Stal Rzeszów, commonly referred to as Stal, is a Polish football club based in Rzeszów in the southeastern Podkarpackie voivodeship, competing in the I liga, the second tier of Polish league football, since their promotion in 2022. Formed in 1944 by aviation factory workers, the club has spent a majority of its history playing in the lower leagues of Polish football. Their highest league finish was in 1966 when they finished 7th in the Ekstraklasa. The club's greatest achievement is winning the Polish Cup in 1975. Stal also has 2 I liga titles and 5 II liga titles on its record. Stal Rzeszów is part of a multi-sports club featuring football, boxing, motorcycle speedway, and other departments. Stal Rzeszów plays their home games at the Stal Rzeszów Municipal Stadium ().
History
The history of Stal Rzeszów dates back to November 1944, when a group of sports enthusiasts, working at WSK PZL Rzeszów (Transport Equipment Enterprise) decided to form a Sports Circle. With support of the Youth Organization of the Association of Workers University (Organizacja Mlodziezy Towarzystwa Uniwersytetu Robotniczego, OM TUR), the new club was managed by Bronislaw Szczoczarz.
In March 1945, football team of PZL OM TUR was formed, under manager Jan Polak. In its first game, OM TUR faced Szturmowiec (Walter) Rzeszów, the match ended in a 2–2 draw. By the summer of 1945, OM TUR played several friendly games, facing Sokół Rzeszów (4–6), Czuwaj Łańcut (2–6), and in June 1945, it played in the City of Rzeszów Cup tournament, losing in the final 1–3 to Resovia.
In the autumn of 1946, a series of playoffs took place, in order to find best teams for the newly created Rzeszów A-Class. PZL OM TUR managed to qualify to the league, together with such teams, as Legia Krosno, Nafta Krosno, Orzel Gorlice, Sanoczanka, Cukrownia Przeworsk, Resovia, Sokol Rzeszów, Czuwaj Przemysl and Polonia Przemysl. By 1955, however, the team did not have its own field, and had to use the fields of other clubs. On 26 June 1955, the first game took place at the newly built PZL Rzeszów stadium, at Hetmanska Street. The reserve team of Poland B faced Bulgarian reserves (1–1). In the second game of the day, Stal Rzeszów, the host, tied 1–1 with Poland U-19 team.
On 15 February 1948 the name of the club was changed into Union Sports Club of Metal Workers PZL Rzeszów (Zwiakzkowy Klub Sportowy Metalowców PZL w Rzeszowie). The club was overseen by the Central Union of Metal Workers, based in Katowice. By 1949, PZL Rzeszów had six departments: boxing (since 1944), football (since 1945), track and field (since 1945), chess (since 1947), table tennis (since 1948), speedway (since 1949). Finally, in May 1949, the name of the club was changed into Union Sports Club (Zakładowy Klub Sportowy) Stal Rzeszów.
In 1953, Stal qualified to the semifinal of the Polish Cup, where it lost 3–4 to AKS Chorzów. In 1956, Stal won regional games of Rzeszów League (III level of Polish football tier), qualifying to the Second Division playoffs, where it faced Piast Gliwice (2–2, 1–0), and Arkonia Szczecin (0–2, 2–0)
After the promotion, several players joined Stal for the upcoming 1957/58 season of the Second Division. Before the games, Polish Football Association decided to form two groups of the second level. Stal was in Group South, among such sides, as Cracovia, Garbarnia Kraków, Wawel Kraków, Piast Gliwice, Concordia Knurow, Bron Radom, Stal Mielec, AKS Chelmek, Naprzod Lipiny, Szombierki Bytom, AKS Chorzów.
In its first game, Stal faced Szombierki, beating the opponent 2–1. After the first round, Stal was in the 8th position, and after the whole season, Stal had 22 points, with goals 40–30, which made it the 6th team of the group.
In mid-1958, Tadeusz Hogendorf became new manager of Stal. By the end of the season, Stal was very lucky to avoid relegation. In 1960, Stal was 8th; in 1961, 5th; and in 1962, 9th. Before the 1962 season, PZPN divided the Second Division into two groups: A and B. Stal was in Group A, which consisted of 8 teams (Unia Racibórz, Unia Tarnów, Naprzód Lipiny, Piast Gliwice, MZKS Krosno, Polonia Bydgoszcz, Slavia Ruda Slaska), and won the games, qualifying to the Ekstraklasa. The decisive game took place on 21 June 1962 in Rzeszów, vs. Piast Gliwice. With the attendance of 25,000, Stal won 2–1.
