Central Junior League (Poland)
The Central Junior League (Polish language: Centralna Liga Juniorów, CLJ) is the highest level in Polish Under-19 football. Created in mid-2013, it replaced Mloda Ekstraklasa. The winner of the "CLJ" advances to the UEFA Youth League. History. First tournament of Polish U-19 championship took place in the summer of 1936, see Football Junior Championships of Poland. The formula of the U-19 games changed several times. In some years, there was a final match, taking place before an international game featuring the national team of Poland, while on other occasions, there was a final tournament, featuring four  top U-19 teams, winners of local competitions. At regional level, the championships were organized by local branches of Polish Football Association ("PZPN"). In the summer of 2007, the so-called "Młoda Ekstraklasa" ("Young Ekstraklasa") was formed. It was contested by players 21 years of age and under, also each team was allowed three players over this age limit. Despite the creation of "Młoda Ekstraklasa", games of the U-19 national championships continued on regional levels: winners of local competitions played each other in the play-off series. 2012-2013. In the summer of 2012, the "Macroregional League of Older Juniors" ("Liga  Makroregionalna Juniorów Starszych", U-19) and the "Macroregional League of Younger Juniors" ("Liga Makroregionalna Juniorow Młodszych", U-17) were created. Both leagues had 48 teams, divided into four groups of 12 teams (each group covered four Polish provinces). In the U-19 leagues, winners of their respective groups were the teams of Legia Warszawa, Arka Gdynia, Ruch Chorzów and Cracovia Kraków. All four played in a final tournament, which took place in mid-June 2013 in Grudziądz and Świecie. The tournament was won by Legia, which became the 2013 U-19 Champion of Poland. In the U-17 leagues, winners of their groups were the  teams of Wisła Kraków, Zawisza Bydgoszcz, Polonia Warszawa and Gwarek Zabrze. The final tournament featuring these teams took place in June 2013 in the area of Rzeszów, with Wisła Krakow becoming the 2013 U-17 Champion of Poland. 2013-2014. In the summer of 2013, the "Central Junior League" was officially formed by the "PZPN". It consisted of four groups (48 teams), with 12 teams in each group (every Polish province was granted three spots). The championship took place in the autumn - spring system. Group A. This group was won by GKS Belchatow, second was Legia Warszawa. Both teams qualified to  the playoffs. Group B. This group was won by Lech Poznan, second was Pogon Szczecin. Both teams qualified to the playoffs. Group C. This group was won by Ruch Chorzow, second was Zaglebie Lubin. Both teams qualified to the playoffs. Group D. This group was won by Wisla Krakow, second was Cracovia. Both teams qualified to the playoffs. Final. Wisla Krakow became the 2014 U-19 Champion of Poland, and the first winner of the Central Junior League. 2014 - 2015. In the second season of the CLJ, the league was limited to 32 teams, divided into two groups: West and East . Group West. Sixteen teams from eight western provinces of Poland (Lower Silesia, Lubusz, Opole, Silesia, Kuyavia-Pomerania, Pomerania, Western Pomerania, Greater Poland): This group was won by Lech Poznan (70 points), second was Gornik Zabrze (63 points), third Lechia Gdańsk (61 points), and fourth Pogon Szczecin (55 points). First two teams qualified to the playoffs. Relegated were the last four teams: Odra Opole (39 points), Olimpia Grudziadz (14 points), KKS Kluczbork (14 points), and Stilon Gorzow Wielkopolski (8 points). Group East. Sixteen teams from eight eastern provinces of Poland (Lodz, Mazovia, Podlasie, Warmia-Mazury, Lublin, Podkarpacie, Lesser Poland, Swietokrzyskie): This  group was won by Legia Warszawa (79 points), second was Polonia Warszawa (60 points), third Cracovia (53 points), and fourth Jagiellonia Bialystok (52 points). First two teams qualified to the playoffs. Relegated were the last four teams: Olimpia Elblag (27 points), Stomil Olsztyn (25 points), LKS Łomża (24 points), and Wisla Pulawy (23 points). Gornik Zabrze 1-1 Legia Warszawa, Polonia Warszawa 1-0 Lech Poznan, Legia Warszawa 2-0 Gornik Zabrze, Lech Poznan 1-0 Polonia Warszawa (pen. 4-2) Legia Warszawa 3-0 Lech Poznan Lech Poznan 2-3 Legia Warszawa Final. Legia Warszawa became the 2015 U-19  Champion of Poland. 2015 - 2016. In the third season of the CLJ, the league had 32 teams, divided into two groups: West and East. In Group West the teams that were relegated after the previous season (Odra Opole, Olimpia Grudziadz, KKS Kluczbork, Stilon Gorzow) were replaced by the four teams which won the playoffs: In Group East the teams that were relegated after the previous season (Olimpia Elbląg, Stomil Olsztyn, ŁKS Łomża and Wisła Puławy) were replaced by the four teams which won the playoffs: