Korona Kielce

• Ekstraklasa
• Fifth place: 2016–17
• I liga
• Champions: 2004–05
• II liga (group IV)
• Champions: 1989–90, 1996–97, 2003–04

• Polish Cup
• Runners-up: 2006–07
• Semi-finalists: 2006–07, 2018–19
• Ekstraklasa Cup
• Quarter-finalists: 2007–08

• Polish U-19 Championship
• Champions: 2009, 2019
• Runners-up: 1997

File:Korona Kielce 1975.jpg against KS Lublinianka in 1975]]

The club was founded in 1973 after the union of two clubs from Kielce – Iskra and SHL. The new club got its first promotion to the Polish 2nd league in 1975. Unfortunately{{according to whom|date=November 2024}}, the team did not play very well and was soon relegated. The next promotion was in 1982. Korona played in the 2nd league until 1990 when it was once again relegated. 1996 brought several changes. Nida Gips from Gacki became the new sponsor and the club's name changed to Miejski Klub Sportowy Sekcja Futbolowa Korona. During the 1998–99 season, Korona again played in the 2nd league but dropped down at the end of the season. In 2000 Korona merged with another club from Kielce – Błękitni Kielce and was renamed to Kielecki Klub Piłkarski Korona.

In 2002, the golden era for Korona had begun{{according to whom|date=November 2024}}. Kolporter became the new sponsor, Krzysztof Klicki the new chairman, and the club's name changed to Kielecki Klub Piłkarski Kolporter Korona. In 2003, the team was again renamed, this time to Sportowa Spólka Akcyjna Kolporter Korona. In 2005 Korona won the 2nd league and for the first time in the club's history was promoted to the Polish premier league.

File:Polonia Warszawa vs Korona Kielce 09-2010 3.jpg played in the 2010–11 Ekstraklasa]]

Korona's first match in the Ekstraklasa was against Cracovia and the final score was 0–0. Korona ended the 2005–06 season fifth in the league table. Prior to the 2006–07 season, at a meeting with supporters, the chairman announced that club would revert to its historical coat of arms. Korona's second season in the Ekstraklasa started off strongly with an away win against Arka Gdynia (3–0). 20 September 2006 was a significant one in Korona's history. After an away victory against Odra Wodzisław Śląski, the club climbed to the top of the league table for the first time in its history although it ended the 2006–07 season in 7th place. Its third and final season in the top division was 2007–08, placing 6th but being relegated for its involvement in match-fixing in the 2003–04 season. In August 2008, Klicki sold the club to the city of Kielce for a nominal fee.

After one year, on 14 July 2009, Korona Kielce was promoted to the Ekstraklasa.{{cite web | url=http://korona-kielce.pl/index.php?typ=podstrona&id=2 | title=Korona Kielce | access-date=2011-10-23 | archive-date=2012-03-24 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120324144819/http://www.korona-kielce.pl/index.php?typ=podstrona&id=2 | url-status=dead }}{{cite web|url=http://www.90minut.pl/news/97/news973890-Korona-w-Ekstraklasie.html|title=Korona w Ekstraklasie|date=14 July 2009|publisher=www.90minut.pl|language=pl|access-date=14 July 2009}} In the 2019–20 season, Korona finished in 15th place and were relegated back to I liga.{{cite web|url=https://kielce.wyborcza.pl/kielce/7,35259,26136740,dlaczego-korona-spadla-z-ekstraklasy-ekspert-zawiodly-transfery.html|title=Dlaczego Korona spadła z ekstraklasy? Ekspert: Zawiodły transfery, to przypadkowa zbieranina ludzi|date=17 July 2020|publisher=kielce.wyborcza.pl|language=pl|access-date=29 October 2020}} On 29 May 2022 Korona returned to the Ekstraklasa following a 3–2 win over Chrobry Głogów in the promotion play-off final after the winning goal scored in the final minutes of extra time.{{cite web |title=Korona Kielce awansowała do Ekstraklasy. Kluczowy gol padł w dogrywce |url=https://polski-sport.pl/korona-kielce-awansowala-do-ekstraklasy/ |website=polski-sport.pl |access-date=30 May 2022 |language=Polish |date=30 May 2022}}

{{see also|Kielce Municipal Stadium}}

Image:Korona Kielce Super Stadion 1.jpg

In response to Korona's successes and the club owner, Krzysztof Klicki's, affirmation that the club would play in the premier league and battle for European cups, Kielce municipal authorities approved the construction of a new stadium. Unfortunately, the stadium turned out to be much too small. Because of this the club played its first round in the highest division at its old stadium (currently used by reserves and youth teams) to permit further work on the new facility.