In July 1962, Stal went on a summer camp in Finland. First Ekstraklasa game took place on 12 August 1962: Stal lost 0–1 at home to Lechia Gdańsk. In the second game, Stal lost in Kraków to Wisła Kraków (0–2). First, historic victory took place in the third round, when Stal beat at home 3–0 ŁKS Łódź.
Stal remained in the Ekstraklasa for ten years, until 1972. It was regarded as an average team, without major successes. Its top player at that time was Jan Domarski, who capped for Poland 17 times.
thumb|Away game with [[Wigry Suwałki in the 2009–10 II liga]]
In 2012, a joint-stock company was established which took over the original club, officially renaming it to Stal Rzeszów Spółka Akcyjna. Stal played in the II liga. From April 2018, the main sponsor of the team is Fibrain – a Polish manufacturer of fiber optic solutions.
On 27 April 2022, Stal gained promotion to the I liga following Ruch Chorzów's draw against Wisła Puławy. On 1 May 2022, after a 4–1 away win against Pogoń Siedlce, Stal secured the II liga title with three games left. Stal finished the season with 77 points.
On 17 July 2022, Stal played their first I liga match in over 28 years, drawing 3–3 with Chrobry Głogów at home. During the first season back in the I liga, Stal would win 14, draw 9, and lose 11 matches, reaching 6th place and qualifying for promotion play-offs. Stal lost the first playoff game 2–0 to Termalica Nieciecza away from home. The 2022–23 season remains to be the team's best performance in the 21st century.
During the 2023–24 and 2024–25 seasons, Stal achieved 11th and 12th places respectively. In the 2023–24 season, Stal would beat Miedź Legnica II and Puszcza Niepołomice in the Polish Cup, reaching the round of 16 where they lost to Wisła Kraków 4–1. Wisła would go on to win the cup.
Out on loan
Coaching staff
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Position
!Staff
|-
|Head coach
| Marek Zub
|-
|Assistant coach
| Michał Kordas
|-
|Assistant coach
| Karol Wójcik
|-
|Assistant coach
| Fabian Tatarski
|-
|Goalkeeping coach
| Maciej Krzyształowicz
|-
|Fitness coach
| Tomasz Grudziński
|-
|Physiotherapist
| Krystian Maruszczak
|-
|Physiotherapist
| Norbert Sajdak
|-
|Team manager
| Kamil Kot
|}
Stadium
thumb|235x235px|West grandstand of the stadium|left
278x278px|thumb|External view of the [[Stal Rzeszów Municipal Stadium]]
Stal Rzeszów plays their home games at the multi-purpose Stal Rzeszów Municipal Stadium () at Hetmańska 69. Built in 1955, the 11 547 capacity venue features both a football pitch and a surrounding speedway track which the motorcycle speedway department of the club uses. In 2006, the stadium was transferred to the City of Rzeszow to allow for the redevelopment project. In 2011, works started on the stadium, and in 2012, the 4 700 capacity eastern covered stand was built, costing an estimated 32 million zloty and completing the first phase of the multi-phase project. The final stadium is planned to have a capacity of 20 000 and is estimated to cost 150 million zloty. Currently, it is the 29th biggest stadium in Poland. Stal shares the stadium with Resovia while their new stadium is being completed.
Fanbase
thumb|280x280px|Stal Rzeszów supporters in 2012
thumb|Rzeszów Derby announcement
Stal Rzeszów has a local fanbase rooted in the city of Rzeszów and the surrounding Podkarpackie region. Like most Polish football clubs, Stal has an active ultras group who organize chants and coordinate banner displays, occasionally with the usage of pyrotechnics such as flares. These elements are especially visible during high-intensity matches such as the Rzeszów derby.
European record
{|class="wikitable"
|-
! Season
! Competition
! Round
! Opponent
! Home
! Away
! Aggregate
|-
|rowspan=2|1975–76
|rowspan=2|UEFA Cup Winners' Cup
|First Round
| Skeid
| style="text-align:center;"|4–1
| style="text-align:center;"|4–0
| style="text-align:center;"|8–1
|-
|Second Round
| Wrexham A.F.C.
| style="text-align:center;"|1–1
| style="text-align:center;"|0–2
| style="text-align:center;"|1–3
|}
Domestic record
{| class="wikitable"
! rowspan=2| Season
! rowspan=2| Competition
! rowspan=2| Position
! colspan=4| Matches
! rowspan=2| Points
! colspan=3| Goals
! rowspan=2| Comments
! rowspan=2| Most goals
|-align=center
! Played
!
!
!
!
