Post by Daniel Sobis

Most football clubs dream about promotion. Wieczysta Kraków turned it into a project — and then into history. Just a few years ago, they were playing in Poland’s regional lower leagues, far away from the spotlight and even further away from the Ekstraklasa. Many saw them as a football experiment funded by a wealthy owner. Few believed they would actually complete the journey. Yesterday, they did. After defeating Chrobry Głogów in the promotion play-off final, Wieczysta secured a historic place in the Ekstraklasa, completing one of the most remarkable rises in modern Polish football. The story began in 2020, when entrepreneur Wojciech Kwiecień took over the club and accelerated its development. Known in Poland as the “pharmacy king,” Kwiecień built his fortune through one of the country’s largest pharmacy businesses. Instead of investing in an established football brand, he chose a local club from Kraków and committed to a vision many considered unrealistic. Since then, Wieczysta has collected promotion after promotion, climbing from the lower regional divisions to the highest level of Polish football in just six years. What makes this story fascinating is that it was never only about money. It was also about people. Sławomir Peszko became one of the symbols of the project. A Polish international with over 40 caps, Euro 2016 participant, former player of Lech Poznań, FC Köln, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Parma and Lechia Gdańsk, he joined Wieczysta first as a player, later became head coach, and today serves as vice-president. The final step belonged to Kazimierz Moskal. A former Polish international and one of the country’s most respected coaches, Moskal has managed clubs including Wisła Kraków, ŁKS Łódź and Pogoń Szczecin. When Wieczysta needed someone capable of delivering the final push, they turned to a coach who had already proven he could handle pressure and promotion battles. For years, many football fans treated Wieczysta as a curiosity. An ambitious club trying to buy its way up the pyramid. Today, regardless of opinions, the achievement is impossible to ignore. From regional football to the Ekstraklasa. From a local project to a national story. From an underdog club to Poland’s newest top-flight team. A reminder that vision matters. But vision alone is never enough. Execution, persistence and leadership are what ultimately turn ambitious ideas into reality. Congratulations, Wieczysta Kraków. Fot. Łukasz Gagulski / PAP