Dyskobolia Grodzisk Wielkopolski
Encyclopedia
Dyskobolia Grodzisk Wielkopolski (dɨskɔˈbɔʎa ˈɡrɔdʑisk fʲɛlkɔˈpɔlski) is a Polish football
club based in Grodzisk Wielkopolski
, Poland
.
After several decades in lower league football, the club was taken over in the mid-1990s by Zbigniew Drzymała, president of the Inter Groclin Auto company, and enjoyed an instant string of promotions culminating in the promotion to top level football in 1997.
Not having its own youth backbone, the club was dependent on players predominantly over 30 years of age, mostly with former league experience. After performing reasonably in the autumn period of the 1997/98 season, they experienced a sudden drop in form, which resulted in relegation. However within a year Dyskobolia was in the top flight again. Although now having many younger and more success-hungry players in the squad, the club performed disastrously in the autumn of 1999, garnering just five points from fifteen games. An unexpected (and some say suspicious) form increase in the spring resulted in eight victories in a row, which was more than enough to fight off relegation.
The club has been in the top flight ever since, enjoying second place honors on two occasions (2003 and 2005). Managers have included Dusan Radolsky
, although Andrzej Janeczek is the current coach.
The first runner-up title made them eligible to play in the UEFA Cup
, in which they eliminated Hertha BSC and Manchester City (with three goals in four games) before falling to Girondins Bordeaux. Their second UEFA cup run was less successful, resulting in a first round exit against RC Lens
.
after the expected merger with Śląsk Wrocław fell through. Polonia replaced Dyskobolia in the Ekstraklasa while the new Dyskobolia team joined the Polish Fourth League (level 5 of the Polish league pyramid).
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
club based in Grodzisk Wielkopolski
Grodzisk Wielkopolski
Grodzisk Wielkopolski is a town in western Poland, in Greater Poland Voivodeship , with a population of 13,703 . It is south-west of Poznań, the voivodeship capital. It is the seat of Grodzisk Wielkopolski County, and also of the smaller administrative district called Gmina Grodzisk Wielkopolski...
, Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
.
History
Dyskobolia Grodzisk Wielkopolski was founded on April 30, 1922.After several decades in lower league football, the club was taken over in the mid-1990s by Zbigniew Drzymała, president of the Inter Groclin Auto company, and enjoyed an instant string of promotions culminating in the promotion to top level football in 1997.
Not having its own youth backbone, the club was dependent on players predominantly over 30 years of age, mostly with former league experience. After performing reasonably in the autumn period of the 1997/98 season, they experienced a sudden drop in form, which resulted in relegation. However within a year Dyskobolia was in the top flight again. Although now having many younger and more success-hungry players in the squad, the club performed disastrously in the autumn of 1999, garnering just five points from fifteen games. An unexpected (and some say suspicious) form increase in the spring resulted in eight victories in a row, which was more than enough to fight off relegation.
The club has been in the top flight ever since, enjoying second place honors on two occasions (2003 and 2005). Managers have included Dusan Radolsky
Dušan Radolský
Dušan Radolský is a Slovak former football player and manager.He has previously managed Polish top flight teams Groclin and Ruch Chorzów...
, although Andrzej Janeczek is the current coach.
The first runner-up title made them eligible to play in the UEFA Cup
UEFA Cup
The UEFA Europa League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1971 for eligible European football clubs. It is the second most prestigious European club football contest after the UEFA Champions League...
, in which they eliminated Hertha BSC and Manchester City (with three goals in four games) before falling to Girondins Bordeaux. Their second UEFA cup run was less successful, resulting in a first round exit against RC Lens
RC Lens
Racing Club de Lens is a French association football club based in the northern city of Lens in the Pas-de-Calais department. Its nickname, sang et or , comes from its traditional colours of red and gold. Their primary rivals are their northern neighbors Lille OSC, whom they contest the Derby du...
.
Merger with Polonia Warsaw
In July 2008 Dyskobolia announced its intention to merge with Polonia WarszawaPolonia Warszawa
Polonia Warsaw is a Polish sports club with football and basketball teams, founded in 1911, and is the oldest such club in Warsaw, where it is based.- History :...
after the expected merger with Śląsk Wrocław fell through. Polonia replaced Dyskobolia in the Ekstraklasa while the new Dyskobolia team joined the Polish Fourth League (level 5 of the Polish league pyramid).
Achievements
- Ekstraklasa (First league)Football in PolandFootball is the most popular sport in Poland. Over 400,000 Poles play football regularly, with millions more playing occasionally. The first professional clubs were founded in the early 1900s, and the Polish national football team played its first international match in 1921.There are hundreds of...
:- Runners-up (2): 2003, 2005
- Polish CupFootball in PolandFootball is the most popular sport in Poland. Over 400,000 Poles play football regularly, with millions more playing occasionally. The first professional clubs were founded in the early 1900s, and the Polish national football team played its first international match in 1921.There are hundreds of...
:- Winner (2): 2005, 2007
- Ekstraklasa CupFootball in PolandFootball is the most popular sport in Poland. Over 400,000 Poles play football regularly, with millions more playing occasionally. The first professional clubs were founded in the early 1900s, and the Polish national football team played its first international match in 1921.There are hundreds of...
:- Winner (2): 2007, 2008
Notable players
- Mariusz LewandowskiMariusz LewandowskiMariusz Lewandowski is a Polish footballer who currently plays as a midfielder for PFC Sevastopol and the Polish national football team. He also plays in defensive midfield where his stamina, strength and aerial ability come to good use.- Career :...
, defender, capped for the Polish national football team - Sebastian MilaSebastian MilaSebastian Mila is a Polish professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Śląsk Wrocław in the Polish Ekstraklasa.-Club career:...
, midfield, capped for the Polish national football team - Radosław Sobolewski, midfield, capped for the Polish national football team
- Piotr ŚwierczewskiPiotr SwierczewskiPiotr Jarosław Świerczewski is a retired Polish football player.-Club:During his 20-year professional career, he played for clubs such as Lech Poznań, GKS Katowice, AS Saint-Étienne , SC Bastia , Gamba Osaka , Olympique Marseille , Birmingham City F.C...
, midfield, capped for the Polish national football team - Grzegorz RasiakGrzegorz RasiakGrzegorz Rasiak born 12 January 1979 in Szczecin, is a Polish international footballer who last played for AEL Limassol in Cyprus. Since 2002, he has played for the Poland national team....
, striker, capped for the Polish national football team - Ivica KrižanacIvica KrižanacIvica Križanac is a Croatian football defender who currently plays for RNK Split.He previously played for Górnik Zabrze of Poland where he became one of Polish league's best players. Since joining FC Zenit Saint Petersburg Ivica has been a major player. He is a consistent player...
, defender, capped for the Croatia national football teamCroatia national football teamThe Croatia national football team represents Croatia in international football. The team is controlled by the Croatian Football Federation, the governing body for football in the country, and has been managed since 2006 by former player Slaven Bilić... - Mićo VranješMićo VranješMićo Vranješ is a Serbian former football player.During his career he played in Serbia with FK Mladost Bački Jarak and FK Vojvodina, Bulgaria with PFC CSKA Sofia, Russia with FC Uralan Elista, Hungary with Pécsi Mecsek FC, Poland with Dyskobolia Grodzisk Wielkopolski and ended his playing career...
, defender, capped for the Yugoslavia national under-21 football teamYugoslavia national under-21 football teamThe Yugoslavia national under-21 football team existed in the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. After the state's dissolution in 1992, the following teams were formed:*Bosnia and Herzegovina national under-21 football team...
Dyskobolia in Europe
| Season | Competition | Round | Club | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Intertoto Cup | 1R |  |
PFC Spartak Varna PFC Spartak Varna PFC Spartak Varna is a Bulgarian professional football club based in Varna, which currently competes in the East B PFG, the second division of the Bulgarian football league system.... |
1-0, 0-4 |
| 2003/04 | UEFA Cup UEFA Cup The UEFA Europa League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1971 for eligible European football clubs. It is the second most prestigious European club football contest after the UEFA Champions League... |
Q |  |
FK Atlantas FK Atlantas FK Atlantas is a Lithuanian football team from the port city of Klaipėda. The team currently plays on the first level of the Lithuanian football league pyramid.... |
2-0, 4-1 |
| 1R |  |
Hertha BSC Berlin Hertha BSC Berlin Hertha Berliner Sport-Club von 1892, commonly known as Hertha BSC or Hertha Berlin, is a German association football club based in Berlin. A founding member of the German Football Association in Leipzig in 1900, the club has a long history as Berlin's best-supported side... |
0-0, 1-0 | ||
| 2R |  |
Manchester City FC | 1-1, 0-0 | ||
| 3R |  |
FC Girondins de Bordeaux FC Girondins de Bordeaux Football Club des Girondins de Bordeaux is a French association football club based in the city of Bordeaux. The club currently play in Ligue 1, the first division of French football, and won its last Ligue 1 title in the 2008–09 season.... |
0-1, 1-4 | ||
| 2005/06 UEFA Cup 2005-06 The UEFA Cup 2005–06 season was won by Sevilla FC, beating Middlesbrough FC in the final. It was the first victory for Sevilla in a European competition, and the first appearance by Middlesbrough in a European final. The final took place at Philips Stadion, in Eindhoven, Netherlands. The match was... |
UEFA Cup UEFA Cup The UEFA Europa League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1971 for eligible European football clubs. It is the second most prestigious European club football contest after the UEFA Champions League... |
2Q |  |
FK Dukla Banská Bystrica FK Dukla Banská Bystrica FK Dukla Banská Bystrica is a Slovak football club from the town of Banská Bystrica. The club plays at the SNP Stadium .- History :* 1965 – Founded as VTJ Dukla Banská Bystrica* 1967 – Renamed AS Dukla Banská Bystrica... |
4-1, 0-0 |
| 1R | |
RC Lens RC Lens Racing Club de Lens is a French association football club based in the northern city of Lens in the Pas-de-Calais department. Its nickname, sang et or , comes from its traditional colours of red and gold. Their primary rivals are their northern neighbors Lille OSC, whom they contest the Derby du... |
1-1, 2-4 | ||
| 2007/08 | UEFA Cup UEFA Cup The UEFA Europa League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1971 for eligible European football clubs. It is the second most prestigious European club football contest after the UEFA Champions League... |
1Q |  |
FK MKT Araz Imisli FK MKT Araz Imisli FK MKT Araz is an Azerbaijani football club based in Imishli, that currently plays in Azerbaijan First Division. The club was founded in 2004 by МКТ Istehsalat-Kommersiya, a cotton manufacturing company.- History :... |
0-0, 1-0 |
| 2Q |  |
Tobol Kostanay FC Tobol FC Tobol is a Kazakh football club based at the Central Stadium in Kostanay. They have been members of the Kazakhstan Premier League since its foundation in 1992, they won Kazakhstan Premier league on 2010, and ended up close in 2nd and 3rd positions in last seven seasons.- Name history :*1967 :... |
1-0, 2-0 | ||
| 1R |  |
FK Crvena Zvezda | 0-1, 0-1 |