The Central Junior League is the highest level in Polish Under-19 football. Created in mid-2013, it replaced Mloda Ekstraklasa. The winner of the CLJ advances to the UEFA Youth League.
History
First tournament of Polish U-19 championship took place in the summer of 1936, see Football Junior Championships of Poland. The formula of the U-19 games changed several times. In some years, there was a final match, taking place before an international game featuring the national team of Poland, while on other occasions, there was a final tournament, featuring four top U-19 teams, winners of local competitions. At regional level, the championships were organized by local branches of Polish Football Association. In the summer of 2007, the so-called Młoda Ekstraklasa was formed. It was contested by players 21 years of age and under, also each team was allowed three players over this age limit. Despite the creation of Młoda Ekstraklasa, games of the U-19 national championships continued on regional levels: winners of local competitions played each other in the play-off series.
2012-2013
In the summer of 2012, the Macroregional League of Older Juniors and the Macroregional League of Younger Juniors were created. Both leagues had 48 teams, divided into four groups of 12 teams. In the U-19 leagues, winners of their respective groups were the teams of Legia Warszawa, Arka Gdynia, Ruch Chorzów and Cracovia Kraków. All four played in a final tournament, which took place in mid-June 2013 in Grudziądz and Świecie. The tournament was won by Legia, which became the 2013 U-19 Champion of Poland. In the U-17 leagues, winners of their groups were the teams of Wisła Kraków, Zawisza Bydgoszcz, Polonia Warszawa and Gwarek Zabrze. The final tournament featuring these teams took place in June 2013 in the area of Rzeszów, with Wisła Krakow becoming the 2013 U-17 Champion of Poland.
2013-2014
In the summer of 2013, the Central Junior League was officially formed by the PZPN. It consisted of four groups, with 12 teams in each group. The championship took place in the autumn - spring system.
This group was won by Lech Poznan, second was Gornik Zabrze, third Lechia Gdańsk, and fourth Pogon Szczecin. First two teams qualified to the playoffs. Relegated were the last four teams: Odra Opole, Olimpia Grudziadz, KKS Kluczbork, and Stilon Gorzow Wielkopolski.
GKS Belchatow, Legia Warszawa, MKS Polonia Warszawa, Stomil Olsztyn, Jagiellonia Bialystok, Olimpia Elblag, LKS 1926 Łomża, LKS Lodz, Wisla Krakow, Cracovia, Korona Kielce, Stal Mielec, Wisla Pulawy, Stal Rzeszow, KSZO Ostrowiec Swietokrzyski, Motor Lublin.
This group was won by Legia Warszawa, second was Polonia Warszawa, third Cracovia, and fourth Jagiellonia Bialystok. First two teams qualified to the playoffs. Relegated were the last four teams: Olimpia Elblag, Stomil Olsztyn, LKS Łomża, and Wisla Pulawy.
Semifinals
June 6, 2015
Gornik Zabrze 1-1 Legia Warszawa, Polonia Warszawa 1-0 Lech Poznan,
Lech Poznan 2-3 Legia Warszawa Legia Warszawa became the 2015 U-19 Champion of Poland.
2015 - 2016
In the third season of the CLJ, the league had 32 teams, divided into two groups: West and East. In Group West the teams that were relegated after the previous season were replaced by the four teams which won the playoffs:
