Odra Wodzisław Śląski Spółka z o.o. (), is a Polish

football Football is a family of team sports that involve, to varying degrees, kicking a ball to score a goal. Unqualified, the word ''football'' normally means the form of football that is the most popular where the word is used. Sports commonly c ...

club based in

Wodzisław Śląski Wodzisław Śląski (; german: Loslau, cs, Vladislav, la, Vladislavia, yi, וואידסלוב, Voydislav, szl, Władźisłůw) is a city in Silesian Voivodeship, southern Poland with 47,992 inhabitants (2019). It is the seat of Wodzisław Cou ...

, Poland.

History

The club was established in 1922 as Odra Wodzisław, then changed its name several times. After the Second World War and until 1963 the club was linked closely to the Polish State Railways (PKP), so the club bore the nickname ''Kolejarz'', which means The Railwaymen. From 1963 until 1974, the club took the name ''Górnik'' (miner), as the club is based in

Upper Silesia Upper Silesia ( pl, Górny Śląsk; szl, Gůrny Ślůnsk, Gōrny Ślōnsk; cs, Horní Slezsko; german: Oberschlesien; Silesian German: ; la, Silesia Superior) is the southeastern part of the historical and geographical region of Silesia, located ...

, known for its coal-mining industry. Then, the club reverted to its traditional name, Odra, after the

Oder River The Oder ( , ; Czech, Lower Sorbian and ; ) is a river in Central Europe. It is Poland's second-longest river in total length and third-longest within its borders after the Vistula and Warta. The Oder rises in the Czech Republic and flows thr ...

). After several decades in the second and third tiers of the league system, Odra were promoted to the Polish

Ekstraklasa Poland Ekstraklasa (), meaning "Extra Class" in Polish, named PKO Ekstraklasa since the 2019–20 season due to its sponsorship by PKO Bank Polski, is the top Polish professional league for men's association football teams. Contested by 18 cl ...

for the first time in 1996. The team continued to develop over the following years, achieving 3rd place in their first season at this level before settling into mid-table placings over the following decade. From 2007, however, league positions worsened until the club was finally relegated to the

I liga I liga ( pl, Pierwsza liga, ), currently named Fortuna I liga due to its sponsorship by Fortuna, is the men's second professional association football division of the Polish football league system, below the Ekstraklasa and above the II liga vi ...

in 2010. In spite of this, Odra did manage to reach the final of the

Ekstraklasa Cup The Ekstraklasa Cup ( pl, Puchar Ekstraklasy) was an elimination tournament for Polish football clubs who play in the Polish 1st Division Ekstraklasa. The Ekstraklasa Cup was the fourth attempt at introducing a League Cup competition in Poland. T ...

in 2009, losing to regional rivals

Śląsk Wrocław Wrocławski Klub Sportowy Śląsk Wrocław Spółka Akcyjna, commonly known as WKS Śląsk Wrocław, Śląsk Wrocław () or simply Śląsk, is a Polish football club based in Wrocław that plays in Ekstraklasa, the highest level of the Polish fo ...

. During the 2010–11 season, Odra underwent severe financial difficulties, often struggling to raise enough money to travel to away fixtures. This affected on-field performance and a second successive relegation followed. The summer of 2011 saw the Odra board declare themselves bankrupt and dissolve the club, with fans reforming as ''Klub Piłkarski Odra 1922 Wodzisław''. This new club joined the lowest rung of the Polish league ladder for the 2011–12 season. 1. July 2012 Odra acquisition a licence for III Polish league.

Stadium

Odra using multi-purpose stadium Miejskiego Ośrodka Sportu i Rekreacji (MOSiR). The stadium has a capacity of 7,400 people.

Honours

: ** 3rd place:: 1996–97 *

Polish Cup The Polish Cup in football ( pl, Puchar Polski w piłce nożnej ) is an elimination tournament for Polish football clubs, held continuously from 1950, and is the second most important national title in Polish football after the Ekstraklasa title. ...

: ** Semi-finalist:: 1996–97 *

: ** Finalist:: 2008–09 ** Semi-finalist:: 1999–2000

Odra in European Cups

Notable coaches

Waldemar Fornalik Waldemar Fornalik (born 11 April 1963 in Myślenice) is a Polish football manager who is currently in charge of Ekstraklasa club Zagłębie Lubin. A former player, he spent his entire playing career with Ruch Chorzów. He currently serves as t ...

Stanisław Oślizło Stanisław Oślizło (born 13 November 1937 in Wodzisław Śląski) is a retired Polish footballer ( defender). Oślizło began playing football in 1953 with the locals clubs Odra Wodzisław and later Górnik Radlin. He was most of the time conn ...

Franciszek Smuda Franciszek Smuda (; born 22 June 1948) is a Polish Association football, football Coach (sport), coach and former footballer who also holds a German passport. As a player, he spent his career playing for clubs in Poland, the United States and Ge ...

Ryszard Wieczorek Ryszard Wieczorek (born 25 January 1962) is a Polish football manager and former player who played as a midfielder. He is currently in charge of Arka Gdynia. Wieczorek played for Naprzód Syrynia, Górnik Pszów, Odra Wodzisław and Preussen ...

* Jerzy Wyrobek * Jacek Zieliński

References

External links

Official website
(odra.wodzislaw.pl)
Unofficial website
(90minut.pl) {{DEFAULTSORT:Odra Wodzislaw Sport in Wodzisław Śląski Association football clubs established in 1922 1922 establishments in Poland