!
!
|-style="background:#9ACD32;" align=center
|1953
|Third tier
|2/12
|22
|16
|3
|3
|35
|67
|19
| +48
|
|
|-style="background:#9ACD32;" align=center
|1954
|
|2/9
|16
|10
|2
|4
|22
|42
|17
| +25
|
|
|-style="background:#9ACD32;" align=center
|1955
|
|3/12
|22
|10
|6
|6
|26
|51
|31
| +20
|
|
|-style="background:#9ACD32;" align=center
|1956
|
|1/12
|22
|16
|4
|2
|36
|60
|18
| +42
|Promotion
|
|-style="background:#D3D3D3;" align=center
|1957
|Second tier
|6/12
|22
|10
|2
|10
|22
|40
|30
| +10
|
|10 Rafał Anioła
|-style="background:#D3D3D3;" align=center
|1958
|
|10/12
|22
|6
|7
|9
|19
|28
|33
| −5
|
|10 Ludwik Poświat
|-style="background:#D3D3D3;" align=center
|1959
|
|8/12
|22
|8
|7
|7
|23
|24
|23
| +1
|
|10 Ludwik Poświat
|-style="background:#D3D3D3;" align=center
|1960
|
|5/12
|22
|9
|5
|8
|23
|26
|29
| −3
|
|11 Ludwik Poświat
|-style="background:#D3D3D3;" align=center
|1961
|
|9/18
|34
|11
|12
|11
|34
|41
|40
| +1
|
|6 L. Szalacha, S. Stawarz
|-style="background:#D3D3D3;" align=center
|1962
|
|1/8
|14
|10
|1
|3
|21
|26
|13
| +13
|Promotion
|7 Kazimierz Cholewa
|-style="background:#FFFF00;" align=center
|1962–63
|Top tier
|9/14
|26
|7
|9
|10
|23
|33
|39
| −6
|
|9 Ludwik Poświat
|-style="background:#FFFF00;" align=center
|1963–64
|
|11/14
|26
|8
|7
|11
|23
|32
|44
| −12
|
|8 Zygmunt Marciniak
|-style="background:#FFFF00;" align=center
|1964–65
|
|12/14
|26
|5
|13
|8
|23
|30
|35
| −5
|
|8 Joachim Krajczy
|-style="background:#FFFF00;" align=center
|1965–66
|
|7/14
|26
|8
|10
|8
|26
|29
|30
| −1
|
|8 Jan Domarski
|-style="background:#FFFF00;" align=center
|1966–67
|
|8/14
|26
|9
|8
|9
|26
|24
|30
| −6
|
|10 Jan Domarski
|-style="background:#FFFF00;" align=center
|1967–68
|
|11/14
|26
|8
|7
|11
|23
|24
|39
| −15
|
|8 Jan Domarski
|-style="background:#FFFF00;" align=center
|1968–69
|
|12/14
|26
|7
|8
|11
|22
|18
|31
| −13
|
|6 Stanisław Stawarz
|-style="background:#FFFF00;" align=center
|1969–70
|
|9/14
|26
|9
|5
|12
|23
|30
|36
| −6
|
|10 Jan Domarski
|-style="background:#FFFF00;" align=center
|1970–71
|
|9/14
|26
|6
|12
|8
|24
|34
|26
| +8
|
|9 Ryszard Duda
|-style="background:#FFFF00;" align=center
|1971–72
|
|13/14
|26
|4
|10
|12
|18
|20
|32
| −12
|Relegation
|6 Ryszard Duda
|-style="background:#D3D3D3;" align=center
|1972–73
|Second tier
|12/16
|30
|7
|13
|10
|27
|27
|33
| −6
|
|6 Janusz Krawczyk
|-style="background:#D3D3D3;" align=center
|1973–74
|
|6/16
|30
|12
|8
|10
|32
|34
|25
| +9
|
|12 Janusz Krawczyk
|-style="background:#D3D3D3;" align=center
|1974–75
|
|1/16
|30
|15
|11
|4
|41
|44
|16
| +28
|Promotion, won the Polish Cup
|11 Zdzisław Napieracz
|-style="background:#FFFF00;" align=center
|1975–76
|Top tier
|15/16
|30
|8
|8
|14
|24
|23
|35
| −12
|Relegation
|8 Marian Kozerski
|-style="background:#D3D3D3;" align=center
|1976–77
|Second tier
|14/16
|30
|7
|12
|11
|26
|23
|40
| −17
|Relegation
|6 Stanisław Curyło
|-style="background:#9ACD32;" align=center
|1977–78
|Third tier
|2/14
|26
|13
|5
|8
|31
