# Ekstraklasa

Ekstraklasa (Polish pronunciation:; meaning "Extra Class" in Polish), officially known as PKO Bank Polski Ekstraklasa due to its sponsorship by PKO Bank Polski, is a professional association football league in Poland and the highest level of the Polish football league system.
Contested by 18 clubs, operating a system of promotion and relegation with the I liga, seasons start in July, and end in May or June the following year. Teams play a total of 34 games each. Games are played on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays. The winner of the Ekstraklasa qualifies for the Polish Super Cup. Since 2005, the league is operated by the Ekstraklasa Spółka Akcyjna.
The Ekstraklasa (former I liga) was officially formed as Liga Polska on 4–5 December 1926 in Warsaw, since 1 March 1927 as Liga Piłki Nożnej (Polish pronunciation:), but the Polish Football Association (Polish: Polski Związek Piłki Nożnej, PZPN) had been in existence since 20 December 1919, a year after the independence of Poland in 1918. The first games of the freshly created league took place on 3 April 1927, while the first national non-league football championship took place in 1920.
A total of 86 teams have played in the top division of Polish football since the founding of the league, 20 of which have won the title. The current champions are Jagiellonia Białystok, who won their 1st title in the 2023–24 season.

## History
### Naming

* 1927–1948: Liga
* 1949–2004: I liga
* 2004: Idea Ekstraklasa
* 2005–2009: Orange Ekstraklasa
* 2011–2015: T-Mobile Ekstraklasa
* 2016–2018: Lotto Ekstraklasa
* 2019–: PKO Bank Polski Ekstraklasa

### Creation of the Polish Football League

On 4–5 December 1926 in Warsaw, representatives from several Polish clubs met to discuss the creation of a league. It is unknown where the idea of a Polish league originated from, however a national league was thought to be a much more practical solution than hitherto practiced two-stage system of regional matches followed by a national match.
To the dismay of clubs' officials, the PZPN was not receptive to the idea of a national league and therefore sought to thwart it. However, it turned out that virtually all but one of the Polish clubs supported the idea. The decision to create it was made regardless what PZPN's representatives thought of it. In late February 1927, at the PZPN's meeting in Warsaw, its officials openly opposed the formation of a league, but the clubs, allegedly egged on by some generals from the Polish Army (which, after May Coup of 1926, played a key role in all aspects of public life), proceeded anyway. The creation of the League was announced on 1 March 1927.

### Cracovia

The only opponent of the league's formation was Cracovia – a very influential and strong organization in Polish football of the 1920s. Cracovia's boycott was because its chairman, Dr. Edward Cetnarowski, at the same time held the post of the director of the PZPN. Cetnarowski was a personality known not only in Poland, but also in other countries. It was due to his efforts that in September 1923, Cracovia toured Spain, drawing 1–1 with Barcelona and losing 0–1 to Real Madrid. In October, also thanks to Cetnarowski, Sevilla travelled to Kraków, losing 2–3 to Cracovia.

### Early years of the league

Games of the first league championships started on 3 April 1927. All major teams (except for Cracovia) took part in it. This is the list of the teams (in the order they finished in November 1927):
* Wisła Kraków
* 1. FC Kattowitz
* Warta Poznań
* Pogoń Lwów
* Legia Warsaw
* Klub Turystów Łódź
* ŁKS Łódź
* Polonia Warsaw
* Czarni Lwów
* Toruński KS
* Hasmonea Lwów
* Ruch Chorzów
* KS Warszawianka
* Jutrzenka Kraków
In this first season of the league, fight for championship was decided between two powerful teams – Wisła Kraków and 1.FC Katowice. This rivalry was treated very seriously, not only by the two sides involved, but also by the whole nation. 1.FC was regarded as the team supported by German minority, while Wisła, at the end of this historic season, represented ambitions of all Poles.
Some time in the fall of 1927 in Katowice, an ill-fated game between 1.FC and Wisła took place. Stakes were very high – the winner would become the champion. Kraków's side won 2–0 and became the champion. 1.FC finished second, third was Warta Poznań.

### 1920s

In 1928, Cracovia finally decided to enter the league, which was gladly accepted by all fans of football. However, championships were once again won by Wisła, with such excellent players as Henryk Reyman, Mieczysław Balcer and Jan Kotlarczyk. Warta Poznań was second and Legia Warsaw third. This was also the last year of 1.FC's glory. The team finished fifth, to be relegated forever at the end of 1929 season.
In 1929, another team (after Cracovia, Pogoń Lwów and Wisła) was added to the list of champions of Poland. This time it was Warta Poznań, which finished one point ahead of Garbarnia Kraków.
However, after the last game, on 1 December 1929, it was Garbarnia Kraków that was celebrating the championship. Two weeks later, in mid-December, PZPN's officials changed the result of the Warta – Klub Turystow Łódź game. Originally, Warta lost 1–2, but due to walkover (it was decided that one of Łódź's players did not have all necessary documents), this was changed to 3–0 in favor of Poznań's side. As a result of the decision, Warta (with 33 points) became the champion, Garbarnia finished second with 32 points and Klub Turystow was relegated.
In 1930, Cracovia regained the championship, (to repeat this success in 1932) and a year later another Kraków's side, Garbarnia, won the league. It is clear that the 1927–1932 period was marked by dominance of teams from Kraków. During this time, only once (Warta Poznań, 1929) the championship was won by a side from a different city. The 1931 champion, Garbarnia, was unique as this was the first time that the league had been won by a side whose all players had been bought from other teams.

### 1930s

As has been said, the early 1930s marked a decline of the dominance of Kraków and Lwów as centers of Polish football. The point of gravity slowly moved towards west – to Upper Silesia. In 1932 the champion was Cracovia, but starting in 1933, Ruch Chorzów (then: Ruch Wielkie Hajduki) completely dominated the league, being the champion for four times in a row.
Ruch, with such excellent players as Teodor Peterek, Ernest Wilimowski and Gerard Wodarz was by far the best team in those years. For example, in 1934 it finished seven points ahead of second Cracovia. Other important teams of these years were: Cracovia, Wisła Kraków, Pogoń Lwów and Warta Poznań.
In 1933 and 1934 there were 12 teams in the League. In 1935 this number was cut to 11 and in 1936 – to 10. Football officials did it on purpose – with fewer teams, the competition was supposed to be harder, which would attract fans to the stadiums. However, supporters' turnout was not impressive, with Ruch Chorzów as the most popular team, both at home and away.
In late 1935 (the league held its games in the spring-summer-fall system) fans were shocked to find that Cracovia, the legend of this sport, was relegated to the A-class. Kraków's side absence lasted for a year – it returned in 1937, to become the champion.
Ruch Chorzów was still the dominant team, winning the Championships in 1936 and 1938. In 1937 Ruch's streak of four consecutive champions was broken by Cracovia, and in 1939 the championships were not finished. By 31 August 1939, after some 12 games, Ruch was the leader of the 10-team League. Last games of this summer occurred on 20 August. Then, a break was planned, because the National Team was going to play a few international friendlies. Games were to be re-introduced on 10 September.
This is the list of the ten teams that participated in last, historic games for championships of interwar Poland. Teams are presented according to their position on the table, as of 31 August 1939:
* Ruch Chorzów
* Wisła Kraków
* Pogoń Lwów
* AKS Chorzów
* Warta Poznań
* Cracovia
* Polonia Warsaw
* Garbarnia Kraków
* Warszawianka Warsaw
* Union Touring Łódź

### After World War II

As a result of the Second World War, the borders of Poland changed significantly. Lwów, one of the centers of Polish football (with such teams as Pogoń Lwów, Czarni Lwów and Lechia Lwów) was annexed by Soviet Union and all these teams ceased to exist. Lwów's football officials and players moved westwards, creating such clubs as Odra Opole and Pogoń Szczecin, and reviving Polonia Bytom (see: Recovered Territories). Another important center, Wilno (with the team Śmigły Wilno), was also annexed by the Soviets (see: Polish areas annexed by the Soviet Union). In exchange, Poland gained a large swath of formerly German territory in particular in Silesia (which also formed part of Poland centuries prior), with its capital Wrocław (home of double champion Śląsk Wrocław) and cities such as Zabrze (home of 14-times champion Górnik Zabrze), Bytom (home of champions Polonia Bytom and Szombierki Bytom) and Lubin (home of double champion Zagłębie Lubin).
The two first post-war Championships, in 1946 and 1947, were played in a non-league formula, won by Polonia Warsaw and Warta Poznań, respectively. In 1948, the league was revamped with 14 teams, however, from 1949 the number of teams was reduced again to 12. In 1948 and 1949, the championship was decided between the Kraków clubs Cracovia and Wisła Kraków. At the time, the league consisted mostly of clubs already playing in the league before the war, but there were also debutants, of which, however, only Lech Poznań achieved good results, finishing 6th and 3rd, others finished 10th and lower.

