuchnówka, within the region of Volhynia (Polish: Woà Âyà Â). It served as the main football club of the Polish Legions, who at the time fought for Austria-Hungary. The formation of the club in 1916 was greatly influenced by the outbreak of the First World War, because many Polish soldiers were involved in the formation of the Polish Legions before the war. Soldiers, often young men from the south of Poland (mainly from Kraków and Lwów) played football before the war, and therefore, after the formation of the team, they soon became successful. Football was a good way of spending free time, in the calm moments at the front, football matches were organized, which required the ball, making provisional goals, and finding a dozen or so players.
The first team training began in the spring of 1915 in Piotrków, between 5 and 15 March 1916 â at the request of then Master Sergeant Zygmunt Wasserab (pre-war player of Pogoà  Stryj) â who was a part of the Polish Legion's Commanding Staff in Kostiuchnówka in Volhynia to create a football club. The president of the organization was Wà Âadysà Âaw Groele, and corporal Stanisà Âaw Mielech proposed the name "Sporting Team Legia", which was adopted (more commonly used term of the team later became Legionowa). Other names were: "Legion Command Squad" and "Styr". White-black colors and arms were also shown, showing the white letter "L" (symbol of the Legions) on the black dial. The players were dressed in white clothes with sloping black belts, which was a reference to Czarni Lwów.
In the spring of 1916, the team played a number of matches with other teams, most of which ended with Legia victorious. The oldest recorded matches are: 7âÂÂ0 with the Divisional Sanitary Division, 3âÂÂ3 with the 6th Infantry Regiment and two victories (6âÂÂ4 and 3âÂÂ1) with the 4th Infantry Regiment. In July 1916 â because of the Brusilov Offensive â the Legions began to retreat west and the club relocated to Warsaw. The first match in which Polonia Warsaw was the rival was held on 29 April 1917 at Agrykola Park and ended with a 1âÂÂ1 draw. Of the nine games played in Warsaw, Legia won six and drew three. At the first away game the team won a 2âÂÂ1 victory over the then Polish champion KS Cracovia in Kraków, so Legia became an unofficial champion of the country. In 1918 the war ended, but the team continued to play only amateur-friendly matches.
The club was reactivated on 14 March 1920. In the officers' casinos in the Royal Castle, a group of former officers formed the Military Sports Club (WKS) -Wojskowy Klub Sportowy- Warsaw, establishing the white and red colors of the statute. Among them was Zygmunt Wasserab, one of the founders of the club.
Due to the Polish-Bolshevik war and the participation of many Warsaw players, WKS was not nominated for the premiership of the Polish championship league in 1920. In the 1921âÂÂ1926 seasons, the team was not promoted beyond the A-class of the Warsaw district, but it was a very important period for the club. In 1922, a statute was passed allowing the team to play in civilian teams (as opposed to playing against only other soldiers). Zygmunt Wassarab and Jerzy Misià Âski worked together and the club's name was changed to the Military Sports Club "Legia" Warsaw. It was modeled on the document of Pogoà  Lwów. At that time, a merger with the oldest Warsaw sports club, Korona, was created, which resulted in the acquisition of new, white-green club colors.
In the first international match played on 18 May 1922, Legia lost 2âÂÂ9 at their own stadium with Czechoslovak club FK Viktoria à ½ià ¾kov. A year later, in the championship of Warsaw, the Army took 3rd place.
After the first-ever promotion beyond Class A in 1927, Legia qualified for the newly formed Polish Football League. Roman Górecki, the then president of the Warsaw team, became the first president of the Polish League. Their debut was on 8 May in à Âódà º â Klub Turystów à Âódà º was the opponent and the match ended in a 6âÂÂ1 result. At the same time, Legia player Marian à Âaà Âko scored his first league goal free kick and recorded his first hat-trick in club history. In the same year, in a match against Pogonia Lwów, the club suffered the highest league loss, losing 2âÂÂ11. At the end of the season, Legia finished fifth, despite five defeats at the start of the season. Legia striker Marian à Âaà Âko finished second scoring 31 goals. The Warsaw club also made their debut in the Polish Cup, winning the match with Pogoà  Warsaw 7âÂÂ0. For the next two seasons Legia occupied higher positions in the league than the other Warsaw clubs: Polonia and Warszawianka.
In 1930, after three years of construction, the Polish Army Stadium was opened at à Âazienkowska Street. In the first match of the new stadium, Legia drew 1âÂÂ1 with Barcelona. In the same year the legionaries defeated Ruch Hajduki Wielkie 7âÂÂ1 in their 100th match in the league. Legia also had the biggest pre-war successes in the Polish championships in 1930 and 1931, where they were short three points and one point respectively. Moreover, in the first edition of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs awards for the best results in international competition, the Army received a "traveling" trophy.
In the 1935 season, Legia remained in the league, gaining one point advantage over the relegated Cracovia, and then in 1936 â in the club's 20th anniversary â lost seven consecutive games and recorded the only decline of the league in its history. In 1937 the club's board decided to return to the military statute. As a result, almost all civilians departed from the first team, mainly to other Warsaw teams. In 1937 â in the A class of the Warsaw district â Legia took fourth place, and one year later, took first place, and played in the first division play-offs. Legia was third place in the play-offs and they were not able to advance. The board reacted by withdrawing the club from all competitions and decided to play only friendly matches. In 1938, most of the team's sections were dissolved, leaving only three: tennis, swimming and motocross.
After the end of World War II â in April 1945 â the club was reactivated under the name of I Wojskowy Klub Sportowy Warszawa (1st Military Sports Club Warsaw), and in June added a historical member of Legia. Among the people who contributed to the reconstruction of the club were: Julian Neuding â prewar player of Makabi Warszawa, Karol Rudolf â prewar player of Legia, Henryk Czarnik and Józef Ziemian â Legia players from the interwar period. The team initially played friendly matches with teams in the region, but later also with clubs from other countries, the likes of the Swedish IFK Norrköping and the Yugoslav FK Partizan.
