Legia Warsaw

Infobox Football club
clubname = Legia Warszawa


fullname = Klub Piłkarski Legia Warszawa SSA
nickname = "Wojskowi" ("Militaries"),
"Legioniści" ("Legioniers")
founded = March, 1916,
as "Drużyna Legjonowa"
ground = Polish Army Stadium,
Łazienkowska 3 Street, Warsaw
capacity = 13,628
- "upgrading to 31,800"
chairman = flagicon|Poland Leszek Miklas
(since April 24, 2007)
manager = flagicon|Poland Jan Urban
(since June 4, 2007)
league = Orange Ekstraklasa
season = 2007–08
position = Orange Ekstraklasa, 2nd
pattern_la1=_blackshoulders|pattern_b1=|pattern_ra1=_blackshoulders
leftarm1=ffffff|body1=ffffff|rightarm1=ffffff|shorts1=000000|socks1=ffffff
pattern_la2=_whiteshoulders|pattern_b2=|pattern_ra2=_whiteshoulders
leftarm2=FF0000|body2=FF0000|rightarm2=FF0000|shorts2=000000|socks2=000000
pattern_la3=_whiteshoulders|pattern_b3=|pattern_ra3=_whiteshoulders
leftarm3=21823b|body3=21823b|rightarm3=21823b|shorts3=21823b|socks3=21823b

Legia Warszawa ( IPA2|ˈlɛgʲa varˈʂava, "Leg-ya Var-sha-va"), is a Polish professional football club based in Warsaw, Poland. It was founded in March, 1916 (during the military operations of the World War I on the eastern front) in the neighborhood of Maniewicze in Volhynia as the football club of the Polish Legions. After World War I (since July 31, 1922) it became the main football club of the Polish Army - Wojskowy Klub Sportowy Legia Warszawa ("Military Sports Club Legia Warsaw"). In the years 1949 - 1957 Legia was known by the name CWKS Warszawa ("Central Military Sports Club Warsaw"). Currently it is the only Warsaw-based football club participating in the First League. Legia is widely regarded as one of the most successful Polish football clubs in history.Fact|date=June 2007

On 11 July, 2007, Legia were expelled from the Intertoto Cup and put on probation for European competition for a further season, should they qualify within the next five years, after some of their fans rioted during their match against Lithuanian club FK Vėtra.cite web
url=http://www.uefa.com/competitions/intertotocup/news/kind=1/newsid=560167.html
title=Legia punished with UEFA ban
work=Uefa.com
accessdate=2007-07-12] The decission to ban Legia for the future European cups was later changed to a 5 year probation, and Legia participated in the qualification for the UEFA Cup 2008. [http://www.uefa.com/uefa/keytopics/kind=512/newsid=574658.html]

History

Origins

The first thought of creation of a sports team has appeared in polish legions in 1915 during World War 1. This idea led to the creation of Legia Warsaw in April, 1916. Still during World War One, a group of players on leave decided to create a lasting Polish army club. The club was formed almost entirely by soldiers from the Legion lead by Józef Piłsudski. Most of these players originated from southern Poland and from the areas no longer held by Poland. Many of these recruits played in Wisła, Cracovia, or Lwów. The team was originally known as "drużyna legionowa" (Legion Club in English). The first games were played in the area of Volhynian village of Maniewicze, againstother legion teams. The first game played in Warsaw was in 1917 on Agrykola street against the team of Polonia Warsaw which ended in a 1:1 draw. The induction into the PZPN was officially recognized as March 14, 1920. In the Polish league it was officially recognized as WKS or Wojskowy Klub Sportowy (Army Sports Club is the direct translation}. In 1921 after the War had ended Legia played its first game in the Polish second league against local rivals Korona Warszawa which they lost 0:3. Since its early history Legia played home games on the field on Agrykola street. The first field was located in the same spot as today's training field, which during the annexation was used to house Russian Cavalry.

The first League

The first match played in the first league was played against ŁKS Łódź on May 8, 1927 which resulted in a 6:1 away win. During that game Marian Łańko was the first player to score a hat-trick for the club. During the 1927-1936 seasons Legia held usually sixth place. From 1930 Legia played in a new stadium, which was presented to them by Józef Piłsudski. After 1936 Legia was relegated to the second division , were it continued to be until after World War Two.

After the war

After the war 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 European Cup 1969-70 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 Atletico 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 in winning any league titles. Though thanks to four Polish Cup wins the team played in European competitions.

One of the more memorable European runs was the near upset against Inter Milan during the UEFA Cup 1985-86, after two 0-0 games Legia lost in to an extra time goal. The next year Legia was yet again put up against Inter Milan this time winning at home 3-2 but losing away 1-0 thus losing on away goals.

Legia also won its first Superpuchar Polski defeating Hetman Zamośc 3-0 in 1989

Into the 1990s

The 1990s started just as the 80s had been, Legia struggled to take any League wins but made a name for them selfs in European competitions. One of the best European runs to date was the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup 1990–91 where Legia advanced all the way to the Semi-Finals only to lose to the champions Manchester United.

Achievements

Domestic

* Ekstraklasa (First league):
** 1st place (8): 1955, 1956, 1969, 1970, 1994, 1995, 2002, 2006
** 2nd place (10): 1960, 1968, 1971, 1985, 1986, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2004, 2008
** 3rd place (11): 1928, 1930, 1931, 1961, 1972, 1980, 1988, 1999, 2001, 2005, 2007
* Polish Cup:
** Winner (13-record): 1955, 1956, 1964, 1966, 1973, 1980, 1981, 1989, 1990, 1994, 1995, 1997, 2008
** Finalist (6): 1952 (team "Legia B"), 1969, 1972, 1988, 1991, 2004
* Polish SuperCup:
** Winner (4): 1989, 1994, 1997, 2008
** Finalist (3): 1990, 1995, 2006
* Polish League Cup:
** Winner (1): 2002
** Finalist (2): 2000, 2008

Europe

* UEFA Champions League:
** Semifinal (1): 1970
** Quarterfinal (2): 1971, 1996
* UEFA Cup Winners' Cup:
** Semifinal (1): 1991
** Quarterfinal (2): 1965, 1982

Legia in Europe

Retired numbers

* 10 flagicon|Poland Kazimierz Deyna (1966-78)

Coaches and managers

Main rivals

* Górnik Zabrze
* Lech Poznań
* Polonia Warsaw
* Ruch Chorzów
* Widzew Łódź
* Wisła Kraków - This is considered the derby match of Poland as historically and currently these two teams have been the strongest of the league

Warsaw derby

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

See also

* Football in Poland
* List of football teams
* Królewskie

References

External links

* [http://www.legia.pl/ Official website] pl icon
* [http://legia.net/ Unofficial website]
* [http://legia.com.pl/ Unofficial website] (English version only one updated regularly)
* [http://www.legialive.pl/ Fans' community portal] pl icon
* [http://www.naszaliga.pl/legia_warszawa.php Team profile at Naszaliga] pl icon
* [http://www.forum.legialive.pl/ LegiaLive Forum] pl icon
* [http://www.zyleta.pl Fan forum] pl icon