Competition for the development of a sculptural concept for the Henryk Reyman monument

The aim of the competition is to select a design that will most fully pay artistic tribute to the outstanding athlete, coach, Polish Army officer, and patron of the Synerise Arena – the Municipal Stadium in Krakow. The monument is intended to become a lasting symbol of remembrance for Henryk Reyman – a figure who has forever etched his place in the history of the White Star and the city of Krakow.

The monument will be located directly in front of the Synerise Arena, facing Reymana Street. The design should take into account the urban and architectural context of the site and harmoniously integrate into the public space, becoming its natural and symbolic complement.

"Henryk Reyman is not only the greatest footballer in the history of Wisła Kraków, but also a symbol of the values ​​on which this club was built – honor, courage, responsibility, and unconditional love for the White Star. As an athlete, he won championships and was the top scorer, as captain he led the team to great victories, and as an officer of the Polish Army he risked his life for his homeland many times. Today, it is our duty – to history and future generations – to pay him a lasting, worthy tribute. I believe that thanks to the commitment of the entire Wisła community and the sensitivity of artists, a monument will be created that will become not only a symbol of Reyman's memory, but also a meeting place and a place of pride for all Wisła Kraków fans." - Jarosław Królewski, President of TS Wisła Kraków SA

The planned monument will be a tribute from Wisła Kraków fans to the White Star's greatest legend. Since 2020, the Socios Wisła Kraków Association has been consistently raising funds for its implementation as part of the Wiślackie project. To commemorate Henryk Reyman, we are joining forces with the entire Wisła community.

The competition is open to visual artists with experience in sculpture. To ensure the highest artistic standard of the submitted works and their impartiality, the competition is anonymous until its final outcome. It will be conducted based on regulations specifying detailed rules, procedures, and conditions for participation.

The competition is for the development of a concept for a monument in the form of a statuary, freestanding sculpture on a pedestal. The design should faithfully reflect the portrait features and character of Henryk Reyman, emphasizing such attributes as determination, honor, responsibility, and leadership. The work should be designed in a durable material—bronze is preferred—not exceed 3 meters in height, including the pedestal, and meet all structural safety requirements.

The competition is a two-stage process. In the first stage, the Jury will select a maximum of five works to advance to the second stage. The competition offers three cash prizes. The first-prize winner will be invited to negotiate a single-source procurement procedure for the construction of the monument.

The submitted works will be evaluated by a Jury appointed by the Organizer. The Jury includes a representative of H. Reyman's family, individuals associated with Wisła Kraków and the history of the White Star, as well as representatives of the scientific and artistic communities:

• Jarosław Królewski – representative of the Organizer (TS Wisła Kraków SA)
• Tomasz Jażdżyński – representative of TS Wisła Kraków
• Janusz Tomaszewski – representative of Henryk Reyman's family
• Robert Sermak – representative of the Organizer (Socios Wisła Kraków Association)
• Prof. Dr. hab. Andrzej Betlej – Director of the Wawel Royal Castle – State Art Collections, full professor at the Institute of Art History of the Jagiellonian University
• Prof. Dr. hab. Jan tutaj – sculptor, Dean of the Faculty of Sculpture at the Academy of Fine Arts in Krakow
• Dr Agata Dworzak – assistant professor at the Department of Modern Art History at the Institute of Art History of the Jagiellonian University
• Jan Ostrog (referee judge) – representative of the Vistula History Association
• Zdzisław Skupień (Secretary of the Competition Jury) – representative of the Socios Wisła Kraków Association

Competition Schedule:

• February 26, 2026 - announcement of the competition, publication of the regulations and attachments
• until April 30, 2026, 1:00 p.m. - acceptance of competition entries along with the required documents in the first stage of the competition
• by May 7, 2026 - announcement by the Competition Jury of works qualified for the second stage
• until June 30, 2026 at 1:00 p.m. - acceptance of competition entries in the second stage of the competition
• beginning of July 2026 - announcement of the final results of the Competition and commencement of the construction of the monument, the completion of which is planned for autumn 2026.

Detailed terms and conditions of participation in the Competition are specified in the Regulations and annexes, available at: LINK

Any inquiries regarding the Competition should be sent to the following e-mail address: kontakt@socioswisla.pl

PROFILE OF HENRYK REYMAN

HENRYK REYMAN (born July 28, 1897 in Kraków, died April 11, 1963 there) - legendary football player of Wisła Kraków, top scorer, captain of the Polish national team at the Olympic Games, and a heroic soldier repeatedly wounded in the fight for Poland's independence.

Henryk Reyman took his first steps in football on Jabłonowski Square. The vast area in front of his family's tenement house served as a market square, but when business was over, the space was taken over by local boys eagerly chasing rags. Reyman also played for a school team, which used the telling name "Polonia." However, the young and talented player was quickly persuaded to join Wisła by his brothers Witold and Tadeusz Rutkowski. Not only were they Henryk's older cousins, but they were also players in Wisła's first team, so their influence was considerable. Thus, in March 1910, Henryk Reyman became a footballer for the Sports Society. He remained associated with the club throughout his life, becoming an undisputed legend.

Reyman made his debut for the first team in 1914. Shortly thereafter, Wisła suspended its activities due to the outbreak of World War I. Reyman was among those who revived his beloved club in 1918 and laid the foundations for its continued success. This was a difficult task, not only because of Wisła's difficult financial situation, lack of equipment, and lack of a home pitch – above all, the borders of the reborn Poland were still undetermined and its independence was threatened. During this time, Reyman fought in the Polish-Ukrainian War, the war with Czechoslovakia over Cieszyn Silesia, the Silesian Uprisings, the Polish-Soviet War… In the following years, he remained a professional officer in the Polish Army, combining his love of Wisła with his military duties. This often required enormous sacrifices, as when Reyman was stationed in Vilnius and commuted hours by train to each of his club's matches. Reyman's deep devotion to the club's colors, high charisma, and unwavering character were the qualities that predisposed him to the role of team captain, a position he was entrusted with in 1923. Henryk Reyman also demonstrated the highest level of sportsmanship on the pitch and led Wisła to great successes: in 1926, the "Reds" won the Polish Cup in the first edition of the competition, in 1927 they won the Polish Championship in the first edition of the national league, and a year later they defended that title. Significantly, Reyman was the top scorer in both championship seasons, and in the Polish Cup final, he scored the winning goal.

Henryk Reyman remained an active footballer until June 1933, later remaining active in the game as an activist and coach. During World War II, he was wounded in the Battle of Bzura, managed to escape captivity, and hid under a false identity, as the Germans had issued a death sentence against him in absentia. After 1945, Reyman dedicated himself to rebuilding Polish football from the ravages of war, assuming the position of captain of the Polish Football Association (PZPN) (national team coach). As a pre-war officer, however, he was soon ostracized from public life. He was only able to return to sports activities after the political thaw of 1956. He once again assumed the role of national team coach and led the Polish national team to, among other things, a memorable 2-1 victory over the USSR in 1957. Henryk Reyman died of cancer in 1963. Today, he is the patron of the stadium where Wisła Kraków plays its home games. A street named after him runs alongside the stadium, and at its end stands an obelisk dedicated to him. The plaque on his memorial plaque bears these words that beautifully reflect Henryk Reyman's stature:

He lived for the glory of Polish sport - he is a role model for young generations.

Reyman remains a model athlete and man of honor, and the values ​​he professes inspire subsequent generations of White Star players, activists and fans.