In the first postwar Polish championships held in 1946, Legia took second place in the elimination group, falling out of competition. In 1948, after qualifying for the nine-year break of the highest tier, Legia qualified after a victory in the inter-regional eliminations of the northeastern region and after took second place in the nationwide qualification. Legia eventually took fourth place, drawing 3âÂÂ3 with Ruch Chorzów. It was the 250th league game of the club. The first post-war match in the first tier took place on 14 March 1948, beating Polonia Bytom 3âÂÂ1.
For the next two seasons, Legia only held on in the first division due to a better goal differential against the relegated teams, taking the 9th and 10th respectively. In November 1949, after the reforms introduced by the then Polish football association, the club once again changed its name to Centralny Wojskowy Klub Sportowy (Central Army Sports Club). Also, a new coat of arms (large letter C, and smaller letters in it: W, K, S). The official patron of the team was the Polish People's Army. Legia became a military club, so it was possible to get players of other clubs, players like Lucjan Brychczy, Ernest Pohl and Edmund Kowal all were brought to Legia.
In 1951, Legia took third place in the league, and in the cup competitions lost in the eighth-finals with Polonia Warszawa. A year later, Legia achieved its first success in the Polish Cup competition, reaching the finals (in which Polonia Warszawa won 1âÂÂ0). The reserve team reached this stage of the competition, while the first team dropped out in the eighth-finals, losing to Lechia Gdaà Âsk. In the league, the club ranked sixth, and in the Puchar Zlotu Mà Âodych Przodowników (the premiere edition of the League Cup) was eliminated in the group stage. In 1953, Legia took 5th place in the first league, and in the next season â in addition to the 7th place â the team managed to reach the semi-final of the Polish Cup, in which Gwardia Warsaw won 2âÂÂ1.
Legia won their first trophy on 29 September 1955, defeating Lechia Gdaà Âsk 5âÂÂ0 in the Polish Cup final. A month later â on 20 November after a 1âÂÂ1 draw with Zagà ÂÃÂbie in Sosnowiec â the club won their first Polish championship. The team trained by the Hungarian coach János Steiner won their first doublet in the history of Polish football. In the following season, Ryszard Koncewicz became the Legia coach. The club celebrated its 40th anniversary and repeated the achievements from the previous year. First he sealed the Polish championship after a 2âÂÂ2 draw with à ÂKS Lodz, and then he defeated in the cup final Górnik Zabrze in a 3âÂÂ0 win. These successes were accomplished by strengthening the team by means of conscription to the army of players from such clubs as: Polonia Bytom, Ruch Chorzów, or Wawel Kraków. The latter, like most of the then OkrÃÂgowych Wojskowych Klubów Sportowych (District Military Sports Clubs, OWKS), was dissolved. Officially due to the "reorganization of the military division", in practice this meant strengthening CWKS Warszawa (Legia's name at the time). The team then won its highest victory in history, defeating Wisà Âa Kraków 12âÂÂ0 â the match took place on 19 August 1956 in Warsaw. In addition, the first three places in the goal classification at the end of the season were taken by legionnaires, and the title of the king of scorers was won by the Henryk Kempny who scored 21 goals.
In 1956, in addition to winning the national doublet, Legia made their debut in European competition, competing in the round of 16 of the European Champions Cup with Czechoslovak champions Slovan Bratislava. In the first away meeting, the team lost 0âÂÂ4, and in the second leg at home they won 2âÂÂ0 after goals from Kowal and Brychcz, but they were eliminated from further games. The meeting in Warsaw was watched by 40,000 fans.
At the meeting on 2 July 1957 â chaired by Colonel Edward Potorejko â the club's statute was approved and the first 31-member board of WKS Legia was elected, from which an 11-person presidium was then selected. The legal nature of the club has also changed. From the previous military unit, which was CWKS, a sports association was established with legal personality. The name of the club was also changed, as the historical name Legia was returned (Military Sports Club "Legia" Warsaw). In addition, new colors that are still used today were approved: white-red-green-black (later the order of the first two colors were changed) and the current coat of arms was adopted until today (with intervals).
Legia players (appearing as a Warsaw team) were invited to Spain to play the first match on the new FC Barcelona stadium, Camp Nou on 24 September. The match ended with a 4âÂÂ2 result for the hosts. They struggled in the league that season, finishing in fourth place, and were knocked out of the Polish Cup at the eighth-finals, losing to Ruch Chorzow 1âÂÂ2 (in that period, until 1961, the I liga season was played from March to August). In 1958, Legia took 6th place in the Polish championship, and in 1959 took 4th.
In the 1960s, Legia regularly held top positions in the league table. In 1960, artificial lighting was installed at the Polish Army Stadium, thanks to which the facility became the second in Poland where matches could be played after dark. The first meeting without natural light was played on 5 October with Danish club Aarhus Gymnastikforening as part of the qualification for the European Club Champions Cup. Legia won the match 1âÂÂ0 after Helmut Nowak's goal. However, with a 0âÂÂ3 defeat in the first match in Denmark, they dropped out of further games. In the same season, Tadeusz Bà Âaà ¼ejewski, in the 11th minute of a 2âÂÂ2 draw against à ÂKS à Âódà º, scored the thousandth league goal for Legia. The club celebrated another anniversary on 26 October 1960, playing the five-hundredth match in the premier league; Legia beat Zagà ÂÃÂbie Sosnowiec 1âÂÂ0. In the league table Legia took second place, winning the title of runner-up of Poland and losing to Ruch Chorzów by 1 point. The following season, the team won the bronze medal of the Polish championship for taking third place in the league.
In the following year, the league shifted from the spring-fall system to fall-spring, which meant that the league matches started in the spring of 1962. The league was divided into two groups, in which the teams from the same regions played with each other. Legia â which took third place in its group â won the competition for 5th place with Wisà Âa Kraków, drew a 1âÂÂ1 away match and won 4âÂÂ1 at home. In the Polish Cup, the team dropped out in the eighth-finals, losing 0âÂÂ3 with Odra Opole. In the 1962âÂÂ1963 season with the new league system, the team took the 7th place, and the fight for the Polish Cup again ended at stage eighth-finals (losing to later winner, Zagà ÂÃÂbie Sosnowiec, 0âÂÂ2).
Legia ended the 1963âÂÂ64 season in fourth place in the league, scoring the same number of goals as second place Zagà ÂÃÂbie Sosnowiec and third place Odra Opole. The goal differential decided who took which place. The club achieved a much better result in the Polish Cup, where the team, led by the Romanian coach Virgil Popescu, reached the finals. In the match, played at the 10th-Anniversary Stadium, Legia won after extra time with Polonia Bytom 2âÂÂ1. Henryk Apostel scored both goals for Legia. In the next season Legia again took 4th place in the league, and in the Polish Cup reached the semi-final, in which they lost after extra time 1âÂÂ2 with Górnik Zabrze (who became the winner of the cup). The team also competed in the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup. In the first round, Legia eliminated the Austrian FC Admira Wacker Mödling. In the second they defeated the Turkish Galatasaray SK. After two matches there was a draw and third (the decisive step in the advancement) meeting in Bucharest. Legia won 1âÂÂ0 and were the first Polish team to advance to the quarterfinals of any European club competition. At this stage of the tournament the team lost to German TSV 1860 Munich and was eliminated from the competition.
The celebration of the 50th anniversary of the club's existence took place in 1966. In the league the team took 6th place, while a better result was achieved in the twelfth edition of the Polish Cup. In the game played on 15 August at the Warta Poznaà  stadium, Legia won after extra time in the final, beating Górnik Zabrze 2âÂÂ1, with Bernard Blaut scoring in the last minute. Winning the Polish Cup allowed the club to compete in the Cup Winners' Cup in the 1966âÂÂ67 season. In the round of 16, Legia was knocked out by FC Sachsen Leipzig after losing 0âÂÂ3 away and drawing 2âÂÂ2 at home. The team came fourth in the league table, and in the Polish Cup was eliminated after a 1âÂÂ3 defeat in the eighth-finals with Wisà Âa Kraków. That season, Kazimierz Deyna made his debut in the Legia team.
In the 1967âÂÂ68 season, for the second time in its history, the club was the vice-champion of Poland and was promoted as the first Polish team to the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup. In the Polish Cup Legia was knocked out by GKS Katowice in the eighth-finals. In the same year, the team made their debut in the Intertoto Cup. Legia won their group, but did not advance to the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup because the matches of the Intertoto Cup were not official UEFA competitions. Legia, led by Czechoslovak coach Jaroslav Vejvoda, finished the 1968âÂÂ69 season in first place in the table, thus winning the third Polish championship. The team reached the final of the Polish Cup, in which they lost to Górnik Zabrze 0âÂÂ2. The club also made its debut at the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup. In the first round Legia won twice, 6âÂÂ0 and 3âÂÂ2 against TSV 1860 Munich. In the next round they won 0âÂÂ1 and 2âÂÂ0 against Belgian team Waregem, and the third opponent was ÃÂjpest FC. In the next round, the Hungarian team's players were better and Legia were defeated 0âÂÂ1 away. A 2âÂÂ2 draw in Warsaw saw their rivals promoted to the next stage. In 1969 there was still one more success â the Legia juniors won the first championship in the history of the club.
For the next season, former player Edmund Zientara was brought in as the new first team coach. His team won the title of Polish champion for the second time in a row. In the struggle for the Polish Cup, Legia was eliminated in the semi-final with Ruch Chorzów. The performances of the club in the European Champion Clubs' Cup was a great success â Legia reached the semi-finals of the competition. In the round of 16, they defeated Romanian club FC UTA Arad 2âÂÂ1 and 8âÂÂ0, French club Saint-ÃÂtienne in the eighth-finals 2âÂÂ1 and 1âÂÂ0, and Turkish club Galatasaray in the quarter-finals 2âÂÂ1 and 1âÂÂ0. In the semi-final, they played against Feyenoord. The first match in Warsaw ended in a 0âÂÂ0 draw, while away the home team triumphed 2âÂÂ0.
The 1970s were known as Poland's golden age of football. In 1971, Legia were runner's up of Poland for the third time in their history, and ended their Polish Cup campaign in the quarter-finals. For the second year in a row the club competed in the European Club Champions Cup, where it reached the quarter-finals, dropping out against Atlético Madrid (2âÂÂ1 and 0âÂÂ1). They previously eliminated IFK Gothenburg (4âÂÂ0, 2âÂÂ1) and Standard Liège (0âÂÂ1, 2âÂÂ0). From December 1971 to February 1972, Legia went on a tour of Spain and the countries of South America, including Ecuador, Costa Rica and Colombia â this was the first time the team had visited this part of the world. In the 1971âÂÂ72 season, the team finished third in the league table and lost in the Polish Cup final with Górnik Zabrze 2âÂÂ5. In September 1972, the Warsaw club defeated VÃÂkingur ReykjavÃÂk in the round of 16 European Cup Winners' Cup 9âÂÂ0, which is the highest Polish team win in European competition. In the next round Legia was matched up against A.C. Milan. The first game was played at the 10th Anniversary Stadium and ended in a 1âÂÂ1 draw. At the San Siro, after the regular time, the draw was also maintained â Milan scored the winning goal two minutes before the end of extra time to win the game 2âÂÂ1. In that season, Legia took 8th place in the league and won its fifth Polish Cup â after eliminating Szombinrek in the semi-finals (3âÂÂ1 and 1âÂÂ1). In the final match against Polonia, on 17 June 1973 in Poznaà Â, a goalless result was maintained for 90 minutes of regular time of the game, as well as for the entire extra time. The legionaries finally won in penalties, 4âÂÂ2.
