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(; meaning "Extra Class" in Polish), officially known as PKO Bank Polski Ekstraklasa due to its
sponsorship Sponsoring something (or someone) is the act of supporting an event, activity, person, or organization financially or through the provision of products or services. The individual or group that provides the support, similar to a benefactor, is k ...
by
PKO Bank Polski Powszechna Kasa Oszczędności Bank Polski Spółka Akcyjna or PKO Bank Polski S.A. (), in short PKO BP or simply PKO, is a multinational banking and financial services company headquartered in Warsaw, Poland. It is one of the largest financial i ...
, is a professional
association football Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a team sport played between two teams of 11 Football player, players who almost exclusively use their feet to propel a Ball (association football), ball around a rectangular f ...
league in
Poland Poland, officially the Republic of Poland, is a country in Central Europe. It extends from the Baltic Sea in the north to the Sudetes and Carpathian Mountains in the south, bordered by Lithuania and Russia to the northeast, Belarus and Ukrai ...
and the highest level of the
Polish football league system The Polish football league system refers to the league system for association football in Poland. The men's system As of the 2023–24 season. The Ekstraklasa lies at the top of the Polish football system, followed by I liga, II liga and III l ...
. Contested by 18 clubs, operating a system of
promotion and relegation Promotion and relegation is used by sports leagues as a process where teams can move up and down among divisions in a league system, based on their performance over a season. Leagues that use promotion and relegation systems are sometimes call ...
with the
I liga I liga (, ), currently named Betclic I liga due to its sponsorship by Betclic, is the men's second professional association football division of the Polish football league system, below the Ekstraklasa and above the II liga via promotion/rel ...
, seasons start in July, and end in May or June the following year. Teams play a total of 34 games each. Games are played on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays. The winner of the qualifies for the
Polish Super Cup The Polish Super Cup (, ) is an annually held match between the champions of the Ekstraklasa and the Polish Cup winners or, if the Ekstraklasa champions also win the Polish Cup, the Cup's runners-up. As of 2024, the Polish Super Cup has been ...
. Since 2005, the league is operated by the
Spółka Akcyjna The abbreviation S.A. or SA designates a type of limited company in certain countries, most of which have a Romance languages, Romance language as their official language and operate a derivative of the 1804, Napoleonic, civil law (legal syste ...
. The (former I liga) was officially formed as Liga Polska on 4–5 December 1926 in
Warsaw Warsaw, officially the Capital City of Warsaw, is the capital and List of cities and towns in Poland, largest city of Poland. The metropolis stands on the Vistula, River Vistula in east-central Poland. Its population is officially estimated at ...
, since 1 March 1927 as Liga Piłki Nożnej (), but the
Polish Football Association The Polish Football Association ( PZPN) is the governing body of association football in Poland. It organizes the Polish football leagues (without the ), the national cups, and manages the men's and women's national teams. It also runs the nati ...
(Polish: Polski Związek Piłki Nożnej, PZPN) had been in existence since 20 December 1919, a year after the independence of Poland in 1918. The first games of the freshly created league took place on 3 April 1927, while the first national non-league football championship took place in 1920. A total of 86 teams have played in the top division of Polish football since the founding of the league, 20 of which have won the title. The current champions are
Lech Poznań Kolejowy Klub Sportowy Lech Poznań S.A., commonly referred to as KKS Lech Poznań or simply Lech Poznań (), is a Polish professional football club based in Poznań and currently competing in the Ekstraklasa, the nation's highest division. ...
, who won their 9th title in the 2024–25 season.


History


Naming

*1927–1948: Liga *1949–2004: I liga *2004:
Idea In philosophy and in common usage, an idea (from the Greek word: ἰδέα (idea), meaning 'a form, or a pattern') is the results of thought. Also in philosophy, ideas can also be mental representational images of some object. Many philosophe ...
Ekstraklasa *2005–2009:
Orange Orange most often refers to: *Orange (fruit), the fruit of the tree species '' Citrus'' × ''sinensis'' ** Orange blossom, its fragrant flower ** Orange juice *Orange (colour), the color of an orange fruit, occurs between red and yellow in the vi ...
Ekstraklasa *2011–2015:
T-Mobile T-Mobile is the brand of telecommunications by Deutsche Telekom Deutsche Telekom AG (, ; often just Telekom, DTAG or DT; stylised as ·T·) is a partially state-owned German telecommunications company headquartered in Bonn and the largest telec ...
Ekstraklasa *2016–2018: Lotto Ekstraklasa *2019–:
PKO Bank Polski Powszechna Kasa Oszczędności Bank Polski Spółka Akcyjna or PKO Bank Polski S.A. (), in short PKO BP or simply PKO, is a multinational banking and financial services company headquartered in Warsaw, Poland. It is one of the largest financial i ...
Ekstraklasa


Creation of the Polish Football League

On 4–5 December 1926 in
Warsaw Warsaw, officially the Capital City of Warsaw, is the capital and List of cities and towns in Poland, largest city of Poland. The metropolis stands on the Vistula, River Vistula in east-central Poland. Its population is officially estimated at ...
, representatives from several Polish clubs met to discuss the creation of a league. It is unknown where the idea of a Polish league originated from, however a national league was thought to be a much more practical solution than hitherto practiced two-stage system of regional matches followed by a national match. To the dismay of clubs' officials, the PZPN was not receptive to the idea of a national league and therefore sought to thwart it. However, it turned out that virtually all but one of the Polish clubs supported the idea. The decision to create it was made regardless what PZPN's representatives thought of it. In late February 1927, at the PZPN's meeting in Warsaw, its officials openly opposed the formation of a league, but the clubs, allegedly egged on by some generals from the
Polish Army The Land Forces () are the Army, land forces of the Polish Armed Forces. They currently contain some 110,000 active personnel and form many components of the European Union and NATO deployments around the world. Poland's recorded military histor ...
(which, after May Coup of 1926, played a key role in all aspects of public life), proceeded anyway. The creation of the League was announced on 1 March 1927.


Cracovia

The only opponent of the league's formation was Cracovia – a very influential and strong organization in Polish football of the 1920s. Cracovia's boycott was because its chairman, Dr.
Edward Cetnarowski Edward Cetnarowski (3 October 1877 – 3 September 1933) was a Polish sports official, gynaecologist and one of the most famous personalities of the sports club Cracovia. Biography Cetnarowski was born on 3 October 1877 in Rzeszów. Even though ...
, at the same time held the post of the director of the PZPN. Cetnarowski was a personality known not only in Poland, but also in other countries. It was due to his efforts that in September 1923, Cracovia toured Spain, drawing 1–1 with
Barcelona Barcelona ( ; ; ) is a city on the northeastern coast of Spain. It is the capital and largest city of the autonomous community of Catalonia, as well as the second-most populous municipality of Spain. With a population of 1.6 million within c ...
and losing 0–1 to
Real Madrid Real Madrid Club de Fútbol (), commonly referred to as Real Madrid, is a Spanish professional Football club (association football), football club based in Madrid. The club competes in La Liga, th ...
. In October, also thanks to Cetnarowski,
Sevilla Seville ( ; , ) is the capital and largest city of the Spanish autonomous community of Andalusia and the province of Seville. It is situated on the lower reaches of the River Guadalquivir, in the southwest of the Iberian Peninsula. Seville ...
travelled to Kraków, losing 2–3 to Cracovia.


Early years of the league

Games of the first league championships started on 3 April 1927. All major teams (except for Cracovia) took part in it. This is the list of the teams (in the order they finished in November 1927): In this first season of the league, fight for championship was decided between two powerful teams – Wisła Kraków and 1.FC Katowice. This rivalry was treated very seriously, not only by the two sides involved, but also by the whole nation. 1.FC was regarded as the team supported by German minority, while Wisła, at the end of this historic season, represented ambitions of all Poles. Some time in the fall of 1927 in
Katowice Katowice (, ) is the capital city of the Silesian Voivodeship in southern Poland and the central city of the Katowice urban area. As of 2021, Katowice has an official population of 286,960, and a resident population estimate of around 315,000. K ...
, an ill-fated game between 1.FC and Wisła took place. Stakes were very high – the winner would become the champion. Kraków's side won 2–0 and became the champion. 1.FC finished second, third was Warta Poznań.


