HIFK Fotboll

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HIFK Fotboll
Full nameIdrottsföreningen Kamraterna, Helsingfors
NicknamesIFK
Tähtirinnat (The Star Chested)
Stadens stolthet (The City's Pride)
Röda (The Reds) Stadin Kingit (Helsinki’s Kings)
Founded1897; 128 years ago (1897)
Dissolved4 January 2024; 21 months ago (4 January 2024)
GroundTöölön pallokenttä
Helsinki, Finland
Capacity4000
ChairmanJan-Erik Eklöf
Head CoachTelmo Manninen
LeagueKolmonen
2025Kolmonen 1st of 12 2025
Websitehifkfotboll.fi
Active departments of HIFK
Bandy Floorball Football
Handball Ice hockey
(men's)		 Ice hockey
(women's)
Athletics Bowling Golf
eSports

HIFK Fotboll or IFK Helsingfors is the association football section of HIFK, a sports club based in Helsinki, Finland. The men's football team currently competes in the Kolmonen whereas the women's first team is in Naisten Kakkonen. Both teams use Väinämöisen kenttä in Töölö as their home ground.

History

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Bolt Arena

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 the 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. HIFK's first football game was at the Kaisaniemi ground on 17 May 1908 where the new team lost 1–2 to Unitas.[1]

In those early years[when?] 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 brilliant 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 spent time in the lower divisions of Finnish football, and at one point found themselves playing in the Nelonen (Fourth Division), the fifth tier of the Finnish football league system, between 1980 and 1983, and later on between 2003 and 2005, and would only return to the first division in 2006, 43 years later.

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 promotional playoff match.[3] This saw them return 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 managed them when they were first promoted back to the Ykkönen. During his second term they returned to the Ykkönen for a third time within the century, when they beat PS Kemi Kings in the promotion playoffs.

HIFK won Ykkönen in 2014, and therefore were automatically promoted into the highest tier of Finnish football, Veikkausliiga. After securing promotion, HIFK announced that they would play their 2015 season home games at the Telia 5G -areena, the ground which belonged to 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.

In the early 2022 Veikkausliiga season, after the newly recruited manager Bernardo Tavares had unexpectedly left the club after the first league match of the season, it was reported that HIFK would name Fabrizio Piccareta the club's new manager. Later he was sidelined in the process and Mixu Paatelainen was appointed. Later it was revealed that HIFK and Piccareta had already signed a deal, and Piccareta sued the club for the breach of contract.[8] The club's sporting director, Mika Lönnström, who was responsible for the manager recruit, was later fired.[9][10] Piccareta appealed to the FIFA's Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), and his complain succeeded, as in May 2023, HIFK was ordered to pay Piccareta €86,000 damages for the breach of contract.[11] HIFK first announced that they will appeal on the decision, but later withdrew their appeal due to lack of money.

During the 2022 and 2023 seasons, the club had repeated financial problems, and had several fund raising campaigns to be able to continue its first team's actions.[12]

On 4 January 2024, after the club finished 6th in the second-tier 2023 Ykkönen, HIFK Fotboll Ab, the limited liability company under which the men's first team operated since 2012, filed for bankruptcy.[13][14][15] HIFK/2, which was registered under HIFK Soccer rf and was therefor not affected by HIFK Fotboll ABs bankruptcy, assumed the position of the men's first team in the new fifth tier Kolmonen.[16]

European campaigns

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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

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Divisional movements since 1930

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  • 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

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Supporters and rivalries

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HIFK Fotboll supporters June 2017.

Historically, HIFK was primarily a club for the Swedish-speaking population in Helsinki. Nowadays the club is bilingual. The most renowned supporter group of the club was Stadin Kingit (in English: "the kings of Stadi"). Its name was derived 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 against the major local rivals, HJK. The fixture is commonly known as the Stadin derby and was last played during the Veikkausliiga season of 2022.

Club structure

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HIFK Fotboll operate 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 2024. [20] [21] [22]

Players

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HIFK football players in 1930s
As of 24 July 2024[23]

Current squad

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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
2 DF  FIN Elias Kaukamo
3 DF  FIN Roger Prezioso
4 DF  FIN Leo Halme
5 FW  FIN Leevi Hoppania
6 FW  FIN Nicolas Prezioso
7 DF  FIN Niko Turunen
8 FW  FIN Dolynnyi Nazar
9 DF  FIN Peik Westerlund
10 FW  FIN Said Mijoc
11 MF  FIN Robin Leskinen
14 MF  FIN Nelson Holmberg
15 MF  FIN Lotus Kurkio
16 MF  FIN Fonkah Alakotila
17 DF  FIN Arian Ahmadi
18 FW  FIN Lauri Korkeila
19 MF  FIN Noa Kiema
20 MF  FIN Adam Oyegoke
21 DF  FIN Seifedine Eshrouk-Maharzah
22 GK  FIN Nikke Vesterinen
22 FW  FIN Danjaal Hamzaaghaei
No. Pos. Nation Player
24 FW  FIN Zakaria El Hayani El Mourabi
25 GK  FIN Alex Hendren
27 DF  FIN Robert Razmus
27 GK  FIN Teddy Schalin
28 FW  FIN Guled Hasan Farah
30 MF  FIN Aatos Rajanummi
31 FW  FIN Daniel Eidet
32 GK  FIN Olli Hyvärinen
33 DF  FIN Veikko Pelkonen
45 MF  FIN Markus Juolahti
45 DF  FIN Roope Seppänen
— GK  GAM Sam Jammeh
— FW  FIN Antti Ulmanen
— DF  FIN Tomi Kurvinen
— DF  FIN Eero Karjalainen
— FW  BRA Tiquinho
— MF  FIN Arttu Auranen
— MF  FIN Eetu Puro
— MF  FIN Rico Finnäs
— MF  FIN Moshtagh Yaghoubi

