KuPS
Encyclopedia
Kuopion Palloseura is a Finnish
football
club, based in the 8th most populated city of Finland, Kuopio
. KuPS plays in Finland's Premier League, Veikkausliiga
. The team plays its home matches at Kuopion keskuskenttä. Until June 2005, KuPS used to play at an aged track and field stadium in Väinölänniemi, which is said to be one of the most beautiful sporting places in Finland. Väinölänniemi is a cape surrounded by a local lake, Kallavesi
.
KuPS holds the Finnish club record of the most consecutive seasons in the top flight, from 1949 to 1992. The team is placed fourth in the all-time Finnish premier league honour table.
KuPS was founded in 1923 and holds 4th place in the all-time table of the Finnish Premier League (called Veikkausliiga
since 1991
).
KuPS have played in the top flight for 50 seasons and claimed five league titles (1956, 1958, 1966,
1974, 1976), two Finnish Cup
(1968, 1989) titles and one Finnish League Cup
title (2006). In addition to that KuPS have finished in second place nine times (1950, 1954, 1964, 1967, 1969, 1975, 1977, 1979, 2010), third in 1953 and claimed numerous junior titles.
KuPS returned to the top flight for the 2005 season after a year in the First Division (Ykkönen
).
They finished the 2005 season in 10th place, easily avoiding the relegation play-off (13th place) and direct relegation (14th place).
1–0 in the semi-final of the Finnish League Cup
and secured a place in the Finnish League Cup Final. On 12 April 2006 in Finnair Stadium
, Helsinki
KuPS beat FC KooTeePee
2–1 in the League Cup Final and ended their 17-year run without titles. However, the club ended the 2006 season in last place, and was once again demoted to Ykkönen for the 2007 season. This resulted in manager Juha Malinen
being replaced by his former player/assistant manager Kai Nyyssönen.
Reserve team, KuPS Akatemia (tr: KuPS Academy) played in the Second Division Group A (Kakkonen
lohko A), but the team was terminated in December 2006 to cut costs and as a replacement, an agreement with Kings Kuopio, which plays also in the Second Division was signed.
In December 2006, it was revealed that the team was heavily in debt and about to go bankrupt. KuPS fans held their breath, until a Helsinki-based
CEO of an Investment bank ICECAPITAL, also a former Chairman of the Board of the Veikkausliiga
, Ari Lahti increased his stake at the club to ca. 95 % and saved the club.
After escaping imminent destruction, season 2007 began with reasonably low expectations. A target to achieve promotion back to top flight in two years was set.
Manager Kai Nyyssönen lured his former team-mate Harri Ylönen
back to strengthen the team and to serve as an assistant manager. The duo lured in Roope Reinikainen, Ilja Venäläinen and Miikka Turunen, who also returned to their former home club.
Jussi Hakasalo from JJK Jyväskylä and Tero Mäkäläinen from MyPa were new names.
Because of relegation KuPS lost its prized assets, Sierraleonese
players, Patrick Bantamoi
to FC Inter Turku and Medo
to HJK
. KuPS and Ghana
ian midfielder Seth Ablade
parted their ways earlier, with Ablade terminating his contract.
Season 2007 started well with mostly local players. The team suffered a run of draws in the mid-season, but by winning their last six games with their main opponent RoPS of Rovaniemi at the same time losing its lead, KuPS won the league Ykkönen and went straight back. RoPS also achieved a promotion, by winning a promotion play-off against 13th place finisher of Veikkausliiga, FC Viikingit
.
