Lech forms Female Team

Among Lech’s biggest fans are the Polish female national team goalkeeper and Wolfsburg player Katarzyna Kiedrzynek, as well as her well-known club teammate, Ewa Pajor. Now the two Polish players will also be able to support Lech’s female section as they begin the III league competition on Saturday. The establishment of a female section of Greater Poland’s most popular club has been long-awaited. The public first received a hint about the project on International Women’s Day on March 8^th. Finally,

On Wednesday morning, Lech Poznań signed an agreement with the University of Adam Mickiewicz. The two organisations, both recognised and respected also beyond the region of Greater Poland, have joined forces and put the idea of a female football section to life. Back at the beginning of the year, Lech’s Academy and the University’s Department of Mathematics and IT have also initiated cooperation.

“Lech Poznań is a club with tradition. It’s been established only three years later than the University of Adam Mickiewicz – which has recently celebrated its 100^th anniversary. We are thrilled that one of the most important Polish clubs has recognised the potential of the AZS UAM Poznań female team which has been successful in futsal for years now. I am hoping that this project will be a source of pride and a great opportunity for both Lech’s fans and the University’s community, to enjoy and support the team,” said UAM’s Prexy, Professor Bogumiła Kaniewska.

Lech honours its history, but is also committed to its future, hence on the 100^th anniversary, the club announced the formation of a female section. “We want to grow, step by step, and the ultimate goal is to compete in Ekstraliga,” explained Lech’s co-owner, Maja Rutkowska, who has initiated the project of female football over 18 months ago. Lech Poznań Football Academy already has female teams in its structures. “We want the girls to stay at the club and keep on developing their skills and their careers in the senior team. Hence the idea to form a female team. It took us a while to put it all together; we came up with the idea back at the end of 2019, however, the pandemic has forced us to slow down the development of the initiative. Finally, we got it all ready this summer and we can finally announce that Lech Poznań UAM Female Team will play their first III-league match on Saturday,” said Maja Rutkowska.

Female football all around the world has been gaining increased interest. “In many countries, female football attracts crowds, and the biggest events with ladies have amazing viewership. The biggest clubs in Europe have recently formed female teams and we also want to be among them,” emphasised Lech’s co-owner.

Alicja Zając will coach the Female Team and most of their III-league games will be played at the UAM Morasko Campus. In the future, the Ladies representing Lech will also make their appearance at Bułgarska Street.