Only eighteen months after the start of the building project, the keys of the new stadium were officially handed to the club. The first premier league match was played on 1 April 2006 against Zagłębie Lubin.

The Korona stadium, although it stands on the same site as an earlier stadium, is an entirely new facility, built according to UEFA recommendations and modern design ideas. In this way it differs from most other football stadiums in Poland which were built during the communist era or earlier and only slightly modernized to meet basic UEFA standards.

Kielce stadium can seat 15,550 fans, however, due to Polish regulations, which require a buffer zone between local fans and the visitors section, league matches can only accommodate 13,823 Korona fans and 777 visiting fans. However, on one occasion the stadium was full to capacity during a league match. This occurred during the 2006–07 season when fans of visiting club Legia Warsaw were prohibited from entering due to the vast number of their 'red brigade' supporters who made the trip down to watch their club in Kielce.

Pitch dimensions are 105 x 68 m, and the entire surface is heated. Automatic sprinklers water the pitch in between match days. Kielce stadium has a complete system of monitoring, which could serve as a model for other Polish stadiums. Korona's stadium is also considered by the Polish Football Association for international games.

Since 2006, when the club moved to the most modern stadium in Poland, it often had one of the highest attendance statistics in the Polish league,{{citation needed|date=May 2024}} although these numbers have declined since the club's relegation at the end of the 2007–08 season.

A new club crest was introduced in 2002, featuring a redesigned coat of arms. However, many fans were disappointed by the removal of the beloved black crown from the emblem.{{citation needed|date=May 2024}}

Before the 2006–07 season, the chairman announced in a meeting with supporters that the club would return to the historical coat of arms. Thanks to the fans and good will of the chairman, Korona again has the crown in her coat of arms.{{citation needed|date=May 2024}}

In April 2017, former German international footballer Dieter Burdenski became the majority owner of the club after purchasing 72% of the club shares, and subsequently signed his son Fabian in June that year.{{cite web|url=http://www.weser-kurier.de/sport/fussball_artikel,-exkeeper-burdenski-kauft-sich-bei-korona-kielce-ein-_arid,1582272.html|title=Ex-Keeper Burdenski kauft sich bei Korona Kielce ein|language=de|publisher=weser-kurier.de|access-date=4 August 2017|date=11 April 2017}} In 2020, the city of Kielce acquired Burdenski's shares and became the sole owner of the club.{{cite web |title=Ulga w Kielcach. Korona ponownie w rękach miasta|url=https://eurosport.tvn24.pl/pilka-nozna,105/korona-kielce-wrocila-w-rece-miasta-pilka-nozna,1025310.html |website=eurosport.tvn24.pl |access-date=25 April 2023 |language=pl |date=4 August 2020}}

In March 2025, Kielce sold 99% of its shares to a private limited company Korona 4ever, run by local businessman Łukasz Maciejczyk, and pledged to provide the club with 2.3 million PLN annually until 2030.{{cite web |last1=Kułaga |first1=Dorota |title=Łukasz Maciejczyk: To decyzja podjęta zdecydowanie z...miłości do Korony. Ten klub jest w moim sercu, towarzyszy mi od wielu lat |url=https://gol24.pl/lukasz-maciejczyk-to-decyzja-podjeta-zdecydowanie-zmilosci-do-korony-ten-klub-jest-w-moim-sercu-towarzyszy-mi-od-wielu-lat/ar/c2-19082821 |website=gol24.pl |access-date=6 March 2025 |language=pl |date=6 March 2025}}

Image:Korona Kielce Super Stadion 2.jpg

Supporters of Korona are some of the most enthusiastic in the Ekstraklasa and have received many awards for their artistic match 'frames'. In the spring round of 2006–07, Korona Kielce fans were awarded 5 times in 8 matches for their superb 'frames'.{{citation needed|date=May 2024}}

Korona supporters' tireless cheering for their team often helps their team to victories. The most faithful fans are seated in the "Młyn" – "the Mill" – which contains 500 – 2,000 people.

On 14 June 2006, the Stowarzyszenie Kibiców Korony Kielce "Złocisto-Krwiści" (Korona Kielce Supporters Association "Golden-Blooded") was officially registered at a Kielce court. Official appointing of Korona Kielce fans had become a fact. This association brings together representatives of various Korona supporters groups.