(1988) Dean Edwards
(1982) Mart Poom
(1992, played in 9 league games) Leo Houtsonen Harri Nyyssönen
Kai Nyyssönen
Kalle Parviainen
Tuomas Rannankari
Olavi Rissanen (KuPS-icon) Jyrki Rovio Aulis Rytkönen
(KuPS-icon) Berat Sadik
Hannu Turunen
Kari Ukkonen
Keijo Voutilainen Harri Ylönen
Marcus Gayle
(1990, 9 goals in 22 league games, was top goalscorer of the season) Oliver Risser
(2010) Angelo Cijntje
(2001) Adrian Webster
(2008) Dudu
(2010) Dickson Nwakaeme
(2009–10) Patrick Bantamoi
(2006) Medo
(2006) Valeri Broshin
(1992, 20 games, 5 goals)
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
club, based in the 8th most populated city of Finland, Kuopio
Kuopio
Kuopio is a city and a municipality located in the region of Northern Savonia, Finland. A population of makes it the ninth biggest city in the country. The city has a total area of , of which is water and half forest...
. KuPS plays in Finland's Premier League, Veikkausliiga
Veikkausliiga
Veikkausliiga is the premier division of Finnish football, comprising the top 12 clubs of the country. Veikkausliiga is currently ranked as the 28th best league in Europe. Its main sponsor is the Finnish national betting agency Veikkaus, hence the league's name...
. The team plays its home matches at Kuopion keskuskenttä. Until June 2005, KuPS used to play at an aged track and field stadium in Väinölänniemi, which is said to be one of the most beautiful sporting places in Finland. Väinölänniemi is a cape surrounded by a local lake, Kallavesi
Kallavesi
Kallavesi is a lake in Northern Savonia, eastern Finland located around the town of Kuopio. Combined with the lakes Suvasvesi, Juurusvesi, Muuruvesi, Melavesi, and Riistavesi Kallavesi forms an lake system named Iso-Kalla....
.
KuPS holds the Finnish club record of the most consecutive seasons in the top flight, from 1949 to 1992. The team is placed fourth in the all-time Finnish premier league honour table.
Honours
Veikkausliiga
Veikkausliiga is the premier division of Finnish football, comprising the top 12 clubs of the country. Veikkausliiga is currently ranked as the 28th best league in Europe. Its main sponsor is the Finnish national betting agency Veikkaus, hence the league's name...
since 1991
Veikkausliiga 1991
-League standings:-References:*...
).
KuPS have played in the top flight for 50 seasons and claimed five league titles (1956, 1958, 1966,
1974, 1976), two Finnish Cup
Finnish Cup
The Finnish Cup is Finland's main national cup competition in football.This yearly competition is open for member clubs of the FA of Finland. Finnish Cup has been played since 1955.Finnish Cup winner qualifies to UEFA Europa League...
(1968, 1989) titles and one Finnish League Cup
Finnish League Cup
The Finnish League Cup is a knock-out football competition contested annually during pre-season in winter by teams from Veikkausliiga.-Finnish League Cup finals:...
title (2006). In addition to that KuPS have finished in second place nine times (1950, 1954, 1964, 1967, 1969, 1975, 1977, 1979, 2010), third in 1953 and claimed numerous junior titles.
Season 2005
Ykkönen
Ykkönen is the second highest level of the Finnish football league system , although it is the highest league managed by the Football Association of Finland.-Competition:...
).
They finished the 2005 season in 10th place, easily avoiding the relegation play-off (13th place) and direct relegation (14th place).
Season 2006
On 1 April 2006 KuPS beat reigning Veikkausliiga champions, MyPaMyPa
Myllykosken Pallo –47 is a Finnish football club, based in the industrial town of Myllykoski, part of the city of Kouvola since January 2009. They currently play in the Finnish Premier Division...
1–0 in the semi-final of the Finnish League Cup
Finnish League Cup
The Finnish League Cup is a knock-out football competition contested annually during pre-season in winter by teams from Veikkausliiga.-Finnish League Cup finals:...
and secured a place in the Finnish League Cup Final. On 12 April 2006 in Finnair Stadium
Finnair Stadium
Sonera Stadium is a football stadium in Helsinki, Finland.The stadium was inaugurated in 2000. It has a capacity of 10,770 spectators...
, Helsinki
Helsinki
Helsinki is the capital and largest city in Finland. It is in the region of Uusimaa, located in southern Finland, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, an arm of the Baltic Sea. The population of the city of Helsinki is , making it by far the most populous municipality in Finland. Helsinki is...