1920s

In 1928, Cracovia finally decided to enter the league, which was gladly accepted by all fans of football. However, championships were once again won by Wisła, with such excellent players as Henryk Reyman,
Mieczysław Balcer Mieczysław Balcer (12 June 1906 – 13 March 1995) was a Polish association football, footballer who played as a Forward (association football)#Striker, striker, who later served as a Manager (association football), manager. He played in te ...
and Jan Kotlarczyk. Warta Poznań was second and Legia Warsaw third. This was also the last year of 1.FC's glory. The team finished fifth, to be relegated forever at the end of 1929 season. In 1929, another team (after Cracovia, Pogoń Lwów and Wisła) was added to the list of champions of Poland. This time it was
Warta Poznań Warta Poznań () is a multi-sports club based in Poznań, Poland. The name means ''the Guard'' in Polish and also the name of the river Warta on which Poznań is located. As of the 2025–26 II liga, 2025–26 season, they compete in the II liga, ...
, which finished one point ahead of
Garbarnia Kraków Garbarnia Kraków is a Polish football and sports club from Ludwinów, a historical district of the city of Kraków. The club's name comes from the nearby tannery () of the Dłużyński brothers, which was the original club sponsor. After withdr ...
. However, after the last game, on 1 December 1929, it was Garbarnia Kraków that was celebrating the championship. Two weeks later, in mid-December, PZPN's officials changed the result of the Warta – Klub Turystow Łódź game. Originally, Warta lost 1–2, but due to walkover (it was decided that one of Łódź's players did not have all necessary documents), this was changed to 3–0 in favor of Poznań's side. As a result of the decision, Warta (with 33 points) became the champion, Garbarnia finished second with 32 points and Klub Turystow was relegated. In 1930, Cracovia regained the championship, (to repeat this success in 1932) and a year later another Kraków's side, Garbarnia, won the league. It is clear that the 1927–1932 period was marked by dominance of teams from
Kraków , officially the Royal Capital City of Kraków, is the List of cities and towns in Poland, second-largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland. Situated on the Vistula River in Lesser Poland Voivodeship, the city has a population of 804,237 ...
. During this time, only once (Warta Poznań, 1929) the championship was won by a side from a different city. The 1931 champion, Garbarnia, was unique as this was the first time that the league had been won by a side whose all players had been bought from other teams.


1930s

As has been said, the early 1930s marked a decline of the dominance of Kraków and
Lwów Lviv ( or ; ; ; see #Names and symbols, below for other names) is the largest city in western Ukraine, as well as the List of cities in Ukraine, fifth-largest city in Ukraine, with a population of It serves as the administrative centre of ...
as centers of Polish football. The point of gravity slowly moved towards west – to
Upper Silesia Upper Silesia ( ; ; ; ; Silesian German: ; ) is the southeastern part of the historical and geographical region of Silesia, located today mostly in Poland, with small parts in the Czech Republic. The area is predominantly known for its heav ...
. In 1932 the champion was Cracovia, but starting in 1933,
Ruch Chorzów Ruch Chorzów () is a Polish professional association football, football club based in Chorzów, Upper Silesia. It is one of the most successful football teams in Poland, having won fourteen List of Polish football champions, Polish Championship ...
(then: Ruch Wielkie Hajduki) completely dominated the league, being the champion for four times in a row. Ruch, with such excellent players as
Teodor Peterek Teodor Peterek (nicknames: ''Mietlorz'' and ''Teo''; 7 November 1910 – 12 January 1969), was a Polish footballer who played as a forward. Life and career Peterek's career started in Śląsk Świętochłowice in 1925. Two years later, he mov ...
, Ernest Wilimowski and Gerard Wodarz was by far the best team in those years. For example, in 1934 it finished seven points ahead of second Cracovia. Other important teams of these years were: Cracovia,
Wisła Kraków Towarzystwo Sportowe Wisła Kraków Spółka Akcyjna, commonly referred to as Wisła Kraków (), is a Polish professional football club based in Kraków. They currently compete in the I liga, the second level of Polish football league system, ...
,
Pogoń Lwów LKS Pogoń Lwów is a former Polish professional sports club which was located in Lwów, Lwów Voivodeship (now Lviv Lviv ( or ; ; ; see #Names and symbols, below for other names) is the largest city in western Ukraine, as well as the L ...
and
Warta Poznań Warta Poznań () is a multi-sports club based in Poznań, Poland. The name means ''the Guard'' in Polish and also the name of the river Warta on which Poznań is located. As of the 2025–26 II liga, 2025–26 season, they compete in the II liga, ...
. In 1933 and 1934 there were 12 teams in the League. In 1935 this number was cut to 11 and in 1936 – to 10. Football officials did it on purpose – with fewer teams, the competition was supposed to be harder, which would attract fans to the stadiums. However, supporters' turnout was not impressive, with Ruch Chorzów as the most popular team, both at home and away. In late 1935 (the league held its games in the spring-summer-fall system) fans were shocked to find that Cracovia, the legend of this sport, was relegated to the A-class. Kraków's side absence lasted for a year – it returned in 1937, to become the champion.
Ruch Chorzów Ruch Chorzów () is a Polish professional association football, football club based in Chorzów, Upper Silesia. It is one of the most successful football teams in Poland, having won fourteen List of Polish football champions, Polish Championship ...
was still the dominant team, winning the Championships in 1936 and 1938. In 1937 Ruch's streak of four consecutive champions was broken by Cracovia, and in 1939 the championships were not finished. By 31 August 1939, after some 12 games, Ruch was the leader of the 10-team League. Last games of this summer occurred on 20 August. Then, a break was planned, because the National Team was going to play a few international friendlies. Games were to be re-introduced on 10 September. This is the list of the ten teams that participated in last, historic games for championships of interwar Poland. Teams are presented according to their position on the table, as of 31 August 1939: #
Ruch Chorzów Ruch Chorzów () is a Polish professional association football, football club based in Chorzów, Upper Silesia. It is one of the most successful football teams in Poland, having won fourteen List of Polish football champions, Polish Championship ...
#
Wisła Kraków Towarzystwo Sportowe Wisła Kraków Spółka Akcyjna, commonly referred to as Wisła Kraków (), is a Polish professional football club based in Kraków. They currently compete in the I liga, the second level of Polish football league system, ...
#
Pogoń Lwów LKS Pogoń Lwów is a former Polish professional sports club which was located in Lwów, Lwów Voivodeship (now Lviv Lviv ( or ; ; ; see #Names and symbols, below for other names) is the largest city in western Ukraine, as well as the L ...
# AKS Chorzów #
Warta Poznań Warta Poznań () is a multi-sports club based in Poznań, Poland. The name means ''the Guard'' in Polish and also the name of the river Warta on which Poznań is located. As of the 2025–26 II liga, 2025–26 season, they compete in the II liga, ...
# Cracovia #
Polonia Warsaw Polonia Warsaw (, ), founded on 19 November 1911, is the oldest existing sports club in Warsaw, the capital of Poland, best known for its Association football, football and basketball teams. It also has track and field, Swimming (sport), swimm ...
#
Garbarnia Kraków Garbarnia Kraków is a Polish football and sports club from Ludwinów, a historical district of the city of Kraków. The club's name comes from the nearby tannery () of the Dłużyński brothers, which was the original club sponsor. After withdr ...
# Warszawianka Warsaw # Union Touring Łódź


