RTS Widzew Łódź (Polish pronunciation: [ˈɛrˈtɛˈɛsˈvʲidzɛfˈwut͡ɕ]) is a Polish football club based in Łódź. Formed in 1922, it later named itself the successor of the TMRF Widzew founded in 1910. Its official colours are red and white, hence their nicknames Czerwona Armia (Red Army) and Czerwono-biało-czerwoni (Red-white-reds). They compete in the Ekstraklasa, the top tier of the Polish football league system, since the 2022–23 season. Widzew is one of only two Poland clubs to have participated in the UEFA Champions League group stage.

History

TMRF Widzew membership card from 1914

TMRF Widzew, first club based in Widzew district, was formed on 25 November 1910 by Polish workers and German industrialists who were employees of the Widzew textile manufactory called WIMA. Initially, the club was called the Widzew Society of Physical Development Enthusiasts (in Polish: Towarzystwo Miłośników Rozwoju Fizycznego Widzew), because at that time Łódź was under the rule of the Russian Tsar, and the adjective "workers'" (in Polish: Robotniczy) could not be used in the club's name. After the First World War, Poland regained its independencea and a separate entity was founded in 1922 under the name of Robotnicze Towarzystwo Sportowe Widzew Łódź (Workers' Sports Association Widzew Łódź). The club's mottos are "Together We Create Power" (in Polish Razem Tworzymy Siłę) and "Always 12" (in Polish Zawsze w 12) which is meant to suggest that its fans are the twelfth player on the team. The club plays its matches at the Widzew Łódź Stadium, located in Łódź at 138 Marshal Józef Piłsudski Avenue. The stadium bears the unofficial but commonly used name of the "Heart of Łódź" (in Polish Serce Łodzi).

During World War II, three pre-war players of Widzew Łódź, Joachim Schreer, Mirosław Wągrowski and Aleksander Żadziłko, were among Poles murdered by the Russians in the large Katyn massacre in April–May 1940.

Widzew has won four Polish league championships, in 1980–81, 1981–82, 1995–96 and 1996–97, as well as the 1985 Polish Cup.

After winning back-to-back championships in 1980–81 and 1981–82, Widzew reclaimed the league crown 14 years later after a record season once again. During the successful 1995–96 season, Widzew conceded only 22 goals in 34 matches, the least out of all teams in the league. They were also proficient in attack, scoring 84 goals and securing 88 points across the campaign. Thanks in part to the great performance of their goalkeeper Andrzej Woźniak, the team remained unbeaten for the whole season.

In the following 1996–97 season, the team enjoyed another great season. For the second time in the club's history, they secured back-to-back championships, scoring 74 goals across the season and conceding only 21.

They have appeared in 117 matches in European Cups, of which they won 42. Widzew knocked European giants Manchester United out of the 1980–81 UEFA Cup, although their biggest achievement was reaching the semi-final of the 1982–83 European Cup, eliminating then three-time winners Liverpool along the way.

Recent history

At the beginning of the 2007–08 season, Widzew was purchased by one of the wealthiest men in Poland, Sylwester Cacek.

Home game with Polonia Warsaw in the 2010–11 Ekstraklasa

In January 2008, while playing in the second division, the Polish Football Association ruled that Widzew Łódź should be relegated due to their involvement in a corruption scandal. However, Widzew became champions that year and were allowed to stay in the second division, which was renamed I liga before the start of the 2008-09 season. Despite being deducted six points as a penalty, Widzew won the I Liga again in the 2009-10 season, and were promoted to the Ekstraklasa. However, Widzew were once again relegated at the end of the 2013–14 season after four seasons.

Due to financial problems, Widzew finished last at the end of the 2014–15 season, and subsequently went bankrupt.

