Open letter from President Jarosław Królewski regarding changes at Wisła Kraków

Dear Fans and Supporters of the White Star,

Monday, September 23, 2024, was a day full of emotions, especially due to the personnel decisions made regarding individuals who had worked at the club for many years. For me, it was one of the most difficult moments in my professional career, as these events had a profound impact on the entire Wisła Kraków community and directly affected individuals I respect for their work and contributions to history.

While the changes affected specific individuals, they were essential in the context of the need for a broad reform of the club's operations. This isn't a one-off measure, but the beginning of a fundamental overhaul that our organization has long required.

The last few days have been difficult for both you and the club. The decisions we've had to make always evoke strong emotions, and criticism is an inherent part of this job. Therefore, today I'd like to clarify a few issues, particularly those related to the misunderstandings and narratives that have appeared in the media.

For a long time, I believed we would achieve our goals at the club through gradual evolution, building Wisła Kraków into a new form step by step. I wholeheartedly believed in this strategy. However, reality has shown that the moment has come for me to take more radical steps. It wasn't an easy decision, but I believe it's the only way we can address the challenges the club faces.

When making decisions, I'm always guided by facts and the best available knowledge. I draw on the experience of other teams and colleagues to collaboratively develop top-quality solutions. The changes we made were the result of a thorough analysis of the situation after recent matches and the international break. Our assessment wasn't based solely on sporting results, but also on the overall functioning of the club on multiple levels and how individual elements work together.

Coach Kazimierz Moskal – a man I respect and a Wisła legend – indicated after the match against ŁKS that he was lacking ideas (not necessarily his fault, but due to the "human resources" he possesses) for how to continue leading the team. These signals were not only received by me, but also by the players, coaching staff, and those watching the coach's recent press conference. We all realized that the team needed a new impetus. For me, it was a sign that we needed to make more radical decisions. Empathy with our fans, partners, and team members is extremely important to us. We always strive to propose solutions that take into account the needs of others, which is why such difficult decisions, although painful, were essential for the future of the club. I respect Kazimierz Moskal's footballing and coaching achievements, but Wisła needs a new impetus today. The decisions to part ways with Jarosław Krzoska were also the result of analysis and feedback we received from the club and its surroundings. Wisła Kraków has its strengths and weaknesses, which make us unique. Football is a dynamic game, and each of us has our weaknesses and difficult moments. It's important that we help each other grow and improve.

I apologized personally to each of the individuals who had to leave Wisła during discussions. For what? I apologized for the conditions I failed to create for them, for the fact that our cooperation—especially on my part—may not have met expectations, as I have specific requirements. I realize that not every relationship brings the desired results, even if the intentions are good. These decisions were difficult, but necessary for the future of the club. I am someone who does not believe in personality cults or intuition unsupported by hard data and a clear strategy.

In the context of media reports about my conversations with employees, I must emphasize that I try not to comment on my private discussions. I try to avoid publicly addressing these issues because the people I work with deserve respect, and this is expressed, among other things, by maintaining confidentiality. I see no need to reveal my reservations or justifications in the media—such actions would be inappropriate for the entire community. I don't understand why our conversations have become the subject of debates and interviews in almost every media outlet, but out of respect for the individuals involved, I won't reveal my feelings. That would be inappropriate for the entire community.

I would also like to emphasize that Wisła Kraków needs wide-ranging reforms. The changes to the Academy are closely linked to our sports policy, so they must be radical, even though I see many excellent things that have been achieved in recent years. Our future relies on young people, on coaches who will be the face of Wisła abroad, on people who experiment, build global relationships, learn, and develop. We want to invest in people who are not satisfied with what they have but constantly strive to achieve something more—without limits, at least not intellectual ones. I want Wisła to be modern, respectful of tradition, yet bold in its innovation. I want a Wisła whose coaches and staff are open to new technologies and able to build relationships with players, without language or cultural barriers, so that communication is direct and effective. I want a Wisła that isn't afraid to experiment and strive for more. I'm not interested in promotion, which will be associated with another organizational debt resulting from short-term success and relegation next season.

I'm not a fan of social engineering or Instagram-style coaching platitudes. Pathetic messages, seeking compassion or heroism where there isn't any, are not our path. The last few days have been difficult for all of us, because we know Wisła Kraków is capable of more, especially on the athletic front. However, I believe the current coaching staff and squad have the quality and untapped potential that will soon begin to bear fruit.

The inspiration for my recent actions, restoring and confirming my long-held beliefs, came from a conference in Seville, where I had the opportunity to meet people obsessively involved in every aspect of their clubs' operations, from logistics and academy to hospitality. These are global brands that build their strength on solid foundations, with a view to long-term development. Wisła Kraków needs this as well.

We must distance ourselves from certain aspects of the past, which is incredibly valuable, but sometimes blocks us from an objective view of the present. Wisła needs new people, open to change and ready to take action. Everyone who has recently left the club has contributed greatly, but we cannot extrapolate whether someone is a good or less good person based on how we perceive their work.

My principle is simple: I give people maximum freedom, responsibility, and space to act, and then I observe. When the moment is right, I make specific decisions. Wisła needs people with a "growth mindset," open to change, and ready to act.

Diplomacy is not practiced with those closest to us—diplomacy is the ultimate form of vanity and disrespect. The decisions we make stem from concern for the future of Wisła Kraków.

I believe coaches should have time to implement their projects. Unfortunately, the assessment of the team's condition after the break in the season necessitated changes. This was an exceptional situation, but the principle that coaches should have more time remains important to me, and I have demonstrated this many times in the past. Responsibility always falls on everyone – the coach, the players, the staff, and the board. Each of us must accept our share of responsibility and work together to improve the situation. Football is a dynamic environment, and right now we are focused on stabilizing and working with the current squad to improve results. The changes to the squad are part of a larger plan to rebuild Wisła Kraków.

I often feel like I'm in a besieged fortress, with criticism coming from all sides. One moment I'm accused of being too soft, the next of being too hard on decisions. One moment I'm told I have too much affection for legends, the next that I have none at all. Of course, it pains me to read articles about me not respecting legends, especially since it was during my tenure that we were most active in cultivating Wisła's history, its characters, and its traditions. I understand that emotions are part of football, but Wisła Kraków needs decisions made calmly, even if they are painful. I prefer difficult but clear decisions to being stuck in relationships that will lead to nothing good. I felt it would be difficult for us to build something that I, as president, would fully identify with, something I could present to sponsors, potential investors, and even the parents of our young players from the Academy.

At Wisła, we need a "growth mindset" and an openness to change. I respect people in football and their achievements, but my (and others') vision for football is based not on intuition, but on substantive analysis. Currently, positions have been filled by people co-creating specific departments. We are working to strengthen individual positions.

In 2019, when no one believed it, I promised that Wisła Kraków would survive despite all the irrational circumstances, and they did. In 2024, a year after I acquired the majority of shares and became president, the club won its first trophy – the Polish Cup. Then it played in European competition. This season – despite a difficult start – I believe we will fight for promotion again, and at the latest, we will achieve it next season.


Jarosław the Royal
President of TS Wisła Kraków SA