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Veikkausliiga

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Veikkausliiga (in Finnish)
Tipsligan (in Swedish)
Founded1990; 34 years ago (1990)
CountryFinland
ConfederationUEFA
Number of clubs12
Level on pyramid1
Relegation toYkkösliiga 1–2 (depending on qualification playoffs)
Domestic cup(s)Finnish Cup
League cup(s)Finnish League Cup
International cup(s)UEFA Champions League
UEFA Conference League
Current championsKuPS
(2024)
Most championshipsHJK Helsinki (17)[a]
TV partnersRuutu+, Nelonen, Jim
Websiteveikkausliiga.com
Current: 2024 Veikkausliiga

Veikkausliiga (Finnish: [ˈʋei̯kːɑusˌliːɡɑ]) is the premier division of association football in Finland, the highest tier of the Finnish football league structure, comprising the top 12 clubs of the country. Its main sponsor is the Finnish national betting agency Veikkaus, hence the league's name. Veikkausliiga was founded in 1990; before that the top division was called Mestaruussarja (championship series) since 1930 which was an amateur or semi-professional league. Between 1908 and 1930 the championship was decided as a knock-out cup competition.

Structure

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During the 1990 and 1991 seasons the Veikkausliiga was played under the name "Futisliiga" (Swedish: Fotbollsligan).[1]

As with certain other cold-climate European countries, league matches in Finland are played in summer, with a schedule usually from April to October. The format and number of teams has changed frequently. As of 2024, there are 12 teams, which first face the other teams two times in the regular season. After the regular season, the league is divided into championship round (6 teams) and relegation round (6 teams), and teams in both groups play five further matches, with points from the regular season carrying on as usual. The total amount of matches in a season is thus 27. At the end of the season, the last team is relegated to Ykkönen, whose winner is promoted to Veikkausliiga, and the second last team plays a two-leg play-off versus the Ykkönen runner-up.

In 2010 the average annual salary with fringe benefits for a league player was 24,400 euros.[2] During the 2022 season, the highest earning league players earned just shy of €200,000.[3] Veikkausliiga is a founding member of the European Professional Football Leagues association.[4]

During 2019–2024, the certain Veikkausliiga Europa Play-offs were played after the season to decide the one remaining European qualifying spot for the next season. In late November 2024, it was announced the Europa Play-offs would be abolished for the 2025, and the league format would be changed. After 22 rounds (each team had played against each other twice), the last six teams will play a single relegation round, totalling 27 matches, and the six best teams continue to a double championship round, totalling 32 matches.[5]

Management

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Current clubs

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Football teams FC Ilves and FC Inter in a Veikkausliiga match at old Tammela Stadium in Tampere, Finland, in August 2016.

The Veikkausliiga clubs in the 2024 season are presented in the table below. Number of seasons includes seasons played in Veikkausliiga and preceding Mestaruussarja and seasons of predecessor teams after season 2023. In the case of mergers, the seasons of the predecessor with the most seasons are counted.

Club
City Stadium Capacity 2023 position Number of
seasons*
AC Oulu Oulu Raatti Stadium 4,392 7th 5
Ekenäs IF Ekenäs Ekenäs Centrumplan 1,900 Promoted from Ykkönen 1
FC Haka Valkeakoski Tehtaan kenttä 3,200 9th 66
FC Inter Turku Turku Veritas Stadion 9,372 6th 27
FC Lahti Lahti Lahti Stadium 7,465 10th 51
HJK Helsinki Bolt Arena 10,770 1st, Champions 85
IF Gnistan Helsinki Mustapekka Areena 2,200 Promoted from Ykkönen 0
IFK Mariehamn Mariehamn Wiklöf Holding Arena 1,650 11th 19
Ilves Tampere Tammelan Stadion 8,000 8th 42
KuPS Kuopio Väre Areena 5,000 2nd 67
SJK Seinäjoki OmaSP Stadion 5,817 4th 13
VPS Vaasa Lemonsoft Stadion 4,660 3rd 59

Former clubs

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Club Home town Seasons
AC Allianssi Vantaa 2002–2005
Atlantis FC Helsinki 2001
FC Honka Espoo 2006–2014, 2018-2023
FC Hämeenlinna Hämeenlinna 2002–2004
FC Jazz1 Pori 1991–2004
FC Jokerit Helsinki 1999–2001, 2003
FC KooTeePee Kotka 2003–2008
FC Kuusysi2 Lahti 1990–1995
FC Oulu Oulu 1992, 1994
FC Viikingit Helsinki 2007
FF Jaro Pietarsaari 1991–1998, 2002–2015, 2025
FinnPa Helsinki 1993–1998
HIFK Helsinki 2015-2017, 2019-2022
JJK Jyväskylä 2009–2013, 2017
KPV Kokkola 1990, 2019
KTP Kotka 1999–2000, 2015, 2021, 2023, 2025
Kumu Kuusankoski 1990
MP Mikkeli 1990–1996
MyPa Kouvola 1992–2014
OTP Oulu 1990–1991
PK-35 Helsinki 1998
PK-35 Vantaa Vantaa 2016
Ponnistus Helsinki 1995
Reipas2 Lahti 1990–1991
RoPS Rovaniemi 1990-2001, 2004-2005, 2008-2009, 2011, 2013-2020
TPV Tampere 1993–1995, 1999
Tampere United3 Tampere 2000–2010
TPS Turku 1990-2000, 2003-2014, 2018, 2020
TP-Seinäjoki Seinäjoki 1997
TP-47 Tornio 2004–2005

