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 national football league system.

Source: Wikipedia

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Raków Częstochowa

History

Raków Częstochowa

Poster advertising a friendly match between Raków Częstochowa and KKS Częstochowa, 1946

Sports club "Racovia" was established in 1921 in the village of Raków. The club dissolved in 1925 due to lack of registration. In 1927, the club was reactivated under the name of the Robotniczy Klub Sportowy (Workers Sports Club) Raków. A year later, the village became a district of Częstochowa. The club operated under the patronage of the Polish Socialist Party and was financially supported by the Częstochowa steelworks. In 1937, the club was promoted to Klasa A (third level). During the German occupation (World War II), the club did not function. In the years 1951–1955, a Raków Municipal Stadium with an athletics track was built. In the years 1962–1966, the football team competed in the second league.

On 9 July 1967, Raków lost 0–2 to Wisła Kraków in their first Polish Cup final appearance. In 1972, Raków's players reached the semi-finals of the Polish Cup, which they lost to Legia Warsaw. In the years 1978–1980, 1981–1984 and 1990–1994 the club played in the second league. In 1993, the junior team took 2nd place in the Football Junior Championships of Poland. In 1994, for the first time in club history, Raków were promoted to Ekstraklasa. They competed in the top-flight for four seasons until being relegated after the 1997–98 season. The club suffered back-to-back relegations in 1999–2000 and 2000–01, dropping down to the IV liga. The club finally made it to back to the Polish second division, I liga, in 2016.

Promotion and European football

The club won the I liga in 2018–19, earning promotion to Ekstraklasa for the first time in 21 years. In the same season, they impressed in the 2018–19 Polish Cup, reaching the semi-finals of the competition by beating the likes of Lech Poznań in the round of 32 and Legia Warsaw in the quarter-finals. They finished the 2019–20 season in 10th place.

Match between Raków and Lechia Gdańsk

In the 2020–21 season, Raków finished the league season as runners-up. This was their highest ever league position in their history, and it secured their place in the newly formed UEFA Europa Conference League qualifiers for the 2021–22 season, their maiden appearance in European football. Further success followed when Raków won the 2020–21 Polish Cup, their first major trophy, defeating I liga side Arka Gdynia in the final 2–1 on 2 May 2021. On 17 July 2021, Raków Częstochowa defeated reigning Ekstraklasa title holders Legia Warsaw on penalties to win the 2021 Polish Super Cup.

Their first ever appearance in European football was in the second qualifying round of the 2021–22 UEFA Europa Conference League, facing Lithuanian team Sūduva, with the game finishing 0–0 (4–3 pens) after both legs. They faced Russian Premier League side Rubin Kazan in the third qualifying round, beating them 1–0 on aggregate score. In the final qualifying round, they faced Belgian side Gent, which they beat 1–0 in the first leg, but lost 0–3 in the second leg, losing 1–3 on aggregate, eliminating them from the competition.

On 2 May 2022, Raków defeated Lech Poznań 3–1 and secured its second consecutive Polish Cup. In the race for the league title that season, Raków lost out to the same opponents by just five points, with the champions being decided on the penultimate day of the season. On 9 July 2022, Raków won their second consecutive Polish Super Cup with a 2–0 win over Lech Poznań. In the UEFA Europa Conference League qualifying phase, the team defeated FC Astana (6–0 agg.) and FC Spartak Trnava (3–0 agg.), but lost to Slavia Prague (2–3 agg.) in the play-off round.

On 7 May 2023, Raków won the Ekstraklasa championship for the first time in their history, and thus qualified for the Champions League, where they reached the last qualifying round and faced FC Copenhagen from Denmark. Raków subsequently played in the Europa League that season, where they were knocked out in the group stages.

Players and pupils

Raków Częstochowa players before match vs Aris Limassol FC in 2023

The club's alumni include Jakub Błaszczykowski, Jerzy Brzęczek and Jacek Magiera. Former Polish internationals such as Jacek Krzynówek and Tomasz Kiełbowicz also played for the club.

