Veikkausliiga
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| Founded | 1990 |
|---|---|
| Country | Finland |
| Confederation | UEFA |
| Number of clubs | 12 |
| Level on pyramid | 1 |
| Relegation to | Ykkösliiga 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 champions | KuPS (2024) |
| Most championships | HJK Helsinki (17)[a] |
| TV partners | Ruutu+, Nelonen, Jim |
| Website | veikkausliiga.com |
| Current: 2025 Veikkausliiga | |
| Finnish football league tiers |
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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
[edit]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 (from 2024 to new-created tier 2, Ykkösliiga), whose winner is promoted to Veikkausliiga, and the second last team plays a two-leg play-off versus the Ykkönen (from 2024, versus Ykkösliiga) 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
[edit]
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Current clubs
[edit]
The Veikkausliiga clubs in the 2025 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 | 2024 position | Number of seasons* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AC Oulu | Oulu | Raatti Stadium | 4,392 | 9th | 6 |
| FC Haka | Valkeakoski | Tehtaan kenttä | 3,200 | 6th | 67 |
| FC Inter Turku | Turku | Veritas Stadion | 9,372 | 7th | 28 |
| FF Jaro | Jakobstad | Jakobstads Centralplan | 5,000 | Promoted from Ykkösliiga | 23 |
| HJK | Helsinki | Bolt Arena | 10,770 | 3rd | 86 |
| IF Gnistan | Helsinki | Mustapekka Areena | 2,200 | 8th | 1 |
| IFK Mariehamn | Mariehamn | Wiklöf Holding Arena | 1,650 | 10th | 20 |
| Ilves | Tampere | Tammelan Stadion | 8,000 | 2nd | 43 |
| KTP | Kotka | Arto Tolsa Areena | 4,780 | Promoted from Ykkösliiga | 5 |
| KuPS | Kuopio | Väre Areena | 5,000 | 1st, Champions | 68 |
| SJK | Seinäjoki | OmaSP Stadion | 5,817 | 4th | 14 |
| VPS | Vaasa | Lemonsoft Stadion | 4,660 | 5th | 60 |
Former clubs
[edit]| Club | Home town | Seasons |
|---|---|---|
| AC Allianssi | Vantaa | 2002–2005 |
| Atlantis FC | Helsinki | 2001 |
| Ekenäs IF | Raseborg | 2024 |
| 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 Lahti | Lahti | 1999–2010, 2012–2024 |
| 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
[edit]| 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
[edit]Performance by club
[edit]The following clubs have won:
Finnish Championship Cup Competition (1908–1929)
Mestaruussarja (1930–1989)
Veikkausliiga (1990–present)
29 clubs have been Champions.
Top scorers
[edit]
Individual all-time records
[edit]
Most matches played[edit]
Last updated: 4 January 2025.
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Most goals scored[edit]
Last updated: 4 January 2025. |
Referees
[edit]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 HJK – FC Lahti.[10]
FIFA certified referees
[edit]- Mohammad Al-Emara
- Joni Hyytiä
- Oliver Reitala
- Peiman Simani
Referee statistics
[edit]- After the 2023 season.
| Referee | Seasons | Matches | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Antti Munukka | 2007–present | 286 |
| 2. | Petteri Kari | 1997–2016 | 284 |
| 3. | Mattias Gestranius | 2006–2022 | 244 |
| 4. | Dennis Antamo | 2010–present | 241 |
| 5. | Mikko Vuorela | 1994–2008 | 220 |
| 6. | Jouni Hyytiä | 1996–2012 | 237 |
| 7. | Ville Nevalainen | 2011–present | 215 |
| 8. | Tony Asumaa | 1998–2012 | 188 |
| 9. | Jari Järvinen | 2010–2022 | 208 |
| 10. | Tero Nieminen | 2003–2015 | 169 |
Notes
[edit]- ^ HJK has 33 total championships, but only 17 of them are during the Veikkausliiga era
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Antti Koivukangas (31 March 2016). "Fotbollsligan 1990: Kuusela ledde HJK till guld" (in Swedish). Yle. Retrieved 23 November 2016.
- ^ Palkkatutkimus 2010 Archived July 20, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Simo Valakarin hirmupalkka julki – Pesi jopa HJK-kollegansa, Iltalehti, 9 November 2023
- ^ "The Finnish Football League Association Veikkausliiga - EPFL". epfl-europeanleagues.com. Retrieved 16 March 2018.
- ^ Veikkausliigan sarjajärjestelmään muutos kaudelle 2025, veikkausliiga.com, 25 November 2024
- ^ a b SM-SARJASTA VEIKKAUSLIIGAAN
- ^ Erotuomarit nimetty kotimaan pääsarjoihin, veikkausliiga.com, 12 December 2023
- ^ FIFA nimesi kansainväliset erotuomarit vuodelle 2024, veikkausliiga.com, 15 December 2023
- ^ Erotuomarit nimetty pääsarjoihin - Luokittelutapaan muutos, Finnish FA, 12 December 2023
- ^ Heini Hyvönen teki historiaa Veikkausliigassa: ”Puhelin on laulanut” – tutut ongelmat riivasivat HJK:ta, kun Lahti haki yllätysvoiton, Yle, 8 July 2023
- ^ Antti Munukka erotuomaritilaston ykköseksi – Jan-Peter Aravirralle 400 täyteen, Finnish FA, 20 June 2024
External links
[edit]- Official website
- Finland - List of League First Level Tables at RSSSF (in English)
- Fixtures and Tables on aragon.ws (in English)
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