FC Haka

Last updated
FC Haka
FC Haka logo.svg
Full nameValkeakosken Haka
Nickname(s)Haka
Founded1934
Ground Tehtaan kenttä, Valkeakoski
Capacity3,516
Chairman Olli Huttunen
Manager Andy Smith [1]
League Veikkausliiga
2024 Veikkausliiga, 6th of 12
Website fchaka.fi
Tehtaan kentta, home of Haka on a matchday Tehtaan kentta valkeakoski Finland.jpg
Tehtaan kenttä, home of Haka on a matchday

FC Haka, originally Valkeakosken Haka, commonly known as Haka, is a Finnish professional football club based in the industrial town of Valkeakoski. The club was founded in 1934 and competes in Finland's premier division, the Veikkausliiga. It is one of the most successful clubs in Finland, with nine Finnish championships and 12 Finnish Cup wins.

Contents

History

Haka has historically had close ties with the paper industry in the Valkeakoski area, and is still sponsored by UPM Kymmene.

The club was founded as Valkeakosken Haka in 1934, with significant support from paper entrepreneur Juuso Walden. In 1949 it was promoted to Finland's top division Mestaruussarja (now known as Veikkausliiga), and in 1955 won the inaugural Finnish Cup.

The 1960s was the most successful era in Haka's history, with the club winning both the league and cup three times, including the first double in Finnish football history in 1960. The club was relegated in 1972, but came straight back, and won the double again in 1977.

The club's name was changed to FC Haka in the early 1990s. Haka won the title again 1995, but was relegated the next season. Keith Armstrong was hired as the new coach, and the club came straight back again, winning three straight championships from 1998 to 2000. [2] Goalkeeping legend Olli Huttunen succeeded Armstrong as coach in 2002, and led the club to the championship (2004) and two cups (2002 and 2005).

Haka's best performance in UEFA competition was in the 1983–1984 season when they reached the quarterfinals of the Cup Winners' Cup, losing to eventual champions Juventus 0–2 on aggregate. The club was involved in European competition every year between 1998 and the 2008–2009 season.

In subsequent years the club's financial situation deteriorated on two occasions, like many other small market teams in Veikkausliiga. The first was the 2008–09 season when a group of investors led by local businessman and restaurateur Sedu Koskinen (owner and founder of a nationwide night-club chain) formed FC Haka Oy to help an essentially bankrupt team to finish the season. In 2010 Sedu Koskinen left, after having invested around €1 million of his own money in the club.

Since then the club's operations have been reformed to make it financially sounder. The team, having been one of the most successful and prestigious in Finland, ran at a loss for several years during the 2000s. At the same time the overall global economic situation and sponsorship payments from UPM Kymmene diminished. This forced the club to rationalize its operations and adopt a new role as one of the smaller clubs in Finnish top flight football. The situation at the start of 2012 Finnish football season was described by the chairman and board members as difficult but stable.

These times of financial struggles saw the club move from perennial championship challengers to a team usually poised for relegation. In both 2011 and 2012 pre-season media predictions placed the club in the bottom three. Haka finished last in the standings in 2012 and were relegated to the second tier (then known as Ykkönen, but rebranded in 2023 as Ykkösliiga). The club finally won promotion back to the Veikkausliiga for the 2020 season following a near perfect campaign in the 2019 Ykkönen, where they dropped only 7 points and finished 19 points ahead of second-place TPS.

