Lechia Gdańsk
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| Full name | Klub Sportowy Lechia Gdańsk Spółka Akcyjna |
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| Nickname(s) | Gdańskie Lwy (Gedanian Lions) Pasiaki (The stripes) Biało-Zieloni (White-Greens) Lechiści (Lechistas) |
| Founded | 1945 |
| Ground | Stadion Energa Gdańsk |
| Capacity | 43,165 |
| Chairman | Adam Mandziara |
| Manager | Piotr Nowak |
| League | Ekstraklasa |
| 2015–16 | 5th |
| Website | Club home page |
Lechia Gdańsk (Polish pronunciation: [ˈlɛxʲa ˈɡdaɲsk]) is a Polish football club based in Gdańsk. The club's name comes from Lechia, a poetic name for Poland. The club was founded by people expelled from Lwów, who were supporters of the oldest Polish football team Lechia Lwów, founded in 1903. Founded in 1945, Lechia was a powerhouse in Polish football during the mid-1950s. Next decades were lean, the team returned to form in the early 1980s, winning a Cup of Poland, a Super Cup, and playing in the UEFA Cup Winners Cup, where it lost in 1st round to Juventus. In May 2008 the club was promoted again to the Polish top division.
The club was founded in 1945 in Gdańsk named at the time "BOP Baltia Gdańsk". In 1946 the club name was changed to "Lechia". The first historic promotion to the Polish Ekstraklasa occurred in 1948.
After a season in the Polish Ekstraklasa, Lechia was relegated in 1949 to the Second Division. The club again changed its name to "Budowlani", advancing to the Polish Ekstraklasa in 1951 and being relegated again in 1953 for a season. In the 1956 season, Lechia finished 3rd in the Polish Ekstraklasa, which is the greatest achievement in the club's history so far. Lechia was relegated for the third time after the 1962–63 season of the Polish Ekstraklasa, and then was relegatged from the Second Division in the 1966–67 season. They returned to the Second Division in the 1972–73 season, but was short lived as they were relegated after the 1981–82 season.
In spite of that the 1980s have been regarded as the rebirth of the club. Lechia was promoted to the Polish 2nd Division in the 1982–83 season. In 1983 the club achieved his biggest successes so far: first by winning the Polish Cup with a 2–1 victory over Piast Gliwice in the final and later by winning the Polish Supercup. In 1984 Lechia finally managed to get promoted to Ekstraklasa after 21 years of absence. The club played in the top league 4 years but in 1988 suffered a decline in form which resulted in another relegation to second division. Lechia normally relegated from West (Zachodnia) Group of second division bu merged with Olimpia Poznań, was Ekstraklasa club, and became Lechia/Olimpia Gdańsk in 1995 summer. Lechia/Olimpia Gdańsk relegated to second division in 1995–96 season and third division in 1996–97 one. After relegation to second division Olimpia left from the merger in 1996 but Lechia kept Lechia/Olimpia name. After end of 1997–98 season Lechia merged with Polonia Gdańsk, was second division club, and became Lechia/Polonia Gdańsk in 1998 summer. Lechia/Polonia merger was broken up after relegation to third division. Lechia began from Gdansk 4 Group of Klasa A, which was sixth level of Polish league in 2001–02. Lechia promoted to second division in 2005 after successive four promotions as champions: To Group Gdansk 2 of Klasa okręgowa in 2002, Pomerania (Pomorska) Group of fourth league in 2003, Second Group (Grupa II) of Third League in 2004. Lechia finished second division (now First League) as 10th in 2005–06 season and 5th in 2006–07 one.
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