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GKS Katowice ({{#invoke:IPA|main}}; GKS stands for {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}, Template:Lit) is a Polish professional football club based in Katowice. They currently compete in the Ekstraklasa in the 2024–25 season after gaining promotion from the I liga in 2024.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

HistoryEdit

In 1963 in Katowice a special organizational committee was called with the purpose of uniting all the clubs and sporting organizations of the city into one large club which would encompass many disciplines. In mid-1963 Rapid Wełnowiec and Orzeł Wełnowiec merged, creating Rapid/Orzeł. In 1964 Rapid/Orzeł, Górnik Katowice, Koszutka Katowice, Katowicki Klub Łyżwiarski (Katowice Skating Club), Katowicki Klub Sportowy Górnik, Górniczy Klub Żeglarski Szkwał (a sailing club) amongst other clubs from Katowice merged creating GKS Katowice. Four years later on the 9 August 1968, Dąb Katowice also amalgamated with GKS Katowice. GKS Katowice made its debut in Polish football's top league (now called the Ekstraklasa) on 8 August 1965 when GKS Katowice took on local rivals Górnik Zabrze.

GKS Katowice's debut season in the top flight was in the 1965–66 season. In 1971, Katowice was relegated to the 2nd Division. The club's problems were eventually overcome, and GKS returned to the top flight. From 1982 the club consistently found itself up the top end of the ladder, as well as playing off in several Polish Cup finals. In 1985 GKS Katowice played in its first Polish Cup final but lost in a penalty shootout to Widzew Łódź. The following year GKS played off in a final at Stadion Śląski against Górnik Zabrze; GKS won 4–1. From that moment the city of Katowice began to live and breathe football.Template:Citation needed The next year GKS finished third and the two following years they were runners-up. In the 1989–90 season GKS again came third, and in the 1991–92 season GKS were runners-up. From 1986 to 1995 to GKS Katowice were four times runners-up in the league, twice the winners of the Polish Super Cup and three-time Polish Cup winners.

The biggest moments for the club and fans were when the team took part in European cups. The first time GKS faced European opposition was in 1970, in the now defunct Inter-Cities Fairs Cup, GKS took on Spanish club Barcelona in a two-legged tie. Katowice lost (2–4 on aggregate), but the fans were proud of their club.Template:Citation needed The second time GKS took part in European football they showed more and played better football. In the first round of the 1986–87 UEFA Cup Winners Cup, GKS defeated Icelandic side Fram Reykjavík before losing in the second round to Switzerland's Sion. For the next 10 years, GKS Katowice took part in European football. Over the years fans of GKS got to witness their team take on the likes of Sportul Studentsc Bucharest, Rangers, Club Brugge, Galatasaray, Benfica, Aris, Girondins Bordeaux and twice Bayer Leverkusen. GKS's record in European football stands at 10 wins, 7 draws, and 19 losses.

GKS Katowice again fell on hard times during the mining crisis. Following the 1998–99 season, the team was relegated from the Ekstraklasa, but was back in the topflight a year later. Piotr Dziurowicz became president who, despite growing debts and financial troubles, kept the team in the top flight. In 2003, the team managed to qualify for the UEFA Cup by finishing third in the league under coach Jan Żurek. This was hailedTemplate:By whom as one of the biggest surprises ever in the history of the Ekstraklasa. Despite the success, the debts under Piotr Dziurowicz began to grow to a significant sum.

From 27 March 2003 to 11 June 2004, the club played under the name of its main sponsor Dospel Katowice; this was not taken well by the fans of the club.Template:Citation needed GKS Katowice Sportowa Spółka Akcyjna finished its reins at the helm of the club in the summer of 2005 after the 2004–05 season where GKS finished 14th (and last) in the Ekstraklasa and was relegated to the second division. The team had to drop to the fourth division due to financial problems and their involvement in the 2003–2005 match-fixing scandal. After the drop to the 4th division, a group of fans known as the "Stowarzyszenie Sympatyków Klubu GKS Katowice" (which loosely translates into Society of Well Wishers Club of GKS Katowice) took over the helm at the club. In June 2006, the club was promoted to the third-tier, and in June 2007 the team advanced to the second division, which in 2008 was renamed I liga.