After World War II

As a result of the Second World War, the borders of Poland changed significantly.
Lwów Lviv ( or ; ; ; see #Names and symbols, below for other names) is the largest city in western Ukraine, as well as the List of cities in Ukraine, fifth-largest city in Ukraine, with a population of It serves as the administrative centre of ...
, one of the centers of Polish football (with such teams as
Pogoń Lwów LKS Pogoń Lwów is a former Polish professional sports club which was located in Lwów, Lwów Voivodeship (now Lviv Lviv ( or ; ; ; see #Names and symbols, below for other names) is the largest city in western Ukraine, as well as the L ...
,
Czarni Lwów Czarni Lwów was one of the first Polish professional sports clubs with a well-developed football section as well as ice hockey, among several other sports. The football club was started in the late 19th century in Lwów as a school football se ...
and
Lechia Lwów Lechia Lwów (full name: ''Lwowski Klub Sportowy "Lechia" Lwów'') was the first former Poland, Polish professional association football club, founded in summer 1903 in Lwów by students of the 3rd and 4th gymnasiums as well as former members of t ...
) was annexed by
Soviet Union The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR), commonly known as the Soviet Union, was a List of former transcontinental countries#Since 1700, transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 until Dissolution of the Soviet ...
and all these teams ceased to exist. Lwów's football officials and players moved westwards, creating such clubs as
Odra Opole OKS Odra Opole Spółka Akcyjna () is a association football, football club based in Opole, Poland, currently playing in the I liga. History Beginnings The history of Odra Opole began on 16 June 1945, when in the Opole Town Hall, a group o ...
and
Pogoń Szczecin Pogoń Szczecin Spółka Akcyjna, commonly referred to as Pogoń Szczecin (), is a Polish professional football club based in Szczecin, West Pomeranian Voivodeship, which plays in the Ekstraklasa, the top tier of the national football league s ...
, and reviving
Polonia Bytom Polonia Bytom () is a Polish football club based in Bytom. Founded in 1920, the team won two List of Polish football champions, championships, in 1954 Ekstraklasa, 1954 and 1962 Ekstraklasa, 1962. As of the 2025–26 I liga, 2025–26 season, th ...
(see:
Recovered Territories The Recovered Territories or Regained Lands () are the lands east of the Oder–Neisse line, Oder-Neisse line that over the centuries were gradually lost by Poland and colonized by the Germans, and that returned to Poland after World War II. T ...
). Another important center,
Wilno Vilnius ( , ) is the capital of and List of cities in Lithuania#Cities, largest city in Lithuania and the List of cities in the Baltic states by population, most-populous city in the Baltic states. The city's estimated January 2025 population w ...
(with the team Śmigły Wilno), was also annexed by the Soviets (see:
Polish areas annexed by the Soviet Union Seventeen days after the German invasion of Poland in 1939, which marked the beginning of the Second World War, the Soviet Union entered the eastern regions of Poland (known as the ) and annexed territories totalling with a population of 13,299 ...
). In exchange, Poland gained a large swath of formerly German territory in particular in Silesia (which also formed part of Poland centuries prior), with its capital
Wrocław Wrocław is a city in southwestern Poland, and the capital of the Lower Silesian Voivodeship. It is the largest city and historical capital of the region of Silesia. It lies on the banks of the Oder River in the Silesian Lowlands of Central Eu ...
(home of double champion
Śląsk Wrocław Wrocławski Klub Sportowy Śląsk Wrocław Spółka Akcyjna, commonly known as WKS Śląsk Wrocław (), is a Polish professional Association football, football club based in Wrocław that plays in , the second level of the Polish football leagu ...
) and cities such as
Zabrze Zabrze (; German: 1915–1945: , full form: , , ) is an industrial city put under direct government rule in Silesia in southern Poland, near Katowice. It lies in the western part of the Metropolis GZM, a metropolis with a population of around 2 m ...
(home of 14-times champion
Górnik Zabrze Górnik Zabrze Spółka Akcyjna, commonly referred to as Górnik Zabrze S.A. or simply Górnik Zabrze (), is a Polish association football, football club from Zabrze. Górnik is one of the most successful Polish football clubs in history, winning ...
),
Bytom Bytom (Polish pronunciation: ; Silesian language, Silesian: ''Bytōm, Bytōń'', ) is a city in Upper Silesia, in southern Poland. Located in the Silesian Voivodeship, the city is 7 km northwest of Katowice, the regional capital. It is one ...
(home of champions
Polonia Bytom Polonia Bytom () is a Polish football club based in Bytom. Founded in 1920, the team won two List of Polish football champions, championships, in 1954 Ekstraklasa, 1954 and 1962 Ekstraklasa, 1962. As of the 2025–26 I liga, 2025–26 season, th ...
and
Szombierki Bytom Szombierki Bytom () is a Polish football club from Szombierki district of Bytom. Szombierki currently competes in the V liga Silesia I. Their greatest achievement was winning the Polish championship during the 1979–80 season. Honours ;Domes ...
) and
Lubin Lubin (; ) is a city in Lower Silesian Voivodeship in south-western Poland. It is the administrative seat of Lubin County, and also of the rural district called Gmina Lubin, although it is not part of the territory of the latter, as the town for ...
(home of double champion
Zagłębie Lubin Zagłębie Lubin S.A. () is a Polish professional association football, football club based in Lubin. Founded in 1945 as ''OMTUR Lubin'', the club competes in the Ekstraklasa. History The football team was founded in 1945 as OMTUR Lubin by lo ...
). The two first post-war Championships, in
1946 1946 (Roman numerals, MCMXLVI) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar, the 1946th year of the Common Era (CE) and ''Anno Domini'' (AD) designations, the 946th year of the 2nd millennium, the 46th year of the 20th centur ...
and
1947 It was the first year of the Cold War, which would last until 1991, ending with the dissolution of the Soviet Union. Events January * January–February – Winter of 1946–47 in the United Kingdom: The worst snowfall in the country i ...
, were played in a non-league formula, won by
Polonia Warsaw Polonia Warsaw (, ), founded on 19 November 1911, is the oldest existing sports club in Warsaw, the capital of Poland, best known for its Association football, football and basketball teams. It also has track and field, Swimming (sport), swimm ...
and
Warta Poznań Warta Poznań () is a multi-sports club based in Poznań, Poland. The name means ''the Guard'' in Polish and also the name of the river Warta on which Poznań is located. As of the 2025–26 II liga, 2025–26 season, they compete in the II liga, ...
, respectively. In
1948 Events January * January 1 ** The General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) is inaugurated. ** The current Constitutions of Constitution of Italy, Italy and of Constitution of New Jersey, New Jersey (both later subject to amendment) ...
, the league was revamped with 14 teams, however, from 1949 the number of teams was reduced again to 12. In 1948 and 1949, the championship was decided between the Kraków clubs Cracovia and Wisła Kraków. At the time, the league consisted mostly of clubs already playing in the league before the war, but there were also debutants, of which, however, only
Lech Poznań Kolejowy Klub Sportowy Lech Poznań S.A., commonly referred to as KKS Lech Poznań or simply Lech Poznań (), is a Polish professional football club based in Poznań and currently competing in the Ekstraklasa, the nation's highest division. ...
achieved good results, finishing 6th and 3rd, others finished 10th and lower.


1950s

Throughout these years, the league format remained relatively stable, with the same number of teams participating each season. The early 1950s were marked by the dominance of Wisła Kraków and Ruch Chorzów, however, new contenders soon emerged with
Polonia Bytom Polonia Bytom () is a Polish football club based in Bytom. Founded in 1920, the team won two List of Polish football champions, championships, in 1954 Ekstraklasa, 1954 and 1962 Ekstraklasa, 1962. As of the 2025–26 I liga, 2025–26 season, th ...
,
Legia Warsaw 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 2 ...
,
Górnik Zabrze Górnik Zabrze Spółka Akcyjna, commonly referred to as Górnik Zabrze S.A. or simply Górnik Zabrze (), is a Polish association football, football club from Zabrze. Górnik is one of the most successful Polish football clubs in history, winning ...
and
ŁKS Łódź ŁKS Łódź (''Łódzki Klub Sportowy Łódź''; ) is a Polish sports club based in Łódź. They are best known for their football club but are represented in many sports such as basketball, volleyball, boxing, and in the past ice hockey, ...
all winning their first championships that decade. A number of teams made their debut in the league in the 1950s, including from cities previously unrepresented in the top league, i.e. Radlin,
Szczecin Szczecin ( , , ; ; ; or ) is the capital city, capital and largest city of the West Pomeranian Voivodeship in northwestern Poland. Located near the Baltic Sea and the Poland-Germany border, German border, it is a major port, seaport, the la ...
,
Opole Opole (; ; ; ) is a city located in southern Poland on the Oder River and the historical capital of Upper Silesia. With a population of approximately 127,387 as of the 2021 census, it is the capital of Opole Voivodeship (province) and the seat of ...
,
Bydgoszcz Bydgoszcz is a city in northern Poland and the largest city in the historical region of Kuyavia. Straddling the confluence of the Vistula River and its bank (geography), left-bank tributary, the Brda (river), Brda, the strategic location of Byd ...
,
Sosnowiec Sosnowiec is an industrial city county in the Dąbrowa Basin of southern Poland, in the Silesian Voivodeship, which is also part of the Metropolis GZM municipal association.—— Located in the eastern part of the Upper Silesian Industrial Re ...
and
Zabrze Zabrze (; German: 1915–1945: , full form: , , ) is an industrial city put under direct government rule in Silesia in southern Poland, near Katowice. It lies in the western part of the Metropolis GZM, a metropolis with a population of around 2 m ...
.
Górnik Radlin Klub Sportowy Górnik Radlin is a Polish sports club based in Radlin. It has football, volleyball, gymnastics, swimming and fencing sections. The volleyball team plays in the Polish Volleyball League (Polska Liga Siatkówki, PLS) and the fo ...
, Wawel Kraków,
Gwardia Warsaw WKS Gwardia Warszawa () was a Polish sports club based in Warsaw. The club was founded in 1948. The club was dissolved in 2018. Football It participated in the Polish 1st League from 1953 to 1960 (8 seasons), 1962–1966 (5 seasons), 1967–19 ...
and
Zagłębie Sosnowiec Zagłębie Sosnowiec () is a Polish professional association football, football club based in Sosnowiec. They compete in II liga in the 2025–26 II liga, 2025–26 season, following relegation from the 2023–24 I liga. The club was establishe ...
managed to occasionally join the competition for the top spots, and since
1957 Events January * January 1 – The Saarland joins West Germany. * January 3 – Hamilton Watch Company introduces the first electric watch. * January 5 – South African player Russell Endean becomes the first batsman to be Dismissal (cricke ...
, Górnik Zabrze emerged as the dominant force. Overall, the 1950s marked a period of consolidation and growth for the Ekstraklasa. It experienced a stable format and saw some clubs begin to assert their dominance. This era laid the groundwork for further developments and successes in the coming decades.


