Arka Gdynia

Polish football club

For the rugby section of the club set up by its fans, see RC Arka Gdynia. For the men's basketball section of the club, see Arka Gdynia (basketball). For the women's basketball section of the club, see Arka Gdynia (women's basketball).

Football club

Arka Gdynia

Full name| Morski Związkowy Klub Sportowy Arka Gdynia
Nickname(s)| Śledzie (The Herrings)
Żółto-Niebiescy (The Yellow and Blues)
Founded| 1929; 96 years ago (1929), as Klub Sportowy Gdynia
Ground| Stadion GOSiR
Capacity| 15,139[1]
Chairman| Wojciech Pertkiewicz
Manager| Dawid Szwarga
League| Ekstraklasa
2024–25| I liga, 1st of 18 (promoted)
Website| http://www.arka.gdynia.pl/

Home colours

Away colours

Third colours

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Current season
Stadion GOSiR

Morski Związkowy Klub Sportowy Arka Gdynia (Polish pronunciation: [ˈmɔrskʲi zvjɔ̃sˈkɔvɨ ˈklup spɔrˈtɔvɨ ˈarka ˈɡdɨɲa]) is a professional football club based in Gdynia, Poland, that plays in the Ekstraklasa after winning the 2024–25 I liga. The club was founded as Klub Sportowy Gdynia in 1929.[2]

Active departments of Arka Gdynia

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Football
(men's)| Basketball
(men's)| Basketball
(women's)
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Rugby union
(men's)| Rugby union
(women's)| Handball
(women's)
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Sailing| Tennis| Esports

## History

[edit]

The history of Arka dates back to 1929, when a group of workers of the Port of Gdynia founded Klub Sportowy (Sports Club) Gdynia (abbreviated KS Gdynia). In 1932, a new stadium of KS was opened at Polanka Redłowska. This location was used by the club until 2000. In 1934, Klub Sportowy Kotwica (Sports Club Anchor) was registered. Both team existed until 1939.

In 1949, Rybacki Klub Sportowy ("Fishermen Sports Club") MIR was formed. Three years later, its name was changed to Klub Sportowy Kolejarz-Arka Gdynia. In 1953, the team for the first time won promotion to the third level of Polish football. In 1959, Arka's U-19 became Polish runner-up, and in 1960, after a dramatic game vs. Hutnik Kraków, Arka won promotion to the Second Division.

In 1964, Arka merged with Doker Gdynia, to form Morski Związkowy Klub Sportowy (MZKS; "Maritime United Sports Club") Gdynia. In 1972, its name was changed into Arka. Two years later Arka won promotion to the Ekstraklasa. Relegated after one year, Arka returned to the top level in 1976. In 1979 Arka, managed by Czesław Boguszewicz, became the first team from Polish Baltic Sea coast to win the Polish Cup. In the final game, which took place in Lublin, Arka beat Wisła Kraków 2–1. In its UEFA Cup Winners' Cup debut, Arka lost to Bulgarian side PFC Beroe Stara Zagora (3–2, 0–2).

In 1982, Arka was relegated from the top level, to return there in 2005. In the 1982 World Cup in Spain, Arka's Janusz Kupcewicz was among top players of Polish national team, which won bronze medal.

In the 1980s and 1990s, Arka played either in the third or second division, with a number of promotions and relegations. In 2001, after six years in the third level, Arka again won promotion to the second division, and in 2005, the team returned to Ekstraklasa.

In 2011, the City of Gdynia completed the construction of a new stadium, located on Olimpijska Street. On 19 February 2011, Arka tied 1–1 with Beroe Stara Zagora in a friendly game to commemorate the opening of their new venue. That year, Arka were relegated from the top level.

In 2016, Arka was promoted to the top level again after taking first place in the I liga. Soon after getting promoted, Arka won the Polish Cup for the second time, and the Polish Super Cup twice: in 2017 and 2018.

## Honours

[edit]

* I liga
* Champions: 2015–16, 2024–25
* Polish Cup
* Winners: 1978–79, 2016–17
* Runners-up: 2017–18, 2020–21
* Polish Super Cup
* Winners: 2017, 2018
* Youth teams
* Polish U-19 Championship
* Champions: 2012
* Runners-up: 1956, 2013
* Third place: 2009
* Polish U-17 Championship
* Runners-up: 2010

## League participation

[edit]

By tier:

* Ekstraklasa: 1974–75, 1976–82, 2005–07, 2008–11, 2016–20, 2025–
* I liga: 1961–62 (2 seasons), 1964–68, 1969–74, 1975–76, 1982–84, 1985–87, 1988–89, 1992–95, 2001–05, 2007–08, 2011–16; 2020–25
* II liga: 1954–60 (7 seasons), 1962–64, 1968–69, 1984–85, 1987–88, 1989–92, 1995–2001

## Fans

[edit]

Ultras

Arka is one of the most supported clubs in Poland, drawing in support from mostly across Pomerania. Outside the Tricity, Arka has fan-clubs in all major cities and towns in the region, such as Tczew, Wejherowo, Braniewo and Kościerzyna for example, as well as fan-clubs in places further away such as Zakopane and Lublin Voivodeship, and even two fan-clubs in Germany set up by expatriate Arka fans, in Oberhausen and Stuttgart.[3]

The fans have an alliance with fans of Cracovia and Lech Poznań, and the three are known as "The Great Triad" (Wielka Triada). Fans of Lechia Gdańsk, Śląsk Wrocław and Wisła Kraków also share a friendship called "The Three Kings of Great Cities" (Trzej Królowie Wielkich Miast) and any match between the two alliances is a considered a big rivalry.[4]

Arka fans maintain alliances with several other fans aside from Cracovia and Lech, many of them lasting now for decades: fans of Zagłębie Lubin (since 1983), Gwardia Koszalin (since 1989), and KSZO Ostrowiec Świętokrzyski (since 2004) are all considered good friends.[5] The friendship with Polonia Bytom fans dates back to 1974, and is one of the longest friendships in supporter history which has survived to date.[6]

The greatest rival or Arka is Lechia Gdańsk, a team with whom they contest the so-called Tricity Derby or Pomeranian Derby. Fans of both teams remain venomously hostile and since the early 1970s the history of games between Arka and Lechia is marked by riots and violence. Relations with another Gdynia football team Bałtyk Gdynia used to be friendly until the 1980s, when they turned hostile. Due to Bałtyk's successive relegations and their declining numbers of fans this rivalry is now of lesser importance.

## Players

[edit]

### Current squad

[edit]

As of 24 March 2025[7]

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. | Nation  | Player

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1  | GK |  POL | Jędrzej Grobelny
2  | DF |  ESP | Marc Navarro
4  | DF |  SVK | Martin Dobrotka
6  | DF |  POL | Kasjan Lipkowski
7  | FW |  POL | Szymon Sobczak
8  | MF |  CIV | Alassane Sidibe
9  | MF |  GEO | Tornike Gaprindashvili
11  | MF |  POL | Dawid Kocyła
13  | DF |  UKR | Oleksandr Azatskyi
14  | MF |  JPN | Hide Vitalucci
16  | MF |  POL | Adam Ratajczyk
18  | DF |  FRA | Julien Célestine
19  | MF |  POL | Michał Rzuchowski
21  | MF |  POL | Kacper Skóra
23  | DF |  ESP | Kike Hermoso
| No. | Pos. | Nation  | Player

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27  | MF |  SUI | João Oliveira
29  | DF |  POL | Michał Marcjanik
30  | GK |  POL | Konrad Krzebietke
31  | MF |  POL | Jakub Staniszewski
32  | DF |  POL | Przemysław Stolc
33  | GK |  POL | Paweł Depka
34  | FW |  POL | Wiktor Sawicki
35  | MF |  POL | Kamil Jakubczyk
36  | FW |  POL | Adrian Jurkiewicz
39  | MF |  POL | Filip Kocaba (on loan from Zagłębie Lubin)
77  | GK |  POL | Damian Węglarz
80  | MF |  BIH | Zvonimir Petrović
94  | DF |  POL | Dawid Gojny (captain)
99  | FW |  POL | Jordan Majchrzak (on loan from Legia Warsaw)