The season of 1973âÂÂ74 began with a defeat in the round of 16 of the European Club Champions Cup in aggregate with PAOK FC (1âÂÂ1 in Warsaw, 0âÂÂ1 in Thessaloniki). In early 1974, the club went to Spain and France to face Barcelona (1âÂÂ1 at Camp Nou) and RC Lens (0âÂÂ2). The team finished the league competition in 4th place, and in the Polish Cup they were knocked out in the quarterfinals, losing 1âÂÂ2 to Stal Rzeszów. Right after the end of the league, the legionnaires went to an international tournament that took place in the Canary Islands â they drew with Cádiz CF, won with CD Tenerife and Hércules CF. Another foreign trip took place at the end of January 1975. Legia flew to Australia and became the first Polish team to visit all continents (except Antarctica). Legia took 6th place in the league, and lost in the round of 16 in the Polish Cup. After the season, the first transfer of Polish player to the West took place, which was allowed by PZPN and the Ministry of Sport. Robert Gadocha was bought by FC Nantes, later French champions.
Legia in the 1975âÂÂ76 season finished the league in the middle of the table (8th place), and in the Polish Cup reached the eighth-finals, where they lost to GKS JastrzÃÂbie after penalties. In the autumn of 1976, the club's 60th anniversary was celebrated. On the anniversary, 12 October, two matches were played at the Polish Army stadium: a meeting with Legia and Warsaw Polonia (a 2âÂÂ0 home win) and a match between Legia and Dukla, which ended 4âÂÂ2 for the legionaries. In February 1977 the team made the next trip, this time to Indonesia. Six games were played at that time (four wins, two draws) and a total of 15 goals were scored â without Deyna, who was at a training camp in Yugoslavia and Greece. Legia also performed for the second time in the Intertoto Cup. Legia's opponents were: Landskrona BoIS (1âÂÂ0 and 2âÂÂ1), SK Slavia Prague (1âÂÂ1 and 2âÂÂ2) and BSC Young Boys (4âÂÂ1 and 1âÂÂ1). Legia took second place in the group and once again was not rewarded with a promotion to the UEFA Cup. The team â finishing in 8th position â repeated the result from the previous league season, while in the Polish Cup they were knocked out in the semi-final, losing to Polonia Bytom 1âÂÂ2.
During the second half of the 1970s, the legionaries did not make it to the top 3 positions to get into European competitions, and 5th place in the 1977âÂÂ78 season was their highest position. In addition, the team repeated the result obtained a year earlier in the Polish Cup â Legia reached the semi-final, in which they were knocked out by Zagà ÂÃÂbie Sosnowiec after penalties. The next season (1978âÂÂ79) was the last in which Kazimierz Deyna represented the club. In addition, the club played their 1000th game in the highest football tier â the match took place on 25 April against Lech in Poznaà  (a 1âÂÂ2 defeat). The season ended with a 6th-place finish in the league and at the eighth-final stage of the Polish Cup (where they lost against Zagà ÂÃÂbie II Lubin 1âÂÂ2). On 18 September 1979, a farewell to Kazimierz Deyna took place â a friendly with English club Manchester City, who had agreed to his transfer for ã100,000. The game ended 2âÂÂ1 to Legia. Deyna played the whole match and scored two goals â one for Legia (in the first half) and the second for his new club (in the second). The match was very popular and many fans had to watch it from behind the stadium gates.
Legia started the decade by winning the Polish Cup, beating Lech Poznaà  5âÂÂ0 in the final on 9 May 1980. In the league, the legionaries took third place. A year later, the Warsaw club defended the Polish Cup with a 1âÂÂ0 victory over Pogoà  Szczecin on 24 June, but struggled in the league, finishing fifth place. The following season, the team played a match in the quarter-finals of the European Club Champions Cup with Dinamo Tbilisi. During the first meeting in Warsaw, fans, due to the very large number of policemen at the stadium, began to chant the slogans: "Down with communism" and "MO â Gestapo". After being defeated 0âÂÂ1, the fans organized an anti-communist parade (this situation was repeated several times in the 1980s). The away match also ended 0âÂÂ1, which was watched by 90 thousand fans in Tbilisi. In the 1981âÂÂ82 season Legia finished fourth, and in the Polish Cup they were knocked out in the eighth-finals, losing to Arka Gdynia 1âÂÂ2.
The 1982âÂÂ83 season began with a change of part of the team. Legia also gained a new coach, with Kazimierz Górski being replaced by Jerzy Kopa in the middle of the season. Legia finished eighth place in the league table, while in the Polish Cup they fell in the quarterfinals after losing 0âÂÂ1 against Lech Poznaà  in Warsaw. A year later, Legia finished fifth in the fight for the title, and in the Polish Cup reached the 5th round, where they lost against Górnik Zabrze 2âÂÂ3 after extra time.