1960s

Since
1961 Events January * January 1 – Monetary reform in the Soviet Union, 1961, Monetary reform in the Soviet Union. * January 3 ** United States President Dwight D. Eisenhower announces that the United States has severed diplomatic and cons ...
, the league was expanded to 14 teams. As of 1962, the league began to hold its games in the fall-spring system ( 1962 season was limited to the spring only, and the fall saw the start of 1963 championship). The decade was dominated by clubs from the
Katowice urban area The Katowice urban area (, ), also known as the Upper Silesian urban area (, ), is an urban area/conurbation in southern Poland, centered on Katowice. It is located in the Silesian Voivodeship. The Katowice urban area is the largest urban are ...
, especially Górnik Zabrze, which won six championships, including the record five consecutive titles in the 1962–63 to 1966–67 seasons, with Ruch Chorzów and Polonia Bytom also winning further championship titles, and Zagłębie Sosnowiec and
Szombierki Bytom Szombierki Bytom () is a Polish football club from Szombierki district of Bytom. Szombierki currently competes in the V liga Silesia I. Their greatest achievement was winning the Polish championship during the 1979–80 season. Honours ;Domes ...
finishing in the top three. Only clubs from outside the Katowice urban area to finish in the top three were
Odra Opole OKS Odra Opole Spółka Akcyjna () is a association football, football club based in Opole, Poland, currently playing in the I liga. History Beginnings The history of Odra Opole began on 16 June 1945, when in the Opole Town Hall, a group o ...
in 1963–64, Wisła Kraków in 1965–66, and Legia Warsaw in
1960 It is also known as the "Year of Africa" because of major events—particularly the independence of seventeen African nations—that focused global attention on the continent and intensified feelings of Pan-Africanism. Events January * Janu ...
,
1961 Events January * January 1 – Monetary reform in the Soviet Union, 1961, Monetary reform in the Soviet Union. * January 3 ** United States President Dwight D. Eisenhower announces that the United States has severed diplomatic and cons ...
and 1967–68, before it reclaimed the title in 1968–69 and 1969–70. Clubs from large cities outside the Katowice urban area rarely even cracked the top half of the league. The decade was marked by competitive football and showcased the emergence of new talents in the Polish football landscape.


1970s

The 1970s were a significant period in the history of the Ekstraklasa. During this decade, Polish football experienced both domestic and international success, with several teams and players leaving their mark on the league. In the early 1970s, Ruch Chorzów and Górnik Zabrze were dominant forces in the Ekstraklasa. Górnik secured back-to-back championships in the 1970–71 and 1971–72, and Ruch Chorzów in the 1973–74 and 1974-75 seasons. The mid-1970s saw the emergence of new strong contenders,
Stal Mielec FKS Stal Mielec, commonly known as Stal Mielec (), is a Polish professional football club based in Mielec. The team competes in the I liga, the second level of the Polish football league system. The club was established on 10 April 1939. Histori ...
,
Śląsk Wrocław Wrocławski Klub Sportowy Śląsk Wrocław Spółka Akcyjna, commonly known as WKS Śląsk Wrocław (), is a Polish professional Association football, football club based in Wrocław that plays in , the second level of the Polish football leagu ...
, Wisła Kraków and
Widzew Łódź RTS Widzew Łódź () is a Polish football (soccer), football club based in Łódź. The club was founded in 1910. Its official colours are red and white, hence their nicknames ''Czerwona Armia'' (Red Army) and ''Czerwono-biało-czerwoni'' (Red-wh ...
. Stal and Śląsk clinched their first league titles in the
1972–73 Year 197 ( CXCVII) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Magius and Rufinus (or, less frequently, year 950 ''Ab urbe condita''). The denomination 197 for this y ...
and 1976–77 seasons, respectively, breaking the monopoly of Ruch Chorzów and Górnik Zabrze. Śląsk Wrocław's and Widzew Łódź's success signaled a shift in the balance of power within the league. The growth of Polish clubs and exceptional new talents was reflected in results in
UEFA competitions UEFA competitions (), referred improperly by the mass media as European football, are the set of tournaments organised by the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA), generally in professional and amateur association football and futsal. Th ...
. Górnik Zabrze reached the final and quarterfinals of the
European Cup Winners' Cup The UEFA Cup Winners' Cup was a European association football, football club competition contested annually by the winners of domestic cup competitions. The competition's official name was originally the European Cup Winners' Cup; it was renam ...
in 1969–70 and 1970–71, respectively, losing both to
Manchester City Manchester City Football Club is a professional association football, football club based in Manchester, England, that competes in the Premier League, the English football league system, top flight of Football in England, English footbal ...
. Legia Warsaw reached the semifinals and quarterfinals of the European Cup (predecessor of the
UEFA Champions League The UEFA Champions League (UCL) is an annual club association football competition organised by the UEFA, Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) that is contested by List of top-division football clubs in UEFA countries, top-divisio ...
) in 1969–70 and 1970–71, losing to
Feyenoord Feyenoord Rotterdam () is a Netherlands, Dutch professional association football, football club based in Rotterdam, which plays in the Eredivisie, the top tier in Dutch football league system, Dutch football. Founded as Wilhelmina in 1908, the ...
and
Atlético Madrid Club Atlético de Madrid, S.A.D. (; meaning "Athletic Club of Madrid"), commonly referred to as Atlético Madrid or simply Atlético, is a Spanish professional football club based in Madrid that plays in La Liga. The club play their home game ...
, respectively. Ruch Chorzów reached the quarterfinals of the
1973–74 UEFA Cup The 1973–74 UEFA Cup was the third season of the UEFA Cup, the third-tier club football competition organised by UEFA. The final was played over two legs at White Hart Lane, London, England, and at De Kuip, Rotterdam, the Netherlands. It was wo ...
and
1974–75 European Cup The 1974–75 season was the 20th season of the European Cup, an annual football tournament for the champion clubs of the member nations of UEFA (the Union of European Football Associations). It was won for the second consecutive time by Bayer ...
, losing to Feyenoord and
AS Saint-Étienne Association Sportive de Saint-Étienne Loire (), abbreviated as A.S.S.E. () and commonly known as Saint-Étienne, is a French professional football club based in Saint-Étienne, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes. The club was founded in 1933 and competes ...
. On the international stage, Polish football gained global recognition with the national team's success in the
1974 FIFA World Cup The 1974 FIFA World Cup was the 10th FIFA World Cup, a quadrennial Association football, football tournament for men's senior national teams, and was played in West Germany (and West Berlin) between 13 June and 7 July. The tournament marked the ...
. Several players from Ekstraklasa clubs were key contributors to the national team's historic third-place finish, further enhancing the league's reputation. In summary, the 1970s were a dynamic and competitive era in the history of the Ekstraklasa. The decade witnessed the continued success of established clubs like Górnik Zabrze and Ruch Chorzów, the rise of new contenders. Additionally, the international achievements of the Polish national team added to the prestige of the Ekstraklasa during this period.


