Nickname(s):Złocisto-Krwiści (The Gold-and-Bloods)
Founded:1973
Stadium:Suzuki Arena (officially Stadion Miejski im. Kolportera)
Capacity:15,500
1973-1980
1980-1996
1986-2000
2000-2003
2003-2006
2006-2007
2007-2008
2008-2024
2024-Present
2023-2024
Korona Kielce Crest History
From 1973 to 1980, shortly after the club's foundation, Korona Kielce used its first official crest. The badge featured a white shield containing a vertical red-and-yellow panel, the traditional colours of the city of Kielce. At the centre stood a stylised gold crown, symbolising the club's name "Korona" ("Crown"), while the words KSS Korona Kielce appeared above and below. The simple design established the crown as the club's defining symbol from the very beginning.
Between 1980 and 1996, the club adopted a circular badge divided diagonally into red and yellow, again reflecting the city's colours. A black crown occupied the centre, while the outer ring displayed the inscription MKS Korona Kielce and the founding year 1973. This clean and traditional emblem became closely associated with Korona's rise through the Polish league system during the 1980s.
From 1986 to 2000, while sponsored by Nida Gips, Korona introduced a more elaborate crest. The badge combined a football, the familiar gold crown, and the club's name Korona MKS SF 1973 Kielce arranged around the outer ring. A green ribbon bearing the sponsor's name Nida Gips appeared beneath the badge. The crest reflected the increasing importance of commercial sponsorship in Polish football while preserving the club's traditional symbols.
Between 2000 and 2003, after the arrival of Kolporter as the club's principal sponsor, Korona unveiled a completely new shield-shaped crest. The badge featured red-and-yellow vertical stripes topped by a large gold crown, creating a strong visual connection with the city's coat of arms. The sponsor's name KKP Kolporter Korona Kielce appeared across the upper section. This redesign marked the beginning of the club's modern era.
From 2003 to 2006, the crest was refined with cleaner artwork and brighter colours. The striped shield and crown remained unchanged, but the sponsor inscription became Kolporter Korona Sportowa Spółka Akcyjna, reflecting the club's new corporate structure while maintaining its traditional identity.
Between 2006 and 2007, Korona introduced another major redesign after reaching the Ekstraklasa. The badge became an asymmetrical shield divided into red and yellow vertical halves, with a bold black crown at its centre. A green laurel branch was added along the left side of the shield, symbolising sporting achievement, while the club's name and sponsor remained across the top. This distinctive emblem quickly became one of the most recognisable crests in Polish football.
From 2007 to 2008, the club made only minor refinements to the same shield, simplifying the sponsor inscription while retaining the laurel branch, black crown, and red-and-yellow colour scheme. The redesign created a cleaner and more balanced appearance.
Between 2008 and 2024, Korona continued to use a refined version of the asymmetrical shield. The sponsor name was removed, leaving simply Korona Kielce, while the black crown, green laurel branch, and red-and-yellow vertical stripes remained unchanged. This version became closely associated with the club's longest spell in the Ekstraklasa and established itself as the definitive modern identity of Korona Kielce.
During the 2023–24 season, Korona celebrated its 50th anniversary with a special commemorative crest. The anniversary emblem featured a gold circular design surrounding the traditional red-and-yellow circle and gold crown, together with the inscriptions 1973, 2023, and 50 LAT ("50 Years"). Used only during the anniversary celebrations, the badge honoured half a century of the club's history.
Since 2024, Korona Kielce has introduced a subtly refreshed version of its modern crest. The familiar red-and-yellow shield, black crown, and green laurel branch remain, while the artwork, typography, and proportions have been modernised to create a cleaner and more contemporary appearance. The redesign preserves the club's historic symbols while ensuring the crest remains instantly recognisable as one of the most distinctive emblems in Polish football.
Korona Kielce Club History
Korona Kielce was founded on 10 July 1973 in Kielce, Poland, following the merger of several local sports organisations. The club took its name from the historic Świętokrzyska (Holy Cross) region, often referred to as the "Korona" (Crown) of Poland. Adopting the city's traditional red and yellow colours, Korona quickly became the leading football club in the region and developed a passionate local following.
For much of its early history, Korona competed in Poland's lower divisions. During the 1980s and 1990s, the club gradually established itself as a competitive side in the national league system but struggled to secure promotion to the country's highest level. Financial limitations prevented Korona from challenging Poland's traditional football powers, although the club remained an important sporting institution in Kielce.
A turning point came in 2002, when the club was acquired by businessman Krzysztof Klicki, owner of the Kolporter company. Significant investment in the squad, infrastructure, and youth academy transformed Korona into one of Poland's fastest-rising clubs. Under coach Ryszard Wieczorek, the team won promotion to the Ekstraklasa in 2005, reaching the top division for the first time in its history.
Korona made an immediate impact in the Ekstraklasa. During the 2005–06 season, the club established itself as a competitive top-flight side and quickly became known for its strong home form and passionate support. The following years saw Korona regularly finish in the upper half of the table, competing against Poland's biggest clubs despite operating with more modest resources.
In 2008, the club was relegated—not because of results on the pitch, but as punishment for its involvement in the Polish football corruption scandal. Forced into the I Liga, Korona responded impressively by winning promotion straight back to the Ekstraklasa in 2009, demonstrating the resilience of the club and its supporters.
Throughout the 2010s, Korona became an established member of the Ekstraklasa. The club earned a reputation for disciplined football, excellent organisation, and producing talented Polish players. Although major trophies remained elusive, Korona consistently secured respectable league finishes and regularly challenged for places in the championship group.
Financial difficulties eventually led to relegation at the end of the 2019–20 season. After two years in the I Liga, Korona returned to the Ekstraklasa by winning the promotion play-offs in 2022, defeating Chrobry Głogów in the final. Since returning, the club has successfully re-established itself in Poland's top division.
Korona's fiercest rivalry is with Radomiak Radom, while matches against KSZO Ostrowiec Świętokrzyski and Wisła Kraków have also developed into important fixtures. Encounters with Legia Warszawa and Cracovia regularly attract large crowds due to the club's competitive history against Poland's traditional powers.