KuPS beat FC KooTeePee
FC KooTeePee
FC KooTeePee is a Finnish football club, based in the town of Kotka. It currently plays in the Finnish First Division . The club's manager is Janne Hyppönen, and it plays its home matches at the Arto Tolsa Areena.- History :...
2–1 in the League Cup Final and ended their 17-year run without titles. However, the club ended the 2006 season in last place, and was once again demoted to Ykkönen for the 2007 season. This resulted in manager Juha Malinen
Juha Malinen
Juha Malinen is an experienced Finnish football manager, who manages AC Oulu.In February 2007 Malinen signed a contract with Kazakhstan's FC Shakhter of Karaganda and was also appointed as a manager of U-21 National Team of Kazakhstan. FC Shakhter and Malinen parted their ways after 7 months...
being replaced by his former player/assistant manager Kai Nyyssönen.
Reserve team, KuPS Akatemia (tr: KuPS Academy) played in the Second Division Group A (Kakkonen
Kakkonen
Kakkonen is the third tier of the Finnish football league system.-League structure:Kakkonen is divided to three groups of 14 clubs. A club plays each of the others in the same group twice, once at their home stadium and once at that of their opponents. Clubs gain three points for a win, one for a...
lohko A), but the team was terminated in December 2006 to cut costs and as a replacement, an agreement with Kings Kuopio, which plays also in the Second Division was signed.
In December 2006, it was revealed that the team was heavily in debt and about to go bankrupt. KuPS fans held their breath, until a Helsinki-based
Helsinki
Helsinki is the capital and largest city in Finland. It is in the region of Uusimaa, located in southern Finland, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, an arm of the Baltic Sea. The population of the city of Helsinki is , making it by far the most populous municipality in Finland. Helsinki is...
CEO of an Investment bank ICECAPITAL, also a former Chairman of the Board of the Veikkausliiga
Veikkausliiga
Veikkausliiga is the premier division of Finnish football, comprising the top 12 clubs of the country. Veikkausliiga is currently ranked as the 28th best league in Europe. Its main sponsor is the Finnish national betting agency Veikkaus, hence the league's name...
, Ari Lahti increased his stake at the club to ca. 95 % and saved the club.
Season 2007
Manager Kai Nyyssönen lured his former team-mate Harri Ylönen
Harri Ylönen
Harri Ylönen is a Finnish footballer, who is currently playing for KuPS.-External links:*...
back to strengthen the team and to serve as an assistant manager. The duo lured in Roope Reinikainen, Ilja Venäläinen and Miikka Turunen, who also returned to their former home club.
Jussi Hakasalo from JJK Jyväskylä and Tero Mäkäläinen from MyPa were new names.
Because of relegation KuPS lost its prized assets, Sierraleonese
Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone , officially the Republic of Sierra Leone, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Guinea to the north and east, Liberia to the southeast, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west and southwest. Sierra Leone covers a total area of and has an estimated population between 5.4 and 6.4...
players, Patrick Bantamoi
Patrick Bantamoi
Patrick Bantamoi is a Sierra Leonean footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Telstar in the Dutch second division and the Sierra Leonean national team....
to FC Inter Turku and Medo
Mohamed Kamara
Mohamed Kamara , widely known as Medo, is a Sierra Leonean footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for FK Partizan in the Serbian SuperLiga.He also has a Finnish citizenship.-Biography:...
to HJK
HJK
HJK may stand for:* HJK Helsinki , association football club from Helsinki, Finland* Hærens Jegerkommando, the armed forces competence center for commando, airborne, and counterterrorist duty in the Norwegian Army...
. KuPS and Ghana
Ghana
Ghana , officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country located in West Africa. It is bordered by Côte d'Ivoire to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, Togo to the east, and the Gulf of Guinea to the south...
ian midfielder Seth Ablade
Seth Ablade
Seth Ablade is a Ghanaian football player, he last played for Oulun Palloseura.-Position:Ablade has played mostly as an attacking midfielder since arriving to Europe at the age of 16.-International:...
parted their ways earlier, with Ablade terminating his contract.
