HIFK Fotboll

HIFK Fotboll or IFK Helsingfors, is an association football section of HIFK, a sports club based in Helsinki, Finland. The men's football team competes in the second tier of Finnish football, Ykkönen. Their home ground is the Bolt Arena.

HIFK Fotboll
Logo
Full nameIdrottsföreningen Kamraterna, Helsingfors
Nickname(s)IFK
Tähtirinnat (The Star Chested)
Stadens stolthet (The City's Pride)
Röda (The Reds)
Founded1897 (1897)
GroundBolt Arena
Helsinki, Finland
Capacity10,770
ChairmanJanne Räsänen
Head CoachSami Okkonen
LeagueYkkönen
2023Ykkönen, 6th of 12
WebsiteClub website

History

Idrottsföreningen Kamraterna i Helsingfors was formed on 15 October 1897 by Georges Doubitsky, a 15-year-old student at the Svenska Reallyceum school in Helsinki. In those early years the club specialised in athletics, football and bandy. The football section was established in 1907, the same year that the Football Association of Finland was founded. The first football match played HIFK was at the Kaisaniemi ground on 17 May 1908 where the new team lost 1–2 to Unitas.[1]

In those early years HIFK were runners-up in the Mestaruussarja (then played as a cup competition) on 5 occasions in 1909, 1912, 1928 and 1929. In addition in 1912 the Finnish Football team at the Stockholm Olympics comprised a team of HIFK players.

HIFK won their first Finnish championship (Mestaruussarja) in 1930 a feat that they were to repeat on three other occasions in 1931, 1933 and 1937 in a tremendous decade for the club. HIFK also won the Mestaruussarja in 1947, 1959 and 1961. In total HIFK won the Finnish championship on 7 occasions.

HIFK was one of the most successful football sides in Finland until the early 1970s when the team were relegated from the Mestaruussarja (Finnish Premier League). After 1972 the team wandered around the lower divisions of Finnish football, having even played in the Nelonen (Fourth Division), the fifth tier of the Finnish football league system, in 1980–83 and 2003–05, and only would return to the first level 43 years later.

In total, since 1930, HIFK have played 33 seasons in the Mestaruussarja (the top tier), 22 seasons in the second tier and 19 seasons in the third tier. Their best spell in recent decades was from 1999 to 2002 when the club participated in the Ykkönen (First Division).[2] However, the club overstretched themselves which resulted in the withdrawal from the Ykkönen at the end of the 2002 season and taking the place of the second team in the Nelonen (Fourth Division) in 2003. More recently, in 2010, they won the third tier, after defeating FC Santa Claus in the promotion playoff match,[3] returning them to the second-tier Ykkönen of Finnish football for seasons 2011 and 2012, only to be relegated back to Kakkonen after their 2012 season. Back in Kakkonen, HIFK rehired coach Jani Honkavaara who was the coach when HIFK first were promoted to Ykkönen. Since his second term they were able to play in Ykkönen for a third time this millennia, when beating their promotion play-off opponent PS Kemi Kings.

HIFK won Ykkönen in 2014 and thereby were automatically promoted into the highest tier of Finnish football, Veikkausliiga. After securing their promotion, HIFK announced that they would play their 2015 season home games on Telia 5G -areena, the home ground of their local rivals HJK Helsinki.[4] In December 2014 HIFK launched a crowdfunding campaign through Invesdor. HIFK aimed to gather 250.000 – 500.000 euros by selling shares of the club valued at 189,70 euros a piece. According to club chairman René Österman, HIFK was in need of funding for the upcoming Veikkausliiga season and crowdfunding gave a chance for the club's supporters to own a part of the club. The campaign ended successfully in January 2015 and HIFK gathered 335.495 euros from 786 investors.[5][6][7]

After three seasons in Veikkausliiga, HIFK were relegated to Ykkönen after finishing 11th in 2017 season and losing relegation play-offs against FC Honka on away goals. However, after a successful 2018 campaign in Ykkönen, HIFK was promoted back to Veikkausliiga for the 2019 season.

European campaigns

HIFK participated in the European Cup in the 1960–61 and 1962–63 seasons and played in the UEFA cup in 1971–72.

