Mikkelin Kissat

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Mikkelin Kissat
Mikkelin Kissat.png
Full nameMikkelin Kissat
Founded1981
Ground Mikkelin Urheilupuisto, Mikkeli, Finland
Capacity7,000
ChairmanJyri Paasonen
ManagerTommi Ekmark
League Kakkonen

Mikkelin Kissat (abbreviated MiKi) is a football club from Mikkeli, Finland. Its home ground is at the Mikkelin Urheilupuisto. MiKi is affiliated to SPL Kaakkois-Suomen piiri, the south eastern regional district of the Finnish FA.

Contents

Background

The club was formed in 1981 but was not formally registered until 1983. They started in V divisioona, the fifth division in 1984 and rapid progress followed with the club soon gaining promotion to II divisioona, the second division, in 1986. They lasted there only two years as relegation ensued in 1988. Once again Kissat was promoted to II divisioona in 1993 and finally cemented their place there, reaching even the promotion battle of the division quite soon. An especially memorable year was 1995, when Kissat almost achieved an entire season without losses. They also won the "Pikkufinaali", a final for the two best lower league teams in the Finnish Cup (Suomen Cup) in 1994.

Even with MiKi finding success in the second division (now called Kakkonen) as the 2000 millennium neared its end, the perennial local rivals MP were in financial problems after being relegated to Ykkönen, the Finnish first division. In 1999, the two clubs decided to share their resources and players and merged to form mutual first team and an under 21s team called FC Mikkeli, as well as a reserve team called Mikkelin Pallo (MiPa) which played a division below in Kakkonen. The fusion lasted only for three years without much success, as in 2001 FC Mikkeli was relegated to Kakkonen and the club was disbanded. Both MiKi and MP returned to first-team football by taking FC Mikkeli's and MiPa's places in Kakkonen. Since then Kissat has played in Kakkonen in 2002, 2004–2005 and 2007, and the rest of the seasons in Kolmonen.

MiKi's short history is also inextricably linked to that of Mikkelin Pallo-Kissat (MiPK) which was formed in 1946, with roots of the club leading back even to the very early 20th century to a multi-sport club called Mikkelin Vauhti. Pallo-Kissat were quite successful in their day as they played in the top level of Finnish football, back then called Mestaruussarja, over the years 1962–1964, 1971 and 1974–1979. In 1962, 1974 and 1975 they reached fourth place of the league, the most highest position in top-level football in the club's history. But towards the 1980s, the club began experiencing severe economic distress and finally after being relegated to the second division, they were declared bankrupt at the start of the season in 1984. MiPK players transferred to the newly established MiKi which provided a sound foundation for the new club's future.

Mikkelin Kissat run a very active youth section with teams up to under 20's, and hold the popular youth tournament Mikkeli Turnaus each year. West Ham United goalkeeper Jussi Jääskeläinen and former Newcastle United striker Shefki Kuqi are both products of the MiKi youth setup.

From 2016 men's team used name of the clubs predecessor Mikkelin Pallo-Kissat. In 2020 whole club continued as a Mikkelin Pallo-Kissat [1]

Season to season

SeasonLevelDivisionSectionPositionMovements
1984Tier 6V divisioona(Fifth Division)Saimaa1stPromoted
1985Tier 5IV divisioona(Fourth Division)11. lohko (Group 11)1stPromoted
1986Tier 4III divisioona(Third Division)6. lohko (Group 6)1stPromoted
1987Tier 3II divisioona(Second Division)Itälohko (East Group)8th
1988Tier 3II divisioona(Second Division)Itälohko (East Group)12thRelegated
1989Tier 4III divisioona(Third Division)6. lohko (Group 6)3rd
1990Tier 4III divisioona(Third Division)6. lohko (Group 6)5th
1991Tier 4III divisioona(Third Division)6. lohko (Group 6)8th
1992Tier 4III divisioona(Third Division)6. lohko (Group 6)4th
1993Tier 4III divisioona(Third Division)7. lohko (Group 7)2ndPromoted
1994Tier 3II divisioona(Second Division)Itälohko (East Group)8th
1995Tier 3Kakkonen(Second Division)Itälohko (East Group)4th
1996Tier 3Kakkonen(Second Division)Itälohko (East Group)6th
1997Tier 3Kakkonen(Second Division)Itälohko (East Group)3rd
1998Tier 3Kakkonen(Second Division)Itälohko (East Group)6thMerged with MP to form FC Mikkeli
2002Tier 3Kakkonen(Second Division)Itälohko (East Group)11thFC Mikkeli was disbanded and MiKi returned; relegated
2003Tier 4Kolmonen(Third Division)Kaakkois-Suomi (South Eastern Finland)1stPlayoff Group C 1st – Promoted
2004Tier 3Kakkonen(Second Division)Itälohko (East Group)9th
2005Tier 3Kakkonen(Second Division)Itälohko (East Group)12thRelegated
2006Tier 4Kolmonen(Third Division)Kaakkois-Suomi (South Eastern Finland)1stPlayoff Group C 2nd – Promoted
2007Tier 3Kakkonen(Second Division)Lohko A (Group A)14thRelegated
2008Tier 4Kolmonen(Third Division)Kaakkois-Suomi (South Eastern Finland)5th
2009Tier 4Kolmonen(Third Division)Kaakkois-Suomi (South Eastern Finland)2nd
2010Tier 4Kolmonen(Third Division)Kaakkois-Suomi (South Eastern Finland)3rd
2011Tier 4Kolmonen(Third Division)Kaakkois-Suomi (South Eastern Finland)5th
2012Tier 4Kolmonen(Third Division)Kaakkois-Suomi (South Eastern Finland)8th
2013Tier 4Kolmonen(Third Division)Kaakkois-Suomi (South Eastern Finland)4th
2014Tier 4Kolmonen(Third Division)Kaakkois-Suomi (South Eastern Finland)4th
2015Tier 4Kolmonen(Third Division)Kaakkois-Suomi (South Eastern Finland)2nd
2016Tier 4Kolmonen(Third Division)Kaakkois-Suomi (South Eastern Finland)1stPromoted as MiPK
2017Tier 3Kakkonen(Second Division)Lohko A (Group A)6thas MiPK
2018Tier 3Kakkonen(Second Division)Lohko A (Group A)4thas MiPK
2019Tier 3Kakkonen(Second Division)Lohko A (Group A)9thas MiPK. Continued as a MiPK

Head coaches

Top scorers

SeasonPlayerGoals
2002 Flag of Finland.svg Iiro Kiukas14
2003 Flag of Finland.svg Miikka Oinonen24
2004 Flag of Finland.svg Joona Ikonen7
2005 Flag of Finland.svg Juha-Matti Murtonen6
2006 Flag of Finland.svg Iiro Kiukas14
2007 Flag of Finland.svg Iiro Kiukas7
2008 Flag of Finland.svg Tommi Sariola12
2009 Flag of Finland.svg Joona Ikonen13
2010 Flag of Finland.svg Tommi Sariola12
2011 Flag of Finland.svg Timo Mattila9
2012 Flag of Finland.svg Riiko Lappalainen8
2013 Flag of Finland.svg Miikka Oinonen16

References and sources

Specific

  1. "Historia".

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