Raków Częstochowa
Raków Częstochowa is a Polish professional football club based in Częstochowa that was founded in 1921. The club competes in the Ekstraklasa, Poland's top-flight league, and plays their home matches at the Raków Municipal Stadium. Their most notable achievements include winning their first Ekstraklasa championship in 2022-23, capturing the Polish Cup twice (2020-21, 2021-22), and claiming the Polish Super Cup in both 2021 and 2022. The club has also made their mark in European competition, reaching the Champions League qualifying rounds and participating in the Europa League.
History
Overview
General information about the club
Raków Częstochowa, officially known as Robotniczy Klub Sportowy Raków Częstochowa Spółka Akcyjna, is a Polish professional football club that competes in the Ekstraklasa, the top tier of the national football league system. The club is based in Częstochowa and has experienced a remarkable transformation from lower-division struggles to becoming one of Poland's top football clubs.
Most recent season and achievements
In recent years, Raków has established itself as a major force in Polish football. The club won their first Ekstraklasa championship in 2022-23, qualifying for the Champions League where they reached the last qualifying round against FC Copenhagen. They subsequently participated in the Europa League but were eliminated in the group stages. The club has also been successful in domestic cup competitions, winning the Polish Cup in 2020-21 and 2021-22, and claiming the Polish Super Cup in 2021 and 2022.
History
Early years
Sports club "Racovia" was established in 1921 in the village of Raków. However, 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.
Successful period
In the years 1951–1955, a Raków Municipal Stadium with an athletics track was built. The club experienced its first taste of higher-level football when they competed in the second league during 1962–1966. On 9 July 1967, Raków reached their first Polish Cup final, losing 0–2 to Wisła Kraków. In 1972, Raków's players reached the semi-finals of the Polish Cup, which they lost to Legia Warsaw. In 1994, for the first time in club history, Raków were promoted to Ekstraklasa, competing in the top-flight for four seasons until being relegated after the 1997–98 season.
Crisis and recovery
The club suffered a significant decline after their relegation from the top flight. They endured back-to-back relegations in 1999–2000 and 2000–01, dropping down to the IV liga. This period represented the lowest point in the club's history. However, the club gradually rebuilt itself and finally made it back to the Polish second division, I liga, in 2016.
Current period
The club won the I liga in 2018–19, earning promotion to Ekstraklasa for the first time in 21 years. In the 2020–21 season, Raków finished the league season as runners-up, their highest ever league position at that time, securing their place in the UEFA Europa Conference League qualifiers for the 2021–22 season. This marked their maiden appearance in European football. The club won the 2020–21 Polish Cup, defeating Arka Gdynia in the final 2–1, claiming their first major trophy. On 7 May 2023, Raków won the Ekstraklasa championship for the first time in their history.
Achievements and Honors
Domestic competitions
Raków Częstochowa has achieved significant success in domestic competitions. In league competitions, they won the Ekstraklasa in 2022–23 and finished as runners-up in 2020–21, 2021–22, and 2024–25. The club has also won the I liga (second division) twice, in 1993–94 and 2018–19. In lower divisions, they claimed the II liga (third division) titles in 1962, 1977–78, 1980–81, 1989–90, and 2016–17, and won the III liga (fourth division) in 1936–37, 1956, and 2004–05.
In cup competitions, Raków has won the Polish Cup twice (2020–21, 2021–22) and reached the final in 1966–67 and 2022–23. They have also claimed the Polish Super Cup in 2021 and 2022, with a runners-up finish in 2023.
Continental and global competitions
Raków made their European debut in the 2021–22 UEFA Europa Conference League, progressing through multiple qualifying rounds. They defeated Sūduva on penalties and beat Rubin Kazan 1–0 on aggregate before losing to Gent 1–3 on aggregate in the final qualifying round. In the 2022–23 season, they 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. Following their 2022–23 league title, they qualified for the Champions League, reaching the last qualifying round against FC Copenhagen before participating in the Europa League group stages.
Traditional Rivals
The source material does not provide specific information about traditional rivals of Raków Częstochowa.
Club Traditions and Behind the Scenes
Nicknames
The source material does not provide specific information about club nicknames.
Ownership and finances
The club operates as Robotniczy Klub Sportowy Raków Częstochowa Spółka Akcyjna, indicating it functions as a joint-stock company. Historically, the club was financially supported by the Częstochowa steelworks during its early years.
Traditions and culture
The club's alumni include notable Polish players such as Jakub Błaszczykowski, Jerzy Brzęczek, and Jacek Magiera. Former Polish internationals Jacek Krzynówek and Tomasz Kiełbowicz also played for the club, contributing to its football heritage.
Stadium
Raków plays at the Raków Municipal Stadium, which was built between 1951–1955 and features an athletics track. The stadium serves as the home venue for the club's matches in both domestic and European competitions.
Raków Częstochowa
Club Information
Official Name
Raków Częstochowa
Founding Year
1921
Tactical Formation
4-3-3
Stadium Information
Stadium Name
Stadion Raków
Capacity
5.500
Address
ul. Limanowskiego 83
City
Częstochowa, Ba lan
Surface
grass
Key Personnel
Captain
Zoran Arsenić
Captain's Stats
188cm, 75kg
Head Coach
Dawid Kroczek
Head Coach Age
37 Age
Coach Nationality
PL
Coach Contract
04/05/2026 - 30/06/2028
Recent Honours
| Season | Competition | Achievement |
|---|---|---|
| 2025-2026 | Cúp Ba Lan | 🏆 2 |
| 2024-2025 | VĐQG Ba Lan | 🏆 2 |
| 2023-2024 | Siêu Cúp Ba Lan | 🏆 2 |
| 2022-2023 | VĐQG Ba Lan | 🏆 1 |
| 2022-2023 | VĐQG Ba Lan | 🏆 2 |
Current Season Stats
| Competition | Rank | Matches | W-D-L | Points |
|---|
Goal Statistics
Europa Conference League (UEFA)
9 Scored - 2 Conceded
Ekstraklasa (POL)
51 Scored - 40 Conceded
Ekstraklasa (POL)
51 Scored - 23 Conceded
Ekstraklasa (POL)
54 Scored - 39 Conceded
Europa League (UEFA)
3 Scored - 10 Conceded