Season Competition Round Country Club Score Agg.
1960–61 European Cup Preliminary round Sweden IFK Malmö 1–3, 1–2 2–5
1962–63 European Cup First round Austria Austria Wien 3–5, 0–2 3–7
1971–72 UEFA Cup First round Norway Rosenborg 0–3, 0–1 0–4

Honours

Mestaruussarja

Attendance Record: 10,500 (HIFK HJK, Telia 5G -areena, 10 August 2016)[8]

Divisional movements since 1930

  • Top Level (32 seasons): 1930–45, 1947–49, 1958–66, 1970–72, 2015–2017, 2019-2022
  • Second Level (23 seasons): 1945–46, 1950–57, 1967–69, 1973–74, 1999–02, 2011–12, 2014, 2018, 2023
  • Third Level (19 seasons): 1975–78, 1988–98, 2008–10, 2013[2]

Season to season

Season to season
Season Level Division Section Administration Position Movements
1930 Tier 1 A-sarja Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 1st Champions
1931 Tier 1 A-sarja Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 1st Champions
1932 Tier 1 A-sarja Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 3rd
1933 Tier 1 A-sarja Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 1st Champions
1934 Tier 1 A-sarja Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 2nd
1935 Tier 1 A-sarja Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 2nd
1936 Tier 1 Mestaruussarja Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 3rd
1937 Tier 1 Mestaruussarja Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 1st Champions
1938 Tier 1 Mestaruussarja Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 6th
1939 Tier 1 Mestaruussarja Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 4th
1940–41 Tier 1 Mestaruussarja Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 4th
1943–44 Tier 1 Mestaruussarja Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 5th
1945 Tier 1 Mestaruussarja Group 1 Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 5th
1945–46 Tier 2 Suomensarja (First Division) Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 1st Promoted
1946–47 Tier 1 Mestaruussarja Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 2nd Championship Series 1st, Champions
1947–48 Tier 1 Mestaruussarja Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 2nd
1948 Tier 1 Mestaruussarja Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 10th
1949 Tier 1 Mestaruussarja Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 9th Relegated
1950 Tier 2 Suomensarja (First Division) West Group Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 2nd
1951 Tier 2 Suomensarja (First Division) West Group Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 6th
1952 Tier 2 Suomensarja (First Division) East Group Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 4th
1953 Tier 2 Suomensarja (First Division) East Group Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 4th
1954 Tier 2 Suomensarja (First Division) East Group Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 5th
1955 Tier 2 Suomensarja (First Division) East Group Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 8th
1956 Tier 2 Suomensarja (First Division) East Group Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 3rd
1957 Tier 2 Suomensarja (First Division) East Group Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 1st Promoted
1958 Tier 1 Mestaruussarja Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 3rd
1959 Tier 1 Mestaruussarja Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 1st Champions
1960 Tier 1 Mestaruussarja Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 5th
1961 Tier 1 Mestaruussarja Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 1st Champions
1962 Tier 1 Mestaruussarja Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 7th
1963 Tier 1 Mestaruussarja Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 4th
1964 Tier 1 Mestaruussarja Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 6th
1965 Tier 1 Mestaruussarja Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 5th
1966 Tier 1 Mestaruussarja Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 10th Relegated
1967 Tier 2 Suomensarja (First Division) East Group Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 4th
1968 Tier 2 Suomensarja (First Division) South Group Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 4th
1969 Tier 2 Suomensarja (First Division) East Group Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 1st Promotion Group 2nd, promoted
1970 Tier 1 Mestaruussarja Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 3rd
1971 Tier 1 Mestaruussarja Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 2nd
1972 Tier 1 Mestaruussarja Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 10th Relegated
1973 Tier 2 I divisioona (First Division) Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 4th
1974 Tier 2 I divisioona (First Division) Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 11th Relegated
1975 Tier 3 II Divisioona (Second Division) East Group Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 6th
1976 Tier 3 II Divisioona (Second Division) East Group Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 4th
1977 Tier 3 II Divisioona (Second Division) East Group Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 9th
1978 Tier 3 II Divisioona (Second Division) East Group Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 11th Relegated