### Out on loan

[edit]

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. | Nation  | Player

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20  | MF |  POL | Michał Borecki (at Znicz Pruszków until 30 June 2025)
28  | MF |  POL | Wojciech Zieliński (at Olimpia Elbląg until 30 June 2025)
38  | DF |  POL | Kamil Górecki (at Olimpia Elbląg until 30 June 2025)
| No. | Pos. | Nation  | Player

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-- | FW |  POL | Marcel Szymański (at KKS Kalisz until 30 June 2025)
-- | MF |  POL | Marcel Predenkiewicz (at Polonia Warsaw until 30 June 2025)

### Retired numbers

[edit]

See also: List of retired numbers in association football

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. | Nation  | Player

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5  | DF |  POL | Zbigniew Bieliński (1966–81 – posthumous honour)

## Managers

[edit]

* Ferdinand Fritsch (1950)
* Herman May (1953)
* Czesław Bartolik (1954–1955)
* Tadeusz Foryś (1956)
* Jan Gazur (1957–1958)
* Edward Kołpa (1959)
* Roman Sawecki (1960)
* Henryk Serafin (1961)
* Piotr Nierychło (1962)
* Stanisław Malon (1962–1963)
* Józef Barbachen (1963–1964)
* Edward Brzozowski (1964–1965)
* Grzegorz Polakow (1965–1971)
* Jerzy Słaboszowski (1971–1975)
* Stefan Żywotko (1975–1976)
* Konrad Araucz (1976–1977)
* Janusz Pekowski (1977)
* Jerzy Steckiw (1977–1979)
* Czesław Boguszewicz (1979–1980)
* Stanisław Stachura (1980–1981)
* Grzegorz Polakow (1981-198x)
* Zbigniew Strzelecki (198x-198x)
* Konrad Araucz (198x-198x)
* Zbigniew Strzelecki (198x-198x)
* Andrzej Trywiański (198x-198x)
* Janusz Inżyński (198x-198x)
* Adam Adamus (198x-198x)
* Krzysztof Szkoda (198x-198x)
* Andrzej Bikiewicz (198x-1987)
* Jerzy Jastrzębowski (1987–1989)
* Andrzej Bikiewicz (1989-19xx)
* Mieczysław Rajski (19xx-1991)
* Jacek Dziubiński (1991–1993)
* Ryszard Lipiński (1993)
* Stanisław Stachura (1993)
* Jacek Dziubiński ()
* Grzegorz Witt (1994–1995)
* Grzegorz Polakow (1994–1995)
* Grzegorz Witt (1994–1995)
* Jacek Dziubiński ()
* Marian Geszke (1995)
* Ryszard Lipiński (1995–1996)
* Jacek Dziubiński (1995–1996)
* Jarosław Kotas (1996–1997)
* Andrzej Bussler (1996–1998)
* Jacek Dziubiński (1998–1999)
* Wojciech Niedźwiedzki (1998–1999)
* Stanisław Stachura (1999–2000)
* Mieczysław Gierszewski (2000–2001)
* Wiesław Pisarski (2001)
* Marek Kusto (2001–2003)
* Mieczysław Rajski (2003–2004)
* Piotr Mandrysz (2003–2004)
* Wojciech Wąsikiewicz (2003–2004)
* Mirosław Dragan (2004–2005)
* Wojciech Wąsikiewicz (2005–2006)
* Zbigniew Kaczmarek (2006)
* Wojciech Stawowy (2006–2007)
* Robert Jończyk (2007–2008)
* Czesław Michniewicz (2008–2009)
* Marek Chojnacki (2009)
* Dariusz Pasieka (2009–2011)
* František Straka (2011)
* Petr Němec (2011–2012)
* Paweł Sikora (2012–2014)[8]
* Piotr Rzepka (2014)
* Dariusz Dźwigała (2014)
* Grzegorz Niciński (2014–2017)
* Leszek Ojrzyński (2017–2018)
* Zbigniew Smółka (2018–2019)
* Jacek Zieliński (2019)
* Aleksandar Rogić (2019–2020)
* Krzysztof Sobieraj (2020)
* Ireneusz Mamrot (2020)
* Dariusz Marzec (2020–2021)
* Ryszard Tarasiewicz (2021–2022)
* Hermes (2022–2023)
* Ryszard Wieczorek (2023)
* Wojciech Łobodziński (2023–2024)
* Tomasz Grzegorczyk (interim) (2024)
* Dawid Szwarga (2024–present)