Management and boardroom

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As of 24 July 2024[24]

Name Role
Finland Alex Maylett Head coach
Anas Abdi Assistant coach
Umid Dibachy Assistant coach
Tomi Maanoja Assistant coach
Joona Haavisto Team manager
Aapo Haavisto Doctor

Boardroom

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[25]

Name Role
Finland Jan-Erik Eklöf Chairman
Finland Viktor Fagerudd Vice-Chairman
Finland Janne Räsänen Member
Finland Janne Rasinkangas Member
Finland Hanna Khalili Member
Finland Dan Nordström Member

References

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  1. ^ "HIFK Soccer – Historia". Archived from the original on 6 October 2011. Retrieved 21 July 2010.
  2. ^ a b "Finland – Divisional Movements 1930–2011". RSSSF. 2011. Archived from the original on 18 February 2010. Retrieved 22 September 2011.
  3. ^ Flanagan, Chris (21 December 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. Archived from the original on 11 November 2014. Retrieved 17 November 2014.
  5. ^ "HIFK hakee joukkorahoitusta". Helsingin Sanomat (in Finnish). Sanoma Oy. 16 December 2014. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 15 April 2015.
  6. ^ Herala, Olli (11 December 2014). "Futis-HIFK:n osakeanti: "Ei mitään pikavoittoja"". Kauppalehti (in Finnish). Kauppalehti Oy. Archived from the original on 17 April 2015. Retrieved 15 April 2015.
  7. ^ "Veikkausliiga, här kommer HIFK!". invesdor.com. Invesdor. Archived from the original on 19 September 2015. Retrieved 15 April 2015.
  8. ^ MTV: HIFK-leirissä uskomatonta sekoilua – seura joutumassa oikeuteen, Iltalehti, 12 July 2022
  9. ^ HIFK kertoi oman versionsa Fabrizio Piccareta -kohusta – näin seuran luottamus Mika Lönnströmiin mureni: "Antaisin Piccaretalle yhden neuvon" Archived 2024-08-14 at the Wayback Machine, suomifutis.com, 1 September 2022
  10. ^ HIFK:n soppa sakenee – kohun keskelle joutunut valmentaja vastaa seuran väitteisiin: "Minulla on kaikki kirjalliset todisteet", MTV Oy/ mtvuutiset.fi, 17 August 2022
  11. ^ HIFK Fotboll valitti Fifan Piccareta-päätöksestä Urheilun kansainväliseen vetoomustuomioistuimeen Archived 2023-12-17 at the Wayback Machine, Yle, 19 July 2023
  12. ^ Jalkapalloliigassa pelaava HIFK vaarassa ajautua konkurssiin – tarvitsee akuutisti 140 000 euroa ja puoli miljoonaa vuoden loppuun mennessä Archived 2024-08-22 at the Wayback Machine, Yle, 16 June 2022
  13. ^ "Jalkapallo-HIFK konkurssiin". www.iltalehti.fi (in Finnish). Archived from the original on 4 January 2024. Retrieved 4 January 2024.
  14. ^ "Jalkapallo | HIFK lopettaa toimintansa – jättää konkurssihakemuksen". Helsingin Sanomat (in Finnish). 4 January 2024. Archived from the original on 4 January 2024. Retrieved 4 January 2024.
  15. ^ Siippainen, Aapo (4 January 2024). "Jalkapallo | Nyt tuli loppu! – näin HIFK perustelee konkurssihakemusta". Helsingin Uutiset (in Finnish). Archived from the original on 4 January 2024. Retrieved 4 January 2024.
  16. ^ HIFK Fotboll Ab lopettaa toimintansa Archived 2024-01-04 at the Wayback Machine, hifkfotboll.fi, 4 January 2024
  17. ^ "Veikkausliiga – Ottelutilastot". Archived from the original on 6 October 2016. Retrieved 25 April 2015.
  18. ^ Jalkapallokirjat 1946–>, Suomen Palloliitto, ISSN 0787-7188
  19. ^ "Tulostus". urheilumuseo.fi. Archived from the original on 20 September 2017. Retrieved 9 March 2017.
  20. ^ "Veikkausliiga". veikkausliiga.com (in Finnish). Veikkausliiga. Archived from the original on 17 February 2011. Retrieved 31 January 2020.
  21. ^ "Miehet Kolmonen". palloliitto.fi (in Finnish). Football Association of Finland. Archived from the original on 15 February 2022. Retrieved 15 February 2022.
  22. ^ "Miehet Kutonen" (in Finnish). Football Association of Finland. Retrieved 15 February 2022.
  23. ^ "Edustusjoukkue 2023". hifkfotboll.fi. 13 March 2014. Archived from the original on 23 September 2023. Retrieved 3 August 2023.
  24. ^ "HIFK ja Mixu Paatelainen sopimukseen". hifkfotboll.fi. 17 April 2022. Archived from the original on 17 April 2022. Retrieved 17 April 2022.
  25. ^ "Yhteystiedot - HIFK Fotboll" (in Finnish). HIFK Fotboll. 29 March 2014. Archived from the original on 19 June 2024. Retrieved 24 July 2024.
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