File:2006-01-08 - London - Waterloo - Graffiti (4888555570).jpg in London, 2016]]

The association is a partner for the club and many institutions, which it wants to cooperate with. The fans are invaluable in the creation of memorable football events, and the association has an important role in increasing fan input on football life in Korona. The most important role of the association however is to improve the quality of support.

The association also organizes special trains and coaches for fans for away matches. It also organizes events promoting the Club such as "Golden-bloody stadium in Kielce", "Small toy – children's benefit" (fans donated toys to an orphanage), "Action Banner" (a lot of flags and banners were sewed). In short, the association has introduced a new supporting style at Korona matches which will attract even more fans to the stadium on Ściegiennego street.

Korona Kielce fans have a friendship with fans of Stal Mielec and Sandecja Nowy Sącz.

Their biggest rivals are KSZO Ostrowiec Świętokrzyski with whom they contest the Holy Cross Province derby. Other fierce rivals are Radomiak Radom and Wisła Kraków.

Image:Stadion MOSiR Kielce 02 ssj 20060415.jpg

{{main|Korona Kielce II}}

The club operates a reserve team.

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{{updated|4 February 2025}}{{cite web |url=https://www.korona-kielce.pl/i-druzyna |access-date=15 September 2023 |language=pl|title=Korona Kielce }}

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{{fs player|no= 1|nat=POL|pos=GK|name=Xavier Dziekoński}}

{{fs player|no= 2|nat=CAN|pos=DF|name=Dominick Zator}}

{{fs player|no= 3|nat=POL|pos=DF|name=Konrad Matuszewski}}

{{fs player|no= 4|nat=POL|pos=DF|name=Piotr Malarczyk}}

{{fs player|no= 5|nat=ESP|pos=DF|name=Pau Resta}}

{{fs player|no= 6|nat=POL|pos=DF|name=Marcel Pięczek}}

{{fs player|no= 7|nat=POL|pos=MF|name=Dawid Błanik}}

{{fs player|no= 8|nat=BEL|pos=MF|name=Martin Remacle}}

{{Fs player|no= 9|nat=BLR|pos=FW|name=Yevgeniy Shikavka}}

{{fs player|no=10|nat=JPN|pos=MF|name=Shuma Nagamatsu}}

{{fs player|no=11|nat=SPA|pos=MF|name=Nono}}

{{fs player|no=12|nat=POL|pos=GK|name=Michał Mikielewicz}}

{{fs player|no=13|nat=POL|pos=MF|name=Miłosz Strzeboński}}

{{fs player|no=17|nat=POL|pos=MF|name=Mariusz Fornalczyk}}

{{fs player|no=18|nat=ISR|pos=MF|name=Yoav Hofmayster}}

{{Fs mid}}

{{fs player|no=19|nat=POL|pos=MF|name=Jakub Konstantyn}}

{{fs player|no=20|nat=ESP|pos=FW|name=Adrián Dalmau}}

{{fs player|no=21|nat=POL|pos=DF|name=Konrad Ciszek}}

{{fs player|no=24|nat=POL|pos=DF|name=Bartłomiej Smolarczyk}}

{{fs player|no=27|nat=POR|pos=MF|name=Pedro Nuno}}

{{fs player|no=28|nat=CAN|pos=DF|name=Marcus Godinho}}

{{fs player|no=37|nat=POL|pos=DF|name=Hubert Zwoźny}}

{{fs player|no=44|nat=CYP|pos=DF|name=Constantinos Soteriou}}

{{fs player|no=66|nat=POL|pos=DF|name=Miłosz Trojak|other=captain}}

{{fs player|no=71|nat=POL|pos=MF|name=Wiktor Długosz}}

{{fs player|no=87|nat=POL|pos=GK|name=Rafał Mamla}}

{{fs player|no=88|nat=POL|pos=MF|name=Wojciech Kamiński}}

{{fs player|no=99|nat=POL|pos=FW|name=Daniel Bąk}}

{{Fs player|no= |nat=POL|pos=DF|name=Radosław Seweryś}}

{{fs end}}

The following players received international caps for their respective countries. Players whose name is listed in bold represented their countries while playing for Korona Kielce.