Honours

European campaigns

SeasonCompetitionRoundCountryClubScoreAgg.
1961–62 European Cup First round Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Standard Liège 1–5, v 0–21–7
1963–64 European Cup Preliminary round Flag of Luxembourg.svg Jeunesse d'Esch 4–1, v 0–44–5
1964–65 European Cup Winners' Cup First round Flag of Norway.svg Skeid Fotball 0–1, v 2–02–1
Second round Flag of Italy.svg AC Torino 0–1, v 0–50–6
1966–67 European Cup First round Flag of Belgium (civil).svg RSC Anderlecht 1–10, v 0–21–12
1970–71 European Cup Winners' Cup First round Flag of Bulgaria.svg CSKA Sofia 0–9, v 1–21–11
1977–78 UEFA Cup First round Flag of Poland.svg Górnik Zabrze 3–5, v 0–03–5
1978–79 European Cup First round Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Dynamo Kiev 0–1, v 1–31–4
1981–82 UEFA Cup First round Flag of Sweden.svg IFK Göteborg 2–3, v 0–42–7
1983–84 European Cup Winners' Cup First round Flag of Ireland.svg Sligo Rovers 1–0, v 3–04–0
Second round Flag of Sweden.svg Hammarby IF 1–1, v 2–1(aet)3–2
Quarter-finals Flag of Italy.svg Juventus 0–1, v 0–10–2
1986–87 European Cup Winners' Cup First round Flag of the Soviet Union.svg FC Torpedo Moscow 2–2, v 1–33–5
1989–90 European Cup Winners' Cup First round Flag of Hungary.svg Ferencvárosi TC 1–5, v 1–12–6
1996–97 UEFA Cup First qualifying round Flag of Estonia.svg FC Flora Tallinn 2–2, v 1–03–2
Second qualifying round Flag of Poland.svg Legia Warszawa 0–3, v 1–11–4
1998–99 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup Qualifying round Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Bangor City 2–0, v 1–03–0
First round Flag of Greece.svg Panionios FC 0–2, v 1–31–5
1999–2000 UEFA Champions League First qualifying round Flag of the Faroe Islands.svg HB Tórshavn 1–1, v 6–07–1
Second qualifying round Flag of Scotland.svg Rangers 1–4, v 0–31–7
2000–01 UEFA Champions League First qualifying round Ulster Banner.svg Linfield 1–2, v 1–02–2 (a)
Second qualifying round Flag of Slovakia.svg Inter Bratislava 0–0, v 0–1(aet)0–1
2001–02 UEFA Champions League First qualifying round Flag of Malta.svg Valletta FC 0–0, v 5–05–0
Second qualifying round Flag of Israel.svg Maccabi Haifa 0–1, v 3–0 [3] 3–1
Third qualifying round Flag of England.svg Liverpool 0–5, v 1–41–9
2001–02 UEFA Cup First round Flag of Germany.svg 1. FC Union Berlin 1–1, v 0–31–4
2002 UEFA Intertoto Cup First round Flag of Yugoslavia (1992-2003); Flag of Serbia and Montenegro (2003-2006).svg FK Obilić 2–1, v 1–13–2
Second round Flag of England.svg Fulham 0–0, v 1–11–1 (a)
2003–04 UEFA Cup Qualifying round Flag of Croatia.svg Hajduk Split 2–1, v 0–12–2 (a)
2004–05 UEFA Cup First qualifying round Flag of Luxembourg.svg Etzella Ettelbruck 2–1, v 3–15–2
Second qualifying round Flag of Norway.svg Stabæk IF 1–3, v 1–32–6
2005–06 UEFA Champions League First qualifying round Flag of Armenia.svg Pyunik F.C. 1–0, v 2–23–2
Second qualifying round Flag of Norway.svg Vålerenga IF 0–1, v 1–41–5
2006–07 UEFA Cup First qualifying round Flag of Estonia.svg Levadia Tallinn 0–2, v 1–01–2
2007–08 UEFA Cup First qualifying round Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Rhyl 1–3, v 2–03–3 (a)
Second qualifying round Flag of Denmark.svg FC Midtjylland 1–2, v 2–53–7
2008–09 UEFA Cup First qualifying round Flag of Ireland.svg Cork City 2–2, v 4–06–2
Second qualifying round Flag of Denmark.svg Brøndby IF 0–4, v 0–20–6
2023–24 UEFA Europa Conference League First qualifying round Ulster Banner.svg Crusaders 2–2, v 0–12–3