1980s

The 1980s were a tumultuous and challenging period for the Ekstraklasa. The decade was marked by political unrest, economic difficulties, and a decline in the overall performance of Polish football on both domestic and international fronts. One of the defining moments of the 1980s was the imposition of martial law in Poland in 1981. This had a profound impact on the country's football landscape, disrupting the regular functioning of the Ekstraklasa and leading to the suspension of the league for a brief period. Amidst the political turmoil, certain football clubs managed to assert their dominance in the league. Widzew Łódź continued their success from the late 1970s into the early 1980s, clinching Ekstraklasa titles in the 1980–81 and 1981-82 seasons. Their consistency during this period showcased their resilience in challenging circumstances. Górnik Zabrze and Legia Warsaw remained competitive but faced increased challenges, both domestically and in European competitions. The economic difficulties in Poland had an impact on the financial stability of football clubs, affecting their ability to attract and retain top talent. The latter part of the 1980s witnessed a shift in power, with
Lech Poznań Kolejowy Klub Sportowy Lech Poznań S.A., commonly referred to as KKS Lech Poznań or simply Lech Poznań (), is a Polish professional football club based in Poznań and currently competing in the Ekstraklasa, the nation's highest division. ...
emerging as a dominant force in the Ekstraklasa. Lech Poznań secured consecutive league titles in the 1982–83 and 1983-84 seasons. Their success brought a new chapter to the league, with fresh faces making an impact on the domestic football scene. Despite the challenges at the club level, the Polish national team achieved a notable milestone in the 1980s. They finished in 3rd place at the
1982 FIFA World Cup The 1982 FIFA World Cup was the 12th FIFA World Cup, a quadrennial Association football, football tournament for men's senior national teams, and was played in Spain from 13 June to 11 July 1982. The tournament was won by Italy national footbal ...
in Spain, showcasing the resilience of Polish football despite the adverse conditions. In summary, the 1980s were a challenging period for the Ekstraklasa, marked by political and economic difficulties that impacted the overall state of Polish football. While certain clubs like Widzew Łódź and Lech Poznań enjoyed success, the era was characterized by a decline in the league's competitive stature compared to previous decades. The challenges faced by clubs in the 1980s set the stage for efforts to revitalize and modernize Polish football in the subsequent years.


1990s

The 1990s marked a period of transition and transformation for the Ekstraklasa. The decade witnessed the country's transition back to a market economy, which had a profound impact on football, leading to both challenges and opportunities for the league. Lech Poznań continued their success from the late 1980s into the early 1990s, winning the Ekstraklasa title in the 1991–92 season. The club's achievements reflected a certain stability in performance, even as other clubs adapted to the changing economic and football landscape. Widzew Łódź and Legia Warsaw remained competitive during the early 1990s, with Legia achieving success in both domestic and international competitions. Legia Warsaw notably reached the quarterfinals of the UEFA Cup during the 1990-91 season, showcasing the club's resilience on the European stage. The latter part of the decade saw a shift in the balance of power within the Ekstraklasa. Clubs like
GKS Katowice GKS Katowice (; GKS stands for , ) is a Polish professional football club based in Katowice. They currently compete in the Ekstraklasa in the 2024–25 season after gaining promotion from the I liga in 2024. History In 1963 in Katowice a spe ...
, Widzew Łódź,
ŁKS Łódź ŁKS Łódź (''Łódzki Klub Sportowy Łódź''; ) is a Polish sports club based in Łódź. They are best known for their football club but are represented in many sports such as basketball, volleyball, boxing, and in the past ice hockey, ...
, Wisła Kraków and
Polonia Warsaw Polonia Warsaw (, ), founded on 19 November 1911, is the oldest existing sports club in Warsaw, the capital of Poland, best known for its Association football, football and basketball teams. It also has track and field, Swimming (sport), swimm ...
emerged as strong contenders for the league title, whereas the previously strong teams of Górnik Zabrze, Lech Poznań and Ruch Chorzów declined since the mid-1990s. The 1990s also saw the emergence of talented players who would go on to make significant contributions to both the Ekstraklasa and the national team. Despite the challenges posed by economic factors and changes in the football landscape, Polish football experienced a sense of renewal and dynamism in the 1990s. The increased competitiveness within the league and the emergence of new talent laid the groundwork for a more vibrant and evolving Ekstraklasa in the years to come. In summary, the 1990s were a transformative period for the Ekstraklasa, characterized by a changing economic landscape, the emergence of new contenders, and the continued success of established clubs. The decade set the stage for further developments in Polish football, with increased competition and a focus on nurturing young talent.


2000s

The 2000s represented a period of continued evolution and competitiveness for the Ekstraklasa. This decade featured a mix of established clubs maintaining their dominance, the emergence of new contenders, and increased efforts to modernize and elevate the overall standard of Polish football. Wisła Kraków continued their success from the late 1990s into the early 2000s, securing multiple Ekstraklasa titles during this period. The club's triumphs in the league, along with their participation in European competitions, contributed to their status as a major force in Polish football. Legia Warsaw also experienced a resurgence, winning the Ekstraklasa title in the 2001–02 and 2005-06 seasons. Their achievements not only showcased their domestic prowess but also marked a return to competitiveness on the European stage. The 2000s witnessed a particularly unusual rise of several clubs from small and mid-sized towns, with teams from
Grodzisk Wielkopolski Grodzisk Wielkopolski is a town in western Poland, in Greater Poland Voivodeship (Wielkopolskie), with a population of 13,703 (2006). It is south-west of Poznań, the voivodeship capital. It is the seat of Grodzisk Wielkopolski County, and also o ...
,
Wronki Wronki () is a town in the Szamotuły County, western-central Poland, situated in the Greater Poland Voivodeship. It is located close to the Warta River to the northwest of Poznań on the edge of Noteć Forest, and has a population of approximat ...
,
Lubin Lubin (; ) is a city in Lower Silesian Voivodeship in south-western Poland. It is the administrative seat of Lubin County, and also of the rural district called Gmina Lubin, although it is not part of the territory of the latter, as the town for ...
and
Bełchatów Bełchatów () is a city in central Poland with a population of 55,583, as of December 2021. It is located in Łódź Voivodeship, southwest of Warsaw. The Bełchatów Power Station, Elektrownia Bełchatów, located in Bełchatów, is the largest ...
all finishing in the top three, and
Zagłębie Lubin Zagłębie Lubin S.A. () is a Polish professional association football, football club based in Lubin. Founded in 1945 as ''OMTUR Lubin'', the club competes in the Ekstraklasa. History The football team was founded in 1945 as OMTUR Lubin by lo ...
even winning the 2006–07 title. A number of clubs from other similar towns enjoyed one to several seasons in the Ekstraklasa during this period. At the same time, previously strong teams from
Łódź Łódź is a city in central Poland and a former industrial centre. It is the capital of Łódź Voivodeship, and is located south-west of Warsaw. Łódź has a population of 655,279, making it the country's List of cities and towns in Polan ...
(ŁKS and Widzew), GKS Katowice and Polonia Warsaw declined, with all four even relegated from the league, similarly to the former powerhouses of Lech Poznań, Ruch Chorzów and Górnik Zabrze. Lech Poznań re-emerged as a major power in the late 2000s and secured the Ekstraklasa title in the 2009-10 season. Lech Poznań's success reflected a broader trend of increased parity and competition within the league. Efforts to modernize and professionalize Polish football gained momentum during this decade. The league underwent structural changes, and there were initiatives to improve training facilities, youth development programs, and overall infrastructure. These efforts aimed to enhance the quality of the Ekstraklasa and raise the level of competitiveness. The 2000s also saw the emergence of notable players who left a lasting impact on the league and, in some cases, went on to have successful careers in international football. While the 2000s brought positive developments for Polish football, there were also challenges, including financial struggles for some clubs and occasional incidents of fan violence. These issues highlighted the need for continued efforts to address the various aspects of the football ecosystem. In summary, the 2000s were a period of transition and growth for the Ekstraklasa, marked by the continued success of established clubs, the emergence of new contenders, and efforts to modernize and professionalize Polish football. The decade set the stage for further advancements in the subsequent years, as the league continued to adapt to changing dynamics within the football landscape.