Home game with Tur Bielsk Podlaski in the 2017–18 III liga

Local businessmen Marcin Ferdzyn and Grzegorz Waranecki decided to take on amateur status as a new association called Stowarzyszenie Reaktywacja Tradycji Sportowych Widzew Łódź (Association of the Reactivation of the Sports Traditions of Widzew Łódź), which continues the tradition of the old RTS Widzew Łódź. The new association was registered in a Polish court on 2 July 2015, and within a few weeks of summer 2015, they managed to hire a new coach Witold Obarek and gather a new roster, which started the 2015–16 season in the fifth tier of Polish football. In their first season in IV liga, Widzew won promotion. In the 2016–17 season, Widzew achieved third place in III liga, behind Drwęca Nowe Miasto Lubawskie and ŁKS Łódź, but next season yielded promotion to II liga. In the 2018–19 season, they finished in fifth place with 55 points. In the 2021–22 season, Widzew finished 2nd, one point ahead of Arka Gdynia, and returned to Ekstraklasa for the first time since the 2013–14 season.

Honours

Domestic

League

1996–97 Polish Championship trophy for Widzew

Cup

Europe

Youth teams

Results in Ekstraklasa

SeasonPositionMatchesPointsGoalsW.-D.-L.
1194814 (relegation)2613 pts.31–995–3–18
21975–7653032 pts.33–3310–12–8
31976–7723038 pts.46–3114–10–6
41977–78103028 pts.34–409–10–11
51978–7923039 pts.37–2614–11–5
61979–8023036 pts.47–3913–10–7
71980–8113039 pts.39–2514–11–5
81981–8213039 pts.45–3114–11–5
91982–8323038 pts.50–3013–12–5
101983–8423042 pts.43–2515–12–3
111984–8533038 pts.34–1613–12–5
121985–8633041 pts.40–2515–11–4
131986–8763036 pts.34–2914–7–9
141987–8853031 pts.28–248–15–7
151988–8973029 pts.27–279–12–9
161989–9015 (relegation)3017 pts.22–394–12–14
171991–9233443 pts.48–2817–9–8
181992–9353443 pts.60–4216–11–7
191993–9463439 pts.45–3312–15–7
201994–9523445 pts.48–2517–11–6
211995–9613488 pts.84–2227–7–0
221996–9713481 pts.74–2025–6–3
231997–9843461 pts.53–3418–7–9
241998–9923056 pts.50–3318–2–10
251999–200073040 pts.48–5411–7–12
262000–01123036 pts.33–409–9–12
272001–02
Autumn round – group A:81411 pts.9–243–2–9
Spring round – g. relegation:21431 pts.19–86–7–1
282002–0393037 pts.29–3910–7–13
292003–0414 (relegation)2619 pts.25–524–7–15
302006–07123028 pts.27–487–7–16
312007–0815 (relegation)3026 pts.27–425–11–14
322010–1193043 pts.41–3411–10–9
332011–12113039 pts.25–269–12–9
342012–13133033 pts.30–418–9–13
352013–1415 (relegation)3722 pts.36–598–9–20
362022–23123441 pts.38–4711–8–15
372023–2493446 pts.45–4613–7–14
382024–25133440 pts.38–4911–7–16