At the turn of 1984 and 1985, after the autumn round, Legia took first place in the table. They finished runners-up of Poland, which meant the club would participate in the UEFA Cup. In addition, the team reached the quarter-finals of the Polish Cup (a defeat in aggregate with Górnik Zabrze). The following season, 1985âÂÂ86, the league success was repeated and the quarterfinals of the home cup were again obtained. Both titles went to Górnik Zabrze. In the same years, the legionaries made it to the round of 16 and eighth-finals of the UEFA Cup, losing twice with Inter Milan. In the first match, Milan drew 0âÂÂ0 at home, which was considered a great success for the Warsaw club. The return match at à Âazienkowska ended with the score 0âÂÂ1 and the Italian team advanced to the next round. The next year in 1986 Legia faced Inter Milan again with a 3âÂÂ2 win at à Âazienkowska and a 0âÂÂ1 defeat in Italy, which eliminated the Polish club on away goals.
At the beginning of the 1986âÂÂ87 season, the Warsaw team traveled to China and won the Great Wall Cup, defeating the hosts 2âÂÂ0. The team played in Beijing and other cities for a week, at the turn of July and August. Following this, apart from other successful performance in Europe, Legia took 5th place in the league and reached the 5th round of knockout (losing against Wisà Âa Kraków after penalties). At the end of 1987, at the Legia stadium, the speedway track was removed and the football field was widened.
Legia finished the next year in the league in third place and reached the Polish Cup final. In à Âódà º, the legionaries drew 1âÂÂ1 with Lech and the victory was decided by penalty kicks, which the Poznaà  team won 3âÂÂ2. A year later, the Warsaw team took fourth place in the league and won the Polish Cup at the stadium in Olsztyn, beating Jagiellonia Biaà Âystok 5âÂÂ2. Two weeks after the success, they also won the Polish Super Cup for the first time, defeating Ruch Chorzów 3âÂÂ0 in Zamoà ÂÃÂ.
The trophy gained in Zamoà Âàwas the first piece of silverware after the reorganization of the club â on 25 April 1989, the club's board decided to separate the football section from the multi-sport section CWKS and establish the Autonomous Football Section (ASPN CWKS "Legia" Warsaw).
On 1 September, long-time footballer and Legia captain, Kazimierz Deyna, died in a car accident in San Diego.
At the end of the decade, on 13 September, Legia competed against FC Barcelona in the first round of the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup. The match in Barcelona ended with a 1âÂÂ1 draw, after an unrecognized goal for the legionnaires and a penalty kick for the opponents in the 85th minute of the match. In the rematch at à Âazienkowska Legia lost 0âÂÂ1, with 25 thousand fans in the stands. Michael Laudrup scored the only goal.
The beginning of the nineties was not successful for the club, especially in the Polish league. In the 1989âÂÂ90 season, the team finished in seventh place, and the next season in ninth. The 1991âÂÂ92 season ended in a 10th-place finish â for the first time since World War II, Legia was fighting relegation to the second league. The team avoided relegation after winning 3âÂÂ0 in an away match against Motor Lublin in the penultimate game of the season. The club achieved better results in the Polish Cup. In 1990, Legia defeated GKS Katowice in the final and won their ninth trophy. A year later, the Warsaw club again faced GKS Katowice in the final of the Polish Cup, but this time the rivals who won the match 1âÂÂ0 turned out to be better. The next season, 1989âÂÂ90, Legia won their ninth Polish Cup, meaning they were able to play in the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup in 1990âÂÂ91. The Warsaw team, managed by Wà Âadysà Âaw Stachurski reached the semi-finals of the tournament, eliminating the likes of Sampdoria and Aberdeen. They lost in the semi-finals to Manchester United (1âÂÂ3 in Warsaw and 1âÂÂ1 in Manchester).
In autumn 1992, the first private sponsor, businessman Janusz Romanowski, invested in the club. A two-year sponsorship deal was signed with FSO (worth PLN 2.4 billion at that time) as well as with Adidas. After the fourth round of the 1992âÂÂ93 season, Janusz Wójcik became the Legia coach. The high budget from the sponsorship deals allowed players such as Maciej à Âliwowski and Radosà Âaw Michalski to be brought in. This, in turn, translated into better results and joining the competition for the national championship. On 20 June 1993, after an away victory of 6âÂÂ0 against Wisà Âa Kraków, the team won the Polish championship. However, on the next day the president of the PZPN board, with a 5âÂÂ4 vote, decided to take the title from Legia and award it to the third team in the table â Lech Poznaà  (after disallowing the last matches of Legia and à ÂKS, the team from Poznaà  took first place in the table). The decision was due to the allegations of bribery in the last league match. In addition, Legia was forced to pay a fine of 500 million zlotys, and the UEFA authorities excluded the team from European competition. Twice (December 2004, January 2007),the club unsuccessfully requested that the unfavorable decision should be repealed and that the title should be restored. In the same season, the anti-doping committee decided that Legia player Roman Zub had played after doping before the match against Widzew à Âódà º. The player's urine sample was also tested in a laboratory in Moscow, where it was considered that increased testosterone levels were not the result of doping. The match was initially verified as a walkover for the à Âódà º team, but the decision of the PZPN games department was revoked by the president of the board.
In the next season, Legia won the first triple crown in the history of Polish football. On 15 June 1994, thanks to a 1âÂÂ1 draw in the last round with Górnik Zabrze in Warsaw, the legionaries maintained a one-point advantage over second place GKS Katowice and won their fifth Polish title, despite the fact that the season began with three negative points due to the events of the last round in the last season. After the match the press published accusations of corruption with referee Sà Âawomir Redzinski, who, when the score was 1âÂÂ0 to Górnik, sent off three of the Górnik players. These allegations have not been proven. On 18 June, in the Polish Cup final held at the Legia stadium, the Legia defeated à ÂKS à Âódà º 2âÂÂ0 and won the tenth trophy in their history. In the match for the Super Cup (24 July), Legia also faced à ÂKS à Âódà º and won 6âÂÂ4 at the stadium in Pà Âock. The club's first experience of the Champions League ended in defeat in the qualifying stage â the team fell to Croatian side Hajduk Split (0âÂÂ1 at home, 0âÂÂ4 away).