{{col-begin}}

{{col-3}}

; Poland

• {{flagicon|Poland}} Grzegorz Bonin (2005–08)
• {{flagicon|Poland}} Piotr Celeban (2007–08)
• {{flagicon|Poland}} Radosław Cierzniak (2007–10)
• {{flagicon|Poland}} Paweł Golański (2005–07) (2010–15)
• {{flagicon|Poland}} Artur Jędrzejczyk (2010)
• {{flagicon|Poland}} Marcin Kaczmarek (2005–08)
• {{flagicon|Poland}} Arkadiusz Kaliszan (2004–06)
• {{flagicon|Poland}} Jacek Kiełb (2006–10, 2011–12, 2013–15, 2016–18, 2020–23)
• {{flagicon|Poland}} Wojciech Kowalewski (2007–08)
• {{flagicon|Poland}} Marcin Kuś (2007–08)
• {{flagicon|Poland}} Andrzej Niedzielan (2010–11)
• {{flagicon|Poland}} Grzegorz Piechna (2004–06)
• {{flagicon|Poland}} Piotr Świerczewski (2007–08)
• {{flagicon|Poland}} Maciej Wilusz (2015)
• {{flagicon|Poland}} Łukasz Załuska (2004–07)
• {{flagicon|Poland}} Marcin Żewłakow (2012–13)
• {{flagicon|Poland}} Michał Żyro (2019–20)

; Belarus

• {{flagicon|BLR}} Yevgeniy Shikavka (2022–)
• {{flagicon|BLR}} Dzmitry Verkhawtsow (2016)

; Bosnia and Herzegovina

• {{flagicon|BIH}} Vlastimir Jovanović (2010–16)
• {{flagicon|BIH}} Adnan Kovačević (2017–20)

; Bulgaria

• {{flagicon|BUL}} Iliyan Mitsanski (2007, 2017)

{{col-3}}

; Canada

• {{flagicon|Canada}} Milan Borjan (2017)
• {{flagicon|Canada}} Marcus Godinho (2023–)
• {{flagicon|Canada}} Charlie Trafford (2015–17)
• {{flagicon|Canada}} Dominick Zator (2023–)

; Costa Rica

• {{flagicon|CRC}} Felicio Brown Forbes (2018–19)

; Cyprus

• {{flagicon|CYP}} Constantinos Soteriou (2025–)

; Czech Republic

• {{flagicon|CZE}} Michal Papadopoulos (2019–20)

; Estonia

• {{flagicon|EST}} Ken Kallaste (2016–19)
• {{flagicon|EST}} Sander Puri (2011)

; Finland

• {{flagicon|FIN}} Petteri Forsell (2020, 2024)

; France

• {{flagicon|FRA}} Olivier Kapo (2014–15)

; Georgia

• {{flagicon|GEO}} Vato Arveladze (2018–20)
• {{flagicon|GEO}} Nika Kacharava (2017–18)

; Israel

• {{flagicon|ISR}} Yoav Hofmayster (2023–)

{{col-3}}

; Kazakhstan

• {{flagicon|KAZ}} Sergei Khizhnichenko (2014)

; Latvia

• {{flagicon|LVA}} Aleksandrs Fertovs (2015–16)
• {{flagicon|LVA}} Vladislavs Gabovs (2015–17)

; Lithuania

• {{flagicon|Lithuania}} Vytautas Černiauskas (2014–15)
• {{flagicon|Lithuania}} Andrius Skerla (2007–08)

; Moldova

• {{flagicon|MDA}} Anatolie Doroș (2005–06)

; Montenegro

• {{flagicon|MNE}} Saša Balić (2022–23)

; New Zealand

• {{flagicon|NZL}} Themistoklis Tzimopoulos (2019–21)

; Senegal

• {{flagicon|Senegal}} Elhadji Pape Diaw (2016–19)

; Serbia

• {{flagicon|SRB}} Nemanja Miletić (2019–20)

; Slovakia

• {{flagicon|Slovakia}} Erik Pačinda (2019–20)

; Slovenia

• {{flagicon|Slovenia}} Goran Cvijanović (2017–18)

