FlashFocus: Jagiellonia Redefines Polish Football as European Success Awaits

The 2023/24 season marked a monumental chapter for Jagiellonia. After enduring years of competition where they finished in all but the top position, the time had finally arrived for them to claim the prestigious title. This victory, rather than being the final achievement, signified the onset of further success. Known as the Pride of Podlasie, they are eager to establish their legacy while contributing to the future of Polish football.

This pivotal moment was just the beginning, not the end. The Pride of Podlasie are committed to advancing and shaping both their own future and that of Polish football.

The recent Polish Cup quarter-final clash between Legia and Jagiellonia, which ended in a 3-1 defeat for Jagiellonia, was expected to be a decisive battle, but it became mired in significant officiating controversy.

With the nation abuzz regarding the contentious decisions, Jagiellonia’s coach Adrian Siemieniec chose to move past it.

The 33-year-old remarked: “I won’t be drawn into critiquing the referees’ performance; I never do. Naturally, the disappointment of losing is immense. However, I understand what needs to be done, what to prioritise, and which direction to steer the team towards.”

Jagiellonia now turns its focus to the Ekstraklasa (the Polish league) and the UEFA Conference League. This is characteristic of the Bialystok club—they learn from setbacks and press forward.

A Perfect Strategy

Prior to their championship triumph in 2023/24, Jagiellonia underwent a significant transformation that extended beyond mere player acquisitions—primarily targeting changes within the managerial and administrative spheres.

In February 2022, Wojciech Pertkiewicz ascended to the presidency, swiftly appointing sporting director Lukasz Maslowski, who has since become one of Poland’s most sought-after talents.

When coach Maciej Stolarczyk parted ways with the club in 2023, they eschewed the common route taken by many Polish teams of searching for a seasoned, out-of-work Ekstraklasa coach.

Instead, they chose to promote assistant coach Siemieniec, then just 30 years old. Their faith proved well founded.

Young, Humorous, and Innovative

Siemieniec’s background is unique; he wasn’t a professional footballer, having embarked on his coaching journey at just 21. His talents captured the attention of renowned coach Ireneusz Mamrot, who mentored him from 2014 through various clubs, including Chrobry, Jagiellonia, Arka, and LKS Lodz, until they returned to Bialystok in 2021.

Initially, he took charge of the reserves before stepping in to replace the dismissed Stolarczyk in April 2023. This surprised many, given Jagiellonia’s precarious position in 14th, only two points clear of relegation at the time. Under Siemieniec’s guidance, the club not only avoided relegation but embarked on a historic season.

Jagiellonia adopted a thrilling, attacking style of play under his leadership. The focus shifted from solely scoring goals to ensuring they finished every match with a higher score than their opponents.

Siemieniec defied the traditional notion that one must be a former top player to coach at this level. Jagiellonia emerged as a league sensation, and against all odds, Siemieniec led them to their first-ever Polish championship title.

They clinched the title in the final round, amassing 63 points, equivalent to the tally of second-placed Slask Wroclaw, but boasting a superior goal difference.

Siemieniec’s squad netted 77 goals over 34 matches (second only to Pogon Szczecin’s 59), while conceding 45 (surprisingly, even relegated Warta Poznan allowed fewer goals).

In a display of sportsmanship, Siemieniec visited Warta’s dressing room to offer consolation after their defeat just before joining his squad for the championship celebrations.

A Broad and Resilient Squad Without the Big Bucks

Jagiellonia is setting trends within Polish football. The Bialystok team operates without the luxury of a multi-million złoty budget.

While Poland’s richest club, Legia, reported revenues of nearly 270 million zł, Jagiellonia managed with an average of 60 million zł (approximately €14.5 million), yet still triumphed in the league. Every złoty counts, making the club’s financial decisions very meticulous, often involving no transfer fees.

The foundation of their success is built around the club legend, Jesus Imaz. The Spaniard joined from Wisla Krakow in early 2019 amidst their financial troubles, becoming a pivotal figure in the club.

To date, he has featured in 206 matches for the new Polish champions, netting 90 goals and assisting 31 times.

Yet, Imaz’s time at the club is a chapter from the past. Jagiellonia now excels at scouting quality players on free transfers and leveraging loans to bolster their squad—a rarity in Polish football. Clubs traditionally hesitated to “share” players, but Jagiellonia is altering this narrative by recognising the value that talented individuals from larger clubs can bring to their team.

This season, they secured loans for players like Darko Churlinov from Burnley, Peter Kovacik from Como, who has since returned, and Joao Moutinho from Spezia for the entire season.

In the winter transfer window, they also acquired Edi Semedo from Aris Limassol and Enzo Ebosse from Udinese for six months, while Leon Flach, a €3 million player from the Philadelphia Union in MLS, came on board as a free agent in the same period.

The standout addition for Jagiellonia was undoubtedly Afimico Pululu. He joined the club as a free transfer in summer 2023.

Previously with FC Basel and Greuther Furth, where he didn’t have a stellar career, Jagiellonia identified his potential at minimal cost, and it has paid off handsomely.

Pululu has since made 70 appearances for the Polish champions, netting 30 goals and providing nine assists, according to Opta, showcasing a shooting accuracy of 62.1% alongside an xG of 5.55. He has been particularly effective in the Conference League, currently leading the scoring chart with six goals.

This strategic move has proven invaluable for the Pride of Podlasie, who have acquired a promising talent while leaving the door open for a lucrative future transfer. Pululu, now 25, presents a significant resale opportunity, much like Bartlomiej Wdowik’s transfer to Sporting Braga or Dominik Marczuk’s move to Real Salt Lake.

Following their unexpected title win, sceptics doubted Jagiellonia’s capacity to maintain competitive results, as juggling three competitions (league, cup, and European) often leads to diminished performance in Poland.

Experts expressed concerns about their depth and player fatigue.

However, this mindset was shattered by a beaming Siemieniec. Under his leadership, Jagiellonia surpassed expectations, advancing to the Conference League play-offs, where they are set to face Cercle Brugge in the round of 16.

Currently sitting third in the Ekstraklasa table, they trail leaders Lech Poznan by just two points, and their exit from the Polish Cup occurred after a face-off between two heavyweights.

For Siemieniec, there are no excuses when it comes to frequent fixtures. His team takes to the field, fully committed to giving their best.

At just 33 years old, he stands at the dawn of a promising coaching career, capable of serving as a role model for a new wave of coaches while reshaping the perspectives of traditionalists.

Some might assert that successful cooperation between the director, president, and manager is standard procedure; however, this is not the norm within the Polish football hierarchy. Jagiellonia has illustrated that such collaboration can yield rapid success, and supporters across the country are hopeful it will become a common practice for their clubs as well.