The next season began with the signing of a contract with Canal+ for broadcasting matches (the first match of the Polish league broadcast was the match of Legia against GKS Katowice, which took place on 1 April 1995). On 31 May 1995, Legia won their sixth Polish championship after a 3âÂÂ0 victory against Raków CzÃÂstochowa in Warsaw, and also won the Polish Cup (2âÂÂ0 in the final with GKS Katowice). At that time, one of the first protest actions took place at the stadium. The reason was high ticket prices and the ban on hanging flags and banners on the fence â the conflict ended after three matches in Warsaw thanks to an agreement with activists. After winning the championship in the 1994âÂÂ95 season, Legia Warszawa qualified for the Champions League â in the last qualifying round it defeated the Swedish team IFK Göteborg (1âÂÂ0 in Warsaw and 2âÂÂ1 in Gothenburg). In the group stage, Legia drew with Rosenborg BK, Spartak Moscow and Blackburn Rovers. Legia finished the group in second place (with seven points) and in the quarterfinals they faced Panathinaikos Athens. The first match in Warsaw ended in a goalless draw, and in the rematch at the Olympic Stadium in Athens, the Greeks won 3âÂÂ0. The club did not defend the national championship in the 1995âÂÂ96 competition and took second place in the league table (behind Widzew à Âódà º).
In 1997, the club was transformed into Sportowa Spóà Âka Akcyjna (SSA) Legia Warsaw and a new sponsor was acquired, South Korean company Daewoo. This season, the legionaries took second place in the league, one reason being a 2âÂÂ3 loss to Widzew à Âódà º in the decisive phase of the games (Legia led up until the 85th minute of the match 2âÂÂ0). The same year Legia went on to win the Polish Cup and the Super Cup. A big change in that period was the addition of Daewoo as a member to the club's name (CWKS "Legia-Daewoo" Warsaw) â the new name did not please fans of Legia and was received coldly by them.
The 1997âÂÂ98 season saw the club's last appearance in the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup. After passing Glenavon in the qualifying round (with a 1âÂÂ1 draw in Northern Ireland and a 4âÂÂ0 win in Warsaw), the team fell to Italian team Vicenza Calcio in the first round of the tournament (losing away 0âÂÂ2 and drawing at home 1âÂÂ1). In the league the team took 5th place in the table, and in the Polish Cup reached the 1/8 finals, losing to Amica Wronki 0âÂÂ3. The next season, 1998âÂÂ99, ended with a bronze medal in the league. In the national cup the team for the second time in a row was eliminated at stage 1/8 of the tournament; This time, GKS Beà Âchatów was the one to beat the Warsaw team, who after a goalless result in the regular time of the game won 3âÂÂ2 in the penalty shootout.
The club played its 100th match in European competitions â the meeting with Macedonian team Vardar Skopje as part of the 1/64 UEFA Cup final ended with Legia's away victory 5âÂÂ0 on 12 August 1999. In the 1999âÂÂ2000 season, Legia took fourth place in the league and did not get to play in the European competitions. In the Polish Cup, the team fell in the quarterfinals to Amica Wronki after a series of penalty kicks (ended with a 3âÂÂ1 result), while in the League Cup reached the final, in which they lost at home with Polonia Warsaw 1âÂÂ2.
In March 2001, the main shareholder of the club, Daewoo, withdrew from the club's financing, and on 1 July the name of the former sponsor was removed from the club's name and it was reverted to ASPN CWKS "Legia" Warszawa SSA. In the 2000âÂÂ01 season, the team finished third in the Polish league, and in the Polish Cup lost in the quarterfinals, losing on aggregate 1âÂÂ4 with Zagà ÂÃÂbie Lubin. The same result was achieved by the team in the League Cup â in the quarterfinals of the tournament the team lost to Wisla Kraków, a draw in Warsaw 1âÂÂ1 and a loss in Kraków 1âÂÂ3. In the UEFA Cup qualifying round, Legia won against Etzella Ettelbruck (4âÂÂ0 away, 2âÂÂ1 in Warsaw), and in the next match they defeated IF Elfsborg (4âÂÂ1 at home, 6âÂÂ1 in Sweden). The rival of Legia in the second round was Valencia CF. In the first match at the Polish Army stadium there was a 1âÂÂ1 draw, but in the rematch the Spaniards won 6âÂÂ1.
The 2001âÂÂ02 season, which was led by Dragomir Okuki, ended in Legia's seventh championship title (after a 0âÂÂ0 draw with Odra Wodzisà Âaw in Warsaw), as well as a triumph in the Polish League Cup (3âÂÂ0 and 1âÂÂ2 in the final with Wisà Âa Kraków). In competing for the Polish Cup, the team reached the quarter-finals, where it lost to Ruch Chorzów (2âÂÂ4 in Warsaw, 1âÂÂ0 in Chorzów). Legia played in the Champions League qualifiers in the summer, but in the third round they fell against FC Barcelona â in the first match at Camp Nou, the Catalans won 3âÂÂ0, in the second they beat Legia 1âÂÂ0. After defeat against the Spaniards, the Warsaw team competed in the UEFA Cup. In the first round Legia beat FC Utrecht (4âÂÂ1 at home and 3âÂÂ1 away), in the second round they were eliminated by Schalke â 2âÂÂ3 in Warsaw, 0âÂÂ0 in Gelsenkirchen.
The legionaries finished the 2002âÂÂ03 season in 4th place, in the Polish Cup they fell in the 3rd round. On 13 June 2003, the name of the club changed to KP "Legia" Warszawa SSA and on the same day the team was greeted by a new coach, Dariusz Kubicki.