On 26 May 2024, they clinched promotion during the last matchday of the 2023–24 season after a 1–0 away victory over Arka Gdynia, tying them on points, but finishing ahead in the standings on head-to-head difference. They were promoted to Ekstraklasa as runners-up, ending their 19-year absence from the top tier.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

HonoursEdit

DomesticEdit

InternationalEdit

Youth teamsEdit

SeasonsEdit

Season to seasonEdit

Season Tier Division Place Polish Cup
1963–64 2 I liga 4th Semi-finals
1964–65 2 I liga 2nd Second round
1965–66 1 Ekstraklasa 10th Round of 16
1966–67 1 Ekstraklasa 7th Semi-finals
1967–68 1 Ekstraklasa 8th Quarter-finals
1968–69 1 Ekstraklasa 8th Round of 32
1969–70 1 Ekstraklasa 7th Round of 32
1970–71 1 Ekstraklasa 14th Semi-finals
1971–72 2 I liga 6th Quarter-finals
1972–73 2 I liga 4th Quarter-finals
1973–74 2 I liga 4th Round of 16
1974–75 2 I liga 2nd Quarter-finals
1975–76 2 I liga 8th
1976–77 2 I liga 3rd
1977–78 2 I liga 1st First round
1978–79 1 Ekstraklasa 8th Round of 32
1979–80 1 Ekstraklasa 15th Quarter-finals
1980–81 2 I liga 4th Round of 32
1981–82 2 I liga 1st Third round
1982–83 1 Ekstraklasa 13th Third round
1983–84 1 Ekstraklasa 9th Round of 16
1984–85 1 Ekstraklasa 10th Runners-up
1985–86 1 Ekstraklasa 5th Winners
1986–87 1 Ekstraklasa 3rd Runners-up
1987–88 1 Ekstraklasa 2nd Round of 16
1988–89 1 Ekstraklasa 2nd Semi-finals
1989–90 1 Ekstraklasa 3rd Runners-up
1990–91 1 Ekstraklasa 4th Winners
1991–92 1 Ekstraklasa 2nd Round of 16
1992–93 1 Ekstraklasa 8th Winners
1993–94 1 Ekstraklasa 2nd Semi-finals
Season Tier Division Place Polish Cup
1994–95 1 Ekstraklasa 3rd Runners-up
1995–96 1 Ekstraklasa 11th Round of 32
1996–97 1 Ekstraklasa 4th Runners-up
1997–98 1 Ekstraklasa 12th Quarter-finals
1998–99 1 Ekstraklasa 16th Round of 16
1999–2000 2 I liga 2nd Round of 32
2000–01 1 Ekstraklasa 8th First round
2001–02 1 Ekstraklasa 6th Round of 32
2002–03 1 Ekstraklasa 3rd Round of 32
2003–04 1 Ekstraklasa 10th Semi-finals
2004–05 1 Ekstraklasa 14th Group phase
2005–06 4 IV liga 1st
2006–07 3 III liga 2nd
2007–08 2 I liga 10th
2008–09 2 I liga 11th Round of 32
2009–10 2 I liga 13th First round
2010–11 2 I liga 11th First round
2011–12 2 I liga 13th First round
2012–13 2 I liga 10th First round
2013–14 2 I liga 8th Round of 16
2014–15 2 I liga 8th First round
2015–16 2 I liga 4th Round of 16
2016–17 2 I liga 7th First round
2017–18 2 I liga 5th First round
2018–19 2 I liga 17th Round of 32
2019–20 3 II liga 3rd Round of 32
2020–21 3 II liga 2nd Round of 64
2021–22 2 I liga 8th Round of 32
2022–23 2 I liga 10th Round of 32
2023–24 2 I liga 2nd First round
2024–25 1 Ekstraklasa 8th Round of 32

GKS in EuropeEdit

Season Competition Round Club Score
1970–71 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup 1R Template:Flagicon Barcelona 0–1, 2–3
1986–87 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup 1R Template:Flagicon Fram Reykjavik 3–0, 1–0
2R Template:Flagicon FC Sion 2–2, 0–3
1987–88 UEFA Cup 1R Template:Flagicon Sportul Studenţesc 0–1, 1–2
1988–89 UEFA Cup 1R Template:Flagicon Rangers FC 0–1, 2–4
1989–90 UEFA Cup 1R Template:Flagicon RoPS 1–1, 0–1
1990–91 UEFA Cup 1R Template:Flagicon Turun Palloseura 3–0, 1–0
2R Template:Flagicon Bayer 04 Leverkusen 1–2, 0–4
1991–92 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup 1R Template:Flagicon Motherwell FC 2–0, 1–3
2R Template:Flagicon Club Brugge 0–1, 0–3
1992–93 UEFA Cup 1R Template:Flagicon Galatasaray SK 0–0, 1–2
1993–94 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup 1R Template:Flagicon S.L. Benfica 0–1, 1–1
1994–95 UEFA Cup Q Template:Flagicon Inter Cardiff F.C. 2–0, 6–0
1R Template:Flagicon Aris Thessaloniki 1–0, 0–1
2R Template:Flagicon Girondins de Bordeaux 1–0, 1–1
3R Template:Flagicon Bayer 04 Leverkusen 1–4, 0–4
1995–96 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup Q Template:Flagicon Ararat Yerevan 2–0, 0–2
2003–04 UEFA Cup Q Template:Flagicon Cementarnica 55 Skopje 0–0, 1–1

PlayersEdit

Current squadEdit

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Out on loanEdit

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Retired numbersEdit

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Notable former playersEdit

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ManagersEdit

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See alsoEdit

ReferencesEdit

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External linksEdit

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