Odlew Poznań
Amateur club known for humor, self-deprecation, and widespread support.
HKS Odlew Poznań is an amateur football club based in Poznań, in the Greater Poland region of Poland. Though it sits near the bottom of the national league system, the club has become widely known—almost legendary—for its self-deprecating, humorous take on football and its commitment to promoting the amateur game. As of the 2024/25 season, it finished 9th in Klasa B.
The club’s name comes from the 1989 comedy film *Piłkarski Poker*, which, though fictional, was later seen as a sharp satire of real match-fixing. In the film, Odlew Poznań appears only briefly, with its chairman denied even a speaking line. The founders were inspired by Warsaw’s Karmazyn Warsaw, another club famous for poor results and a playful attitude. The abbreviation HKS stands for Husarski Klub Sportowy (Hussar Sports Club), chosen because no other club used it—unlike the more common KS, PKS, or FC.
Originally set up by reporters from *Gazeta Wyborcza*, the club has since shed that image. In its debut 2002 season in the lowest division (B-klasa), it had the worst record in all of Greater Poland. In response, the club adopted slogans like “We’re the worst, we want to be better,” “A real defeat is not to lose, but not to try in the first place,” “Hope dies last,” and “Odlew will always stay up” (since there is no relegation from the bottom tier). They also adapted a famous beer advert: “Almost like Odlew.” The club has nearly won promotion to A-klasa several times but never succeeded; its current goal is simply to avoid being the worst team in the country. On its website, the league table is routinely turned upside down, with the official explanation: “This way we can be top.”
For its 10th anniversary in 2012, Odlew played a match against San Marino’s champion, F.C. Domagnano—billed as the best amateur team in the world versus the worst. Odlew lost only 0–1 in a close, hard-fought game. The club later secured a sponsorship from Obolon, a major Ukrainian brewery. After a string of poor results by Poland’s national team, Odlew challenged coach Waldemar Fornalik’s side to a match, claiming “there are no weak sides anymore,” but the offer was declined.
The team plays at Lech Poznań’s training ground on ul. Ptasia (Bird Street), giving it one of the best pitches available to an amateur side.
Quick Facts
- Clubname
- Odlew Poznań
- Fullname
- Husarski Klub Sportowy / Odlew Poznań
- Founded
- 2002
- Ground
- ul. Ptasia Training Facilities
- Capacity
- 1,000
- Chairman
- Michał Bartkowiak
- Coach
- Jan Andrzejewski
- League
- Klasa B Greater Poland IV
- Season
- 2024–25
- Position
- 9th of 12
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The club was originally set up by Gazeta Wyborcza reporters, though it later moved away from its image as a 'reporter club'. Its name was chosen based on the 1989 comedy film Piłkarski Poker, which depicted match-fixing; the fictitious club Odlew Poznań had only a few seconds of screen time. The founders were inspired by Warsaw-based Karmazyn Warsaw, known for poor performances and humor. The abbreviation HKS stands for Husarski Klub Sportowy, meaning Hussar Sports Club, chosen because no other club used that abbreviation.
After finishing with the worst record in Greater Poland in their inaugural 2002 season in the lowest division B-klasa, the
Reader's Guide
Odlew Poznań's significance lies in its transformation of perennial failure into a celebrated identity. By embracing self-deprecating humor and slogans that mock their own poor performance, the club has attracted a loyal following that includes notable figures such as coaches Czesław Michniewicz and Franciszek Smuda, and volleyball player Katarzyna Skowrońska-Dolata. Their ground, the training pitch of Lech Poznań, is nicknamed 'Arena auf Ptasia' or 'Bird Arena'. The club maintains good relations with local professional teams Lech and Warta, and has a rivalry with KKS Wiara Lecha, dubbed the 'Poznań Derby', which Odlew has always lost. Their fans have produced supporter merchandise typical of larger clubs, and the club lists its main rivals as WZPN match observers, Rakieta Biedrusko, and a referee named Mr Paluszak from Stryków. The club's legacy is as a symbol of amateur football's joy and resilience, proving that success is not measured solely by league position.
Did You Know?
- The club's name comes from a fictitious team in the 1988 film Piłkarski Poker, which had only a few seconds of screen time.
- To celebrate their 10th anniversary in 2012, they played San Marino champion F.C. Domagnano, losing only 0–1.
- The club's ground is the training pitch of Lech Poznań, nicknamed 'Arena auf Ptasia' and 'Bird Arena'.
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