Season 2007 started well with mostly local players. The team suffered a run of draws in the mid-season, but by winning their last six games with their main opponent RoPS of Rovaniemi at the same time losing its lead, KuPS won the league Ykkönen and went straight back. RoPS also achieved a promotion, by winning a promotion play-off against 13th place finisher of Veikkausliiga, FC Viikingit
FC Viikingit
FC Viikingit is a Finnish football club, based in Vuosaari, East Helsinki. The club was founded as Vuosaaren Viikingit in 1965, but in 1998 the football section was separated from the rest of the club and continued under the name FC Viikingit. Usually, the team is referred to as just Viikingit...
.
European campaigns
| Season | Competition | Round | Country | Club | Score | Agg. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1959–60 | European Cup | Preliminary round |  |
Eintracht Frankfurt Eintracht Frankfurt Eintracht Frankfurt is a German sports club, based in Frankfurt, Hesse that is best known for its association football club.- Club origins :... |
KuPS withdrew | |
| 1967–68 | European Cup | Preliminary round |  |
AS Saint-Étienne AS Saint-Étienne Association Sportive de Saint-Étienne Loire is a French association football club based in Saint-Étienne. The club was founded in 1919 and currently play in Ligue 1, the top division of French football. Saint-Étienne plays its home matches at the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard located within the city... |
0–2, v 0–3 | 0–5 |
| 1969–70 | European Cup Winners' Cup | First round |  |
Academica Coimbra | 0–1, v 0–0 | 0–1 |
| 1975–76 | European Cup | First round |  |
Ruch Chorzów Ruch Chorzów Ruch Chorzów is a Polish association football club based in Chorzów, Upper Silesia. It is one of the most successful football teams in Poland: 14 time national champion, and 3 time winner of the Polish Cup. Currently the team plays in the top Polish league, the Ekstraklasa. Their stadium capacity... |
0–5, v 2–2 | 2–7 |
| 1976–77 | UEFA Cup | First round |  |
Östers IF Östers IF Östers IF is a Swedish football club located in Växjö. The club, formed 20 April 1930 , is currently playing in the second Swedish league called Superettan. In 1968, Öster won Allsvenskan as newcomers. The club is affiliated to the Smålands Fotbollförbund... |
3–2, v 0–2 | 3–4 |
| 1977–78 | European Cup | First round |  |
Club Brugge Club Brugge Club Brugge Koninklijke Voetbalvereniging is a football club from Bruges in Belgium. It was founded in 1891 and is one of the top clubs in Belgium. Its home ground is the Jan Breydel Stadium, which has a capacity of 29,472.... |
0–4, v 2–5 | 2–9 |
| 1978–79 | UEFA Cup | First round |  |
Boldklubben 1903 Boldklubben 1903 Boldklubben 1903 or B 1903 is a football club founded in 1903, located in Copenhagen, Denmark. Seven times winner of the Danish championship in 1920, 1924, 1926, 1938, 1969, 1970 and 1976 and twice winner of the Danish Cup in 1979 and 1986... |
2–1, v 4–4 | 6–5 |
| Second round | |
Esbjerg fB Esbjerg fB Esbjerg forenede Boldklubber also referred to as Esbjerg fB or simply EfB is a professional Danish football club from the port city of Esbjerg in West Jutland. The club was formed in 1924, as a merger between Esbjerg Boldklub af 1898 and Esbjerg Amatørklub af 1911. The club has training facilities... |
0–2, v 1–4 | 1–6 | ||
| 1980–81 | UEFA Cup | First round | |
AS Saint-Étienne AS Saint-Étienne Association Sportive de Saint-Étienne Loire is a French association football club based in Saint-Étienne. The club was founded in 1919 and currently play in Ligue 1, the top division of French football. Saint-Étienne plays its home matches at the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard located within the city... |
0–7, v 0–7 | 0–14 |
| 1990–91 | European Cup Winners' Cup | First round |  |
FC Dynamo Kyiv FC Dynamo Kyiv FC Dynamo Kyiv is a professional football club based in the Ukrainian capital city of Kyiv. Founded in 1927, the club currently participates in the Ukrainian Premier League and has spent its entire history in the top league of Soviet and later Ukrainian football... |