2010s

The 2010s brought further changes and developments to the Ekstraklasa. This decade witnessed a continuation of the league's efforts to modernize, increase competitiveness, and enhance the overall quality of Polish football. Legia Warsaw emerged as a dominant force, securing multiple Ekstraklasa titles throughout the decade, whereas the previously dominant Wisła Kraków declined. Legia not only dominated domestically but also made notable appearances in European competitions, reaching the UEFA Europa League group stages and the UEFA Champions League play-offs. Lech Poznań continued to be a strong contender, winning the Ekstraklasa title in the 2009-10 season and consistently finishing among the top teams in subsequent years. The competition for the championship became more intense, with several clubs vying for the top spot, including Wisła Kraków, Śląsk Wrocław, and
Jagiellonia Białystok Jagiellonia Białystok () is a Polish professional football club based in Białystok that plays in the Ekstraklasa, the top level of Polish football. The club was founded in 1920 by soldiers in the 42nd Infantry Regiment Reserve Battalion in Bi ...
. The 2010s were marked by a growing emphasis on youth development and the nurturing of homegrown talent within the league. Clubs invested in their academies, and the emergence of young, talented players became a noticeable trend. This focus on youth development aimed to strengthen the national team and contribute to the long-term success of Polish football. Financial stability remained a challenge for some clubs, leading to occasional struggles and changes in ownership. However, the league continued to attract international attention, and the quality of play improved, making the Ekstraklasa a more competitive and entertaining competition. The implementation of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system in the later years of the decade aimed to enhance the fairness and accuracy of officiating in the league. This technological advancement reflected the broader trend of incorporating modern tools and practices to improve the overall football experience. On the international stage, Polish football continued to produce talented players who made their mark in European leagues. The national team also achieved notable success, making it to the quarterfinals at
UEFA Euro 2016 The 2016 UEFA European Football Championship, commonly referred to as UEFA Euro 2016 (stylised as UEFA EURO 2016) or simply Euro 2016, was the 15th UEFA European Championship, the quadrennial international men's association football, football ch ...
. In summary, the 2010s were a period of continued growth and development for the Ekstraklasa, marked by the dominance of clubs like Legia Warsaw, increased competition, a focus on youth development, and efforts to modernize various aspects of the league. The decade laid the groundwork for further advancements in Polish football as it moved into the 2020s.


2020s

In the 2020s, the then strongest clubs, Lech Poznań and Legia Warsaw, were joined by new strong contenders,
Raków Częstochowa Robotniczy Klub Sportowy Raków Częstochowa Spółka Akcyjna (commonly referred to as Raków Częstochowa, or simply Raków) is a Polish professional football club, based in Częstochowa, that competes in the Ekstraklasa, the top tier of natio ...
and, after several lackluster seasons, Jagiellonia Białystok again, and both clubs won their first championship titles in the
2022–23 The dash is a punctuation mark consisting of a long horizontal line. It is similar in appearance to the hyphen but is longer and sometimes higher from the baseline. The most common versions are the endash , generally longer than the hyphen ...
and 2023–24 seasons, respectively. The period was marked by the league's rise in the
UEFA coefficient In European football, the UEFA coefficients are statistics based in weighted arithmetic means used for ranking and seeding teams in club and international competitions. Introduced in 1979 for men's football tournaments (country rankings only), ...
, boosted by the good results of Polish clubs in European competitions with Lech Poznań reaching the quarterfinals of the
UEFA Conference League The UEFA Conference League (UECL), usually known simply as the Conference League, is an annual football competition organised since 2021 by the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) for eligible European football clubs. It is the thir ...
in the 2022–23 season and Jagiellonia Białystok and Legia Warsaw in the 2024–25 season.


Clubs

There are 18 clubs in the Ekstraklasa. During the course of the season each club plays the others twice, once at their home stadium and once at that of their opponents, for a total of 34 games. From the 2013–14 till the 2019–20 season, after the 30th round the table was divided into 'champion' (top eight teams) and 'relegation' (bottom eight teams) groups. Each team played seven more games (teams ranked 1–4 and 9–12 would host four games at home). The 2016–17 season was the last when teams started an extra round with half the points (rounded up) achieved during the first phase of 30 matches. The changes extended the season to a total of 296 matches played. The 2021–22 season started with 18 teams, instead of 16. ''Clubs as of the 2025–26 season.'' # Upgrading to 31,871.


List of champions

°''Abandoned due to the preparations of the Poland national team to participate in the 1924 Olympic Football Tournament.''
°°''Abandoned due to the outbreak of
World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
. By 31 August 1939,
Ruch Chorzów Ruch Chorzów () is a Polish professional association football, football club based in Chorzów, Upper Silesia. It is one of the most successful football teams in Poland, having won fourteen List of Polish football champions, Polish Championship ...
was the leader.''
°°°''In 1951, the Polish Football Association decided to give the Polish championship title to the winner of the Polish Cup, in order to increase the importance of the re-activated cup competition. Ruch Chorzów finished the league in 6th , but won the cup, beating 2–0 Wisła Kraków in the final game. Wisła Kraków were declated the league champion.''


Performance by club

Note: This list is not synonymous with a
list of Polish football champions The Polish football champions are the annual winners of Poland's premier annual Association football, football competition. The title has been contested since 1920 in varying forms of competition. From 1921 to 1926 the championship was decided in ...
.
Bold indicates clubs playing in the top division in the 2024–25 season.
The following table lists the league champions by the Polish voivodeship regions (current, valid since 1999). The following table lists the league champions by
city A city is a human settlement of a substantial size. The term "city" has different meanings around the world and in some places the settlement can be very small. Even where the term is limited to larger settlements, there is no universally agree ...
.


Honored teams

After winning a Polish championship titles, a representative star is placed above the team's badge to indicate achieving the feat. The current (as of May 2024) officially sanctioned championship stars are: *Golden star: 10 or more Polish championship titles: **
Górnik Zabrze Górnik Zabrze Spółka Akcyjna, commonly referred to as Górnik Zabrze S.A. or simply Górnik Zabrze (), is a Polish association football, football club from Zabrze. Górnik is one of the most successful Polish football clubs in history, winning ...
**
Legia Warsaw 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 2 ...
**
Ruch Chorzów Ruch Chorzów () is a Polish professional association football, football club based in Chorzów, Upper Silesia. It is one of the most successful football teams in Poland, having won fourteen List of Polish football champions, Polish Championship ...
**
Wisła Kraków Towarzystwo Sportowe Wisła Kraków Spółka Akcyjna, commonly referred to as Wisła Kraków (), is a Polish professional football club based in Kraków. They currently compete in the I liga, the second level of Polish football league system, ...
*Silver star: 5–9 Polish championship titles: ** Cracovia **
Lech Poznań Kolejowy Klub Sportowy Lech Poznań S.A., commonly referred to as KKS Lech Poznań or simply Lech Poznań (), is a Polish professional football club based in Poznań and currently competing in the Ekstraklasa, the nation's highest division. ...
*White star: 1–4 Polish championship titles: **
Jagiellonia Białystok Jagiellonia Białystok () is a Polish professional football club based in Białystok that plays in the Ekstraklasa, the top level of Polish football. The club was founded in 1920 by soldiers in the 42nd Infantry Regiment Reserve Battalion in Bi ...
**
ŁKS Łódź ŁKS Łódź (''Łódzki Klub Sportowy Łódź''; ) is a Polish sports club based in Łódź. They are best known for their football club but are represented in many sports such as basketball, volleyball, boxing, and in the past ice hockey, ...
**
Piast Gliwice Gliwicki Klub Sportowy Piast Gliwice () is a Polish professional football club based in Gliwice. In the 2018–19 season, Piast won its first Polish championship. As of 2025–26, it competes in the Ekstraklasa, Poland's top division. Histo ...
**
Polonia Bytom Polonia Bytom () is a Polish football club based in Bytom. Founded in 1920, the team won two List of Polish football champions, championships, in 1954 Ekstraklasa, 1954 and 1962 Ekstraklasa, 1962. As of the 2025–26 I liga, 2025–26 season, th ...
**
Polonia Warsaw Polonia Warsaw (, ), founded on 19 November 1911, is the oldest existing sports club in Warsaw, the capital of Poland, best known for its Association football, football and basketball teams. It also has track and field, Swimming (sport), swimm ...
**
Raków Częstochowa Robotniczy Klub Sportowy Raków Częstochowa Spółka Akcyjna (commonly referred to as Raków Częstochowa, or simply Raków) is a Polish professional football club, based in Częstochowa, that competes in the Ekstraklasa, the top tier of natio ...
**
Stal Mielec FKS Stal Mielec, commonly known as Stal Mielec (), is a Polish professional football club based in Mielec. The team competes in the I liga, the second level of the Polish football league system. The club was established on 10 April 1939. Histori ...
**
Śląsk Wrocław Wrocławski Klub Sportowy Śląsk Wrocław Spółka Akcyjna, commonly known as WKS Śląsk Wrocław (), is a Polish professional Association football, football club based in Wrocław that plays in , the second level of the Polish football leagu ...
**
Warta Poznań Warta Poznań () is a multi-sports club based in Poznań, Poland. The name means ''the Guard'' in Polish and also the name of the river Warta on which Poznań is located. As of the 2025–26 II liga, 2025–26 season, they compete in the II liga, ...
**
Widzew Łódź RTS Widzew Łódź () is a Polish football (soccer), football club based in Łódź. The club was founded in 1910. Its official colours are red and white, hence their nicknames ''Czerwona Armia'' (Red Army) and ''Czerwono-biało-czerwoni'' (Red-wh ...
**
Zagłębie Lubin Zagłębie Lubin S.A. () is a Polish professional association football, football club based in Lubin. Founded in 1945 as ''OMTUR Lubin'', the club competes in the Ekstraklasa. History The football team was founded in 1945 as OMTUR Lubin by lo ...


