Motor Lublin () is a Polish professional football club based in Lublin, in the Lublin Voivodeship. Founded in December 1950, the club is historically associated with the Fabryka Samochodów CiÃÂà ¼arowych automotive plant and takes its nickname, à »Ã³à Âto-biaà Âo-niebiescy (The Yellow, White and Blues), from its official colours.
Motor currently compete in the Ekstraklasa, the top division of the Polish football league system, following successive promotions from the 2022âÂÂ23 II liga and 2023âÂÂ24 I liga, both secured via the play-offs. The club previously spent nine seasons in the top flight between 1980 and 1992, achieving a best finish of seventh in 1984âÂÂ85.
Motor play home matches at the Arena Lublin, a 15,500-seat stadium opened in 2014. They maintain a long-standing rivalry with local side Lublinianka and have a notable following in eastern Poland.
The history of Motor Lublin dates back to December 1950, when a group of sports enthusiasts decided to form a football team, supported by FSC Lublin Automotive Factory. Motor was at first called Stal (Steel) Lublin, and its team began playing in the lower level of Polish football tier (also called Class B). After one year, the team won promotion to Class A, which was the equivalent of the 4th Division. In the spring of 1953, Stal FSC Lublin debuted in the third level, the so-called Lublin-Rzeszów Inter-Voivodeship Class (Lubelsko-Rzeszowska Klasa Miedzywojewodzka), but was relegated after one year.
Stal FSC returned to the third level in 1955, and in 1957, the club changed its name into Robotniczy Klub Sportowy (Workers' Sports Club) Motor. After the Polish league adopted an autumnâÂÂspring format, Motor missed promotion to the Second Division in August 1961, losing a play-off to Start à Âódà º. In 1964, Motor became the champion of the Lublin region, and in the playoffs, it beat Wà Âókniarz à Âódz, KS Warszawianka, Mazur Eà Âk and Warmia Olsztyn. They did not win promotion, as two of their games were voided - this was because one of Motor's players was not registered.
In the 1964âÂÂ65 season, Motor once again won the local championships, qualifying for the playoffs. Since both Motor and CKS Czeladà º finished in the first position in the playoff round, an additional game was necessary between the two teams. This game took place on 5 August 1965 in à Âódà º. Supported by 7,000 fans, Motor won 3âÂÂ0, winning promotion to the second level of Polish football. Motor was relegated after one season, but in the early summer of 1968, they returned to the Second Division, where they remained until 1972.
Following the expansion of the Second Division to two groups in 1973, Motor gained promotion and maintained strong performances in the ensuing seasons. In 1979âÂÂ80, under manager Bronisà Âaw Waligóra, they won promotion to the Ekstraklasa. The club finished 10th in 1980âÂÂ81 but was relegated after the 1981âÂÂ82 season. Motor participated in the 1982 Intertoto Cup, finishing third in their group after one win in six matches.
In 1982âÂÂ83, managed by Lesà Âaw ÃÂmikiewicz, Motor contested promotion with Resovia Rzeszów. Their 4âÂÂ0 victory over Resovia on 19 June 1983, witnessed by 30,000 at the stadium, secured a return to the top flight. They were relegated after the 1986âÂÂ87 season but returned in August 1989 by defeating Pogoà  Szczecin in a play-off. Motor remained in the Ekstraklasa for three seasons before relegation in 1991âÂÂ92. The club was relegated twice more by 1998 to the fourth tier and temporarily rebranded as Lubelski Klub Pilkarski (LKP) to manage debts, reverting to Motor Lublin in 2001.
In 2007, the association Pià Âkarskie Nadzieje Motor Lublin ("Football Hopes Motor Lublin") was founded with the objective of supporting youth development within Motor Lublin. On 6 June 2008, under the management of Ryszard Kuà ºma, the club secured promotion to the II liga after an eleven-year absence. In 2009, Motor concluded the season in 15th place following a 6âÂÂ1 defeat to GKP Gorzów. However, after GKS JastrzÃÂbie withdrew from the I liga, the emergency committee of the Polish Football Association (PZPN) awarded Motor Lublin the vacant place as the highest-ranked relegated team.
In 2010, the club underwent structural changes with the formation of a joint-stock company, Motor Lublin S.A.. Following a merger with Spartakus Szarowola, the first team competed in the II liga under the new entity, while youth operations were administered by LKP Motor Lublin. In August of the same year, the club unveiled a redesigned logo. Although the team finished in a relegation position in 2011, it remained in the league due to financial difficulties affecting other clubs. Later that year, a contract was signed for the design of Arena Lublin, the future home venue of the club. While the stadium was initially planned to host matches beginning in 2013, the first fixture played there took place in 2014 against KS Lublinianka.
In 2015, as part of their 65th anniversary celebrations, Motor hosted a commemorative friendly against à Âlàsk Wrocà Âaw, which ended in a 2âÂÂ0 defeat. The following year, the club narrowly missed out on promotion after losing a two-legged playoff to Olimpia Elblàg. The COVID-19 pandemic led to a shortened 2019âÂÂ20 season, which concluded with Motor being promoted to the II liga following a decision by the Lublin Football Association. In September 2020, businessman Zbigniew Jakubas acquired a majority shareholding in the club.
The club returned to the I liga in June 2023 after a penalty shootout win over Stomil Olsztyn on 11 June. On 2 June 2024, Motor secured promotion to the Ekstraklasa by defeating Arka Gdynia 2âÂÂ1 in the play-off final. The club debuted in the top tier with a 2âÂÂ0 loss to Raków CzÃÂstochowa; its first Ekstraklasa goal was scored by Samuel Mráz against Lechia Gdaà Âsk at the Polsat Plus Arena Gdaà Âsk, while Piotr Ceglarz converted the first home goal in the top division from a penalty against Korona Kielce.
Motor Lublin currently play at Arena Lublin with a capacity of 15,500 spectators.
Motor supporters have friendly relations with fans of à Âlàsk Wrocà Âaw, Górnik à ÂÃÂczna and Hetman Zamoà ÂÃÂ. Their traditional rivals were city rivals KS Lublinianka, although this rivalry is no longer upheld. They have local rivalries with Avia à Âwidnik, Stal Stalowa Wola, and Radomiak Radom. Motor fans have rivalries with fans of several other teams, such as Widzew à Âódà º, Lechia Gdaà Âsk and both Kraków-based teams, Wisà Âa, and Cracovia.