2–2, v 0–4 | 2–6 |
| 2011–12 | UEFA Europa League | Second round |  |
CS Gaz Metan Mediaş CS Gaz Metan Medias Clubul Sportiv Gaz Metan Mediaș is a Romanian professional football club from Mediaș, Sibiu county, founded in 1945, and currently playing in the Romanian first division.- First promotion in Divizia A :... |
1–0, v 0–2 | 1–2 |
Season to season
| class="wikitable"> | ||||||
| Season | Level | Division | Section | Administration | Position | Movements |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | Tier 1 | Veikkausliiga (Premier League) | Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) | 14th | Relegated | |
| 1995 | Tier 2 | Ykkönen (First Division) | Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) | 12th | ||
| 1996 | Tier 2 | Ykkönen (First Division) | North Group | Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) | 7th | |
| 1997 | Tier 2 | Ykkönen (First Division) | North Group | Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) | 7th | Lower Group North – 3rd – Playoffs – Relegated |
| 1998 | Tier 3 | Kakkonen (Second Division) | North Group | Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) | 1st | Promoted |
| 1999 | Tier 2 | Ykkönen (First Division) | South Group | Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) | 4th | Upper Group – 7th |
| 2000 | Tier 2 | Ykkönen (First Division) | North Group | Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) | 1st | Upper Group – 1st – Promoted |
| 2001 | Tier 1 | Veikkausliiga (Premier League) | Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) | 8th | ||
| 2002 | Tier 1 | Veikkausliiga (Premier League) | Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) | 9th | Promotion / Relegation Group – 1st | |
| 2003 | Tier 1 | Veikkausliiga (Premier League) | Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) | 14th | Relegated | |
| 2004 | Tier 2 | Ykkönen (First Division) | Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) | 1st | Promoted | |
| 2005 | Tier 1 | Veikkausliiga (Premier League) | Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) | 10th | ||
| 2006 | Tier 1 | Veikkausliiga (Premier League) | Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) | 13th | Relegated | |
| 2007 | Tier 2 | Ykkönen (First Division) | Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) | 1st | Promoted | |
| 2008 | Tier 1 | Veikkausliiga (Premier League) | Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) | 13th | Relegation Playoffs | |
| 2009 | Tier 1 | Veikkausliiga (Premier League) | Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) | 12th | ||
| 2010 | Tier 1 | Veikkausliiga (Premier League) | Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) | 2nd | ||
| 2011 | Tier 1 | Veikkausliiga (Premier League) | Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) | 6th | ||
- 10 seasons in VeikkausliigaVeikkausliigaVeikkausliiga is the premier division of Finnish football, comprising the top 12 clubs of the country. Veikkausliiga is currently ranked as the 28th best league in Europe. Its main sponsor is the Finnish national betting agency Veikkaus, hence the league's name...
- 7 seasons in YkkönenYkkönenYkkönen is the second highest level of the Finnish football league system , although it is the highest league managed by the Football Association of Finland.-Competition:...
- 1 season in KakkonenKakkonenKakkonen is the third tier of the Finnish football league system.-League structure:Kakkonen is divided to three groups of 14 clubs. A club plays each of the others in the same group twice, once at their home stadium and once at that of their opponents. Clubs gain three points for a win, one for a...
Current squad
Notable players
John CrabbeJohn Crabbe
Stephen Allan John Crabbe is an English former professional football player. He played for six Football League clubs, with his most successful spell coming at Gillingham.-Playing career:...
(1988) Dean Edwards
Dean Edwards (footballer)
Dean Stephen Edwards who played as a forward. He scored for Torquay United in two different Wembley appearances.-Playing career:...
