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.

Play-offs
  • June 5, 2014: Zaglebie Lubin 0-2 Wisla Kraków, Cracovia 2-1 Ruch Chorzów, Legia Warszawa 2-2 Lech Poznan, Pogon Szczecin 2-1 GKS Belchatów,
  • June 8, 2014: Wisla Kraków 3-1 Zaglebie Lubin, Ruch Chorzów 0-2 Cracovia, Lech Poznan 3-0 Legia Warszawa, GKS Belchatów 2-2 Pogon Szczecin.

Semifinals
  • June 15, 2014: Wisla Kraków 5-1 Lech Poznan, Cracovia 3-5 Pogon Szczecin
  • June 19, 2014 Lech Poznan 1-1 Wisla Kraków, Pogon Szczecin 3-5 Cracovia (pen. 3-5).

Final
  • June 22, 2014: Wisla Kraków 2-1 Cracovia
  • June 25, 2014 Cracovia 0-10 Wisla Kraków.

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):

  • Lech Poznan, Pogon Szczecin, Arka Gdynia, Lechia Gdańsk, Baltyk Koszalin, Warta Poznan, Zawisza Bydgoszcz, Ruch Chorzow, Zaglebie Lubin, Slask Wroclaw, MOSiR Odra Opole, UKP Zielona Gora, MKS Kluczbork, KS Stilon Gorzow Wielkopolski, Gornik Zabrze, Olimpia Grudziadz.

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):

  • GKS Belchatow, Legia Warszawa, MKS Polonia Warszawa, Stomil Olsztyn, Jagiellonia Bialystok, Olimpia Elblag, LKS 1926 Łomża, LKS Lodz, Wisla Krakow, Cracovia, Korona Kielce, Stal Mielec, Wisla Pulawy, Stal Rzeszow, KSZO Ostrowiec Swietokrzyski, Motor Lublin.

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).

Semifinals
  • June 6, 2015

Gornik Zabrze 1-1 Legia Warszawa, Polonia Warszawa 1-0 Lech Poznan,

  • June 10, 2015

Legia Warszawa 2-0 Gornik Zabrze, Lech Poznan 1-0 Polonia Warszawa (pen. 4-2)

Final
  • June 17, 2015

Legia Warszawa 3-0 Lech Poznan

  • June 20, 2015

Lech Poznan 2-3 Legia Warszawa

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:

  • Hutnik Kraków, which beat Resovia Rzeszów 2-0 and 1-1,
  • Płomień Ełk, which beat Granat Skarżysko-Kamienna 8-0 and 4–1,
  • UKS SMS Łódź, which beat Orzeł Siemiatycze 4-0 and 4–0,
  • TOP 54 Biała Podlaska, which beat Unia Warszawa 2-1 and 2–1.

Sources
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See also
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