### 1950s

Throughout these years, the league format remained relatively stable, with the same number of teams participating each season. The early 1950s were marked by the dominance of Wisła Kraków and Ruch Chorzów, however, new contenders soon emerged with Polonia Bytom, Legia Warsaw, Górnik Zabrze and ŁKS Łódź all winning their first championships that decade. A number of teams made their debut in the league in the 1950s, including from cities previously unrepresented in the top league, i.e. Radlin, Szczecin, Opole, Bydgoszcz, Sosnowiec and Zabrze. Górnik Radlin, Wawel Kraków, Gwardia Warsaw and Zagłębie Sosnowiec managed to occasionally join the competition for the top spots, and since 1957, Górnik Zabrze emerged as the dominant force.
Overall, the 1950s marked a period of consolidation and growth for the Ekstraklasa. It experienced a stable format and saw some clubs begin to assert their dominance. This era laid the groundwork for further developments and successes in the coming decades.

### 1960s

Since 1961, the league was expanded to 14 teams. As of 1962, the league began to hold its games in the fall-spring system (1962 season was limited to the spring only, and the fall saw the start of 1963 championship).
The decade was dominated by clubs from the Katowice urban area, especially Górnik Zabrze, which won six championships, including the record five consecutive titles in the 1962–63 to 1966–67 seasons, with Ruch Chorzów and Polonia Bytom also winning further championship titles, and Zagłębie Sosnowiec and Szombierki Bytom finishing in the top three. Only clubs from outside the Katowice urban area to finish in the top three were Odra Opole in 1963–64, Wisła Kraków in 1965–66, and Legia Warsaw in 1960, 1961 and 1967–68, before it reclaimed the title in 1968–69 and 1969–70. Clubs from large cities outside the Katowice urban area rarely even cracked the top half of the league. The decade was marked by competitive football and showcased the emergence of new talents in the Polish football landscape.

### 1970s

The 1970s were a significant period in the history of the Ekstraklasa. During this decade, Polish football experienced both domestic and international success, with several teams and players leaving their mark on the league. In the early 1970s, Ruch Chorzów and Górnik Zabrze were dominant forces in the Ekstraklasa. Górnik secured back-to-back championships in the 1970–71 and 1971–72, and Ruch Chorzów in the 1973–74 and 1974-75 seasons. The mid-1970s saw the emergence of new strong contenders, Stal Mielec, Śląsk Wrocław, Wisła Kraków and Widzew Łódź. Stal and Śląsk clinched their first league titles in the 1972–73 and 1976–77 seasons, respectively, breaking the monopoly of Ruch Chorzów and Górnik Zabrze. Śląsk Wrocław's and Widzew Łódź's success signaled a shift in the balance of power within the league.
The growth of Polish clubs and exceptional new talents was reflected in results in UEFA competitions. Górnik Zabrze reached the final and quarterfinals of the European Cup Winners' Cup in 1969–70 and 1970–71, respectively, losing both to Manchester City. Legia Warsaw reached the semifinals and quarterfinals of the European Cup (predecessor of the UEFA Champions League) in 1969–70 and 1970–71, losing to Feyenoord and Atlético Madrid, respectively. Ruch Chorzów reached the quarterfinals of the 1973–74 UEFA Cup and 1974–75 European Cup, losing to Feyenoord and AS Saint-Étienne. On the international stage, Polish football gained global recognition with the national team's success in the 1974 FIFA World Cup. Several players from Ekstraklasa clubs were key contributors to the national team's historic third-place finish, further enhancing the league's reputation. In summary, the 1970s were a dynamic and competitive era in the history of the Ekstraklasa. The decade witnessed the continued success of established clubs like Górnik Zabrze and Ruch Chorzów, the rise of new contenders. Additionally, the international achievements of the Polish national team added to the prestige of the Ekstraklasa during this period.

### 1980s

The 1980s were a tumultuous and challenging period for the Ekstraklasa. The decade was marked by political unrest, economic difficulties, and a decline in the overall performance of Polish football on both domestic and international fronts. One of the defining moments of the 1980s was the imposition of martial law in Poland in 1981. This had a profound impact on the country's football landscape, disrupting the regular functioning of the Ekstraklasa and leading to the suspension of the league for a brief period. Amidst the political turmoil, certain football clubs managed to assert their dominance in the league. Widzew Łódź continued their success from the late 1970s into the early 1980s, clinching Ekstraklasa titles in the 1980–81 and 1981-82 seasons. Their consistency during this period showcased their resilience in challenging circumstances. Górnik Zabrze and Legia Warsaw remained competitive but faced increased challenges, both domestically and in European competitions. The economic difficulties in Poland had an impact on the financial stability of football clubs, affecting their ability to attract and retain top talent. The latter part of the 1980s witnessed a shift in power, with Lech Poznań emerging as a dominant force in the Ekstraklasa. Lech Poznań secured consecutive league titles in the 1982–83 and 1983-84 seasons. Their success brought a new chapter to the league, with fresh faces making an impact on the domestic football scene. Despite the challenges at the club level, the Polish national team achieved a notable milestone in the 1980s. They finished in 3rd place at the 1982 FIFA World Cup in Spain, showcasing the resilience of Polish football despite the adverse conditions. In summary, the 1980s were a challenging period for the Ekstraklasa, marked by political and economic difficulties that impacted the overall state of Polish football. While certain clubs like Widzew Łódź and Lech Poznań enjoyed success, the era was characterized by a decline in the league's competitive stature compared to previous decades. The challenges faced by clubs in the 1980s set the stage for efforts to revitalize and modernize Polish football in the subsequent years.

### 1990s

The 1990s marked a period of transition and transformation for the Ekstraklasa. The decade witnessed the country's transition back to a market economy, which had a profound impact on football, leading to both challenges and opportunities for the league. Lech Poznań continued their success from the late 1980s into the early 1990s, winning the Ekstraklasa title in the 1991–92 season. The club's achievements reflected a certain stability in performance, even as other clubs adapted to the changing economic and football landscape. Widzew Łódź and Legia Warsaw remained competitive during the early 1990s, with Legia achieving success in both domestic and international competitions. Legia Warsaw notably reached the quarterfinals of the UEFA Cup during the 1990-91 season, showcasing the club's resilience on the European stage. The latter part of the decade saw a shift in the balance of power within the Ekstraklasa. Clubs like GKS Katowice, Widzew Łódź, ŁKS Łódź, Wisła Kraków and Polonia Warsaw emerged as strong contenders for the league title, whereas the previously strong teams of Górnik Zabrze, Lech Poznań and Ruch Chorzów declined since the mid-1990s.
The 1990s also saw the emergence of talented players who would go on to make significant contributions to both the Ekstraklasa and the national team. Despite the challenges posed by economic factors and changes in the football landscape, Polish football experienced a sense of renewal and dynamism in the 1990s. The increased competitiveness within the league and the emergence of new talent laid the groundwork for a more vibrant and evolving Ekstraklasa in the years to come. In summary, the 1990s were a transformative period for the Ekstraklasa, characterized by a changing economic landscape, the emergence of new contenders, and the continued success of established clubs. The decade set the stage for further developments in Polish football, with increased competition and a focus on nurturing young talent.

### 2000s

The 2000s represented a period of continued evolution and competitiveness for the Ekstraklasa. This decade featured a mix of established clubs maintaining their dominance, the emergence of new contenders, and increased efforts to modernize and elevate the overall standard of Polish football. Wisła Kraków continued their success from the late 1990s into the early 2000s, securing multiple Ekstraklasa titles during this period. The club's triumphs in the league, along with their participation in European competitions, contributed to their status as a major force in Polish football. Legia Warsaw also experienced a resurgence, winning the Ekstraklasa title in the 2001–02 and 2005-06 seasons. Their achievements not only showcased their domestic prowess but also marked a return to competitiveness on the European stage. The 2000s witnessed a particularly unusual rise of several clubs from small and mid-sized towns, with teams from Grodzisk Wielkopolski, Wronki, Lubin and Bełchatów all finishing in the top three, and Zagłębie Lubin even winning the 2006–07 title. A number of clubs from other similar towns enjoyed one to several seasons in the Ekstraklasa during this period. At the same time, previously strong teams from Łódź (ŁKS and Widzew), GKS Katowice and Polonia Warsaw declined, with all four even relegated from the league, similarly to the former powerhouses of Lech Poznań, Ruch Chorzów and Górnik Zabrze. Lech Poznań re-emerged as a major power in the late 2000s and secured the Ekstraklasa title in the 2009-10 season. Lech Poznań's success reflected a broader trend of increased parity and competition within the league.
Efforts to modernize and professionalize Polish football gained momentum during this decade. The league underwent structural changes, and there were initiatives to improve training facilities, youth development programs, and overall infrastructure. These efforts aimed to enhance the quality of the Ekstraklasa and raise the level of competitiveness. The 2000s also saw the emergence of notable players who left a lasting impact on the league and, in some cases, went on to have successful careers in international football. While the 2000s brought positive developments for Polish football, there were also challenges, including financial struggles for some clubs and occasional incidents of fan violence. These issues highlighted the need for continued efforts to address the various aspects of the football ecosystem. In summary, the 2000s were a period of transition and growth for the Ekstraklasa, marked by the continued success of established clubs, the emergence of new contenders, and efforts to modernize and professionalize Polish football. The decade set the stage for further advancements in the subsequent years, as the league continued to adapt to changing dynamics within the football landscape.

### 2010s

The 2010s brought further changes and developments to the Ekstraklasa. This decade witnessed a continuation of the league's efforts to modernize, increase competitiveness, and enhance the overall quality of Polish football. Legia Warsaw emerged as a dominant force, securing multiple Ekstraklasa titles throughout the decade, whereas the previously dominant Wisła Kraków declined. Legia not only dominated domestically but also made notable appearances in European competitions, reaching the UEFA Europa League group stages and the UEFA Champions League play-offs. Lech Poznań continued to be a strong contender, winning the Ekstraklasa title in the 2009-10 season and consistently finishing among the top teams in subsequent years. The competition for the championship became more intense, with several clubs vying for the top spot, including Wisła Kraków, Śląsk Wrocław, and Jagiellonia Białystok.
The 2010s were marked by a growing emphasis on youth development and the nurturing of homegrown talent within the league. Clubs invested in their academies, and the emergence of young, talented players became a noticeable trend. This focus on youth development aimed to strengthen the national team and contribute to the long-term success of Polish football. Financial stability remained a challenge for some clubs, leading to occasional struggles and changes in ownership. However, the league continued to attract international attention, and the quality of play improved, making the Ekstraklasa a more competitive and entertaining competition. The implementation of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system in the later years of the decade aimed to enhance the fairness and accuracy of officiating in the league. This technological advancement reflected the broader trend of incorporating modern tools and practices to improve the overall football experience. On the international stage, Polish football continued to produce talented players who made their mark in European leagues. The national team also achieved notable success, making it to the quarterfinals at UEFA Euro 2016. In summary, the 2010s were a period of continued growth and development for the Ekstraklasa, marked by the dominance of clubs like Legia Warsaw, increased competition, a focus on youth development, and efforts to modernize various aspects of the league. The decade laid the groundwork for further advancements in Polish football as it moved into the 2020s.

### 2020s

In the 2020s, the then strongest clubs, Lech Poznań and Legia Warsaw, were joined by new strong contenders, Raków Częstochowa and, after several lackluster seasons, Jagiellonia Białystok again, and both clubs won their first championship titles in the 2022–23 and 2023–24 seasons, respectively. The period was marked by the league's rise in the UEFA coefficient, boosted by the good results of Polish clubs in European competitions with Lech Poznań reaching the quarterfinals of the UEFA Conference League in the 2022–23 season and Jagiellonia Białystok and Legia Warsaw in the 2024–25 season.

## Clubs

There are 18 clubs in the Ekstraklasa. During the course of the season each club plays the others twice, once at their home stadium and once at that of their opponents, for a total of 34 games. From the 2013–14 till the 2019–20 season, after the 30th round the table was divided into 'champion' (top eight teams) and 'relegation' (bottom eight teams) groups. Each team played seven more games (teams ranked 1–4 and 9–12 would host four games at home). The 2016–17 season was the last when teams started an extra round with half the points (rounded up) achieved during the first phase of 30 matches. The changes extended the season to a total of 296 matches played. The 2021–22 season started with 18 teams, instead of 16.
Clubs as of the 2024–25 season.
| Team | Location | Venue | Capacity |
| Cracovia | Kraków | Józef Piłsudski Stadium | 15,016 |
| GKS Katowice | Katowice | GKS Katowice Stadium Katowice Stadium | 6,710 14,896 |
| Górnik Zabrze | Zabrze | Ernest Pohl Arena Zabrze | 24,563 |
| Jagiellonia Białystok | Białystok | Białystok Stadium | 22,372 |
| Korona Kielce | Kielce | Suzuki Arena | 15,700 |
| Lech Poznań | Poznań | Enea Stadion | 42,837 |
| Lechia Gdańsk | Gdańsk | Polsat Plus Arena Gdańsk | 41,620 |
| Legia Warsaw | Warsaw | Polish Army Stadium | 31,103 |
| Motor Lublin | Lublin | Arena Lublin | 15,247 |
| Piast Gliwice | Gliwice | Piotr Wieczorek Stadium | 9,913 |
| Pogoń Szczecin | Szczecin | Florian Krygier Stadium | 21,163 |
| Puszcza Niepołomice | Niepołomice | Józef Piłsudski Stadium | 15,016 |
| Radomiak Radom | Radom | Czachor Brothers Stadium | 8,840 |
| Raków Częstochowa | Częstochowa | Raków Municipal Stadium | 5,500 |
| Stal Mielec | Mielec | Mielec Stadium | 7,000 |
| Śląsk Wrocław | Wrocław | Tarczyński Arena | 42,771 |
| Widzew Łódź | Łódź | Widzew Łódź Stadium | 18,018 |
| Zagłębie Lubin | Lubin | KGHM Zagłebie Arena | 16,086 |
* ^ This will be the last season when GKS Katowice plays in Stadion GKS Katowice, as they are set to move to their Stadion Miejski w Katowicach in 2025.
* ^ Upgrading to 31,871.
* ^ Since the 2023–24 season Puszcza played their matches in Stadion im. Marszałka Józefa Piłsudskiego (Cracovia's home ground), due to the fact that the stadium in Niepołomice didn't meet Ekstraklasa standards. They are set to play there only until the end of 2024. It remains unknown where they will play the second part of the season.