(1982) Mart Poom
Mart Poom
Mart Poom is an Estonian former football goalkeeper. He retired after Estonia's 0–0 draw against Portugal on 10 June 2009 to focus on his job as goalkeeping coach at Arsenal and the Estonian national team, as well as other more "personal" projects....
(1992, played in 9 league games) Leo Houtsonen Harri Nyyssönen
Harri Nyyssönen
Harri Nyyssönen is a Finnish former footballer who played at both professional and international levels as a midfielder. His brother is fellow player Kai Nyyssönen.-Career:...
Kai Nyyssönen
Kai Nyyssönen
Kai Nyyssönen is a Finnish former footballer who played at both professional and international levels as a striker. After retiring as a player, Nyyssönen became a football manager.His elder brother is fellow player Harri Nyyssönen....
Kalle Parviainen
Kalle Parviainen
Kalle Parviainen is a Finnish professional football striker who currently plays for the Veikkausliiga side FC Inter in Finland....
Tuomas Rannankari
Tuomas Rannankari
Tuomas Rannankari is a professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for FC Twente in the Dutch Eredivisie and for the Finland under-21s.- Life and career :...
Olavi Rissanen (KuPS-icon) Jyrki Rovio Aulis Rytkönen
Aulis Rytkönen
Taavi Aulis Rytkönen is a Finnish football legend. He became the country's first professional player when he signed for France's Toulouse FC in 1952....
(KuPS-icon) Berat Sadik
Berat Sadik
Berat Sadik born 14 September 1986 in Skopje, FYR Macedonia) is a Finnish footballer playing for HJK of the Finnish Veikkausliiga.- Early life :...
Hannu Turunen
Hannu Turunen
Hannu Turunen is a former Finnish footballer.Turunen played for Koparit and KuPS during his club career, also making 66 appearances for the Finland national football team, scoring 3 goals.-External links and references:*...
Kari Ukkonen
Kari Ukkonen
Kari Ukkonen is a Finnish former football player and current football manager. As player, Ukkonen was fielded as defender as well as midfielder....
Keijo Voutilainen Harri Ylönen
Harri Ylönen
Harri Ylönen is a Finnish footballer, who is currently playing for KuPS.-External links:*...
Marcus Gayle
Marcus Gayle
Marcus Anthony Gayle is an English born Jamaican former professional footballer who played as a striker or winger, though towards the end of his career he also played as a central defender...
(1990, 9 goals in 22 league games, was top goalscorer of the season) Oliver Risser
Oliver Risser
Oliver Risser is a Namibian international footballer of German descent. He plays for Swindon Town, where he is captain...
(2010) Angelo Cijntje
Angelo Cijntje
Ryangelo "Angelo" Cijntje is a Curaçaoan football player, who currently plays as a right back for BV Veendam in the Dutch second division.-Club career:...
(2001) Adrian Webster
Adrian Webster
Adrian Webster is a New Zealand football player who plays for Cockburn City. He has represented New Zealand at full international level.-Biography:...
(2008) Dudu
MacPherlin Dudu Omagbemi
MacPherlin Dudu Omagbemi is a Nigerian footballer, who currently plays for FC Honka.- Career :Dudu started his career in India in 2001. When playing in the Indian Football League he had many great successes with Sporting Clube de Goa even becoming the leagues top goalscorer...
(2010) Dickson Nwakaeme
Dickson Nwakaeme
Dickson Nwakaeme is a Nigerian footballer who currently plays for KuPS-KuPS:Nwakaeme played for the Finnish premier division team KuPS from 2009 to 2010....
(2009–10) Patrick Bantamoi
Patrick Bantamoi
Patrick Bantamoi is a Sierra Leonean footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Telstar in the Dutch second division and the Sierra Leonean national team....
(2006) Medo
Mohamed Kamara
Mohamed Kamara , widely known as Medo, is a Sierra Leonean footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for FK Partizan in the Serbian SuperLiga.He also has a Finnish citizenship.-Biography:...
(2006) Valeri Broshin
Valeri Broshin
Valeri Viktorovich Broshin was a professional football player and manager....
(1992, 20 games, 5 goals)