{{col-end}}

{{div col|colwidth=28em}}

• {{flagicon|Poland}} Zbigniew Pawlak (1973)
• {{flagicon|Poland}} Bogumił Gozdur (1973–77)
• {{flagicon|Poland}} Zbigniew Lepczyk (1978)
• {{flagicon|Poland}} Marian Szczechowicz (1979)
• {{flagicon|Poland}} Wojciech Niedźwiedzki (1979–80)
• {{flagicon|Poland}} Antoni Hermanowicz (1980–83)
• {{flagicon|Poland}} Józef Golla (1983–84)
• {{flagicon|Poland}} Czesław Palik (1 July 1984 – 30 June 1985)
• {{flagicon|Poland}} Czesław Fudalej (1985)
• {{flagicon|Poland}} Witold Sokołowski (1986)
• {{flagicon|Poland}} Antoni Hermanowicz (1986)
• {{flagicon|Poland}} Bogumił Gozdur (1986)
• {{flagicon|Poland}} Antoni Hermanowicz (1987–88)
• {{flagicon|Poland}} Czesław Palik (1 July 1988 – 31 December 1991)
• {{flagicon|Ukraine}} Volodymyr Bulhakov (1992)
• {{flagicon|Poland}} Marian Puchalski (1993)
• {{flagicon|Poland}} Antoni Hermanowicz (1993)
• {{flagicon|Poland}} Marek Parzyszek (1994)
• {{flagicon|Poland}} Czesław Palik (1 July 1994 – 30 June 1996)
• {{flagicon|Poland}} Włodzimierz Gąsior (1 July 1996 – 30 June 1999)
• {{flagicon|Poland}} Stanisław Gielarek (1999)
• {{flagicon|Poland}} Antoni Hermanowicz (2000)
• {{flagicon|Poland}} Jacek Zieliński I (1 July 2000 – 20 December 2000)
• {{flagicon|Poland}} Czesław Palik (1 January 2001 – 30 June 2001)
• {{flagicon|Poland}} Robert Orłowski (1 July 2001 – 2002)
• {{flagicon|Poland}} Tomasz Muchiński (2002 – 23 September 2002)
• {{flagicon|Poland}} Dariusz Wdowczyk (23 September 2002 – 12 December 2004)
• {{flagicon|Poland}} Ryszard Wieczorek (13 December 2004 – 7 May 2007)
• {{flagicon|Poland}} Jacek Zieliński II (1 July 2007 – 17 May 2008)
• {{flagicon|Poland}} Włodzimierz Gąsior (3 June 2008 – 4 May 2009)
• {{flagicon|Poland}} Marek Motyka (18 May 2009 – 23 November 2009)
• {{flagicon|Poland}} Marcin Gawron (caretaker) (24 November 2009 – 29 November 2009)
• {{flagicon|Poland}} Marcin Sasal (29 November 2009 – 12 May 2011)
• {{flagicon|Poland}} Włodzimierz Gąsior (interim) (12 May 2011 – 9 June 2011)
• {{flagicon|Poland}} Leszek Ojrzyński (1 July 2011 – 5 August 2013)
• {{flagicon|Poland}} Sławomir Grzesik (caretaker) (5 August 2013 – 13 August 2013)
• {{flagicon|Spain}} Pacheta (13 August 2013 – June 2014)
• {{flagicon|Poland}} Ryszard Tarasiewicz (17 June 2014 – 10 June 2015)
• {{flagicon|Poland}} Marcin Brosz (25 June 2015 – 30 June 2016)
• {{flagicon|Poland}} Tomasz Wilman (30 June 2016 – 10 November 2016)
• {{flagicon|Poland}} Maciej Bartoszek (10 November 2016 – 30 June 2017)
• {{flagicon|Italy}} Gino Lettieri (1 July 2017 – 31 August 2019)
• {{flagicon|Poland}} Mirosław Smyła (16 September 2019 – 6 March 2020)
• {{flagicon|Poland}} Maciej Bartoszek (6 March 2020 – 15 April 2021)
• {{flagicon|Poland}} Dominik Nowak (16 April 2021 – 29 November 2021)
• {{flagicon|Poland}} Leszek Ojrzyński (17 December 2021 – 29 October 2022)
• {{flagicon|Poland}} Kamil Kuzera (29 October 2022 – 31 July 2024)
• {{flagicon|Poland}} Mariusz Arczewski (caretaker) (31 July 2024 – 8 August 2024)
• {{flagicon|Poland}} Jacek Zieliński I (8 August 2024 – present)

{{div col end}}

• Football in Poland
• List of football teams

{{reflist}}

{{commons}}

• [http://www.korona-kielce.pl Official website] {{in lang|pl}}
• [http://www.mks-korona-kielce.pl Unofficial website] {{in lang|pl|en}}
• [http://www.mks-korona-kielce.pl Fan site] {{in lang|pl}}
• [http://forum.mks-korona-kielce.pl Fans forum] {{in lang|pl|en}}
• {{facebook|korona.kielce.oficjalna}}
• {{twitter|korona_kielce}}
• {{instagram|koronakielce}}

{{Korona Kielce squad}}

{{Ekstraklasa teamlist}}

Category:Football clubs in Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship

Category:Sport in Kielce

Category:Association football clubs established in 1973

Category:1973 establishments in Poland