Widzew in Europe

SeasonCompetitionRoundClubScore
1977–78UEFA Cup1REngland Manchester City2–2, 0–0
2RNetherlands PSV Eindhoven3–5, 0–1
1979–80UEFA Cup1RFrance AS Saint-Étienne2–1, 0–3
1980–81UEFA Cup1REngland Manchester United1–1, 0–0
2RItaly Juventus FC3–1, 1–3 p. 4–1
3REngland Ipswich Town0–5, 1–0
1981–82European Cup1RBelgium RSC Anderlecht1–4, 1–2
1982–83European Cup1RMalta Hibernians FC4–1, 3–1
2RAustria SK Rapid Wien1–2, 5–3
1/4FEngland Liverpool F.C.2–0, 2–3
1/2FItaly Juventus FC0–2, 2–2
1983–84UEFA Cup1RSweden IF Elfsborg0–0, 2–2
2RCzechoslovakia Sparta Prague1–0, 0–3
1984–85UEFA Cup1RDenmark Aarhus Gymnastik Forening2–0, 0–1
2RWest Germany Borussia Mönchengladbach2–3, 1–0
3RSoviet Union FC Dinamo Minsk0–2, 1–0
1985–86European Cup Winners' Cup1RTurkey Galatasaray SK0–1, 2–1
1986–87UEFA Cup1RAustria LASK Linz1–1, 1–0
2RWest Germany Bayer 05 Uerdingen0–0, 0–2
1992–93UEFA Cup1RGermany Eintracht Frankfurt2–2, 0–9
1995–96UEFA CupQWales Bangor City FC4–0, 1–0
1RUkraine FC Chornomorets Odesa1–0, 0–1 p. 5–6
1996–97UEFA Champions LeagueQDenmark Brøndby IF2–1, 2–3
GRGermany Borussia Dortmund1–2, 2–2
GRSpain Atlético Madrid1–4, 0–1
GRRomania Steaua București0–1, 2–0
1997–98UEFA Champions League1QAzerbaijan Neftchi Baku2–0, 8–0
2QItaly Parma FC1–3, 0–4
UEFA Cup1RItaly Udinese Calcio1–0, 0–3
1999–00UEFA Champions League2QBulgaria Litex Lovech4–1, 1–4 p. 3–2
3QItaly ACF Fiorentina1–3, 0–2
UEFA Cup1RLatvia Skonto FC0–1, 2–0
2RFrance AS Monaco FC1–1, 0–2

Best results in European competitions

SeasonAchievementNotes
European Cup
1982–83Semi-finallost to Italy Juventus 0–2 in Turin, 2–2 in Łódź
UEFA Cup
1980–81Round of 16lost to England Ipswich Town 0–5 in Ipswich, 1–0 in Łódź
1984–85Round of 16lost to Soviet Union Dinamo Minsk 0–2 in Łódź, 1–0 in Tbilisi

Players

Current squad

As of 3 March 2026

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

No.Pos.NationPlayer
No. Pos. Nation Player 1 GK POL Bartłomiej Drągowski 2 DF ESP Carlos Isaac 3 DF SVK Samuel Kozlovský 4 DF POL Mateusz Żyro 5 DF CYP Stelios Andreou 6 MF ALB Juljan Shehu 7 MF POL Mariusz Fornalczyk 8 MF DEN Emil Kornvig 9 FW SUI Andi Zeqiri 10 MF ESP Fran Álvarez 14 DF ESP Ricardo Visus 17 DF NOR Christopher Cheng 18 MF ALB Lindon Selahi 19 MF POL Bartłomiej Pawłowski (captain)No. Pos. Nation Player 21 MF DEN Lukas Lerager 22 FW GHA Osman Bukari 25 DF POL Przemysław Wiśniewski 30 GK SRB Veljko Ilić 33 GK POL Jan Krzywański 43 MF POL Leon Madej 46 MF POL Kuba Nawrocki 53 DF COD Steve Kapuadi 55 MF POL Szymon Czyż 77 MF ESP Ángel Baena 91 DF POL Marcel Krajewski 98 GK POL Maciej Kikolski 99 FW POL Sebastian Bergier
1GKPOLBartłomiej Drągowski
2DFESPCarlos Isaac
3DFSVKSamuel Kozlovský
4DFPOLMateusz Żyro
5DFCYPStelios Andreou
6MFALBJuljan Shehu
7MFPOLMariusz Fornalczyk
8MFDENEmil Kornvig
9FWSUIAndi Zeqiri
10MFESPFran Álvarez
14DFESPRicardo Visus
17DFNORChristopher Cheng
18MFALBLindon Selahi
19MFPOLBartłomiej Pawłowski (captain)
No.Pos.NationPlayer
21MFDENLukas Lerager
22FWGHAOsman Bukari
25DFPOLPrzemysław Wiśniewski
30GKSRBVeljko Ilić
33GKPOLJan Krzywański
43MFPOLLeon Madej
46MFPOLKuba Nawrocki
53DFCODSteve Kapuadi
55MFPOLSzymon Czyż
77MFESPÁngel Baena
91DFPOLMarcel Krajewski
98GKPOLMaciej Kikolski
99FWPOLSebastian Bergier

Other players under contract

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

No.Pos.NationPlayer
No. Pos. Nation Player 31 GK POL Mikołaj Biegański
31GKPOLMikołaj Biegański

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.

