Supporters
As one of the most successful clubs in the history of Poland, Legia Warsaw remains also one of the most popular clubs in Poland. Over the past decades Legia gained devotion of generations of fans from Warsaw and all over the country. Legia supporters are generally considered very spontaneous, dedicated or even sometimes fanatical. The supporters have a reputation of being troublemakers, and are renowned for bad behavior all around Europe. When playing away against Rosenborg in the Europe League they got in fights with the local police on the stadium, and also even set fire to parts of Lerkendal Stadion (Rosenborgs home stadium, in Trondheim, Norway) during their 2-1 loss in the third qualifying round. Accordingly, in terms of quality of football support they are also often described as the best supporters in Poland. Groups of fans follow Legia on practically all away matches, both domestic and international. Supporters of Legia occasionally attract also some negative attention, in particular after events such as riots in Lithuania during the match against Vetra Vilnius on July 10, 2007.
Traditionally, the most devoted and spontaneous fans occupy the Żyleta stand, i.e. the northern stand of the stadium. Before the stadium renovation (2008–2011), the "old" Żyleta referred only to the center section within the eastern stand of the stadium (occasionally, it would also refer to eastern stand as a whole). There is a special exhibition dedicated to the "old" Żyleta in Legia club museum. Today, after the stadium renovation, the "new" Żyleta means the whole northern stand of stadium (located behind the goal).
As regards the political sentiments, the supporters of Legia tend more to the Right. During the times of communism, in particular in the 1980s, Legia fans manifested their patriotic and strongly anti-communistic views. Today, the fans actively participate in annual commemorations of the Warsaw Uprising and Polish Independence Day. Legia fans also manifest their views on domestic issues, e.g. their conflict with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, as well as on international politics, e.g. by way of displaying banners reading "Kosovo is Serbian" at the stadium as well as a huge 'Jihad' banner during the home leg of the 2011 Europa League group stage against Hapoel Tel Aviv, for which the club was fined €10,000.
Legia Warsaw supporters maintain friendly relations with fans of Pogoń Szczecin, Zagłębie Sosnowiec and Olimpia Elbląg. Internationally, Legia supporters maintain friendly relations with fans of ADO Den Haag and Juventus F.C.. Among main rivals of Legia are Polonia Warsaw, Lech Poznań, Wisła Kraków and Widzew Łódź.
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“No Government can be long secure without a formidable Opposition. It reduces their supporters to that tractable number which can be managed by the joint influences of fruition and hope. It offers vengeance to the discontented, and distinction to the ambitious; and employs the energies of aspiring spirits, who otherwise may prove traitors in a division or assassins in a debate.”
—Benjamin Disraeli (1804–1881)