Divisional movements

Season to season

Season to Season
SeasonLevelDivisionSectionAdministrationPositionMovements
1937Tier 3Maakuntasarja(Second Division)WestFinnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto)Promotion Playoff - Promoted
1938Tier 2 Itä-Länsi-Sarja(Second Division)West League, Northern GroupFinnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)6th
1939Tier 2 Itä-Länsi-Sarja(Second Division)Western League, Group 3Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)2nd
1940-41Tier 2 B-Sarja(Second Division)Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)8th
1943-44Tier 2SPL Suomensarja(Second Division)Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)4thPromoted
1945Tier 1SPL Mestaruussarja(Premier Division)Groub BFinnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)6thRelegated
1945-46Tier 2SPL Suomensarja(Second Division)Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)8thRelegation Playoff
1946-47Tier 2 Suomensarja(Second Division)South GroupFinnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)3rd
1947-48Tier 2 Suomensarja(Second Division)South GroupFinnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)4th
1948Tier 2 Suomensarja(Second Division)South GroupFinnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)3rd
1949Tier 2 Suomensarja(Second Division)West GroupFinnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)1stPromoted
1950Tier 1 Mestaruussarja(Premier Division)Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)8th
1951Tier 1 Mestaruussarja(Premier Division)Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)4th
1952Tier 1 Mestaruussarja(Premier Division)Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)7th
1953Tier 1 Mestaruussarja(Premier Division)Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)4th
1954Tier 1 Mestaruussarja(Premier Division)Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)8th
1955Tier 1 Mestaruussarja(Premier Division)Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)2nd
1956Tier 1 Mestaruussarja(Premier Division)Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)5th
1957Tier 1 Mestaruussarja(Premier Division)Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)2nd
1958Tier 1 Mestaruussarja(Premier Division)Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)7thRelegation Playoff
1959Tier 1 Mestaruussarja(Premier Division)Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)3rd
1960Tier 1 Mestaruussarja(Premier Division)Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)1stChampions
1961Tier 1 Mestaruussarja(Premier Division)Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)3rd
1962Tier 1 Mestaruussarja(Premier Division)Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)1stChampions
1963Tier 1 Mestaruussarja(Premier Division)Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)2nd
1964Tier 1 Mestaruussarja(Premier Division)Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)4th
1965Tier 1 Mestaruussarja(Premier Division)Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)1stChampions
1966Tier 1 Mestaruussarja(Premier Division)Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)3rd
1967Tier 1 Mestaruussarja(Premier Division)Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)6th
1968Tier 1 Mestaruussarja(Premier Division)Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)7th
1969 Tier 1 Mestaruussarja(Premier Division)Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)7th
1970 Tier 1 Mestaruussarja(Premier Division)Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)8th
1971 Tier 1 Mestaruussarja(Premier Division)Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)8th
1972 Tier 1 Mestaruussarja(Premier Division)Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)12thRelegated
1973Tier 2 I Divisioona(First Division)Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)2ndPromoted
1974 Tier 1 Mestaruussarja(Premier Division)Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)8th
1975 Tier 1 Mestaruussarja(Premier Division)Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)10thRelegation Playoff
1976 Tier 1 Mestaruussarja(Premier Division)Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)2nd
1977 Tier 1 Mestaruussarja(Premier Division)Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)1stChampions
1978 Tier 1 Mestaruussarja(Premier Division)Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)3rd
1979 Tier 1 Mestaruussarja(Premier Division)Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)7thChampionship Group 6th
1980 Tier 1 Mestaruussarja(Premier Division)Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)4thChampionship Group 2nd
1981 Tier 1 Mestaruussarja(Premier Division)Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)4thChampionship Group 3rd
1982 Tier 1 Mestaruussarja(Premier Division)Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)3rdChampionship Group 3rd
1983 Tier 1 Mestaruussarja(Premier Division)Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)3rdChampionship Group 3rd
1984 Tier 1 Mestaruussarja(Premier Division)Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)1stChampionship Playoffs 4th
1985 Tier 1 Mestaruussarja(Premier Division)Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)8th
1986 Tier 1 Mestaruussarja(Premier Division)Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)5th
1987 Tier 1 Mestaruussarja(Premier Division)Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)9th
1988 Tier 1 Mestaruussarja(Premier Division)Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)6thChampionship Group 6th
1989 Tier 1 Mestaruussarja(Premier Division)Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)4thChampionship Group 4th
1990 Tier 1 Veikkausliiga(Premier League)Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)8thPlayoffs – QF
1991 Tier 1 Veikkausliiga(Premier League)Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)3rd
1992 Tier 1 Veikkausliiga(Premier League)Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)6th
1993 Tier 1 Veikkausliiga(Premier League)Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)10thRelegation Group 4th
1994 Tier 1 Veikkausliiga(Premier League)Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)6th
1995 Tier 1 Veikkausliiga(Premier League)Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)1stChampions
1996 Tier 1 Veikkausliiga(Premier League)Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)11thRelegation Group 11th – Relegated
1997Tier 2 Ykkönen(First Division)North GroupFinnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)1stUpper Group 1st – Champions – Promoted
1998 Tier 1 Veikkausliiga(Premier League)Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)1stChampions
1999 Tier 1 Veikkausliiga(Premier League)Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)1stChampionship Group 1st Champions
2000 Tier 1 Veikkausliiga(Premier League)Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)1stChampions
2001 Tier 1 Veikkausliiga(Premier League)Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)4th
2002 Tier 1 Veikkausliiga(Premier League)Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)3rdUpper Group 3rd
2003 Tier 1 Veikkausliiga(Premier League)Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)2nd
2004 Tier 1 Veikkausliiga(Premier League)Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)1stChampions
2005 Tier 1 Veikkausliiga(Premier League)Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)4th
2006 Tier 1 Veikkausliiga(Premier League)Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)3rd
2007 Tier 1 Veikkausliiga(Premier League)Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)2nd
2008 Tier 1 Veikkausliiga(Premier League)Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)8th
2009 Tier 1 Veikkausliiga(Premier League)Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)6th
2010 Tier 1 Veikkausliiga(Premier League)Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)8th
2011 Tier 1 Veikkausliiga(Premier League)Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)10th
2012 Tier 1 Veikkausliiga(Premier League)Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)12thRelegated
2013 Tier 2 Ykkönen(First Division)Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)2nd
2014 Tier 2 Ykkönen(First Division)Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)5th
2015 Tier 2 Ykkönen(First Division)Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)6th
2016 Tier 2 Ykkönen(First Division)Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)7th
2017 Tier 2 Ykkönen(First Division)Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)6th
2018 Tier 2 Ykkönen(First Division)Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)5th
2019 Tier 2 Ykkönen(First Division)Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)1stChampions – Promoted
2020 Tier 1 Veikkausliiga(Premier Division)Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)

