- published: 19 Mar 2016
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Legia Warszawa (Polish pronunciation: [ˈlɛɡʲa varˈʂava]) is a professional football club based in Warsaw, Poland. It was founded in March 1916 (during the military operations of the World War I on the eastern front) in the area of Maniewicze in Volhynia as the football club of the Polish Legions. After World War I it became the main official football club of the Polish Army – Wojskowy Klub Sportowy Legia Warszawa (Military Sports Club Legia Warsaw). In the years 1949–1957 Legia was known by the name CWKS Warszawa (Central Military Sports Club Warsaw). Today, it is one of two Warsaw-based football club participating in the Polish Ekstraklasa (alongside Polonia Warsaw). The club's home venue is the Polish Army Stadium. Legia is one of the most successful Polish football clubs in history winning a total of 8 Ekstraklasa Champions titles and 15 Polish Cup trophies. Currently the club is owned by media holding ITI.
Legia was formed between the 5th and 15 March 1916 during the military operations of World War I on the Eastern Front in the neighborhood of Maniewicze in Volhynia as the main football club of the Polish Legions. However, team started its first trainings earlier in the spring of 1915, in the city of Piotrków Trybunalski. In July 1916, due to the Brusilov Offensive, Legia permanently moved to the capital city of Warsaw. First game in Warsaw, Legia played on April 29, 1917 against the local rivalry - Polonia Warsaw. The score was a draw - 1:1. Up to the end of World War I, Legia played nine games in Warsaw; six was won and three were a draw. First away game of Legia was against KS Cracovia, which ended with the result of 2:1 for Legia. With the win over Cracovia, current Polish first league champion at that time, Legia was baptized as unofficial champion of the country.