The club was purchased by ITI Group on 8 April 2004. The team took second place in the league and played in the Polish Cup final, in which it lost to Lech Poznaà Â. The next season, 2004âÂÂ05, the Warsaw team came third in the league table, and in the national cup they lost in the semi-final, falling to Dyskobolia Grodzisk Wielkopolski â 1âÂÂ1, 1âÂÂ1, 1âÂÂ4 on aggregate penalties.
The 2005âÂÂ06 season was exceptional in the club's history â Legia celebrated its 90th anniversary. First, the team dropped out of the UEFA Cup in the second qualifying round (0âÂÂ1 in Warsaw and 2âÂÂ4 in Zurich with FC Zürich) and had a weak start in the league. In addition, they only reached the quarter-finals of the Polish Cup, losing on the aggregate with Korona Kielce. Nevertheless, the legionaries won the eighth Polish championship after winning 1âÂÂ0 in a match against Górnik Zabrze. After the arrival of the new coach Dariusz Wdowczyk, they managed to make up for seven points when they were behind Wisà Âa Kraków and reach for the title; The Warsaw City Council decided at that time to finance the modernization of the Legia stadium through the construction of three new grandstands and the extension of the covered grandstand. After four years, the legionnaires again stood a chance of winning promotion to the group stage of the Champions League. In the second round of qualifying they beat Hafnarfjarðar â 1âÂÂ0 away, 2âÂÂ0 at home. Shakhtar Donetsk turned out to be the next rival in the decisive third stage. Both meetings ended with the defeat of Legia â 0âÂÂ1 in Donetsk and 2âÂÂ3 in Warsaw. They attempted to make up for the failure playing against Austria Vienna in the first round of the UEFA Cup. However, Legia did not manage to defeat the Austrian opponent; in the first match in Warsaw the team drew 1âÂÂ1, and in the return the hosts won 1âÂÂ0.
In following competitions, Legia dropped out of the fight for the Polish Cup in the 1/16 finals, falling to fourth-division team Stal Sanok, and in the league they won third place. In addition, as part of the Ekstraklasa Cup, the team reached the quarterfinals and lost on aggregate with Górnik à ÂÃÂczna. The year 2007 brought a change of the coat of arms. The club did not agree with CWKS, which had the rights to the previous logo. The club's board registered their logotype, boycotted by the fans, because it did not resemble the old mark (despite similar colors and the letter "L" had a different outline and arrangement of colors). Eventually, it was not implemented and it was established that the official sign will be modified with the white letter "L" on the black shield. However, the shape differed from the historical one and resembled a triangle, not like the original coat of arms.
At the beginning of the 2007âÂÂ08 season in Vilnius there were riots caused by Legia fans, which had their apogee at the stadium of FK VÃÂtra during the match of the second round of the Intertoto Cup. Hooligans, among others devastated the stadium and attacked the police, as a result of which the match was stopped at 2âÂÂ0 for the Lithuanian club. A few days later, the UEFA Disciplinary Commission verified the result of the meeting with VÃÂtra for a 3âÂÂ0 win for the hosts and banned Legia from the current European Cup and qualifying for European competition (UEFA Champions League, UEFA Cup, Intertoto Cup) for the next five years. UEFA also forced the Warsaw club to cover all losses caused by rioters at the host stadium. After submitting the appeal, the penalty was temporarily suspended, taking into account the changes made to enhance safety at Legia's matches.
At the halfway point of the league games Legia took second place, even though it scored more points than in the championship season 2005âÂÂ06. The legionaries were ten points behind first place Wisà Âa Kraków. Eventually, the team reached the Polish Cup and Polish Super Cup after winning against Wisla Kraków twice (0âÂÂ0, 4âÂÂ3 pen. and 2âÂÂ1), and also won the runner-up title. The legionaries secured their UEFA Cup performance in the next season. In addition, the team played in the Ekstraklasa Cup final. The meeting played in Grodzisk Wielkopolski was won by the local Dyskobolia, which after the 4âÂÂ1 victory won the trophy. In the spring round of the competition, the club joined the campaign Let's Kick Racism from the Stadium, organized by the Never Again Association â Nigdy WiÃÂcej â the players ran out on 22 March in a match against Widzew à Âódà º in shirts with the campaign's name.
In the 2008âÂÂ09 season Legia started by defeating the Belarusian club FC Gomel (0âÂÂ0 and 4âÂÂ1) in the first round of the UEFA Cup qualifying round. In the second the legionaries went to the Russian FC Moscow. Both matches ended with the defeat of legionnaires: in Warsaw 1âÂÂ2, and in Moscow 0âÂÂ2. The only goal scored for Legia was by Roger Guerreiro. In the league, the team repeated the previous year's achievement, finishing second at the end of the season. The team also reached the semi-finals of the Polish Cup, in which they lost to Ruch Chorzow. In the competition for the Ekstraklasa Cup, Legia appeared in the quarterfinals and was eliminated by GKS Beà Âchatów.
Legia won its 10th title with another league championship at the end of the 2013âÂÂ14 Ekstraklasa season. Legia qualified for the 2016âÂÂ17 Champions League group stages for the first time in 21 years after defeating Dundalk on 23 August 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 1âÂÂ0 against Sporting Lisbon on the last match day in the group stages, sending them to the round of 32 in the 2016âÂÂ17 UEFA Europa League. Legia was drawn against Ajax where the first match fell goalless in Warsaw.
Legia won its 12th League title in the 2016âÂÂ17 Ekstraklasa season. They finished with a 0âÂÂ0 draw against Lechia Gdaà Âsk. Legia needed a draw in the match between Jagiellonia Biaà Âystok and Lech Poznaà  which finished 2âÂÂ2 and gave Legia the title.
Legia's third consecutive Eksrtaklasa title was won in dramatic circumstances. Needing to win away to Lech Poznan to guarantee the title, a 3âÂÂ0 victory was awarded to Legia after the game was abandoned. Lech fans threw flares and invaded the pitch after Legia scored to make it 2âÂÂ0 in the 77th minute, after which the referee called the game off. The result meant Legia won the league, finishing three points above second placed Jagiellonia Biaà Âystok.
On 28 April 2021, three rounds before the end of the 2020âÂÂ21 Ekstraklasa season, the players from à Âazienkowska won the fifteenth Polish championship, thanks to a goalless draw between Jagiellonia Biaà Âystok and Raków CzÃÂstochowa. Thus, Legia took the independent lead in the all-time classification in terms of the number of domestic titles.
On 26 August 2021, Legia defeated Slavia Prague, and for the first time in five years qualified to the group stages of a European cup. In the UEFA Europa League they were drawn to play in a group stage against Leicester City, Napoli and Spartak Moscow. After the first two matches won, away with Spartak and at home with Leicester 1âÂÂ0 each, Legia lost four consecutive matches and ended up at the bottom of the group.
In 2023, Legia won two major trophies: the Polish Cup and the Polish Super Cup, both winning over Raków CzÃÂstochowa after a penalty shoot-out series. In the 2023âÂÂ24 season, Legia Warsaw took part in the UEFA Europa Conference League group stage for the first time in its history, where they were drawn into Group E alongside Aston Villa, AZ and Zrinjski Mostar. Following their opening 3âÂÂ2 victory over Aston Villa, Legia earned a total of 12 points and advanced to the knockout round play-offs out of second place.
Legia plays its games at Legia Warsaw Municipal Stadium of Marshal Józef Pià Âsudski (Polish: Stadion Miejski Legii Warszawa im. Marszaà Âka Józefa Pià Âsudskiego), 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 31,103 spectators it is the 5th biggest football stadium in the . 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 31,103 seats. The Polish Army Stadium is currently owned by the City of Warsaw. Additionally to the main stadium and its surrounding infrastructure, the club has a newly built Legia Training Center completed in June 2020. Facility is located in KsiÃ à ¼enice in Gmina Grodzisk Mazowiecki. Legia Training Center has been designated for the Legia Warsaw first team and their reserves and youth teams, as U18, U17, U16 and U15. The center facilities are, among others, eight pitches; six with natural turf and two with artificial turf, hotel part and dormitory for players aged 13âÂÂ18.
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, mainly in Masovian Voivodeship. Legia supporters are considered very spontaneous, dedicated and 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 for 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 VÃÂtra Vilnius on 10 July 2007.
The beginning of Legia Warsaw's organized fan movement is associated with matches in European cups, in the 1970s, when Legia fans came into contact with Western fan culture. Above all, for Legia fans, the April 1, 1970 match against Feyenoord was a breakthrough. Impressed by the way the clubs' colors and symbols were worn and displayed by the Dutch fans, a large group of Legia fans began to imitate them.
Traditionally, the most devoted and spontaneous fans occupy the à »yleta stand in their stadium. Before the stadium renovation (2008âÂÂ2011), the "old" à »yleta 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" à »yleta in the Legia Warsaw Museum. Today, after the stadium's renovation, the "new" à »yleta means the whole northern stand of stadium (located behind the goal).
Politically, the supporters of Legia tend to be more right wing. During communist times, in particular during the 1980s, Legia fans showed their patriotic, nationalist 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 the 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 against the Ukrainian club Metalist Kharkiv they displayed a banner with the names Lwów (Lviv) and Wilno (Vilnius) along with the flag and a prewar coat of arms of Poland on the background, which led to negative reactions. On 19 August 2015, in Lviv and Kyiv, where Legia played with Zorya, clashes between Ukrainian and Polish fans occurred. On 9 April 2022, during an away match against Lech Poznaà Â, Legia fans displayed a banner with an image of Putin hanging from a noose in a Spartak Moscow shirt. In May 2024, Legia Warsaw supporters held up a banner criticising WarsawâÂÂs mayor Rafaà  Trzaskowski, whom they condemned for restricting religious symbols in public offices. In October 2024, Legia supporters held up a banner reading "We donâÂÂt want Berlin, Lampedusa, France here â zero tolerance for migrants!".
In July 2024, Legia Warsaw ultras unveiled a banner before a league match against Zagà ÂÃÂbie Lubin, displaying the phrase "Refugees Welcome" alongside violent and xenophobic imagery. The banner depicted two men armed with a baseball bat and hammer, and a woman holding a pigâÂÂs head, interpreted as a hostile parody of pro-refugee slogans and a rejection of EU migration policy.
Domestically, Legia Warsaw supporters maintain friendly relations with fans of Radomiak Radom, Zagà ÂÃÂbie Sosnowiec and Olimpia Elblàg. Internationally, Legia supporters maintain friendly relations with fans of ADO Den Haag and Juventus. Their domestic rivals include almost all the other Polish teams that play at the domestic top-tier league level. Warsaw clubs, Polonia Warsaw, KS Warszawianka and Gwardia Warsaw, were Legia's main league rivals, but since 2013 none of them competes in Ekstraklasa. One of their biggest rivals is also Lech Poznaà  with whom they contest the "Derby of Poland".
The Warsaw derby is a match between Legia and Polonia Warsaw
Other local rivalries
Between Legia and Gwardia Warsaw
Between Legia and KS Warszawianka
<div style="float: left; width: 48%; margin-right: 2%;"> UEFA Club coefficient ranking
Last updated: 28 December 2025
Source: UEFA
</div>IFFHS Club World ranking
Last updated: 28 December 2025
Source: IFFHS
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As of 11 November 2025, the players with the most appearances for Legia are:
As of 26 June 2019 the ten players with the most goals for Legia are:
This is a list of former players and coaches who have been inducted into the Legia Warsaw Hall of Fame.