## List of champions

* 1921: Cracovia (1)
* 1922: Pogoń Lwów (1)
* 1923: Pogoń Lwów (2)
* 1924: Abandoned°
* 1925: Pogoń Lwów (3)
* 1926: Pogoń Lwów (4)
* 1927: Wisła Kraków (1)
* 1928: Wisła Kraków (2)
* 1929: Warta Poznań (1)
* 1930: Cracovia (2)
* 1931: Garbarnia Kraków (1)
* 1932: Cracovia (3)
* 1933: Ruch Chorzów (1)
* 1934: Ruch Chorzów (2)
* 1935: Ruch Chorzów (3)
* 1936: Ruch Chorzów (4)
* 1937: Cracovia (4)
* 1938: Ruch Chorzów (5)
* 1939: Abandoned°°
* 1946: Polonia Warsaw (1)
* 1947: Warta Poznań (2)
* 1948: Cracovia (5)
* 1949: Wisła Kraków (3)
* 1950: Wisła Kraków (4)
* 1951: Wisła Kraków°°° (5)
* 1952: Ruch Chorzów (6)
* 1953: Ruch Chorzów (7)
* 1954: Polonia Bytom (1)
* 1955: Legia Warsaw (1)
* 1956: Legia Warsaw (2)
* 1957: Górnik Zabrze (1)
* 1958: ŁKS Łódź (1)
* 1959: Górnik Zabrze (2)
* 1960: Ruch Chorzów (8)
* 1961: Górnik Zabrze (3)
* 1962: Polonia Bytom (2)
* 1962–63: Górnik Zabrze (4)
* 1963–64: Górnik Zabrze (5)
* 1964–65: Górnik Zabrze (6)
* 1965–66: Górnik Zabrze (7)
* 1966–67: Górnik Zabrze (8)
* 1967–68: Ruch Chorzów (9)
* 1968–69: Legia Warsaw (3)
* 1969–70: Legia Warsaw (4)
* 1970–71: Górnik Zabrze (9)
* 1971–72: Górnik Zabrze (10)
* 1972–73: Stal Mielec (1)
* 1973–74: Ruch Chorzów (10)
* 1974–75: Ruch Chorzów (11)
* 1975–76: Stal Mielec (2)
* 1976–77: Śląsk Wrocław (1)
* 1977–78: Wisła Kraków (6)
* 1978–79: Ruch Chorzów (12)
* 1979–80: Szombierki Bytom (1)
* 1980–81: Widzew Łódź (1)
* 1981–82: Widzew Łódź (2)
* 1982–83: Lech Poznań (1)
* 1983–84: Lech Poznań (2)
* 1984–85: Górnik Zabrze (11)
* 1985–86: Górnik Zabrze (12)
* 1986–87: Górnik Zabrze (13)
* 1987–88: Górnik Zabrze (14)
* 1988–89: Ruch Chorzów (13)
* 1989–90: Lech Poznań (3)
* 1990–91: Zagłębie Lubin (1)
* 1991–92: Lech Poznań (4)
* 1992–93: Lech Poznań (5)
* 1993–94: Legia Warsaw (5)
* 1994–95: Legia Warsaw (6)
* 1995–96: Widzew Łódź (3)
* 1996–97: Widzew Łódź (4)
* 1997–98: ŁKS Łódź (2)
* 1998–99: Wisła Kraków (7)
* 1999–2000: Polonia Warsaw (2)
* 2000–01: Wisła Kraków (8)
* 2001–02: Legia Warsaw (7)
* 2002–03: Wisła Kraków (9)
* 2003–04: Wisła Kraków (10)
* 2004–05: Wisła Kraków (11)
* 2005–06: Legia Warsaw (8)
* 2006–07: Zagłębie Lubin (2)
* 2007–08: Wisła Kraków (12)
* 2008–09: Wisła Kraków (13)
* 2009–10: Lech Poznań (6)
* 2010–11: Wisła Kraków (14)
* 2011–12: Śląsk Wrocław (2)
* 2012–13: Legia Warsaw (9)
* 2013–14: Legia Warsaw (10)
* 2014–15: Lech Poznań (7)
* 2015–16: Legia Warsaw (11)
* 2016–17: Legia Warsaw (12)
* 2017–18: Legia Warsaw (13)
* 2018–19: Piast Gliwice (1)
* 2019–20: Legia Warsaw (14)
* 2020–21: Legia Warsaw (15)
* 2021–22: Lech Poznań (8)
* 2022–23: Raków Częstochowa (1)
* 2023–24: Jagiellonia Białystok (1)
°Abandoned due to the preparations of the Poland national team to participate in the 1924 Olympic Football Tournament. °°Abandoned due to the outbreak of World War II. On 31 August 1939 Ruch Chorzów was the leader. °°°In 1951, the Polish Football Association decided to give the Champion of Poland title to the winner of the Polish Cup, in order to increase the importance of the re-activated cup competition. Ruch Chorzów was 6th in the league, but won the cup, beating 2-0 Wisła Kraków in the final game. Wisła Kraków was announced the league champion.

## Performance by club

Note: This list is not synonymous with a list of Polish football champions. Bold indicates clubs playing in the top division in the 2024–25 season.
| Titles | Team | Year(s) |
| 15 | Legia Warsaw | 1955, 1956, 1969, 1970, 1994, 1995, 2002, 2006, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2020, 2021 |
| 14 |
| 14 | Górnik Zabrze | 1957, 1959, 1961, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1971, 1972, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988 |
| 14 | Wisła Kraków | 1927, 1928, 1949, 1950, 1951, 1978, 1999, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2008, 2009, 2011 |
| 13 | Ruch Chorzów | 1933, 1934, 1935, 1936, 1938, 1952, 1953, 1960, 1968, 1974, 1975, 1979, 1989 |
| 8 | Lech Poznań | 1983, 1984, 1990, 1992, 1993, 2010, 2015, 2022 |
| 5 | Cracovia | 1921, 1930, 1932, 1937, 1948 |
| 4 | Pogoń Lwów | 1922, 1923, 1925, 1926 |
| 4 | Widzew Łódź | 1981, 1982, 1996, 1997 |
| 2 | ŁKS Łódź | 1958, 1998 |
| 2 | Polonia Bytom | 1954, 1962 |
| 2 | Polonia Warsaw | 1946, 2000 |
| 2 | Stal Mielec | 1973, 1976 |
| 2 | Śląsk Wrocław | 1977, 2012 |
| 2 | Warta Poznań | 1929, 1947 |
| 2 | Zagłębie Lubin | 1991, 2007 |
| 1 | Garbarnia Kraków | 1931 |
| 1 | Jagiellonia Białystok | 2024 |
| 1 | Piast Gliwice | 2019 |
| 1 | Raków Częstochowa | 2023 |
| 1 | Szombierki Bytom | 1980 |
The following table lists the league champions by the Polish voivodeship regions (current, valid since 1999).
| Region | Titles | Winning clubs |
| Silesia | 32 | Górnik Zabrze (14), Ruch Chorzów (13), Polonia Bytom (2), Szombierki Bytom (1), Piast Gliwice (1), Raków Częstochowa (1) |
| Lesser Poland | 20 | Wisła Kraków (14), Cracovia (5), Garbarnia Kraków (1) |
| Masovia | 17 | Legia Warsaw (15), Polonia Warsaw (2) |
| Greater Poland | 10 | Lech Poznań (8), Warta Poznań (2) |
| Łódź | 6 | Widzew Łódź (4), ŁKS Łódź (2) |
| Lower Silesia | 4 | Zagłębie Lubin (2), Śląsk Wrocław (2) |
| Subcarpathian | 2 | Stal Mielec (2) |
| Podlaskie | 1 | Jagiellonia Białystok (1) |
The following table lists the league champions by city.
| City | Titles | Winning clubs |
| Kraków | 20 | Wisła Kraków (14), Cracovia (5), Garbarnia Kraków (1) |
| Warsaw | 17 | Legia Warsaw (15), Polonia Warsaw (2) |
| Zabrze | 14 | Górnik Zabrze (14) |
| Chorzów | 13 | Ruch Chorzów (13) |
| Poznań | 10 | Lech Poznań (8), Warta Poznań (2) |
| Łódź | 6 | Widzew Łódź (4), ŁKS Łódź (2) |
| Lwów | 4 | Pogoń Lwów (4) |
| Bytom | 3 | Polonia Bytom (2), Szombierki Bytom (1) |
| Lubin | 2 | Zagłębie Lubin (2) |
| Mielec | 2 | Stal Mielec (2) |
| Wrocław | 2 | Śląsk Wrocław (2) |
| Białystok | 1 | Jagiellonia Białystok (1) |
| Częstochowa | 1 | Raków Częstochowa (1) |
| Gliwice | 1 | Piast Gliwice (1) |

## Honored teams

After winning a Polish championship titles, a representative star is placed above the team's badge to indicate achieving the feat.
The current (as of May 2024) officially sanctioned championship stars are:
* Golden star: 10 or more Polish championship titles:
** Górnik Zabrze
** Legia Warsaw
** Ruch Chorzów
** Wisła Kraków
* Silver star: 5–9 Polish championship titles:
** Cracovia
** Lech Poznań
* White star: 1–4 Polish championship titles:
** Jagiellonia Białystok
** ŁKS Łódź
** Piast Gliwice
** Polonia Bytom
** Polonia Warsaw
** Raków Częstochowa
** Stal Mielec
** Śląsk Wrocław
** Warta Poznań
** Widzew Łódź
** Zagłębie Lubin