10th

2021 Tier 1 Veikkausliiga(Premier Division)Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)

8th

2022 Tier 1 Veikkausliiga(Premier Division)Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)

4th

2023 Tier 1 Veikkausliiga(Premier Division)Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)

9th

2024 Tier 1 Veikkausliiga(Premier Division)Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)

6th

[5]

Current squad

As of 19 February 2025 [6]

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.NationPlayer
1 GK Ulster Banner.svg  NIR Liam Hughes
2 DF Flag of Finland.svg  FIN Nikolas Talo
3 DF Flag of Finland.svg  FIN Niklas Friberg
4 DF Flag of Scotland.svg  SCO Jordan Houston
5 DF Flag of Brazil.svg  BRA Nicolas Gianini Dantas
7 FW Flag of France.svg  FRA Jean-Pierre Da Sylva
8 MF Flag of Finland.svg  FIN Simon Lindholm
9 FW Flag of England.svg  ENG James Akintunde
11 FW Flag of Benin.svg  BEN Steve Traoré
12 GK Flag of Finland.svg  FIN Anton Lepola
13 MF Flag of Finland.svg  FIN Oskari Sallinen
15 MF Flag of Finland.svg  FIN Akseli Lehtomäki
No.Pos.NationPlayer
17 MF Flag of Kosovo.svg  KOS Arlind Sejdiu
19 MF Flag of Ghana.svg  GHA Abraham Okyere
20 DF Flag of Finland.svg  FIN Valentin Purosalo
23 MF Flag of Senegal.svg  SEN Maissa Fall
32 GK Flag of Finland.svg  FIN Oliver Heino
FW Flag of Brazil.svg  BRA Lucas Cini
FW Flag of Finland.svg  FIN Kalle Multanen
DF Flag of Finland.svg  FIN Mikael Almén
DF Flag of Finland.svg  FIN Riku Selander
MF Flag of Venezuela (state).svg  VEN Elías Romero
MF Flag of Finland.svg  FIN Eetu Mömmö (on loan from Lecce)

Management and boardroom

Management

As of 15 February 2021 [7]

NameRole
Ulster Banner.svg Andy Smith Head Coach
Flag of Portugal.svg Sander GuerreiroCoach
Flag of Finland.svg Mikko ManninenCoach
Flag of Finland.svg Pauli JussilaGoalkeeping Coach
Flag of Spain.svg Alejandro Peris MoraFitness Coach
Flag of Finland.svg Janne HannuFitness Coach
Flag of Finland.svg Jonna KauppinenTeam Manager
Flag of Finland.svg Jari JalavaKit Manager
Flag of Finland.svg Juuso NiemenpääDoctor
Flag of Finland.svg Kalle MyyräMasseur

Boardroom

As of 15 February 2021 [8]

NameRole
Flag of Finland.svg Marko LaaksonenChairman
Flag of Finland.svg Olli Huttunen CEO

Managers

References

  1. FC HAKA SIIRTYY ULKOMAALAISKOMENTOON – UUSI PÄÄVALMENTAJA VAIKUTTUNUT FC HAKASTA!
  2. Karel Stokkermans (17 June 2018). "English Energy and Nordic Nonsense". RSSSF . Retrieved 3 October 2018.
  3. The original result of the second leg was a 4-0 victory to Maccabi Haifa, but Haka were awarded a 3–0 walkover victory after it was determined that Haifa had fielded two ineligible players.
  4. "Finland – Divisional Movements 1930–2009". RSSSF . 2010. Retrieved 2010-08-17.
  5. "Football Archive - Index of SPL Finnish League Suomen Cup Seasons".
  6. "Edustusjoukkue". fchaka.fi/ (in Finnish). FC Haka. Retrieved 6 February 2025.
  7. "Hakan edustusjoukkue" (in Finnish). FC Haka. Archived from the original on 22 December 2019. Retrieved 15 February 2021.
  8. "Yhteystiedot" (in Finnish). FC Haka. Retrieved 15 February 2021.