All-time league table

The all-time league table consists of all the teams that once participated in the Ekstraklasa. Data from the
1927 Events January * January 1 – The British Broadcasting ''Company'' becomes the BBC, British Broadcasting ''Corporation'', when its Royal Charter of incorporation takes effect. John Reith, 1st Baron Reith, John Reith becomes the first ...
2024–25 seasons. Source
Tabela wszech czasów
90minut.pl From 1927 to 2025, a total of 86 teams contested in the Ekstraklasa. Bold- indicates teams currently playing in the 2025–26 season.


Explanation

1. In case of an equal amount of points between teams, positions are decided on the basis of goal difference, then a greater number of goals scored.
2. From the
1927 Events January * January 1 – The British Broadcasting ''Company'' becomes the BBC, British Broadcasting ''Corporation'', when its Royal Charter of incorporation takes effect. John Reith, 1st Baron Reith, John Reith becomes the first ...
to the 1994–95 season, two points were awarded for a win and one point for a draw. From the 1986–87 to the 1989–90 season, a win by at least three goals additionally awarded one point, while one point was deducted for a loss by at least three goals. Since the 1995–96 season, three points are awarded for a win, and one point for a draw.
3. Includes championship and relegation play-off games (including 11 games in
1948 Events January * January 1 ** The General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) is inaugurated. ** The current Constitutions of Constitution of Italy, Italy and of Constitution of New Jersey, New Jersey (both later subject to amendment) ...
, 1986–87, 1987–88, 1988–89), but does not include promotion/relegation play-offs between teams from different divisions.
4. Included matches from the unfinished 1939 season.


Penalty points

Includes penalties imposed by the Polish Football Association: * In the
1934 Events January–February * January 1 – The International Telecommunication Union, a specialist agency of the League of Nations, is established. * January 15 – The 8.0 1934 Nepal–Bihar earthquake, Nepal–Bihar earthquake strik ...
season, the match between
Garbarnia Kraków Garbarnia Kraków is a Polish football and sports club from Ludwinów, a historical district of the city of Kraków. The club's name comes from the nearby tannery () of the Dłużyński brothers, which was the original club sponsor. After withdr ...
and
ŁKS Łódź ŁKS Łódź (''Łódzki Klub Sportowy Łódź''; ) is a Polish sports club based in Łódź. They are best known for their football club but are represented in many sports such as basketball, volleyball, boxing, and in the past ice hockey, ...
was declared a bilateral forfeit 3–3 (match did not take place due to the fault of both teams). * Results of the following matches from the 1986–87 season (
Lech Poznań Kolejowy Klub Sportowy Lech Poznań S.A., commonly referred to as KKS Lech Poznań or simply Lech Poznań (), is a Polish professional football club based in Poznań and currently competing in the Ekstraklasa, the nation's highest division. ...
Polonia Bytom Polonia Bytom () is a Polish football club based in Bytom. Founded in 1920, the team won two List of Polish football champions, championships, in 1954 Ekstraklasa, 1954 and 1962 Ekstraklasa, 1962. As of the 2025–26 I liga, 2025–26 season, th ...
1–1,
Olimpia Poznań Olimpia Poznań is a Polish multi-sport club from Poznań. It has athletics, archery, basketball, boxing, kendo, judo, swimming, tennis, and triathlon sections. The sections are formally independent of each other, sharing the history and nam ...
Stal Mielec FKS Stal Mielec, commonly known as Stal Mielec (), is a Polish professional football club based in Mielec. The team competes in the I liga, the second level of the Polish football league system. The club was established on 10 April 1939. Histori ...
1–3,
Zagłębie Lubin Zagłębie Lubin S.A. () is a Polish professional association football, football club based in Lubin. Founded in 1945 as ''OMTUR Lubin'', the club competes in the Ekstraklasa. History The football team was founded in 1945 as OMTUR Lubin by lo ...
Ruch Chorzów Ruch Chorzów () is a Polish professional association football, football club based in Chorzów, Upper Silesia. It is one of the most successful football teams in Poland, having won fourteen List of Polish football champions, Polish Championship ...
0–2) and the 1992–93 season (
Wisła Kraków Towarzystwo Sportowe Wisła Kraków Spółka Akcyjna, commonly referred to as Wisła Kraków (), is a Polish professional football club based in Kraków. They currently compete in the I liga, the second level of Polish football league system, ...
Legia Warsaw 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 2 ...
0–6,
ŁKS Łódź ŁKS Łódź (''Łódzki Klub Sportowy Łódź''; ) is a Polish sports club based in Łódź. They are best known for their football club but are represented in many sports such as basketball, volleyball, boxing, and in the past ice hockey, ...
Olimpia Poznań Olimpia Poznań is a Polish multi-sport club from Poznań. It has athletics, archery, basketball, boxing, kendo, judo, swimming, tennis, and triathlon sections. The sections are formally independent of each other, sharing the history and nam ...
7–1) were invalidated due to suspision of match-fixing. While the games were recognized as having taken place, the points and goals were nullified (which is reflected in the table). More: Sunday of Miracles. * In the 1993–94 season,
Legia Warsaw 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 2 ...
,
Wisła Kraków Towarzystwo Sportowe Wisła Kraków Spółka Akcyjna, commonly referred to as Wisła Kraków (), is a Polish professional football club based in Kraków. They currently compete in the I liga, the second level of Polish football league system, ...
and
ŁKS Łódź ŁKS Łódź (''Łódzki Klub Sportowy Łódź''; ) is a Polish sports club based in Łódź. They are best known for their football club but are represented in many sports such as basketball, volleyball, boxing, and in the past ice hockey, ...
were deducted three points for the events of the final round of the 1992–93 season. * In the 2009–10 season,
Jagiellonia Białystok Jagiellonia Białystok () is a Polish professional football club based in Białystok that plays in the Ekstraklasa, the top level of Polish football. The club was founded in 1920 by soldiers in the 42nd Infantry Regiment Reserve Battalion in Bi ...
were deducted 10 points for participating in the match-fixing scandal. * In the
2012–13 1 (one, unit, unity) is a number, numeral, and glyph. It is the first and smallest positive integer of the infinite sequence of natural numbers. This fundamental property has led to its unique uses in other fields, ranging from science to sp ...
season,
Zagłębie Lubin Zagłębie Lubin S.A. () is a Polish professional association football, football club based in Lubin. Founded in 1945 as ''OMTUR Lubin'', the club competes in the Ekstraklasa. History The football team was founded in 1945 as OMTUR Lubin by lo ...
were deducted three points for participating in the match-fixing scandal. * In the 2015–16 season,
Wisła Kraków Towarzystwo Sportowe Wisła Kraków Spółka Akcyjna, commonly referred to as Wisła Kraków (), is a Polish professional football club based in Kraków. They currently compete in the I liga, the second level of Polish football league system, ...
,
Górnik Zabrze Górnik Zabrze Spółka Akcyjna, commonly referred to as Górnik Zabrze S.A. or simply Górnik Zabrze (), is a Polish association football, football club from Zabrze. Górnik is one of the most successful Polish football clubs in history, winning ...
,
Lechia Gdańsk Lechia Gdańsk () is a Polish football (soccer), football club based in Gdańsk. As of the 2025–26 Ekstraklasa, 2025–26 season, they compete in the Ekstraklasa. The club was founded in 1945 by people Polish population transfers (1944–1946 ...
and
Ruch Chorzów Ruch Chorzów () is a Polish professional association football, football club based in Chorzów, Upper Silesia. It is one of the most successful football teams in Poland, having won fourteen List of Polish football champions, Polish Championship ...
were deducted one point each for failing to meet the licensing requirements. * In the 2016–17 season,
Ruch Chorzów Ruch Chorzów () is a Polish professional association football, football club based in Chorzów, Upper Silesia. It is one of the most successful football teams in Poland, having won fourteen List of Polish football champions, Polish Championship ...
were deducted four points for failing to meet the licensing requirements. * In the
2020–21 The dash is a punctuation mark consisting of a long horizontal line. It is similar in appearance to the hyphen but is longer and sometimes higher from the baseline. The most common versions are the endash , generally longer than the hyphen ...
season, Cracovia were deducted five points for participating in the match-fixing scandal during the 2003–04 II liga season.