## All-time league table

The all-time league table consists of all the teams that once participated in the Ekstraklasa. Data from the 1927 – 2022–23 seasons.
Source: Tabela wszech czasów 90minut.pl
| Pos. | Club | Seasons | Current Level | Matches Played | Points | Total Wins | Wins for 3 Points | Draws | Losses | Losses for −1 Points | Goals scored | Goals conceded | Goal difference |
| 1 | Legia Warsaw | 86 | 1st | 2400 | 3482 | 1186 | 516 | 591 | 623 | 3 | 3999 | 2523 | +1476 |
| 2 | Wisła Kraków | 82 | 2nd | 2231 | 2927 | 984 | 404 | 559 | 688 | 6 | 3585 | 2685 | +900 |
| 3 | Górnik Zabrze | 65 | 1st | 1914 | 2453 | 809 | 272 | 545 | 560 | 1 | 2853 | 2165 | +688 |
| 4 | Ruch Chorzów | 77 | 2nd | 2067 | 2428 | 841 | 192 | 555 | 671 | 6 | 3107 | 2658 | +449 |
| 5 | Lech Poznań | 62 | 1st | 1818 | 2366 | 743 | 376 | 500 | 575 | 8 | 2541 | 2087 | +454 |
| 6 | ŁKS Łódź | 65 | 2nd | 1756 | 1785 | 604 | 98 | 480 | 672 | 6 | 2263 | 2429 | -166 |
| 7 | Pogoń Szczecin | 50 | 1st | 1515 | 1677 | 509 | 229 | 430 | 576 | 7 | 1809 | 2025 | -216 |
| 8 | Śląsk Wrocław | 44 | 1st | 1371 | 1591 | 485 | 210 | 407 | 479 | 5 | 1619 | 1670 | -51 |
| 9 | Widzew Łódź | 36 | 1st | 1109 | 1403 | 436 | 190 | 344 | 329 | 6 | 1439 | 1291 | +148 |
| 10 | Zagłębie Lubin | 34 | 1st | 1091 | 1401 | 400 | 297 | 306 | 385 | 1 | 1371 | 1323 | +48 |
| 11 | Cracovia | 44 | 1st | 1163 | 1331 | 427 | 204 | 278 | 458 | | 1632 | 1630 | +2 |
| 12 | GKS Katowice | 30 | 1st | 894 | 1030 | 321 | 104 | 286 | 287 | 2 | 1023 | 977 | +46 |
| 13 | Lechia Gdańsk | 31 | 1st | 879 | 1007 | 293 | 186 | 236 | 350 | 1 | 989 | 1152 | -163 |
| 14 | Polonia Warsaw | 31 | 2nd | 800 | 966 | 304 | 180 | 178 | 318 | | 1165 | 1251 | -86 |
| 15 | Zagłębie Sosnowiec | 36 | 2nd | 987 | 918 | 322 | 11 | 267 | 398 | 4 | 1180 | 1330 | -150 |
| 16 | Polonia Bytom | 35 | 3rd | 892 | 881 | 289 | 33 | 274 | 328 | 4 | 1099 | 1141 | -42 |
| 17 | Stal Mielec | 28 | 1st | 835 | 835 | 273 | 34 | 258 | 304 | 6 | 940 | 983 | -43 |
| 18 | Jagiellonia Białystok | 20 | 1st | 661 | 822 | 228 | 203 | 180 | 253 | 7 | 793 | 922 | -129 |
| 19 | Korona Kielce | 15 | 1st | 503 | 658 | 172 | 172 | 142 | 189 | | 596 | 679 | -83 |
| 20 | Szombierki Bytom | 25 | 5th | 702 | 645 | 235 | | 180 | 287 | 5 | 875 | 999 | -124 |
| 21 | Piast Gliwice | 13 | 1st | 447 | 632 | 173 | 173 | 113 | 161 | | 548 | 541 | +7 |
| 22 | Wisła Płock | 16 | 2nd | 516 | 620 | 168 | 160 | 124 | 224 | | 613 | 759 | -146 |
| 23 | Warta Poznań | 21 | 2nd | 508 | 553 | 213 | 36 | 91 | 204 | | 946 | 838 | +108 |
| 24 | Gwardia Warszawa | 23 | not existing | 572 | 539 | 195 | | 149 | 228 | | 682 | 764 | -82 |
| 25 | Odra Wodzisław Śląski | 14 | 5th | 418 | 529 | 145 | 145 | 94 | 179 | | 487 | 570 | -83 |
| 26 | Odra Opole | 22 | 2nd | 564 | 523 | 182 | | 159 | 223 | | 645 | 740 | -95 |
| 27 | Arka Gdynia | 16 | 2nd | 508 | 510 | 144 | 75 | 147 | 217 | | 522 | 667 | -45 |
| 28 | Amica Wronki | 11 | not existing | 332 | 498 | 135 | 135 | 93 | 104 | | 452 | 370 | +82 |
| 29 | GKS Bełchatów | 12 | 4th | 375 | 486 | 130 | 130 | 96 | 149 | | 422 | 463 | -41 |
| 30 | Dyskobolia Grodzisk Wielkopolski | 10 | not existing | 294 | 441 | 124 | 124 | 69 | 101 | | 420 | 357 | +63 |
| 31 | Raków Częstochowa | 8 | 1st | 271 | 392 | 112 | 103 | 65 | 94 | | 340 | 321 | +19 |
| 32 | Zawisza Bydgoszcz | 14 | 4th | 430 | 376 | 126 | 26 | 98 | 206 | | 461 | 651 | -190 |
| 32 | Garbarnia Kraków | 15 | 4th | 315 | 306 | 121 | | 64 | 130 | | 561 | 561 | |
| 34 | Pogoń Lwów | 13 | abroad | 273 | 304 | 130 | | 44 | 99 | | 537 | 439 | +98 |
| 35 | Stomil Olsztyn | 8 | 3rd | 254 | 296 | 76 | 69 | 75 | 103 | | 255 | 339 | -84 |
| 36 | Górnik Łęczna | 8 | 2nd | 257 | 276 | 70 | 70 | 66 | 121 | | 260 | 391 | -131 |
| 37 | Olimpia Poznań Lechia/Olimpia Gdańsk | 9 | not existing | 284 | 260 | 78 | 11 | 98 | 104 | 10 | 308 | 376 | -68 |
| 38 | Stal Rzeszów | 11 | 2nd | 290 | 255 | 79 | | 97 | 114 | | 297 | 377 | -80 |
| 39 | Hutnik Kraków | 7 | 3rd | 234 | 254 | 75 | 23 | 81 | 78 | | 299 | 284 | +15 |
| 40 | KS Warszawianka | 13 | not existing | 271 | 227 | 90 | | 47 | 134 | | 427 | 612 | -185 |
| 41 | Podbeskidzie Bielsko-Biała | 6 | 2nd | 201 | 222 | 54 | 54 | 60 | 87 | | 225 | 310 | -85 |
| 40 | Motor Lublin | 9 | 1st | 274 | 220 | 70 | | 92 | 112 | 12 | 259 | 372 | -113 |
| 42 | AKS Chorzów | 10 | not existing | 192 | 196 | 80 | | 36 | 76 | | 336 | 307 | +29 |
| 43 | Bałtyk Gdynia | 7 | 5th | 210 | 186 | 64 | 1 | 61 | 85 | 4 | 184 | 247 | -56 |
| 44 | ROW Rybnik | 7 | 4th | 198 | 165 | 50 | | 65 | 83 | | 165 | 233 | -78 |
| 45 | Bruk-Bet Termalica Nieciecza | 4 | 2nd | 145 | 156 | 39 | 39 | 39 | 67 | | 149 | 227 | -78 |
| 46 | Rymer Niedobczyce Górnik Radlin | 9 | 7th 6th | 188 | 155 | 58 | | 39 | 91 | | 238 | 344 | -106 |
| 47 | Górnik Wałbrzych | 6 | 5th | 180 | 154 | 53 | 2 | 55 | 73 | 7 | 190 | 243 | -53 |
| 48 | Zagłębie Wałbrzych | 6 | 7th | 160 | 142 | 50 | | 42 | 68 | | 131 | 166 | -35 |
| 49 | Czarni Lwów | 7 | not existing | 164 | 141 | 56 | | 29 | 79 | | 265 | 326 | -61 |
| 50 | Sokół Pniewy Sokół Tychy | 4 | 6th | 136 | 130 | 36 | 16 | 42 | 58 | | 128 | 190 | -62 |
| 51 | Polonia Bydgoszcz | 7 | 6th | 156 | 129 | 47 | | 35 | 74 | | 186 | 296 | -110 |
| 52 | Radomiak Radom | 3 | 1st | 98 | 117 | 31 | 23 | 32 | 35 | | 105 | 113 | -8 |
| 53 | Ruch Radzionków | 3 | 5th | 90 | 109 | 30 | 30 | 19 | 41 | | 105 | 135 | -30 |
| 54 | Stal Stalowa Wola | 4 | 3rd | 132 | 103 | 32 | 1 | 44 | 56 | | 113 | 173 | -60 |
| 55 | 1. FC Katowice | 3 | 8th | 78 | 88 | 39 | | 10 | 29 | | 164 | 143 | +21 |
| 56 | GKS Tychy | 3 | 2nd | 90 | 86 | 28 | | 30 | 32 | | 105 | 113 | -8 |
| 57 | Klub Turystów Łódź Union Touring Łódź | 4 | not existing | 90 | 76 | 32 | | 12 | 46 | | 149 | 212 | -63 |
| 58 | KSZO Ostrowiec Świętokrzyski | 3 | 4th | 92 | 71 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 57 | | 73 | 147 | -74 |
| 59 | Siarka Tarnobrzeg | 3 | 4th | 102 | 65 | 19 | 3 | 24 | 59 | | 88 | 169 | -81 |
| 60 | Arkonia Szczecin | 4 | 6th | 88 | 64 | 20 | | 24 | 44 | | 100 | 166 | -66 |
| 61 | Miedź Legnica | 2 | 2nd | 71 | 63 | 14 | 14 | 21 | 36 | | 73 | 120 | -47 |
| 62 | Śląsk Świętochłowice | 3 | 5th | 66 | 45 | 19 | | 7 | 40 | | 84 | 166 | -82 |
| 63 | Unia Racibórz | 2 | 5th | 52 | 38 | 14 | | 10 | 28 | | 77 | 126 | -49 |
| 64 | Hasmonea Lwów | 2 | not existing | 54 | 38 | 14 | | 10 | 30 | | 98 | 149 | -51 |
| 65 | Wawel Kraków | 2 | 8th | 32 | 37 | 13 | | 11 | 8 | | 50 | 36 | +14 |
| 66 | Igloopol Dębica | 2 | 5th | 64 | 37 | 9 | | 19 | 36 | | 43 | 121 | -78 |
| 67 | Strzelec 22 Siedlce | 3 | not existing | 64 | 36 | 14 | | 8 | 42 | | 84 | 169 | -85 |
| 68 | Sandecja Nowy Sącz | 1 | 3rd | 37 | 33 | 6 | 6 | 15 | 16 | | 34 | 54 | -20 |
| 69 | Szczakowianka Jaworzno | 1 | 5th | 30 | 32 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 14 | | 40 | 54 | -14 |
| 70 | RKS Radomsko | 1 | 5th | 28 | 31 | 7 | 7 | 10 | 11 | | 23 | 34 | -11 |
| 71 | TKS Toruń | 2 | not existing | 54 | 30 | 13 | | 4 | 37 | | 84 | 185 | -101 |
| 72 | Podgórze Kraków | 2 | 7th | 42 | 27 | 11 | | 5 | 26 | | 56 | 103 | -47 |
| 74 | Górnik Polkowice | 1 | 3rd | 26 | 23 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 15 | | 17 | 37 | -20 |
| 75 | Tarnovia Tarnów | 1 | 6th | 26 | 22 | 10 | | 2 | 14 | | 42 | 48 | -6 |
| 76 | Świt Nowy Dwór Mazowiecki | 1 | 4th | 26 | 22 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 14 | | 21 | 42 | -21 |
| 77 | GKS Jastrzębie | 1 | 3rd | 30 | 19 | 8 | | 8 | 14 | 5 | 24 | 43 | +19 |
| 78 | Dąb Katowice | 2 | not existing | 36 | 14 | 7 | | | 29 | | 29 | 97 | -68 |
| 79 | ŁTS-G Łódź | 1 | not existing | 22 | 12 | 3 | | 6 | 13 | | 25 | 67 | -42 |
| 80 | Śmigły Wilno | 1 | not existing | 18 | 11 | 5 | | 1 | 12 | | 29 | 50 | -21 |
| 81 | Jutrzenka Kraków | 1 | not existing | 26 | 11 | 3 | | 5 | 18 | | 41 | 82 | -41 |
| 82 | Lechia Lwów | 1 | not existing | 22 | 11 | 5 | | 1 | 16 | | 23 | 66 | -43 |
| 83 | Puszcza Niepołomice | 1 | 1st | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 0 | 0 | | | | |
From 1927 to 2024 a total of 83 teams contested in the Ekstraklasa.
Bold- indicates teams currently playing in the Ekstraklasa 2024–25 season.