1979 Tier 4 III divisioona (Third Division) Section 2 Helsinki & Uusimaa 11th Relegated
1980 Tier 5 IV divisioona (Fourth Division) Section 4 Helsinki & Uusimaa 8th
1981 Tier 5 IV divisioona (Fourth Division) Section 1 Helsinki & Uusimaa 7th
1982 Tier 5 IV divisioona (Fourth Division) Section 2 Helsinki & Uusimaa 4th
1983 Tier 5 IV divisioona (Fourth Division) Section 3 Helsinki & Uusimaa 1st Promoted via play-offs
1984 Tier 4 III divisioona (Third Division) Section 2 Helsinki & Uusimaa 1st Promotion play-offs
1985 Tier 4 III divisioona (Third Division) Section 1 Helsinki & Uusimaa 3rd
1986 Tier 4 III divisioona (Third Division) Section 2 Helsinki & Uusimaa 2nd
1987 Tier 4 III divisioona (Third Division) Section 2 Helsinki & Uusimaa 1st Promoted
1988 Tier 3 II Divisioona (Second Division) West Group Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 5th
1989 Tier 3 II Divisioona (Second Division) East Group Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 2nd
1990 Tier 3 II Divisioona (Second Division) East Group Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 2nd
1991 Tier 3 II Divisioona (Second Division) East Group Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 4th
1992 Tier 3 II Divisioona (Second Division) East Group Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 4th
1993 Tier 3 II Divisioona (Second Division) East Group Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 4th FC HIFK
1994 Tier 3 Kakkonen (Second Division) South Group Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 4th FC HIFK
1995 Tier 3 Kakkonen (Second Division) South Group Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 8th FC HIFK
1996 Tier 3 Kakkonen (Second Division) South Group Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 8th FC HIFK
1997 Tier 3 Kakkonen (Second Division) East Group Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 2nd FC HIFK
1998 Tier 3 Kakkonen (Second Division) East Group Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 2nd FC HIFK
1999 Tier 2 Ykkönen (First Division) South Group Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 6th FC HIFK – Relegation Group South 8th
2000 Tier 2 Ykkönen (First Division) South Group Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 8th FC HIFK – Relegation Group South 7th
2001 Tier 2 Ykkönen (First Division) South Group Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 6th FC HIFK
2002 Tier 2 Ykkönen (First Division) South Group Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 7th FC HIFK – Relegation Group South 7th – Play-offs
2003 Tier 5 Nelonen (Fourth Division) Section 1 Uusimaa (SPL Helsinki) 5th
2004 Tier 5 Nelonen (Fourth Division) Section 1 Uusimaa (SPL Helsinki) 2nd
2005 Tier 5 Nelonen (Fourth Division) Section 2 Uusimaa (SPL Helsinki) 1st Promoted
2006 Tier 4 Kolmonen (Third Division) Section 3 Helsinki & Uusimaa (SPL Helsinki) 2nd
2007 Tier 4 Kolmonen (Third Division) Section 2 Helsinki & Uusimaa (SPL Helsinki) 1st Promoted
2008 Tier 3 Kakkonen (Second Division) Group B Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 7th
2009 Tier 3 Kakkonen (Second Division) Group A Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 7th
2010 Tier 3 Kakkonen (Second Division) Group A Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 1st Play-offs, promoted
2011 Tier 2 Ykkönen (First Division) Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 9th
2012 Tier 2 Ykkönen (First Division) Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 10th Relegated
2013 Tier 3 Kakkonen (Second Division) East Group Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 1st Play-offs, promoted
2014 Tier 2 Ykkönen (First Division) Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 1st Promoted to Veikkausliiga
2015 Tier 1 Veikkausliiga Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 7th
2016 Tier 1 Veikkausliiga Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 10th
2017 Tier 1 Veikkausliiga Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 11th Play-offs, relegated
2018 Tier 2 Ykkönen (First Division) Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 1st Promoted
2019 Tier 1 Veikkausliiga Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 7th
2020 Tier 1 Veikkausliiga Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 8th
2021 Tier 1 Veikkausliiga Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 6th
[9][10]
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Supporters and rivalries

HIFK Fotboll supporters June 2017.

Historically, HIFK was primarily the club for the Swedish-speaking population in Helsinki. However, the club nowadays is bilingual and language doesn't play an important role in the club anymore. Nowadays, the most renowned supporter group of the club is Stadin Kingit (in English: "the kings of Stadi"). Its name derives from the common slang nickname for Helsinki (Stadi). Many members attend the handball, bandy and ice hockey matches of HIFK as well.

The single most important fixture for HIFK supporters is the one against the major local rivals, HJK. The fixture is commonly known as Stadin derby.

Club structure

HIFK Fotboll run a large number of teams including 3 men's teams, 3 women's teams, 1 men's veterans team, 16 boys' teams and 5 girls' teams.

