Odra Opole

Odra Opole (Polish pronunciation: ) is a football club based in Opole, Poland, currently playing in the I liga. The history of Odra Opole began on 16 June 1945, when in the town hall of former German city of Oppeln, a group of sports officials gathered to form a Polish sports organisation. Under first chairman, lawyer Leonard Olejnik, Odra organised first sports competition in the now-Polish city: street running (July 1945). In 1948, Odra merged with Lwowianka Opole and Chrobry Groszowice, and in 1948 – 1958, the club was called Budowlani Opole. By 1950, Budowlani had several departments, including football, track and field, tennis, boxing, ice hockey and volleyball. In 1951, managed by Mieczyslaw Bieniek, Budowlani won promotion to the second tier of Polish football system. In 1952, the team achieved promotion to the Ekstraklasa, after the playoffs with Wlokniarz Krakow (3–2, 1–1). The team from Opole debuted in the Polish top league on March 15, 1953, losing at home 1–2 to Gwardia Warszawa (the lone goal for Budowlani was scored by Augustyn Pocwa). After only one year, Budowlani was relegated back to the second division. In 1955, Budowlani, with its top scorer Engelbert Jarek (who had been purchased from Polonia Nysa), returned to the Ekstraklasa. In the same year, Opole's favourites reached the semi-final of the Polish Cup, losing 0–2 to Lechia Gdansk. Budowlani, whose name was in 1958 changed back to Odra, remained in the Polish top class until 1958. After relegation, Odra quickly returned to Ekstraklasa, and in the early 1960s, it was among the best football teams of the nation.