1) FC Jazz was formerly known as PPT (Porin Pallotoverit).
2) Kuusysi and Reipas merged their professional teams in 1996 to form FC Lahti. Kuusysi returned to Kakkonen in 2011 under the name Lahti Akatemia, while Reipas returned to Kolmonen one year later.
3) Tampere United was formed in 1998 after it inherited the place of FC Ilves. Tampere United was dissolved in 2011 and Ilves, which in the meantime had bought the place of KooVee in second division, got promoted back to the highest league in 2015.

Veikkausliiga 1990–present

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Season Winner Runners-up Third place
1990 HJK Kuusysi MP
1991 Kuusysi MP FC Haka
1992 HJK Kuusysi FC Jazz
1993 FC Jazz MyPa HJK
1994 TPV MyPa HJK
1995 FC Haka MyPa HJK
1996 FC Jazz MyPa TPS
1997 HJK VPS FinnPa
1998 FC Haka VPS PK-35
1999 FC Haka HJK MyPa
2000 FC Haka FC Jokerit MyPa
2001 TamU HJK MyPa
2002 HJK MyPa FC Haka
2003 HJK FC Haka TamU
2004 FC Haka AC Allianssi TamU
2005 MyPa HJK TamU
2006 TamU HJK FC Haka
2007 TamU FC Haka TPS
2008 FC Inter FC Honka FC Lahti
2009 HJK FC Honka TPS
2010 HJK KuPS TPS
2011 HJK FC Inter JJK
2012 HJK FC Inter TPS
2013 HJK FC Honka VPS
2014 HJK SJK FC Lahti
2015 SJK RoPS HJK
2016 IFK Mariehamn HJK SJK
2017 HJK KuPS Ilves
2018 HJK RoPS KuPS
2019 KuPS FC Inter FC Honka
2020 HJK FC Inter KuPS
2021 HJK KuPS SJK
2022 HJK KuPS FC Honka
2023 HJK KuPS VPS
2024 KuPS Ilves HJK

Performance

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Performance by club

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The following clubs have won:

Finnish Championship Cup Competition (1908–1929)
Mestaruussarja (1930–1989)
Veikkausliiga (1990–present)

29 clubs have been Champions.

Club Titles Runners-up Winning Years
HJK
33
14
1911, 1912, 1917, 1918, 1919, 1923, 1925, 1936, 1938, 1964, 1973, 1978, 1981, 1985, 1987, 1988, 1990, 1992, 1997, 2002, 2003, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2017, 2018, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023
FC Haka
9
7
1960, 1962, 1965, 1977, 1995, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2004
HPS
9
6
1921, 1922, 1926, 1927, 1929, 1932, 1934, 1935, 1957
TPS
8
12
1928, 1939, 1941, 1949, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1975
KuPS
7
12
1956, 1958, 1966, 1974, 1976, 2019, 2024
HIFK
7
7
1930, 1931, 1933, 1937, 1947, 1959, 1961
FC Kuusysi
5
4
1982, 1984, 1986, 1989, 1991
Kiffen
4
1913, 1915, 1916, 1955
ÅIFK
3
5
1910, 1920, 1924
Reipas Lahti
3
3
1963, 1967, 1970
VIFK
3
2
1944, 1946, 1953
Tampere United
3
2001, 2006, 2007
VPS
2
5
1945, 1948
KTP
2
1951, 1952
OPS
2
1979, 1980
FC Jazz
2
1993, 1996
MyPa
1
5
2005
FC Inter Turku
1
4
2008
FC Ilves
1
2
1983
SJK
1
1
2015
PUS
1
1
1909
Sudet Vyborg
1
1
1940
KPV
1
1
1969
Unitas
1
1908
HT
1
1942
Ilves-Kissat
1
1950
Pyrkivä Turku
1
1954
TPV
1
1994
IFK Mariehamn
1
2016