### Explanation

1. An equal number of points on the basis of their goal difference, then greater number of goals scored. 2. In seasons 1927 – 1994–95 for a win awarded 2 points and 1 point for a draw. In seasons 1986–87 – 1989–90 for win at least three goals difference additionally awarded 1 point, while a losses at least 3 goals difference subtracted one point. Since the season 1995–96 for win gives 3 points and 1 point for a draw. 3. Included additional qualification games between both teams and league championship and remain in the league (including 11 games in 1948, 1986–87, 1987–88, 1988–89) and was not included in the table play-off for the right to play in the league between teams of different class divisions. 4. Included matches with unfinished 1939 season.

#### Penalty points

Includes penalties imposed by the Football Association:
* In the season 1934 in the meeting Garbarnia Kraków – ŁKS Łódź held bilateral forfeit 0:3 (match did not take place due to the fault of both teams).
* Matches of the season 1986–87 (Lech Poznań – Polonia Bytom 1:1, Olimpia Poznań – Stal Mielec 1:3, Zagłębie Lubin – Ruch Chorzów 0:2) and the season 1992–93 (Wisła Kraków – Legia Warsaw 0:6, ŁKS Łódź – Olimpia Poznań 7:1 ) on suspicion settings results have been verified as completed, but the teams received points places and infield (and this is included in the table). More: Sunday of Miracles.
* In the season 1993–94 Legia Warsaw, Wisła Kraków and ŁKS Łódź started the game with a negative account (−3 points) as punishment for the events of the final round of the season 1992–93.
* In the season 2009–10 Jagiellonia Białystok was penalized 10 points deduction for participating in the corruption scandal.
* In the season 2012–13 Zagłębie Lubin was penalized 3 points for participating in the corruption scandal.
* In the season 2015–16 Wisła Kraków, Górnik Zabrze, Lechia Gdańsk and Ruch Chorzów were penalized 1 points for failing with licensing requirements.
* In the season 2016–17 Ruch Chorzów was penalized 4 points for failing with licensing requirements.
* In the season 2020–21 Cracovia was penalized 5 points for participating in the corruption scandal during the 2003–04 II liga season.

#### Mergers and acquisitions teams

With the following mergers and acquisitions teams:
* The combination Union Łódź and Klub Turystów Łódź at Union-Touring Łódź (1932) – the balance Klub Turystów and Union-Touring counted together.
* The combination Rymer Niedobczyce and Błyskawica Radlin at Górnik Radlin (1949) – the balance Rymer and Górnik counted together.
* The combination Sokół Pniewy and GKS Tychy at Sokół Tychy (1995) – the balance of the Sokół Pniewy and Sokół Tychy is counted together.
* The combination Olimpia Poznań and Lechia Gdańsk at Lechia/Olimpia Gdańsk (1995) – the balance Lechia/Olimpia Gdańsk is included in the balance sheet Lechia Gdańsk.
* The combination Amica Wronki and Lech Poznań (2006) – Lech Poznań balance before and after the merger is counted together.
* The combination Dyskobolia Grodzisk Wielkopolski and Polonia Warsaw (2008) – Polonia Warsaw balance before and after the merger is counted together.

## Top goalscorers

| Year | Tally | Player | Club |
| 1927 | 37 goals | Henryk Reyman | Wisła Kraków |
| 1928 | 28 goals | Ludwik Gintel | Cracovia |
| 1929 | 25 goals | Rochus Nastula | Czarni Lwów |
| 1930 | 24 goals | Karol Kossok | Cracovia |
| 1931 | 24 goals | Walerian Kisieliński | Wisła Kraków |
| 1932 | 16 goals | Kajetan Kryszkiewicz | Warta Poznań |
| 1933 | 19 goals | Artur Woźniak | Wisła Kraków |
| 1934 | 33 goals | Ernst Wilimowski | Ruch Hajduki Wielkie |
| 1935 | 22 goals | Michał Matyas | Pogoń Lwów |
| 1936 | 18 goals | Teodor Peterek Ernst Wilimowski | Ruch Hajduki Wielkie Ruch Hajduki Wielkie |
| 1937 | 12 goals | Artur Woźniak | Wisła Kraków |
| 1938 | 21 goals | Teodor Peterek | Ruch Hajduki Wielkie |
| 1939 | 12 goals | Ernst Wilimowski | Ruch Hajduki Wielkie |
| 1948 | 31 goals | Józef Kohut | Wisła Kraków |
| 1949 | 20 goals | Teodor Anioła | Lech Poznań |
| 1950 | 21 goals | Teodor Anioła | Lech Poznań |
| 1951 | 20 goals | Teodor Anioła | Lech Poznań |
| 1952 | 11 goals | Gerard Cieślik | Ruch Chorzów |
| 1953 | 24 goals | Gerard Cieślik | Ruch Chorzów |
| 1954 | 13 goals | Henryk Kempny Ernst Pohl | Polonia Bytom Legia Warsaw |
| 1955 | 16 goals | Stanisław Hachorek | Gwardia Warsaw |
| 1956 | 21 goals | Henryk Kempny | Legia Warsaw |
| 1957 | 19 goals | Lucjan Brychczy | Legia Warsaw |
| 1958 | 19 goals | Władysław Soporek | ŁKS Łódź |
| 1959 | 21 goals | Jan Liberda Ernst Pohl | Polonia Bytom Górnik Zabrze |
| 1960 | 17 goals | Marian Norkowski | Polonia Bydgoszcz |
| 1961 | 24 goals | Ernst Pohl | Górnik Zabrze |
| 1962 | 16 goals | Jan Liberda | Polonia Bytom |
| 1963 | 18 goals | Marian Kielec | Pogoń Szczecin |
| 1964 | 18 goals | Lucjan Brychczy Józef Gałeczka Jerzy Wilim | Legia Warsaw Zagłębie Sosnowiec Szombierki Bytom |
| 1965 | 18 goals | Lucjan Brychczy | Legia Warsaw |
| 1966 | 23 goals | Włodzimierz Lubański | Górnik Zabrze |
| 1967 | 18 goals | Włodzimierz Lubański | Górnik Zabrze |
| 1968 | 24 goals | Włodzimierz Lubański | Górnik Zabrze |
| 1969 | 22 goals | Włodzimierz Lubański | Górnik Zabrze |
| 1970 | 18 goals | Andrzej Jarosik | Zagłębie Sosnowiec |
| 1971 | 13 goals | Andrzej Jarosik | Zagłębie Sosnowiec |
| 1972 | 16 goals | Ryszard Szymczak | Gwardia Warsaw |
| 1973 | 13 goals | Grzegorz Lato | Stal Mielec |
| 1974 | 15 goals | Zdzisław Kapka | Wisła Kraków |
| 1975 | 19 goals | Grzegorz Lato | Stal Mielec |
| 1976 | 20 goals | Kazimierz Kmiecik | Wisła Kraków |
| 1977 | 17 goals | Włodzimierz Mazur | Zagłębie Sosnowiec |
| 1978 | 15 goals | Kazimierz Kmiecik | Wisła Kraków |
| 1979 | 17 goals | Kazimierz Kmiecik | Wisła Kraków |
| 1980 | 24 goals | Kazimierz Kmiecik | Wisła Kraków |
| 1981 | 18 goals | Krzysztof Adamczyk | Legia Warsaw |
| 1982 | 15 goals | Grzegorz Kapica | Szombierki Bytom |
| 1983 | 15 goals | Mirosław Okoński Mirosław Tłokiński | Lech Poznań Widzew Łódź |
| 1984 | 14 goals | Włodzimierz Ciołek | Górnik Wałbrzych |
| 1985 | 14 goals | Leszek Iwanicki | Motor Lublin |
| 1986 | 20 goals | Andrzej Zgutczyński | Górnik Zabrze |
| 1987 | 24 goals | Marek Leśniak | Pogoń Szczecin |
| 1988 | 20 goals | Dariusz Dziekanowski | Legia Warsaw |
| 1989 | 24 goals | Krzysztof Warzycha | Ruch Chorzów |
| 1990 | 18 goals | Andrzej Juskowiak | Lech Poznań |
| 1991 | 21 goals | Tomasz Dziubiński | Wisła Kraków |
| 1992 | 20 goals | Jerzy Podbrożny Mirosław Waligóra | Lech Poznań Hutnik Kraków |
| 1993 | 25 goals | Jerzy Podbrożny | Lech Poznań |
| 1994 | 21 goals | Zenon Burzawa | Sokół Pniewy |
| 1995 | 16 goals | Bogusław Cygan | Stal Mielec |
| 1996 | 29 goals | Marek Koniarek | Widzew Łódź |
| 1997 | 18 goals | Mirosław Trzeciak | ŁKS Łódź |
| 1998 | 14 goals | Arkadiusz Bąk Sylwester Czereszewski Mariusz Śrutwa | Polonia Warsaw Legia Warsaw Ruch Chorzów |
| 1999 | 21 goals | Tomasz Frankowski | Wisła Kraków |
| 2000 | 19 goals | Adam Kompała | Górnik Zabrze |
| 2001 | 18 goals | Tomasz Frankowski | Wisła Kraków |
| 2002 | 21 goals | Maciej Żurawski | Wisła Kraków |
| 2003 | 24 goals | Stanko Svitlica | Legia Warsaw |
| 2004 | 20 goals | Maciej Żurawski | Wisła Kraków |
| 2005 | 25 goals | Tomasz Frankowski | Wisła Kraków |
| 2006 | 21 goals | Grzegorz Piechna | Korona Kielce |
| 2007 | 15 goals | Piotr Reiss | Lech Poznań |
| 2008 | 23 goals | Paweł Brożek | Wisła Kraków |
| 2009 | 19 goals | Paweł Brożek Takesure Chinyama | Wisła Kraków Legia Warsaw |
| 2010 | 18 goals | Robert Lewandowski | Lech Poznań |
| 2011 | 14 goals | Tomasz Frankowski | Jagiellonia Białystok |
| 2012 | 22 goals | Artjoms Rudņevs | Lech Poznań |
| 2013 | 14 goals | Róbert Demjan | Podbeskidzie Bielsko-Biała |
| 2014 | 22 goals | Marcin Robak | Piast Gliwice Pogoń Szczecin |
| 2015 | 20 goals | Kamil Wilczek | Piast Gliwice |
| 2016 | 28 goals | Nemanja Nikolić | Legia Warsaw |
| 2017 | 18 goals | Marco Paixão Marcin Robak | Lechia Gdańsk Lech Poznań |
| 2018 | 24 goals | Carlitos | Wisła Kraków |
| 2019 | 24 goals | Igor Angulo | Górnik Zabrze |
| 2020 | 24 goals | Christian Gytkjær | Lech Poznań |
| 2021 | 22 goals | Tomáš Pekhart | Legia Warsaw |
| 2022 | 20 goals | Ivi López | Raków Częstochowa |
| 2023 | 16 goals | Marc Gual | Jagiellonia Białystok |
| 2024 | 19 goals | Erik Expósito | Śląsk Wrocław |