Updated as of season 2022. [11] [12] [13]

Players

As of 3 August 2023 2023[14]

Current squad

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK The Gambia GAM Sam Jammeh
2 DF Finland FIN Jarkko Heimonen
3 DF Finland FIN Jimi Hackspik
4 DF Finland FIN Iiro Äijö
5 DF North Macedonia MKD Abiola Bamijoko
6 MF Finland FIN Obed Malolo
7 FW Finland FIN Robbie Azodo
9 FW Finland FIN Antti Ulmanen
10 FW Afghanistan AFG Mosawer Ahadi
11 FW Finland FIN Nikolas Saira
13 MF Finland FIN Julius Järvinen
14 FW Brazil BRA Tiquinho
16 MF Finland FIN Aapo Hyppönen (on loan from KTP)
No. Pos. Nation Player
17 MF Finland FIN Eelis Varis
18 DF Finland FIN Matias Hänninen
19 MF Finland FIN Aleksi Wahlman
20 DF Finland FIN Niko Salminen
21 MF Finland FIN Eetu Puro
23 DF Finland FIN Paulus Arajuuri
25 DF Finland FIN Topi Pasi
27 DF Finland FIN Rico Finnäs
30 MF Finland FIN Emil Pallas
31 GK Finland FIN Joona Tiainen
32 GK Finland FIN Sami Rissanen
44 FW Finland FIN Sakari Tukiainen

Management and boardroom

As of 20 April 2022[15]

Name Role
Finland Sami Okkonen Head coach
Sakari Holopainen Assistant coach
Tomi Maanoja Goalkeeping coach
Fabio Da Rosa Fitness coach
Umid Dibachy Assistant coach
Fabian Hanslian Physiotherapist
Joona Haavisto Team Leader
Ludovic Thune Kit Manager
Jammu Öunap Doctor
Aapo Haavisto Doctor

Boardroom

[16]

Name Role
Finland Perttu Hillman CEO
Finland Teemu Kankkunen Sports director
Finland Janne Räsänen Chairman

References

  1. "HIFK Soccer – Historia". Archived from the original on 2011-10-06. Retrieved 2010-07-21.
  2. "Finland – Divisional Movements 1930–2011". RSSSF. 2011. Retrieved 2011-09-22.
  3. Flanagan, Chris (December 21, 2017). "Inside FC Santa Claus: Lapland's favourite football team – who are finally getting serious". FourFourTwo.
  4. Tapio Keskitalo; Ari Virtanen (10 November 2014). "HIFK kaappasi FC Hongan Nnaemeka Anyamelen – joukkue pelaa liigaa Sonera-stadionilla". HS.fi (in Finnish). Helsingin Sanomat. Retrieved 17 November 2014.
  5. "HIFK hakee joukkorahoitusta". Helsingin Sanomat (in Finnish). Sanoma Oy. 16 December 2014. Retrieved 15 April 2015.
  6. Herala, Olli (11 December 2014). "Futis-HIFK:n osakeanti: "Ei mitään pikavoittoja"". Kauppalehti (in Finnish). Kauppalehti Oy. Retrieved 15 April 2015.
  7. "Veikkausliiga, här kommer HIFK!". invesdor.com. Invesdor. Retrieved 15 April 2015.
  8. "Veikkausliiga – Ottelutilastot". Retrieved 2015-04-25.
  9. Jalkapallokirjat 1946–>, Suomen Palloliitto, ISSN 0787-7188
  10. "Tulostus". urheilumuseo.fi. Retrieved 9 March 2017.
  11. "Veikkausliiga". veikkausliiga.com (in Finnish). Veikkausliiga. Retrieved 31 January 2020.
  12. "Miehet Kolmonen". palloliitto.fi (in Finnish). Football Association of Finland. Retrieved 15 February 2022.
  13. "Miehet Kutonen" (in Finnish). Football Association of Finland. Retrieved 15 February 2022.
  14. "Edustusjoukkue 2023". hifkfotboll.fi. Retrieved 3 August 2023.
  15. "HIFK ja Mixu Paatelainen sopimukseen". hifkfotboll.fi. Retrieved 17 April 2022.
  16. "Yhteystiedot - HIFK Fotboll" (in Finnish). HIFK Fotboll. Retrieved 15 February 2022.
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