Players

Current squad

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

<table><thead><tr><th>No.</th><th>Pos.</th><th>Nation</th><th>Player</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>1</td><td>GK</td><td> POL</td><td>Kacper Trelowski</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>DF</td><td> POL</td><td>Ariel Mosór</td></tr><tr><td>4</td><td>DF</td><td> GRE</td><td>Stratos Svarnas (3rd captain)</td></tr><tr><td>5</td><td>MF</td><td> CRO</td><td>Marko Bulat</td></tr><tr><td>6</td><td>MF</td><td> POL</td><td>Oskar Repka</td></tr><tr><td>7</td><td>DF</td><td> CRO</td><td>Fran Tudor (vice-captain)</td></tr><tr><td>8</td><td>MF</td><td> POL</td><td>Tomasz Pieńko</td></tr><tr><td>9</td><td>FW</td><td> POL</td><td>Patryk Makuch</td></tr><tr><td>10</td><td>MF</td><td> ESP</td><td>Ivi</td></tr><tr><td>11</td><td>MF</td><td> BRA</td><td>Adriano Amorim</td></tr><tr><td>17</td><td>FW</td><td> POR</td><td>Leonardo Rocha</td></tr><tr><td>18</td><td>FW</td><td> NOR</td><td>Jonatan Braut Brunes</td></tr><tr><td>19</td><td>MF</td><td> POL</td><td>Michael Ameyaw</td></tr><tr><td>20</td><td>MF</td><td> BRA</td><td>Jean Carlos</td></tr><tr><td>21</td><td>DF</td><td> POL</td><td>Jerzy Napieraj</td></tr><tr><td>No.</td><td>Pos.</td><td>Nation</td><td>Player</td></tr><tr><td>22</td><td>MF</td><td> NGA</td><td>Abraham Ojo</td></tr><tr><td>23</td><td>MF</td><td> POL</td><td>Karol Struski</td></tr><tr><td>24</td><td>DF</td><td> CRO</td><td>Zoran Arsenić (captain)</td></tr><tr><td>25</td><td>DF</td><td> ROU</td><td>Bogdan Racovițan</td></tr><tr><td>26</td><td>DF</td><td> KEN</td><td>Erick Otieno</td></tr><tr><td>27</td><td>DF</td><td> POL</td><td>Paweł Dawidowicz</td></tr><tr><td>29</td><td>GK</td><td> POL</td><td>Wiktor Żołneczko</td></tr><tr><td>30</td><td>MF</td><td> UKR</td><td>Vladyslav Kocherhin</td></tr><tr><td>31</td><td>GK</td><td> POL</td><td>Dominik Czeremski</td></tr><tr><td>35</td><td>DF</td><td> SVN</td><td>Mitja Ilenič (on loan from New York City FC)</td></tr><tr><td>39</td><td>FW</td><td> SWE</td><td>Isak Brusberg</td></tr><tr><td>44</td><td>MF</td><td> SRB</td><td>Bogdan Mirčetić</td></tr><tr><td>48</td><td>GK</td><td> POL</td><td>Oliwier Zych (on loan from Aston Villa)</td></tr><tr><td>80</td><td>FW</td><td> GUI</td><td>Lamine Diaby-Fadiga</td></tr></tbody></table>

