Ekstraklasa
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Ekstraklasa |
|---|
 Ekstraklasa 2007-08 |
 |
| Founded |
| 1927 |
| Nation |
 Poland |
| Relegation To |
| II liga |
| Number of Teams |
| 16 |
| European Qualification |
| Champions League UEFA Cup Intertoto Cup |
| Cups |
| Polish Cup Ekstraklasa Cup Ekstraklasa Supercup |
| Current Champions |
| Wisła Kraków |
| Website |
| Official |
The Ekstraklasa, current styled as the Orange Ekstraklasa for sponsorship purposes, is the top division of Polish football premier league.
The Ekstraklasa (former I liga) was formed as Liga Piłki Nożnej (LPN) on 1 March 1927 in Warsaw, but Polish Championships as non-league competition and The Polish Football Federation PZPN (Polski Związek Piłki Nożnej) had been organized on 20 December 1919 in Warsaw, a year after the independence of Poland in 1918. First, historic games of the freshly created League took place on April 3, 1927 (for more information about games in the 1920s and 1930s, see Polish Football League 1927-1939)
Currently the Ekstraklasa has 16 teams. The winner automatically receives the Polish Championship title. In the course of the time, number of teams participating in the Ekstraklasa games differed. In the 1990s there were as many as 18 teams, but in late 1930s - only 10.
Contents |
[edit] Ekstraklasa members for 2008-09
The following 16 teams will compete in the Ekstraklasa during the 2008-09 season.
| Club | Position in 2007-2008 |
Ekstraklasa Titles (Last title) |
City | Stadium |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arka Gdynia | 3rd (2L) | 0 | Gdynia | Stadion GOSiR |
| Cracovia Kraków | 7th | 5 (1947-48) | Kraków | Marshal Józef Piłsudski Stadium |
| Dyskobolia Grodzisk Wielkopolskia | 3rd | 0 | Grodzisk Wielkopolski | Stadion Dyskobolia |
| GKS Bełchatów | 9th | 0 | Bełchatów | Stadion GKS |
| Górnik Zabrze | 8th | 14 (1987-88) | Zabrze | Ernest Pohl Stadium |
| Jagiellonia Białystok | 14th | 0 | Białystok | Białystok City Stadium |
| Korona Kielce | 6th | 0 | Kielce | Kielce City Stadium |
| Lech Poznań | 4th | 5 (1992-93) | Poznań | Stadion Miejski in Poznań |
| Lechia Gdańsk | 1st (2L) | 0 | Gdańsk | |
| Legia Warszawa | 2nd | 8 (2005-06) | Warsaw | Polish Army Stadium |
| ŁKS Łódź | 11th | 2 (1997-98) | Łódź | Stadion ŁKS |
| Odra Wodzisław | 12th | 0 | Wodzisław Śląski | MOSiR Stadium |
| Polonia Bytom | 13th | 2 (1961-62) | Bytom | Stadion Edwarda Szymkowiaka |
| Ruch Chorzów | 10th | 14 (1988-89) | Chorzów | Stadion Ruchu |
| Śląsk Wrocława | 2nd (2L) | 1 (1976-77) | Wrocław | |
| Wisła Kraków | 1st | 11 (2007-08) | Kraków | Wisła Stadium |
| Zagłębie Lubin | 5th | 2 (2006-2007) | Lubin | Stadion Zagłębia Lubin |
a Dyskobolia Grodzisk Wielkopolski and Śląsk Wrocław will be merged for the 2008-09 season.
[edit] Corruption scandal
Several clubs have been involved in a corruption scandal and were/are in danger of relegation:
- Arka Gdynia - relegated from 1st to 2nd division, -5 points at the start of next season
- Górnik Łęczna - relegated from 1st to 3rd division, -6 points at the start of next season
- Górnik Polkowice - 70 000 zł penalty, relegated from 2nd to 4th division, -6 points at the start of next season
- KSZO Ostrowiec Świętokrzyski - relegated from 2nd to 3rd division, - 6 points at the start of the next season
- Zagłębie Sosnowiec - at the end of 2007/08 will be relegated one level lower, so if they'll end the season as 16th or 15th team of 1st division, they'll be relegated to 3rd division, if they finish the league at a higher place, they'll be relegated to 2nd division
- Widzew Łódź - at the end of 2007/08 will be relegated one level lower due to corruption.
Other clubs which are partly involved in corruption scandal:
- Korona Kielce (1st division)
- Zagłębie Lubin(1st division, Polish champion 2006-2007)
[edit] Television
Three matches weekly - usually Friday evening, Saturday and Sunday - are telecast nationally by Canal Plus Sport of Poland.
[edit] List of champions
¹ Non-league championship
² Not held due to the 1924 Summer Olympics
³ Abandoned due to the outbreak of World War II. On 31 August 1939 Ruch Chorzów was the leader.
[edit] Clubs by number of championships
| Titles | Team |
|---|---|
| 14 | Górnik Zabrze |
| 14 | Ruch Chorzów |
| 11 | Wisła Kraków |
| 8 | Legia Warszawa |
| 5 | Cracovia Kraków |
| 5 | Lech Poznań |
| 4 | Pogoń Lwów |
| 4 | Widzew Łódź |
| 2 | Polonia Warszawa |
| 2 | Zagłębie Lubin |
| 2 | ŁKS Łódź |
| 2 | Stal Mielec |
| 2 | Polonia Bytom |
| 2 | Warta Poznań |
| 1 | Śląsk Wrocław |
| 1 | Szombierki Bytom |
| 1 | Garbarnia Kraków |