Top goalscorers


Records


All-time most appearances


All-time top goalscorers


All-time most appearances by foreign players


All-time top foreign goalscorers


Transfer records


Incoming transfers


Outgoing transfers


League presidents


2003–2005 match-fixing scandal

Despite match-fixing becoming punishable by law in mid-2003, several clubs were still involved in the process in the following months. They were later penalized: *Arka Gdynia – a one-tier relegation, a five-point deduction at the start of the 2007–08 season. *Cracovia – a five-point deduction at the start of the 2020–21 season and a 1,000,000 PLN fine. *Górnik Łęczna – a two-tier relegation, a six-point deduction at the start of the 2007–08 season. *Górnik Polkowice – a two-tier relegation, a six-point deduction at the start of the 2007–08 season and a 70,000 PLN fine. *Korona Kielce – a one-tier relegation. *Jagiellonia Białystok – a ten-point deduction at the start of 2009–10 season and a 300,000 PLN fine. *KSZO Ostrowiec Świętokrzyski – a one-tier relegation, a six-point deduction at the start of the 2007–08 season. *Zagłębie Lubin – a one-tier relegation. *Zagłębie Sosnowiec – a one-tier relegation.


Statistics


UEFA coefficients

The following data indicates
Polish Polish may refer to: * Anything from or related to Poland, a country in Europe * Polish language * Polish people, people from Poland or of Polish descent * Polish chicken * Polish brothers (Mark Polish and Michael Polish, born 1970), American twin ...
coefficient rankings between European football leagues. ;Country ranking: UEFA League Ranking for the 2020–2025 period: * 13.  (''13'')
Austrian Football Bundesliga The Bundesliga ( , "Federal League"), also known as Admiral Bundesliga for sponsorship reasons, is a professional association football league in Austria and the highest level of the Austrian football league system. The competition decides the A ...
(36.450) * 14.  (''11'')
Scottish Premiership The Scottish Premiership, also known as the William Hill (bookmaker), William Hill Premiership for sponsorship reasons, is a professional association football league in Scotland and the highest level of the Scottish football league system. Th ...
(35.550) * 15.  (''21'') Ekstraklasa (35.000) * 16.  (''16'')
Danish Superliga The Danish Superliga (, ) is a professional association football league in Denmark and the highest level of the Danish football league system. The league is currently contested by 12 teams each year, with 2 teams relegated. It is the current ...
(33.981) * 17.  (''12'')
Swiss Super League The Super League (also known as the Credit Suisse Super League for sponsorship reasons) is a professional association football league in Switzerland and the highest level of the Swiss football league system. It has been played in its current fo ...
(33.625) ;Club ranking: UEFA 5-year Club Ranking for the 2020–2025 period: * 70.
Legia Warsaw 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 2 ...
(''31.000'') * 93.
Lech Poznań Kolejowy Klub Sportowy Lech Poznań S.A., commonly referred to as KKS Lech Poznań or simply Lech Poznań (), is a Polish professional football club based in Poznań and currently competing in the Ekstraklasa, the nation's highest division. ...
(''19.000'') * 119.
Jagiellonia Białystok Jagiellonia Białystok () is a Polish professional football club based in Białystok that plays in the Ekstraklasa, the top level of Polish football. The club was founded in 1920 by soldiers in the 42nd Infantry Regiment Reserve Battalion in Bi ...
(''14.000'') * 186.
Raków Częstochowa Robotniczy Klub Sportowy Raków Częstochowa Spółka Akcyjna (commonly referred to as Raków Częstochowa, or simply Raków) is a Polish professional football club, based in Częstochowa, that competes in the Ekstraklasa, the top tier of natio ...
(''8.000'') * 213.
Wisła Kraków Towarzystwo Sportowe Wisła Kraków Spółka Akcyjna, commonly referred to as Wisła Kraków (), is a Polish professional football club based in Kraków. They currently compete in the I liga, the second level of Polish football league system, ...
(''7.000'') * 216.
Śląsk Wrocław Wrocławski Klub Sportowy Śląsk Wrocław Spółka Akcyjna, commonly known as WKS Śląsk Wrocław (), is a Polish professional Association football, football club based in Wrocław that plays in , the second level of the Polish football leagu ...
(''7.000'') * 223.
Pogoń Szczecin Pogoń Szczecin Spółka Akcyjna, commonly referred to as Pogoń Szczecin (), is a Polish professional football club based in Szczecin, West Pomeranian Voivodeship, which plays in the Ekstraklasa, the top tier of the national football league s ...
(''7.000'') * 224.
Lechia Gdańsk Lechia Gdańsk () is a Polish football (soccer), football club based in Gdańsk. As of the 2025–26 Ekstraklasa, 2025–26 season, they compete in the Ekstraklasa. The club was founded in 1945 by people Polish population transfers (1944–1946 ...
(''7.000'') * 227.
Piast Gliwice Gliwicki Klub Sportowy Piast Gliwice () is a Polish professional football club based in Gliwice. In the 2018–19 season, Piast won its first Polish championship. As of 2025–26, it competes in the Ekstraklasa, Poland's top division. Histo ...
(''7.000'') * 228. Cracovia (''7.000'')


Media coverage

Since 1994, Ekstraklasa broadcast rights have been held by
Canal+ Poland Canals or artificial waterways are waterways or engineered channels built for drainage management (e.g. flood control and irrigation) or for conveyancing water transport vehicles (e.g. water taxi). They carry free, calm surface flow u ...
, with several other broadcasters presenting select games over the years. In 2022, Canal+ renewed their rights through 2027 in a deal worth 1.4 billion PLN. On 17 July 2024,
TVP Sport TVP Sport is a Polish sport channel, owned by TVP, launched on 18 November 2006. The channel is available on Platforma Canal+, Polsat Box, as well as over cable providers. Broadcast SD broadcasting via satellite (''Eutelsat Hot Bird'') stoppe ...
announced they have acquired a sublicense to show one game per week until the end of the 2026–27 season. *
Football in Poland Football is the most popular sport in Poland. Over 400,000 Poles play football regularly, with millions more playing occasionally and 27% being very interested in it. The first professional clubs were founded in the early 1900s, and the Pol ...
*
List of foreign Ekstraklasa players This is a list of foreign players in the Ekstraklasa, which commenced play in 1927. Up to now, 112 different federations associated with one of the following: Asian Football Confederation, AFC, Confederation of African Football, CAF, CONCACAF, CONM ...
*
List of Polish football champions The Polish football champions are the annual winners of Poland's premier annual Association football, football competition. The title has been contested since 1920 in varying forms of competition. From 1921 to 1926 the championship was decided in ...
*
List of sports attendance figures This article lists the attendance of many sports competitions around the world, based in some cases on the number of tickets sold or given away, rather than people actually present. The list is almost exclusively stadium field and indoor arena ba ...


Notes


References


External links


Official website



PSN Futbol – Ekstraklasa league table, results and news
{{UEFA leagues 1
Poland Poland, officially the Republic of Poland, is a country in Central Europe. It extends from the Baltic Sea in the north to the Sudetes and Carpathian Mountains in the south, bordered by Lithuania and Russia to the northeast, Belarus and Ukrai ...
Professional sports leagues in Poland