No.Pos.NationPlayer
No. Pos. Nation Player 13 DF KOS Dion Gallapeni (at Wisła Płock until 30 June 2026) 20 FW CAN Antoni Klukowski (at Polonia Warsaw until 30 June 2026) 27 FW SEN Pape Meïssa Ba (at Red Star until 30 June 2026) 57 MF NGA Samuel Akere (at Osijek until 30 June 2026)No. Pos. Nation Player 78 MF POL Kamil Cybulski (at Stal Mielec until 30 June 2026) — DF POL Paweł Kwiatkowski (at Warta Poznań until 31 December 2026) — MF POL Kajetan Radomski (at MKS Kluczbork until 30 June 2026) — MF CRO Tonio Teklić (at Osijek until 30 June 2026)
13DFKOSDion Gallapeni (at Wisła Płock until 30 June 2026)
20FWCANAntoni Klukowski (at Polonia Warsaw until 30 June 2026)
27FWSENPape Meïssa Ba (at Red Star until 30 June 2026)
57MFNGASamuel Akere (at Osijek until 30 June 2026)
No.Pos.NationPlayer
78MFPOLKamil Cybulski (at Stal Mielec until 30 June 2026)
—DFPOLPaweł Kwiatkowski (at Warta Poznań until 31 December 2026)
—MFPOLKajetan Radomski (at MKS Kluczbork until 30 June 2026)
—MFCROTonio Teklić (at Osijek until 30 June 2026)

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.

No.Pos.NationPlayer
No. Pos. Nation Player 11 FW POL Włodzimierz Smolarek (1974–78, 1980–86 - posthumous honour)
11FWPOLWłodzimierz Smolarek (1974–78, 1980–86 - posthumous honour)

Notable players

Managers

Stadium

Widzew Łódź Stadium

The club's home stadium was the Municipal Stadium (Polish: Stadion Miejski) opened in 1930. The stadium, which was owned by the city of Łódź, had a capacity of 10,500 seats. In early 2015, it was demolished to make way for a new stadium with 18,000 seats. It was intended the new stadium would be completed by November 2016.

In the 2014–15 season, Widzew played their home matches in Byczyna near Poddębice, 40 km west of Łódź.

After bankruptcy and relegation to the fifth division, a rebuilt team was forced to play its domestic games in Łódź at UKS SMS Łódź stadium, during the construction of a new Widzew Łódź Stadium.

The first match at their new stadium was played on 18 March 2017, where Widzew won 2–0 against Motor Lubawa. 17,443 fans attended the game.

Fans

Ultras of Widzew during a derby match against ŁKS Łódź in the 2007–08 Ekstraklasa

Widzew has one of the largest fan-bases in Poland with fan-clubs all around the country. Widzew's biggest rival is ŁKS Łódź, with whom they contest the Łódź Derby. Legia Warsaw are also big rivals, with whom they contest the Derby of Poland, which stems from the fact there were frequent title races between the two clubs. Their fans maintain friendly relations with fans of Ruch Chorzów, Elana Toruń, KKS Kalisz, Wisła Kraków and Pogoń Szczecin. A little group of ultras has a friendship with Hungarian side Honvéd, due to the Hungary–Poland relations.[citation needed]

TMRF Widzew Łódź

TMRF Widzew was a football team created by the active supporters of Widzew in 2014, who were in a long conflict with the club board. Only Widzew supporters were admitted to the squad.

See also

External links

  • (in Polish)
  • at 90minut.pl (in Polish)