## Records
### All-time most appearances

| Rank | Player | Apps | Years | Club(s) |
| 1 | Łukasz Surma | 559 | 1996–2007, 2009–2017 | Wisła Kraków 50, Ruch Chorzów 261, Legia Warsaw 123, Lechia Gdańsk 125 |
| 2 | Marcin Malinowski | 458 | 1997–2015 | Odra Wodzisław 303, Ruch Chorzów 155 |
| 3 | Marek Chojnacki | 452 | 1978–1988, 1990–1996 | ŁKS Łódź |
| 4 | Arkadiusz Głowacki | 435 | 1997–2010, 2012–2018 | Lech Poznań 75, Wisła Kraków 360 |
| 5 | Łukasz Trałka | 431 | 2004–2022 | Pogoń Szczecin 38, ŁKS Łódź 8, Lechia Gdańsk 16, Polonia Warsaw 92, Lech Poznań 217, Warta Poznań 60 |
| 6 | Dariusz Gęsior | 427 | 1988–2006 | Ruch Chorzów 178, Widzew Łódź 103, Pogoń Szczecin 33, Amica Wronki 37, Wisła Płock 63, Dyskobolia Grodzisk 13 |
| 7 | Łukasz Madej | 417 | 1999–2017 | ŁKS Łódź 75, Ruch Chorzów 26, Lech Poznań 63, Górnik Łęczna 17, Śląsk Wrocław 111, GKS Bełchatów 24, Górnik Zabrze 101 |
| 8 | Janusz Jojko | 416 | 1980–1998, 2003 | Ruch Chorzów 116, GKS Katowice 276, KSZO Ostrowiec Św. 24 |
| 8 | Marek Zieńczuk | 416 | 2000–2016 | Amica Wronki 122, Wisła Kraków 132, Lechia Gdańsk 3, Ruch Chorzów 159 |
| 10 | Zygfryd Szołtysik | 395 | 1962–1974, 1976–1978 | Górnik Zabrze |
| As of 15 August 2023. Source: Klub 300 (Bold denotes players still playing in the Ekstraklasa) |||||

### All-time top goalscorers

| Rank | Player | Goals | Years | Club(s) |
| 1 | Ernest Pohl | 186 | 1954–1967 | CWKS Warsaw 43, Górnik Zabrze 143 |
| 2 | Lucjan Brychczy | 182 | 1954–1971 | Legia Warsaw |
| 3 | Gerard Cieślik | 168 | 1948–1959 | Ruch Chorzów |
| 4 | Tomasz Frankowski | 167 | 1992–2013 | Jagiellonia Białystok 52, Wisła Kraków 115 |
| 5 | Teodor Peterek | 157 | 1928–1948 | Ruch Chorzów |
| 6 | Włodzimierz Lubański | 155 | 1963–1975 | Górnik Zabrze |
| 7 | Kazimierz Kmiecik | 153 | 1968–1982 | Wisła Kraków |
| 8 | Paweł Brożek | 149 | 2001–2020 | Wisła Kraków 144, GKS Katowice 5 |
| 9 | Jan Liberda | 146 | 1953–1969 | Polonia Bytom |
| 10 | Teodor Anioła | 138 | 1948–1961 | Lech Poznań |
| As of 15 August 2023. Source: Klub 100 (Bold denotes players still playing in the Ekstraklasa) |||||

### All-time most appearances by foreign players

| Rank | Player | Apps | Years | Club(s) |
| 1 | Dušan Kuciak | 328 | 2011– | Legia Warsaw 131, Lechia Gdańsk 196, Raków Częstochowa 1 |
| 2 | Taras Romanczuk | 319 | 2014– | Jagiellonia Białystok |
| 3 | Flávio Paixão | 310 | 2014–2023 | Śląsk Wrocław 71, Lechia Gdańsk 239 |
| 4 | Miroslav Radović | 276 | 2006–2019 | Legia Warsaw |
| 5 | Róbert Pich | 270 | 2014–2023 | Śląsk Wrocław 253, Legia Warsaw 17 |
| 6 | Pavol Staňo | 243 | 2007–2016 | Polonia Bytom 17, Jagiellonia Białystok 43, Korona Kielce 121, Podbeskidzie 26, Termalica Bruk-Bet 26 |
| 7 | Aleksandar Vuković | 242 | 2001–2013 | Legia Warsaw 166, Korona Kielce 76 |
| 8 | Vahan Gevorgyan | 236 | 1999–2009, 2013–2014 | Wisła Płock 162, Jagiellonia Białystok 18, ŁKS Łódź 19, Zawisza Bydgoszcz 37 |
| 8 | Vlastimir Jovanović | 236 | 2010–2018, 2021 | Korona Kielce 176, Bruk-Bet Termalica 60 |
| 10 | Cornel Râpă | 234 | 2016–2024 | Pogoń Szczecin 55, Cracovia 179 |
| (Bold denotes players still playing in the Ekstraklasa, italics denotes players who later represented Poland internationally) As of 24 February 2025. Source: link. |||||

### All-time top foreign goalscorers

| Rank | Player | Goals | Years | Club(s) |
| 1 | Flávio Paixão | 108 | 2014–2023 | Śląsk Wrocław 24, Lechia Gdańsk 84 |
| 2 | Jesús Imaz | 94 | 2017– | Wisła Kraków 14, Jagiellonia Białystok 80 |
| 3 | Miroslav Radović | 66 | 2006–2019 | Legia Warsaw |
| 4 | Mikael Ishak | 64 | 2020– | Lech Poznań |
| 5 | Igor Angulo | 62 | 2017–2020 | Górnik Zabrze |
| 6 | Marco Paixão | 61 | 2013–2018 | Śląsk Wrocław 27, Lechia Gdańsk 34 |
| 7 | Christian Gytkjær | 55 | 2017–2020 | Lech Poznań |
| 8 | Kasper Hämäläinen | 54 | 2013–2019 | Lech Poznań 33, Legia Warsaw 21 |
| 8 | Erik Expósito | 54 | 2020– | Śląsk Wrocław |
| 10 | Róbert Pich | 52 | 2014–2023 | Śląsk Wrocław |
| (Bold denotes players still playing in the Ekstraklasa) As of 24 February 2025. Source: link. |||||

### Transfer records
## League presidents

| Nr. | League President | Term | Term |
| Nr. | League President | from | to |
| 1. | Roman Górecki | 1 March 1927 | January 1929 |
| 2. | Ignacy Izdebski | January 1929 | 16 January 1933 |
| 3. | Zygmunt Żołędziowski | 16 January 1933 | 17 January 1936 |
| 4. | Juliusz Geib | 17 January 1936 | 30 August 1936 |
| 5. | Michał Jaroszyński | 30 August 1936 | Fall 1938 |
| 6. | Karol Stefan Rudolf | Fall 1938 | 17 September 1939 |
| 7. | Tadeusz Dręgiewicz | 10 August 1946 | 18 August 1946 |
| - | League Suspended | 18 August 1946 | 22 February 1947 |
| - | VP PZPN for League | 22 February 1947 | 14 June 2005 |
| 8. | Michał Tomczak | 14 June 2005 | 29 November 2005 |
| 9. | Andrzej Rusko | 29 November 2005 | 14 March 2012 |
| 10. | Bogusław Biszof | 1 September 2012 | 30 June 2015 |
| 11. | Dariusz Marzec | 1 July 2015 | 9 October 2017 |
| 12. | Marcin Animucki | 9 October 2017 | present |

## 2003–2005 match-fixing scandal

Despite match-fixing becoming punishable by law in mid-2003, several clubs were still involved in the process in the following months. They were later penalized:
* Arka Gdynia – a one-tier relegation, a five-point deduction at the start of the 2007–08 season.
* Cracovia – a five-point deduction at the start of the 2020–21 season and a 1,000,000 PLN fine.
* Górnik Łęczna – a two-tier relegation, a six-point deduction at the start of the 2007–08 season.
* Górnik Polkowice – a two-tier relegation, a six-point deduction at the start of the 2007–08 season and a 70,000 PLN fine.
* Korona Kielce – a one-tier relegation.
* Jagiellonia Białystok – a ten-point deduction at the start of 2009–10 season and a 300,000 PLN fine.
* KSZO Ostrowiec Świętokrzyski – a one-tier relegation, a six-point deduction at the start of the 2007–08 season.
* Zagłębie Lubin – a one-tier relegation.
* Zagłębie Sosnowiec – a one-tier relegation.

## Statistics
### UEFA coefficients

The following data indicates Polish coefficient rankings between European football leagues.

## Media coverage

Since 1994, Ekstraklasa broadcast rights have been held by Canal+ Poland, with several other broadcasters presenting select games over the years. In 2022, Canal+ renewed their rights through 2027 in a deal worth 1.4 billion PLN. On 17 July 2024, TVP Sport announced they have acquired a sublicense to show one game per week until the end of the 2026–27 season.