## Arka in Europe

[edit]

Season  | Competition  | Round  | Opponent  | Home  | Away  | Aggregate

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1979–80 | UEFA Cup Winners' Cup | 1R  |  Beroe Stara Zagora | 3–2  | 0–2  | 3–4
2017–18 | UEFA Europa League | 3Q  |  Midtjylland | 3–2  | 1–2  | 4–4 (a)

## See also

[edit]

* Football in Poland

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Stadion" (in Polish). Arka Gdynia. Retrieved 18 March 2011.
2. ^ "Kalendarium" (in Polish). Arka Gdynia. Retrieved 18 March 2011.
3. ^ "Żółto Niebieskie Fan Kluby".
4. ^ tematy.gazeta.pl/W/2222,Wielka-Triada
5. ^ "Zgody".
6. ^ "Polonia Bytom".
7. ^ "Pierwszy Zespół – Wiosna 2018" (in Polish). Arka Gdynia. Retrieved 7 February 2018.
8. ^ "Arka Gdynia S.A. Oficjalny Serwis Internetowy - Klub > Trenerzy".

## External links

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Arka Gdynia.

* Official website (in Polish)
* "Arkowcy" – fan site (in Polish)
* Statistical history (in Polish)

* v
* t
* e

Arka Gdynia - current squad

* 1 Grobelny
* 2 Navarro
* 4 Dobrotka
* 6 Lipkowski
* 7 Sobczak
* 8 Sidibe
* 9 Gaprindashvili
* 11 Kocyła
* 13 Azatskyi
* 14 Vitalucci
* 16 Ratajczyk
* 18 Célestine
* 19 Rzuchowski
* 21 Skóra
* 23 Hermoso
* 27 Oliveira
* 29 Marcjanik
* 30 Krzebietke
* 31 Staniszewski
* 32 Stolc
* 33 Depka
* 34 Sawicki
* 35 Jakubczyk
* 36 Jurkiewicz
* 39 Kocaba
* 77 Węglarz
* 80 Petrović
* 94 Gojny (c)
* 99 Majchrzak
* Manager: Szwarga

* v
* t
* e

I liga * 2024–25 clubs

* Arka Gdynia
* Bruk-Bet Termalica Nieciecza
* Chrobry Głogów
* GKS Tychy
* Górnik Łęczna
* Kotwica Kołobrzeg
* ŁKS Łódź
* Miedź Legnica
* Odra Opole
* Pogoń Siedlce
* Polonia Warsaw
* Ruch Chorzów
* Stal Rzeszów
* Stal Stalowa Wola
* Warta Poznań
* Wisła Kraków
* Wisła Płock
* Znicz Pruszków

Authority control databases |

* VIAF

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54°29′35.29″N 18°31′52.37″E﻿ / ﻿54.4931361°N 18.5312139°E﻿ / 54.4931361; 18.5312139
*[No.]: Number
*[Pos.]: Position
*[GK]: Goalkeeper
*[DF]: Defender
*[FW]: Forward
*[MF]: Midfielder
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template
*[Lipkowski]: Kasjan Lipkowski
*[Rzuchowski]: Michał Rzuchowski
*[Skóra]: Kacper Skóra
*[Krzebietke]: Konrad Krzebietke
*[Staniszewski]: Jakub Staniszewski
*[Depka]: Paweł Depka
*[Sawicki]: Wiktor Sawicki
*[Jakubczyk]: Kamil Jakubczyk
*[Jurkiewicz]: Adrian Jurkiewicz
*[Kocaba]: Filip Kocaba
*[Petrović]: Zvonimir Petrović