Out on loan

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

<table><thead><tr><th>No.</th><th>Pos.</th><th>Nation</th><th>Player</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>14</td><td>MF</td><td> SRB</td><td>Srđan Plavšić (at Baník Ostrava until 30 June 2026)</td></tr><tr><td>21</td><td>MF</td><td> POL</td><td>Antoni Burkiewicz (at Podhale Nowy Targ until 30 June 2026)</td></tr><tr><td>28</td><td>MF</td><td> COL</td><td>Jesús Díaz (at Zagłębie Lubin until 30 June 2026)</td></tr><tr><td>31</td><td>GK</td><td> BIH</td><td>Muhamed Šahinović (at HNK Gorica until 30 June 2026)</td></tr><tr><td>No.</td><td>Pos.</td><td>Nation</td><td>Player</td></tr><tr><td>76</td><td>GK</td><td> POL</td><td>Jakub Rajczykowski (at Polonia Bytom until 30 June 2026)</td></tr><tr><td>97</td><td>MF</td><td> SEN</td><td>Ibrahima Seck (at Sūduva until 30 November 2026)</td></tr><tr><td>99</td><td>FW</td><td> POL</td><td>Adam Basse (at Hutnik Kraków until 30 June 2026)</td></tr><tr><td>—</td><td>MF</td><td> POL</td><td>Kacper Nowakowski (at Chrobry Głogów until 30 June 2026)</td></tr></tbody></table>

Retired numbers

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

<table><thead><tr><th>No.</th><th>Pos.</th><th>Nation</th><th>Player</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>13</td><td>MF</td><td> POL</td><td>Piotr Malinowski (2015–21)</td></tr></tbody></table>

Notable players

Players who have appeared for their respective national team at any time. Players whose name is listed in bold represented their countries while playing for Raków.

Player records

Most goals

<table><thead><tr><th>#</th><th>Nat.</th><th>Name</th><th>Goals</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>1</td><td></td><td>Zdzisław Sławuta</td><td>106</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td></td><td>Waldemar Żebrowski</td><td>98</td></tr><tr><td>3</td><td></td><td>Sławomir Palacz</td><td>87</td></tr><tr><td>4</td><td></td><td>Jan Spychalski</td><td>77</td></tr><tr><td>5</td><td></td><td>Piotr Malinowski</td><td>74</td></tr><tr><td>6</td><td></td><td>Tomasz Czok</td><td>71</td></tr><tr><td>7</td><td></td><td>Grzegorz Skwara</td><td>69</td></tr><tr><td>8</td><td></td><td>Ivi</td><td>62</td></tr><tr><td>9</td><td></td><td>Czesław Kusal</td><td>59</td></tr><tr><td>10</td><td></td><td>Mirosław Małolepszy</td><td>56</td></tr></tbody></table>

Players whose name is listed in bold are still active.

Top goalscorers

<table><thead><tr><th>Season</th><th>Name</th><th>G</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>2002–03 IV liga</td><td>Tomasz Czok</td><td>15</td></tr><tr><td>2004–05 IV liga</td><td>Tomasz Czok</td><td>23</td></tr><tr><td>2021–22 Ekstraklasa</td><td>Ivi</td><td>20</td></tr></tbody></table>

Honours

League

• Ekstraklasa • Winners: 2022–23 • Runners-up: 2020–21, 2021–22, 2024–25 • I liga (second division) • Winners: 1993–94, 2018–19 • II liga (third division) • Winners: 1962, 1977–78, 1980–81, 1989–90, 2016–17 • III liga (fourth division) • Winners: 1936–37, 1956, 2004–05

Cups

• Polish Cup • Winners: 2020–21, 2021–22 • Runners-up: 1966–67, 2022–23 • Polish Super Cup • Winners: (/wiki/2021PolishSuperCup), (/wiki/2022PolishSuperCup) • Runners-up: (/wiki/2023PolishSuperCup)

Raków Częstochowa in European football

Raków Częstochowa

Home game with F.C. Copenhagen in the 2023–24 UEFA Champions League play-off round

<table><thead><tr><th>Competition</th><th>Games</th><th>Wins</th><th>Draws</th><th>Losses</th><th>GS</th><th>GA</th><th>GD</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>UEFA Champions League</td><td>8</td><td>5</td><td>2</td><td>1</td><td>12</td><td>6</td><td>+6</td></tr><tr><td>UEFA Europa League</td><td>6</td><td>1</td><td>1</td><td>4</td><td>3</td><td>10</td><td>–7</td></tr><tr><td>UEFA Conference League</td><td>26</td><td>15</td><td>6</td><td>5</td><td>36</td><td>15</td><td>+21</td></tr><tr><td>Total</td><td>40</td><td>21</td><td>9</td><td>10</td><td>51</td><td>31</td><td>+20</td></tr></tbody></table>

