Club Friendly List 07/08 12:00 - Rakow Czestochowa v Lommel - View
Club Friendly List 07/08 12:00 - Slovan Liberec v Rakow Czestochowa - View
Poland Ekstraklasa 07/19 18:15 1 GKS Katowice v Rakow Czestochowa - View
UEFA Conference League Qualifying 07/24 19:00 15 Rakow Czestochowa v MSK Zilina - View
Poland Ekstraklasa 07/27 12:45 2 Rakow Czestochowa v Wisla Plock - View
UEFA Conference League Qualifying 07/31 18:30 15 MSK Zilina v Rakow Czestochowa - View
Poland Ekstraklasa 08/03 15:30 3 Radomiak Radom v Rakow Czestochowa - View
Poland Ekstraklasa 08/09 16:00 4 Rakow Czestochowa v Zaglebie Lubin - View
Poland Ekstraklasa 08/16 16:00 5 Termalica BB Nieciecza v Rakow Czestochowa - View
Poland Ekstraklasa 08/23 16:00 6 Rakow Czestochowa v Lech Poznan - View
Poland Ekstraklasa 08/30 16:00 7 Pogon Szczecin v Rakow Czestochowa - View
Poland Ekstraklasa 09/13 16:00 8 Rakow Czestochowa v Gornik Zabrze - View
Poland Ekstraklasa 09/20 16:00 9 Rakow Czestochowa v Legia Warsaw - View
Poland Ekstraklasa 09/27 16:00 10 Widzew Lodz v Rakow Czestochowa - View
Poland Ekstraklasa 10/04 16:00 11 Rakow Czestochowa v Motor Lublin - View
Poland Ekstraklasa 10/18 16:00 12 Cracovia Krakow v Rakow Czestochowa - View
Poland Ekstraklasa 10/25 16:00 13 Rakow Czestochowa v Lechia Gdansk - View
Poland Ekstraklasa 10/31 17:00 14 Jagiellonia Bialystok v Rakow Czestochowa - View
Poland Ekstraklasa 11/08 17:00 15 Korona Kielce v Rakow Czestochowa - View
Poland Ekstraklasa 11/22 17:00 16 Rakow Czestochowa v Piast Gliwice - View
Poland Ekstraklasa 11/29 17:00 17 Arka Gdynia v Rakow Czestochowa - View
Poland Ekstraklasa 12/06 17:00 18 Rakow Czestochowa v GKS Katowice - View
Poland Ekstraklasa 01/31 17:00 19 Wisla Plock v Rakow Czestochowa - View
Poland Ekstraklasa 02/07 17:00 20 Rakow Czestochowa v Radomiak Radom - View
Poland Ekstraklasa 02/14 17:00 21 Zaglebie Lubin v Rakow Czestochowa - View
Poland Ekstraklasa 02/21 17:00 22 Rakow Czestochowa v Termalica BB Nieciecza - View
Poland Ekstraklasa 02/28 17:00 23 Lech Poznan v Rakow Czestochowa - View
Poland Ekstraklasa 03/07 17:00 24 Rakow Czestochowa v Pogon Szczecin - View
Poland Ekstraklasa 03/14 17:00 25 Gornik Zabrze v Rakow Czestochowa - View
Poland Ekstraklasa 03/21 17:00 26 Legia Warsaw v Rakow Czestochowa - View

Wikipedia - Raków Częstochowa

Robotniczy Klub Sportowy Raków Częstochowa Spółka Akcyjna (commonly referred to as Raków Częstochowa, or simply Raków) is a Polish professional football club, based in Częstochowa, that competes in the Ekstraklasa, the top tier of national football league system.

History

Poster advertising a friendly match between Raków Częstochowa and KKS Częstochowa, 1946

Sports club "Racovia" was established in 1921 in the village of Raków. 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. In the years 1951–1955, a Raków Municipal Stadium with an athletics track was built. In the years 1962–1966, the football team competed in the second league.

