Bartosz Grzelak has been appointed as the new head coach of KS Cracovia, the club announced. The 48-year-old has signed a contract until the 2027/2028 season, with an option for an additional year. Grzelak, who was born in Poland, takes charge of the Ekstraklasa side for his first coaching job in his home country.
Grzelak has been free on the coaching market for nearly a year since leaving Hungarian club Ujpest in spring 2025, according to reports. He brings extensive head coaching experience from previous stints at Hungarian club Fehérvár, AIK in Sweden, and the Swedish U21 national team. His availability made him an attractive candidate for Cracovia as they look to secure their top-flight status.
Welcome to Poland's oldest sports club and we wish you good luck.
According to multiple reports, Patric Jildefalk will join Grzelak as one of his assistant coaches at Cracovia. Jildefalk and Grzelak previously worked together at AIK for several years, where Jildefalk held roles including U21 coach, women's team coach, and assistant coach for the men's first team, sources said. Jildefalk also served as an assistant to Grzelak at Hungarian club Mol Fehérvár, according to reports.
Jildefalk previously worked as an assistant coach to Mikael Stahre at Stabaek, helping the club stay in the Norwegian second division, according to sources. Cracovia currently sits in 13th place in the Polish Ekstraklasa, with four points above the relegation zone and seven points from fifth place with five matches remaining. The club's squad includes Swedish players Amir Al-Ammari and Gustav Henriksson, according to reports. The exact duration of Jildefalk's contract with Cracovia has not been disclosed, nor has the official start date for Grzelak's role. The status of the current coaching staff and any other assistants joining Grzelak remains unclear. Specific terms of Grzelak's contract, such as salary and performance bonuses, have not been revealed.
"Welcome to Poland's oldest sports club and we wish you good luck," Cracovia said in an official statement.