Results

<table><thead><tr><th>Season</th><th>Competition</th><th>Round</th><th>Opponent</th><th>Home</th><th>Away</th><th>Aggregate</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>2021–22</td><td>UEFA Europa Conference League</td><td>2Q</td><td>Sūduva</td><td>0–0 (a.e.t.)</td><td>0–0</td><td>0–0 (4–3 p)</td></tr><tr><td>3Q</td><td>Rubin Kazan</td><td>0–0</td><td>1–0 (a.e.t.)</td><td>1–0</td></tr><tr><td>PO</td><td>Gent</td><td>1–0</td><td>0–3</td><td>1–3</td></tr><tr><td>2022–23</td><td>UEFA Europa Conference League</td><td>2Q</td><td>Astana</td><td>5–0</td><td>1–0</td><td>6–0</td></tr><tr><td>3Q</td><td>Spartak Trnava</td><td>1–0</td><td>2–0</td><td>3–0</td></tr><tr><td>PO</td><td>Slavia Prague</td><td>2–1</td><td>0–2 (a.e.t.)</td><td>2–3</td></tr><tr><td>2023–24</td><td>UEFA Champions League</td><td>1Q</td><td>Flora</td><td>1–0</td><td>3–0</td><td>4–0</td></tr><tr><td>2Q</td><td>Qarabağ</td><td>3–2</td><td>1–1</td><td>4–3</td></tr><tr><td>3Q</td><td>Aris Limassol</td><td>2–1</td><td>1–0</td><td>3–1</td></tr><tr><td>PO</td><td>Copenhagen</td><td>0–1</td><td>1–1</td><td>1–2</td></tr><tr><td>UEFA Europa League</td><td>GS</td><td>Atalanta</td><td>0–4</td><td>0–2</td><td>4th</td></tr><tr><td>Sporting CP</td><td>1–1</td><td>1–2</td></tr><tr><td>Sturm Graz</td><td>0–1</td><td>1–0</td></tr><tr><td>2025–26</td><td>UEFA Conference League</td><td>2Q</td><td>Žilina</td><td>3–0</td><td>3–1</td><td>6–1</td></tr><tr><td>3Q</td><td>Maccabi Haifa</td><td>0–1</td><td>2–0</td><td>2–1</td></tr><tr><td>PO</td><td>Arda</td><td>1–0</td><td>2–1</td><td>3–1</td></tr><tr><td>LP</td><td>Universitatea Craiova</td><td>2–0</td><td>—N/a</td><td>2nd</td></tr><tr><td>Sigma Olomouc</td><td>—N/a</td><td>1–1</td></tr><tr><td>Sparta Prague</td><td>—N/a</td><td>0–0</td></tr><tr><td>Rapid Wien</td><td>4–1</td><td>—N/a</td></tr><tr><td>Zrinjski Mostar</td><td>1–0</td><td>—N/a</td></tr><tr><td>Omonia</td><td>—N/a</td><td>1–0</td></tr><tr><td>1/8</td><td>Fiorentina</td><td>1–2</td><td>1–2</td><td>2–4</td></tr></tbody></table>

UEFA Team ranking

<table><thead><tr><th>Rank</th><th>Team</th><th>Points</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>81</td><td>Jagiellonia Białystok</td><td>22.000</td></tr><tr><td>82</td><td>Partizan</td><td>22.000</td></tr><tr><td>83</td><td>Raków Częstochowa</td><td>21.750</td></tr><tr><td>84</td><td>Molde</td><td>21.750</td></tr><tr><td>85</td><td>Omonia</td><td>21.250</td></tr></tbody></table>

Coaches and managers

Raków Częstochowa

Marek Papszun is Raków's most successful coach.