Lech Poznań II (Polish pronunciation: [lɛx ˈpɔznaj̃]) is the reserve team and the senior academy team of Lech Poznań, a Polish professional football club based in Poznań. The team and its facilities are based in Wronki.

Lech Poznań II
Full nameKolejowy Klub Sportowy Lech Poznań II
Nickname(s)Kolejorz (The Railwayman)
GroundLech Poznań Academy Stadium
Capacity5,000
ChairmanKarol Klimczak
CoachGrzegorz Wojtkowiak
LeagueIII liga, group II
2023–24II liga, 16th of 18 (relegated)
Websitehttp://www.lechpoznan.pl/

They currently play in group II of the fourth tier of the league pyramid.

Overview

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The team is intended to be the final step between Lech's academy and the first team, and usually consists promising youngsters between the age of 15 and 22, with a few veteran players drafted in to provide experience.

Occasionally, first team players are included in line-ups, to give them an opportunity to regain match fitness.

History

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They are known for the remarkable feat of winning all 36 games in the 1994–95 IV liga season; it was the last season where 2 points were awarded for a win (instead of 3 points), which meant they finished on 72 points (would have been 108 in a three-point system).[citation needed]

They gained promotion in the 2003–04 season to the third tier after winning the league[1] and beating Jarota Jarocin 2–0 twice, 4–0 on aggregate.[2] In that same season, they reached the 1st round of the Polish Cup, but were knocked out by Górnik Konin following a 3–1 loss.[3] After the 2006–07 season,[4] the reserve teams were scrapped in favour of a central youth league, meaning that between 2007 and 2013 the team ceased to exist. They were reinstated to their previous league position for the 2013–14 season.[5]

They won promotion to II liga at the end of the 2018–19 season, making them the highest placed reserves team in Poland at the time.[6] They remained at the third tier for five years, before being relegated from the 2023–24 II liga after finishing 16th.[7]

Current squad

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As of 3 August 2024[8]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 DF   POL Adrian Lis
4 DF   POL Wojciech Mońka
5 DF   POL Maciej Wichtowski
7 DF   POL Maciej Orłowski
8 MF   POL Igor Stankiewicz
9 FW   POL Norbert Pacławski
11 MF   POL Maksym Czekała
13 MF   POL Jan Niedzielski
15 MF   POL Bartłomiej Juszczyk
No. Pos. Nation Player
16 DF   POL Igor Kornobis
17 DF   POL Karol Kalata
19 MF   POL Igor Brzyski
21 MF   POL Maksym Pietrzak
22 MF   POL Aleksander Nadolski
23 MF   POL Sammy Dudek
24 FW   POL Kamil Jakóbczyk
33 GK   POL Wojciech Zborek

Out on loan

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Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
DF   POL Ksawery Kukułka (at Wisła Płock until 30 June 2025)

Coaching staff

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As of 9 July 2024[8]
Position Staff
  Grzegorz Wojtkowiak Head coach
  Karol Bartkowiak Assistant coach
  Maciej Borowski Goalkeeping coach
  Filip Zaranek Match analyst
  Patryk Przybylski Fitness coach
  Damian Bartkiewicz Team doctor
  Hubert Rewers Physiotherapist
  Tomasz Małek Team manager

Stadium

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The Lech Poznań Academy Stadium in Wronki is a small, modern venue with undersoil heating. The ground holds just over 5,000 spectators – a third of the town's population – and has floodlighting. The stadium staged three games during the 2006 UEFA U-19 European Championships held in Poland. It used to be the home of Amica Wronki.

References

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  1. ^ "IV liga 2003/2004, grupa: wielkopolska (północ)". www.90minut.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  2. ^ "Baraże o udział w III lidze, grupa: 2". www.90minut.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  3. ^ "Puchar Polski 2003/2004". www.90minut.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  4. ^ "III liga 2006/2007, grupa: 2". www.90minut.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  5. ^ "Rezerwy skazane na niższe ligi". Legia.info.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  6. ^ "Rezerwy Lecha wywalczyły awans do II ligi". Przegląd Sportowy (in Polish). 8 June 2019. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  7. ^ Dyśko, Maksymilian (25 May 2024). "Lech II Poznań z hukiem spada z 2. ligi. Lechici okazali się gorsi, niż rezerwy najgorszej drużyny ekstraklasy!". gloswielkopolski.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 25 May 2024.
  8. ^ a b "Rezerwy" (in Polish). Lech Poznań. Retrieved 30 October 2021.

Bibliography

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  • Jarosław Owsiański, Lech Poznań – przemilczana prawda, Poznań: Drukarnia Beyga, 2017, 978-83-939221-6-1.