Panthers Wrocław
The Panthers Wrocław are an American football team in Wrocław, Poland, which was merged from Giants Wrocław and Devils Wrocław. They play in the Liga Futbolu Amerykańskiego and the Central European Football League.
Founded | 2013 |
---|---|
Based in | Wrocław, Poland |
Home field | Wrocław Olympic Stadium |
Head coach | Jakub Samel |
League | Liga Futbolu Amerykańskiego |
Division | LFA 1 |
Colours | Panther Blue and Black |
Polish Bowl | 2016, 2017, 2019, 2020 |
IFAF Europe Champions League | 2016 |
Website | pantherswroclaw.com |
History
The team was founded in 2013 by a merger of two PLFA teams, Giants Wrocław and Devils Wrocław.[1] In 2014, the club played in the Polish Bowl for the first time, where they lost to Seahawks Gdynia. In 2016, the Panthers dominated every game and won their first Championship. The Panthers won the title by defeating Seahawks, 56–13.[2] After the Panthers won also the 2017 Polish Bowl, the team left the Polish American Football League and joined the new Liga Futbolu Amerykańskiego. In first two seasons in LFA, Panthers won every game in regular season, lost Polish Bowl XIII to Lowlanders Białystok 14–13 in 2018 and won Polish Bowl XIV to Lowlanders 28–14 (both final games were played at Wrocław Olympic Stadium).
The Panthers also became the first Polish team to win the IFAF Europe Champions League.[3]
During the COVID-19 lockdown, Jakub Samel was named new head coach of the Panthers Wrocław. He is the first Polish head coach in club history.
Uniforms
The Panthers Wrocław's Panther blue home jersey has black numbers, letter outlines and vertical stripes on opposite sides. The away kit consists of a white jersey with dark blue letters and numbers that have orange outlines. Players wear white socks, navy blue helmets with a panther head logo, and navy blue pants to all games.
Season-by-season records
Season | League | Finish | Wins | Losses | Postseason results | Ref | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2014 | TopLiga | 1st | 8 | 2 | 1–1 | Lost Polish Bowl (Seahawks) 41–32 | [4] |
2015 | TopLiga | 1st | 10 | 0 | 1–1 | Lost Polish Bowl (Seahawks) 28–21 | [5] |
2016 | TopLiga | 1st | 7 | 1 | 2–0 | Won Polish Bowl (Seahawks) 56–13 | [6] |
2017 | TopLiga | 1st | 6 | 0 | 2–0 | Won Polish Bowl (Seahawks) 55–21 | [7] |
2018 | LFA1 | 1st | 8 | 0 | 1-1 | Lost Polish Bowl (Lowlanders) 14-13 | [8] |
2019 | LFA1 | 1st | 8 | 0 | 2-0 | Won Polish Bowl (Lowlanders) 28-14 | [9] |
Honours
- Polish Bowl
- Champions: 2016, 2017, 2019
- Runner-up: 2014, 2015, 2018
- IFAF Europe Champions League
- Champions: 2016
- Third division (PLFA II as Panthers II)
- Champions: 2016, 2017
- U19 League
- Champions: 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017
References
- Panthers w finale Ligi Mistrzów!
- Panthers królami Europy!
- SuperFinałowa dominacja Panthers
- Perfekcyjny sezon Panthers
- "Pantery upolowane. Lowlanders mistrzami Polski!". Przegląd Sportowy (in Polish). 2018-07-22. Retrieved 2020-08-26.
- Media, Wirtualna Polska (2019-06-29). "Polish Bowl XIV. Tytuł wraca do Wrocławia. Panthers lepsi od Lowlanders Białystok - WP SportoweFakty". sportowefakty.wp.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 2020-08-26.