|35
|22
| +13
|
|
|-style="background:#9ACD32;" align=center
|1978–79
|
|2/15
|28
|19
|5
|4
|43
|67
|13
| +54
|
|
|-style="background:#9ACD32;" align=center
|1979–80
|
|1/15
|28
|21
|3
|4
|45
|47
|17
| +30
|Promotion
|
|-style="background:#D3D3D3;" align=center
|1980–81
|Second tier
|6/16
|30
|11
|11
|8
|33
|33
|29
| +4
|
|7 Aleksander Siekieryn
|-style="background:#D3D3D3;" align=center
|1981–82
|
|14/16
|30
|7
|10
|13
|24
|23
|34
| −11
|Relegation
|5 M. Chamielec, A. Banasik
|-style="background:#9ACD32;" align=center
|1982–83
|Third tier
|2/14
|26
|13
|12
|1
|38
|44
|16
| +28
|
|
|-style="background:#9ACD32;" align=center
|1983–84
|
|1/16
|30
|22
|7
|1
|51
|65
|14
| +51
|Promotion
|
|-style="background:#D3D3D3;" align=center
|1984–85
|Second tier
|13/16
|30
|7
|12
|11
|26
|20
|31
| −11
|Relegation
|4 Zbigniew Znojek
|-style="background:#9ACD32;" align=center
|1985–86
|Third tier
|2/14
|26
|15
|7
|4
|37
|51
|17
| +34
|
|
|-style="background:#9ACD32;" align=center
|1986–87
|
|1/14
|26
|17
|6
|3
|47
|61
|15
| +46
|Promotion
|
|-style="background:#D3D3D3;" align=center
|1987–88
|Second tier
|4/16
|30
|13
|7
|10
|35
|41
|32
| +9
|
|7 S. Sroczyński, R. Kaszuba
|-style="background:#D3D3D3;" align=center
|1988–89
|
|5/16
|30
|13
|10
|7
|38
|38
|26
| +12
|
|8 Stanisław Sroczyński
|-style="background:#D3D3D3;" align=center
|1989–90
|
|7/20
|38
|15
|13
|10
|44
|37
|31
| +6
|
|7 Paweł Kloc
|-style="background:#D3D3D3;" align=center
|1990–91
|
|15/20
|38
|10
|15
|13
|35
|44
|50
| −6
|
|14 Robert Bąk
|-style="background:#D3D3D3;" align=center
|1991–92
|
|3/18
|34
|15
|13
|6
|43
|44
|28
| +16
|
|7 Zbigniew Znojek
|-style="background:#D3D3D3;" align=center
|1992–93
|
|10/18
|34
|12
|8
|14
|32
|31
|35
| −4
|
|11 Paweł Kloc
|-style="background:#D3D3D3;" align=center
|1993–94
|
|16/18
|34
|7
|14
|13
|28
|29
|34
| −5
|Relegation
|6 Marek Kogut
|-style="background:#9ACD32;" align=center
|1994–95
|Third tier
|3/18
|34
|17
|11
|6
|45
|55
|28
| +27
|
|10 Tomasz Tułacz
|-style="background:#9ACD32;" align=center
|1995–96
|
|4/18
|34
|20
|6
|8
|66
|70
|32
| +38
|
|23 Paweł Koziołek
|-style="background:#9ACD32;" align=center
|1996–97
|
|3/18
|34
|17
|11
|6
|62
|82
|40
| +42
|
|26 Paweł Koziołek
|-style="background:#9ACD32;" align=center
|1997–98
|
|10/18
|34
|11
|10
|13
|43
|43
|48
| −5
|Relegation
|10 M. Omiotek, G. Musiał
|-style="background:beige;" align=center
|1998–99
|Fourth tier
|1/18
|34
|23
|8
|3
|77
|73
|15
| +58
|Promotion
|19 Jarosław Kuter
|-style="background:#9ACD32;" align=center
|1999–2000
|Third tier
|6/18
|34
|15
|7
|12
|52
|37
|32
| +5
|
|11 Marcin Pacuła
|-style="background:#9ACD32;" align=center
|2000–01
|
|16/19
|36
|12
|8
|16
|44
|31
|44
| −13
|Relegation
|4 Jarosław Kuter
|-style="background:beige;" align=center
|2001–02
|Fourth tier
|1/18
|34
|23
|8
|3
|77
|76
|18
| +58
|Promotion
|16 Paweł Kloc
|-style="background:#9ACD32;" align=center
|2002–03
|Third tier
|3/17
|32
|15
|8
|9
|53
|41
|33
| +8
|
|9 Łukasz Szczoczarz
|-style="background:#9ACD32;" align=center
|2003–04
|
|2/16
|30
|18
|7
|5
|61
|45
|22
| +23
|Play-off to II league
|7 P. Kloc, K. Wójcik
|-style="background:#9ACD32;" align=center
|2004–05
|
|4/16
|30
|17
|5
|8
|56
|50
|31
| +19
|
|9 Krzysztof Szymański
|-style="background:#9ACD32;" align=center
|2005–06
|
|5/16
|30
|14
|8
|8
|50
|47
|36
| +11
|
|17 Wojciech Fabianowski
|-style="background:#9ACD32;" align=center
|2006–07
|
|5/16
|30
|15
|5
|10
|50
|58
|31
| +27
|
|13 Łukasz Szczoczarz
|-style="background:#9ACD32;" align=center
|2007–08
|
|10/17
|32
|10
|10
|12
|40
|28
|34
| −6
|Relegation, competition reform
|5 Krzysztof Szymański
|-style="background:beige;" align=center
|2008–09
|Fourth tier
|2/16
|30
|16
|8
|6
|56
|52
|25
| +27
|Promotion
|19 Ireneusz Gryboś
|-style="background:#9ACD32;" align=center
|2009–10
|Third tier
|12/18
|34
|11
|9
|14
|42
|47
|49
| −2
|
|12 Ireneusz Gryboś
|-style="background:#9ACD32;" align=center
|2010–11
|
|8/18
|34
|12
|12
|10
|48
|55
|46
| +9
|
|14 Wojciech Fabianowski
|-style="background:#9ACD32;" align=center
|2011–12
|
|11/17
|30
|9
|9
|12
|36
|31
|34
| −3
|
|4 D. Florian, K. Maca, A. Prokić
|-style="background:#9ACD32;" align=center
|2012–13
|
|11/18
|34
|9
|15
|10
|42
|37
|32
| 5
|
|10 Andreja Prokić
|-style="background:#9ACD32;" align=center
|2013–14
|
|11/18
|34
|12
|11
|11
|47
|40
|40
| 0
|Relegation
|16 Piotr Prędota
|-style="background:beige;" align=center
|2014–15
|Fourth tier
|1/18
|34
|21
|10
|3
|73
|84
|29
| +55
|Playoff to 2nd league
|30 Piotr Prędota
|-style="background:beige;" align=center
|2015–16
|
|2/18
|34
|23
|5
|6
|74
|80
|33
| +47
|
|20 Piotr Prędota
|-style="background:beige;" align=center
|2016–17
|
|3/18
|32
|20
|4
|8
|64
|70
|32
| +38
|
|17 Wojciech Reiman
|-style="background:beige;" align=center
|2017–18
|
|6/18
|34
|16
|7
|11
|55
|56
|40
| +16
|
|15 Wojciech Reiman
|-style="background:beige;" align=center
|2018–19
|
|1/18
|34
|22
|10
|2
|76
|87
|27
| +60
|Promotion
|20 Tomasz Płonka
|-style="background:#9ACD32;" align=center
|2019–20
|Third tier
|6/18
|34
|15
|6
|13
|51
|55
|44
| +11
|Play-off to II league
|9 Artur Pląskowski
|-style="background:#9ACD32;" align=center
|2020–21
|
|10/19
|36
|14
|8
|14
|50
|58
|60
| -2
|
|12 Wojciech Reiman
|-style="background:#9ACD32;" align=center
|2021–22
|
|1/18
|34
|23
|8
|3
|77
|75
|35
| +40
|Promoted
|11 Damian Michalik
|-style="background:#D3D3D3;" align=center
|2022–23
|Second tier
|6/18
|34
|14
|9
|11
|51
|57
|44
| +13
||Lost the promotion play-offs
|10 Damian Michalik
|-style="background:#D3D3D3;" align=center
|2023–24
|
|11/18
|34
|14
|6
|14
|48
|53
|60
| -7
|
|8 Adler Da Silva
|-style="background:#D3D3D3;" align=center
|2024–25
|
|12/18
|34
|9
|8
|17
|35
|42
|59
| -17
|
|7 Tomasz Bała
|-style="background:#D3D3D3;" align=center
|2025–26
|
|13/18
|34
|12
|7
|15
|43
|49
|60
| -11
|
|12 Jonathan
|}
See also
- Football in Poland
- List of football teams
- Champions' Cup/League
- UEFA Cup