On 9 July 1967, Raków lost 0–2 to Wisła Kraków in their first Polish Cup final appearance. In 1972, Raków's players reached the semi-finals of the Polish Cup, which they lost to Legia Warsaw. In the years 1978–1980, 1981–1984 and 1990–1994 the club played in the second league. In 1993, the junior team took 2nd place in the Football Junior Championships of Poland. In 1994, for the first time in club history, Raków were promoted to Ekstraklasa. They competed in the top-flight for four seasons until being relegated after the 1997–98 season. The club suffered back-to-back relegations in 1999–2000 and 2000–01, dropping down to the IV liga. The club finally made it to back to the Polish second division, I liga, in 2016.

Promotion and European football

The club won the I liga in 2018–19, earning promotion to Ekstraklasa for the first time in 21 years. In the same season, they impressed in the 2018–19 Polish Cup, reaching the semi-finals of the competition by beating the likes of Lech Poznań in the round of 32 and Legia Warsaw in the quarter-finals. They finished the 2019–20 season in 10th place.

Match between Raków and Lechia Gdańsk

In the 2020–21 season, Raków finished the league season as runners-up. This was their highest ever league position in their history, and it secured their place in the newly formed UEFA Europa Conference League qualifiers for the 2021–22 season, their maiden appearance in European football. Further success followed when Raków won the 2020–21 Polish Cup, their first major trophy, defeating I liga side Arka Gdynia in the final 2–1 on 2 May 2021. On 17 July 2021, Raków Częstochowa defeated reigning Ekstraklasa title holders Legia Warsaw on penalties to win the 2021 Polish Super Cup.

Their first ever appearance in European football was in the second qualifying round of the 2021–22 UEFA Europa Conference League, facing Lithuanian team Sūduva, with the game finishing 0–0 (4–3 pens) after both legs. They faced Russian Premier League side Rubin Kazan in the third qualifying round, beating them 1–0 on aggregate score. In the final qualifying round, they faced Belgian side Gent, which they beat 1–0 in the first leg, but lost 0–3 in the second leg, losing 1–3 on aggregate, eliminating them from the competition.

On 2 May 2022, Raków defeated Lech Poznań 3–1 and secured its second consecutive Polish Cup. In the race for the league title that season, Raków lost out to the same opponents by just five points, with the champions being decided on the penultimate day of the season. On 9 July 2022, Raków won their second consecutive Polish Super Cup with a 2–0 win over Lech Poznań. In the UEFA Europa Conference League qualifying phase, the team 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.

On 7 May 2023, Raków won the Ekstraklasa championship for the first time in their history, and thus qualified for the Champions League, where they reached the last qualifying round and faced FC Copenhagen from Denmark. Raków subsequently played in the Europa League that season, where they were knocked out in the group stages.

Players and pupils

Raków Częstochowa players before match vs Aris Limassol FC in 2023

The club's alumni include Jakub Błaszczykowski, Jerzy Brzęczek and Jacek Magiera. Former Polish internationals such as Jacek Krzynówek and Tomasz Kiełbowicz also played for the club.

Raków Częstochowa is a professional soccer team based in Częstochowa, Poland. Founded in 1921, the club has a rich history and a passionate fan base. Known for their distinctive red and blue colors, Raków has made significant strides in Polish football, particularly in recent years.

The team competes in the Ekstraklasa, Poland's top-tier league, and has established itself as a formidable force in domestic competitions. Raków Częstochowa is recognized for its strong youth academy, which has produced numerous talented players who have gone on to make their mark in both Polish and international football.

The club's home matches are held at the Miejski Stadion Piłkarski, a modern facility that provides an electric atmosphere for fans. Raków's supporters, known for their unwavering loyalty, create a vibrant and passionate environment during matches, making the stadium a fortress for the team.

In recent seasons, Raków Częstochowa has enjoyed success in various tournaments, including winning the Polish Cup and competing in European competitions, showcasing their ambition to establish themselves on the continental stage. With a blend of experienced players and emerging talents, Raków Częstochowa continues to strive for excellence and aims to add more silverware to its storied history.