Top scorers

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Season Player Club Goals
1990 Poland Marek Czakon Ilves 16
1991 Finland Kimmo Tarkkio FC Haka 23
1992 Brazil Luiz Antônio Moraes FC Jazz 21
1993 Finland Antti Sumiala FC Jazz 20
1994 Brazil Dionísio TPV 17
1995 Russia Valeri Popovitch FC Haka 21
1996 Brazil Luiz Antônio Moraes FC Jazz 17
1997 Brazil Rafael HJK 11
1998 Finland Matti Hiukka RoPS 11
1999 Russia Valeri Popovitch FC Haka 23
2000 Finland Shefki Kuqi FC Jokerit 19
2001 Finland Paulus Roiha HJK 22
2002 Finland Mika Kottila HJK 18
2003 Finland Saku Puhakainen MyPa 14
2004 Finland Antti Pohja TamU 16
2005 Finland Juho Mäkelä HJK 16
2006 Finland Hermanni Vuorinen FC Honka 16
2007 Brazil Rafael FC Lahti 14
2008 Finland Aleksandr Kokko FC Honka 13
Finland Henri Myntti TamU
2009 Finland Hermanni Vuorinen FC Honka 16
2010 Finland Juho Mäkelä HJK 16
2011 Finland Timo Furuholm FC Inter Turku 22
2012 Georgia (country) Irakli Sirbiladze FC Inter Turku 17
2013 Finland Tim Väyrynen FC Honka 17
2014 Finland Jonas Emet FF Jaro 14
Argentina Luis Solignac IFK Mariehamn
2015 Finland Aleksandr Kokko RoPS 17
2016 Finland Roope Riski SJK 17
2017 Finland Aleksei Kangaskolkka IFK Mariehamn 16
2018 Brazil Klauss HJK 21
2019 Slovenia Filip Valenčič FC Inter 16
2020 Finland Roope Riski HJK 16
2021 Finland Benjamin Källman FC Inter 14
Cameroon Ariel Ngueukam SJK
2022 Scotland Lee Erwin FC Haka 20
2023 Serbia Bojan Radulović HJK 18
2024 England Ashley Coffey AC Oulu 12
Nicaragua Jaime Moreno SJK

Individual all-time records

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  Player in activities

Referees

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The referee committee of Football Association of Finland named ten referees available primarily for Veikkausliiga matches for the 2024 season (Category 1).[7] Currently there are four FIFA-certified international referees in Veikkausliiga.[8] Additionally, there are some other referees, certified by Finnish FA, available for Veikkausliiga matches (Category 2).[9]

As of 2024, there has not been a female referee named in the Veikkausliiga match. On 8 July 2023, Heini Hyvönen made history as she was the first female assistant referee in the league, in a match between HJKFC Lahti.[10]

Antti Munukka has the most refereed Veikkausliiga matches[11]

FIFA certified referees

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Referee statistics

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After the 2023 season.
Referee Seasons Matches
1. Antti Munukka 2007–present 286
2. Petteri Kari 19972016 284
3. Mattias Gestranius 20062022 244
4. Dennis Antamo 2010–present 241
5. Mikko Vuorela 19942008 220
6. Jouni Hyytiä 19962012 237
7. Ville Nevalainen 2011–present 215
8. Tony Asumaa 19982012 188
9. Jari Järvinen 20102022 208
10. Tero Nieminen 20032015 169

Notes

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  1. ^ HJK has 33 total championships, but only 17 of them are during the Veikkausliiga era

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Antti Koivukangas (31 March 2016). "Fotbollsligan 1990: Kuusela ledde HJK till guld" (in Swedish). Yle. Retrieved 23 November 2016.
  2. ^ Palkkatutkimus 2010 Archived July 20, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  3. ^ Simo Valakarin hirmupalkka julki – Pesi jopa HJK-kollegansa, Iltalehti, 9 November 2023
  4. ^ "The Finnish Football League Association Veikkausliiga - EPFL". epfl-europeanleagues.com. Retrieved 16 March 2018.
  5. ^ Veikkausliigan sarjajärjestelmään muutos kaudelle 2025, veikkausliiga.com, 25 November 2024
  6. ^ a b SM-SARJASTA VEIKKAUSLIIGAAN
  7. ^ Erotuomarit nimetty kotimaan pääsarjoihin, veikkausliiga.com, 12 December 2023
  8. ^ FIFA nimesi kansainväliset erotuomarit vuodelle 2024, veikkausliiga.com, 15 December 2023
  9. ^ Erotuomarit nimetty pääsarjoihin - Luokittelutapaan muutos, Finnish FA, 12 December 2023
  10. ^ Heini Hyvönen teki historiaa Veikkausliigassa: ”Puhelin on laulanut” – tutut ongelmat riivasivat HJK:ta, kun Lahti haki yllätysvoiton, Yle, 8 July 2023
  11. ^ Antti Munukka erotuomaritilaston ykköseksi – Jan-Peter Aravirralle 400 täyteen, Finnish FA, 20 June 2024
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