Stadium:Marshal Józef Piłsudski's Municipal Stadium of Legia Warsaw
Capacity:31,103
1916
1917-1920
1920-1922
1922-1926
1926-1949
1949-1957
1957-2007
2007-2010
2010-2019
2019-2023
2023-Present
Legia Warszawa Crest History
The first emblem of Legia Warszawa, introduced in 1916, reflected the club's military origins. It consisted of a black shield bearing a large white letter "L", symbolising the Polish Legions from which the club was founded. The black-and-white colours represented the original club colours worn by the soldiers who established the team during the First World War.
Between 1917 and 1920, the crest evolved into a traditional white shield crossed by a bold black diagonal sash, inspired by the playing kit of the time. The familiar "L" inside a black circle was placed in the upper-right corner, creating one of the earliest versions of the symbol that remains associated with Legia today. The diagonal sash became one of the defining features of the club's identity.
From 1920 to 1922, after the club was reactivated in Warsaw as Wojskowy Klub Sportowy (WKS), Legia briefly abandoned the shield in favour of a circular military-style badge. The emblem featured the initials W.K.S. surrounding an intertwined monogram, reflecting the club's official military status during the early years of the Second Polish Republic.
Between 1922 and 1926, following the merger with Korona Warszawa, Legia adopted green as one of its official colours. The shield returned, now displaying a green lower section separated by a white diagonal band, while the black "L" inside a white circle remained in the upper-right corner. This marked the beginning of the colour scheme that would define Legia for the next century.
From 1926 to 1949, the crest received another important update with the addition of a black diagonal stripe alongside the existing green field. This combination of green, white, and black created the classic shield that became synonymous with Legia throughout the interwar years and after the Second World War.
Between 1949 and 1957, during the communist reorganisation of Polish sport, the club was renamed CWKS Warszawa. A completely new green shield displaying the initials WKS inside a red circular motif replaced the traditional Legia crest. The military-inspired design reflected the political changes of the period and remains the only era in which the historic shield disappeared entirely.
In 1957, after the club regained the historic name Legia, the traditional shield returned. The restored emblem featured the familiar green lower field, black diagonal stripe, white background, and the red-and-white diagonal stripe of the Polish flag, together with the "L" inside the black circle. This crest became one of the most recognisable symbols in Polish football and remained virtually unchanged for fifty years.
Between 2007 and 2010, because of a trademark dispute over the historic crest, Legia temporarily replaced the traditional shield with a simplified black shield carrying only the white "L". The minimalist design was controversial among supporters, many of whom viewed it as a break with the club's traditions.
From 2010 to 2019, after the legal issues were resolved, Legia restored its classic shield. The badge once again featured the green field, black and red diagonal stripes, the white background, and the "L" monogram in the upper-right corner. The artwork was modernised slightly while preserving the historic identity that supporters had demanded.
Between 2019 and 2023, the crest received only subtle graphical refinements, including cleaner outlines and updated proportions. The traditional shield remained the club's official emblem and continued to represent Legia's military heritage and long-standing identity.
Since 2023, Legia Warszawa has reintroduced the iconic circular "L-ka" monogram as the primary badge on its playing kits and much of its visual branding. The badge consists of a black letter "L" inside a black circle on a white background, topped by a single gold star representing ten Polish league championships. Although the traditional shield remains the club's official crest for institutional purposes, the return of the minimalist "L-ka" celebrates the club's earliest symbol from 1916 while giving Legia a clean and timeless modern identity.
Legia Warszawa Club History
Legia Warszawa was founded on 5 March 1916 by soldiers of the Polish Legions during the First World War in Volhynia. Originally established as the football team of the Polish military, the club moved to Warsaw after Poland regained its independence and quickly became one of the country's leading sporting institutions. The name "Legia" reflects its military origins, while the club has maintained a close historical connection with the Polish Army throughout much of its existence. Today, Legia is recognised as the most successful football club in Polish history.
Legia established itself among Poland's elite during the interwar years, but its first major successes came in the 1950s. The club won its first Polish Cup and its first Polish Championship in 1955, completing the first domestic Double in Polish football history. Another league title followed in 1956, cementing Legia's place among the country's leading clubs.
During the 1960s and 1970s, Legia became one of Eastern Europe's strongest teams. The club enjoyed memorable European campaigns, reaching the European Cup semi-finals in 1969–70 after eliminating IFK Göteborg, Galatasaray, AS Saint-Étienne, and Standard Liège, before narrowly losing to Feyenoord. Legia also reached the European Cup Winners' Cup semi-finals in 1990–91, defeating Sampdoria and Aberdeen before being eliminated by Manchester United. These remain two of the greatest European achievements by any Polish club.
Following the fall of communism, Legia remained a dominant force in Polish football. Throughout the 1990s and 2000s, the club won multiple Ekstraklasa championships and Polish Cups, regularly qualifying for UEFA competitions and strengthening its reputation as Poland's premier football institution. Legendary players such as Kazimierz Deyna, Lucjan Brychczy, Miroslav Radović, Artur Boruc, and Jakub Rzeźniczak became synonymous with the club's success.
The 2010s brought another golden era. Legia won numerous Ekstraklasa titles and several domestic Doubles, dominating Polish football for much of the decade. In 2016–17, the club qualified for the UEFA Champions League group stage for the first time in the Champions League era, facing Real Madrid, Borussia Dortmund, and Sporting CP. A thrilling 3–3 draw against Real Madrid in Warsaw remains one of the greatest nights in the club's history.
Legia has continued to be Poland's leading representative in European competition. The club has regularly appeared in the UEFA Europa League and UEFA Europa Conference League, reaching the Conference League quarter-finals in 2024–25, its best European performance since the mid-1990s. The team has earned notable victories over clubs including Aston Villa, Real Betis, AZ Alkmaar, and Leicester City, reinforcing its reputation on the continental stage.
Legia has won a record number of Polish league championships, along with a record number of Polish Cups and multiple Polish Super Cups, making it the most decorated club in the history of Polish football. The club has never been relegated from Poland's top division since the end of the Second World War and remains the benchmark for success in the Ekstraklasa.
Legia's greatest rivalry is with Lech Poznań in the Polish Derby, the country's biggest and most prestigious football fixture. Historic rivalries also exist with Polonia Warszawa in the Warsaw Derby, as well as with Widzew Łódź, Wisła Kraków, and Górnik Zabrze, reflecting decades of competition for domestic honours.
