GREGOIRE NITOT

In March 2020, when Gregoire Nitot took over Polonia Warszawa, the club was in a very difficult financial and organizational situation. The Black Shirts team was in second-to-last place in the third league table, with debts exceeding PLN 2 million! As a result of these difficulties, many key employees, including the president, coach, and some players, left the club in December 2019, not receiving their due salaries for many months.

Thanks to Gregoire Nitot’s determination, commitment, and financial support, the club avoided bankruptcy. The acquisition of a majority stake not only restored financial stability but also saved the oldest football club in the capital. Nitot invested in the team’s structure and development, restoring hope and faith in the future. Gregoire Nitot’s takeover of Polonia was a turning point in its history, allowing for a new beginning.

Gregoire Nitot’s purchase of a majority stake in the club was met with negative reactions from a small group of aggressive Legia Warsaw fans, who expressed their dissatisfaction by displaying a scandalous banner during a match against ŁKS Łódź, reading: “Monsieur Nitot, il nest pas encore trop tard pour se retirer. Vous avez encore des clients, l’entreprise fonctionne encore…” (Polish: “Mr. Nitot, it’s not too late to back out. You still have clients, the company is still operating…”). While the incident might have discouraged many investors, it did not break Gregoire Nitot’s resolve.

In response, Polonia fans demonstrated extraordinary strength and unity. Instead of giving in to pressure, they initiated a campaign to support the new investor, posting photos and tweets on social media using the hashtag #BonjourGregoire. This initiative quickly gained popularity, and thousands of fans from across Poland, including many Legia fans, joined in expressing their support.

The campaign also became a symbol of unity, demonstrating how a passion for football can unite people across divides. The event received widespread coverage in the national media, and Polonia gained not only an investor but also strong support from fans across Poland.

As owner, Gregoire Nitot is responsible for overseeing all aspects of the Club’s operations. He collaborates with eight directors who report directly to him: the Chief Financial Officer, the Sporting Director, the Head Coach, the Academy Director, the Sales Director, the Merchandising and Merchandising Manager, and the Marketing and Communications team. His role includes appointing the best leaders to manage our various departments, defining their OKRs (Objectives and Key Results), securing club funding, and providing support to help all departments achieve success.

Today, one of Nitot’s goals is to eliminate aggression and hatred and create a wonderful, positive atmosphere in the stands of Polonia Stadium, including towards rival fans. Remember, we are Czarni Kulturalni, and our mission is to build the most open, friendly, smiling, and positive club in Poland. Let’s build it together!

The president of Polonia grew up on the Seine, but has had long-standing ties to Poland. Warsaw holds a special place in his heart – he first came here in 2000 for 10 months as part of an Erasmus student exchange program. He has lived here permanently since 2006, when he founded Sii Polska, and has held Polish citizenship since 2016.

Greg (as his colleagues call him) loves competition and crazy projects that few others would undertake – the most fascinating and at the same time the most demanding is restoring Polonia Warszawa to its former glory.