FF Jaro

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Jaro
Logo of FF Jaro
Full nameFotbollsföreningen Jaro Jalkapalloseura
Founded1965
GroundProject Liv Arena, Jakobstad
Capacity3,600
ChairmanDan Käldman
ManagerNiklas Vidjeskog
LeagueVeikkausliiga
2025Veikkausliiga, 7th of 12

Fotbollsföreningen Jaro (Jakobstads Rostfria), commonly known simply as Jaro, is a Finnish professional football club based in the bilingual town of Jakobstad. The club currently plays in Veikkausliiga, the top tier in Finland.

History

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Jaro was founded on December 18, 1965 by football enthusiasts working at Oy Jakobstads Rostfria Ab, which became the club’s first sponsor. Jaro rose through the Finnish football divisions, earning promotion to Finland’s top tier for the first time in 1988 by beating MyPa in a playoff game for direct promotion (3–2 on penalties). The club was relegated after one season but returned in 1991 and remained in Veikkausliiga until 1998. Jaro finished 5th in 1995 and played in the Intertoto Cup in 1996. Jaro also reached the Finnish Cup final in 1999 but lost to FC Jokerit.

The 2000s saw ups and downs, including financial difficulties in 2008 that were resolved through restructuring. Jaro remained in the Veikkausliiga from 2002 until 2015, when they were relegated to Ykkönen. In recent years, the club has continued to fight for promotion. In 2024, Jaro successfully returned to Veikkausliiga. In all, Jaro has played 23 seasons in the top-tier.

Stadium

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Jakobstads Centralplan

Until July 2025, Jaro played their home games at Jakobstads Centralplan, a stadium originally opened in 1971 and renovated in 2003. The venue has a capacity of approximately 5,000 spectators. The stadium's attendance record of 5,611 was set during a 2007 Veikkausliiga local derby between FF Jaro and VPS. This match drew nearly 1,300 more spectators than the previous record.

The new Pietarsaari Football Stadium (named Project Liv Arena for sponsorship reasons) opened in July 2025.

Current squad

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As of 28 July 2025[1]

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

No. Pos. Nation Player
2 DF  ARG Guillermo Sotelo
3 DF  SWE Erik Gunnarsson
4 MF  NGA Michael Ogungbaro
5 DF  FIN Aron Bjonbäck
6 DF  FIN Johan Brunell
7 MF  SWE Samouil Izountouemoi
8 DF  FIN Alex Ramsay
9 FW  SVN Filip Valenčič
10 MF  FIN Sergei Eremenko
11 FW  FIN Albin Björkskog
13 GK  POR Miguel Santos
15 FW  FIN Rudi Vikström
16 MF  FIN Adam Vidjeskog
No. Pos. Nation Player
18 FW  FIN Elliot Holmäng
20 DF  FIN Oliver Kangaslahti
21 MF  FIN Jim Myrevik
23 DF  FIN Felix Kass
24 FW  FIN Joni Remesaho
25 GK  FIN Emil Öhberg
40 DF  GHA Robin Polley
66 MF  FIN Severi Kähkönen
77 MF  NGA Emmanuel Ekpenyong
95 FW  GUI Kerfala Cissoko
99 GK  NGA Saheed Jimoh
— MF  SWE Manasse Kusu (on loan from Mjällby)
— DF  FIN Sami Sipola

Out on loan

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

No. Pos. Nation Player
17 MF  FIN Ludvig Nyman (at KPV until 31 December 2025)

Management and boardroom

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Management

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As of 20 January 2024[2]

Name Role
Finland Niklas Vidjeskog Head coach
Finland Rasmus Wikström Assistant coach
Finland Anders Brunell Goalkeeping coach
Finland Ida Kronholm Fitness coach
Finland Johan Hult Naprapath
Finland Jesper Ahlvik Masseur
Finland Veppe Tervaskangas Team Manager
Finland Tobias Sundberg Doctor

Boardroom

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As of 3 February 2025[3]

Name Role
Finland Dan Käldman Chairman
Finland Tommi Levo CEO
Finland Tobias Strand COO
Finland Fredrik Haga Team Manager
Finland Mikael Byggmästar Chairman of the Youthsection
Finland Bo Lönnbäck Head of Marketing

Season to season

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International achievements

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1996 UEFA Intertoto Cup

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FF Jaro – France Guingamp 0-0
Romania Dinamo Bucharest – FF Jaro 0–2
FF Jaro – Georgia (country) Kolkheti Poti 2–0
Serbia Zemun – FF Jaro 3–2

Former managers

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References

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  1. ^ FF Jaro. "Joukkue". www.ffjaro.fi. Retrieved 25 March 2025.
  2. ^ FF Jaro. "Joukkue". www.ffjaro.fi. Archived from the original on 27 September 2020. Retrieved 15 September 2020.
  3. ^ "Toimisto" (in Finnish). FF Jaro. Archived from the original on 28 September 2020. Retrieved 15 September 2020.
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