FC Honka
Encyclopedia
FC Honka is a Finnish
football
club, based in Tapiola
, Espoo
. It was promoted into the Finnish premier division (Veikkausliiga
), for the first time in its history, at the end of the 2005 season. The club's manager
is Mika Lehkosuo, and it plays its home matches at Tapiolan urheilupuisto. Originally founded in 1957 as Tapion Honka it changed its name to FC Honka in 1975.
FC Honka is largely renowned in Finland
for its extensive youth scheme with over 1000 youth players playing in various age groups.
Until the year 2005 FC Honka was thought of as a "nearly, but not quite" team, always underachieving in the Finnish
First Division (Ykkönen
). In the late 1990s the objective was promotion but year after year they failed. In the beginning of the 21st century FC Honka almost went bankrupt but was saved at the last moment.
In early 2005 the club was taken over by Jouko Pakarinen and Jouko Harjunpää, who had a plan to turn FC Honka from underachievers to a UEFA Champions League
candidate.
In the first year of their take-over of FC Honka, the management succeeded in assembling a squad which won the First Division (Ykkönen
) with ease and also made the semi-finals of the Finnish Cup
where they eventually lost 1–0 to FC Haka
.
FC Honka was able to fight for top positions instantly, but narrowly missed the top three in their first two seasons. However, in 2007 team lost Finnish Cup
final to Tampere United
on penalties. As Tampere United also won league title, FC Honka qualified for the 2008-09 UEFA Cup. In 2008, FC Honka achieved its first medal by finishing 2nd in the league.
ic ÍA
4–2 in the 1st qualifying round and Norwegian
Viking in the 2nd. In the first round of actual competition, they were drawn against Racing Santander
and lost 0–2 on aggregate.
Next year, Honka qualified for the new UEFA Europa League, starting from the second qualifying round. The club beat Welsh
Bangor City F.C.
3–0 on aggregate but lost 1–3 to FK Karabakh
from Azerbaijan in the third qualifying round.
For the 2010–11 season, FC Honka was again drawn against Bangor City in the second round but lost 3–2 on aggregate.
During the winter of 2009, Honka won the annual La Manga Cup
, beating Nordsjaelland in the final.
Europa League
Intertoto Cup
Last update: June 12, 2011
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 Tapiola
Tapiola
Tapiola or Hagalund is a district of Espoo on the south coast of Finland, and is one of the major urban centres of Espoo...
, Espoo
Espoo
Espoo is the second largest city and municipality in Finland. The population of the city of Espoo is . It is part of the Helsinki Metropolitan Area along with the cities of Helsinki, Vantaa, and Kauniainen. Espoo shares its eastern border with Helsinki and Vantaa, while enclosing Kauniainen....
. It was promoted into the Finnish premier division (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...
), for the first time in its history, at the end of the 2005 season. The club's manager
Coach (sport)
In sports, a coach is an individual involved in the direction, instruction and training of the operations of a sports team or of individual sportspeople.-Staff:...
is Mika Lehkosuo, and it plays its home matches at Tapiolan urheilupuisto. Originally founded in 1957 as Tapion Honka it changed its name to FC Honka in 1975.
FC Honka is largely renowned in Finland
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...
for its extensive youth scheme with over 1000 youth players playing in various age groups.
Until the year 2005 FC Honka was thought of as a "nearly, but not quite" team, always underachieving in the Finnish
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...
First Division (Ykkönen
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:...
). In the late 1990s the objective was promotion but year after year they failed. In the beginning of the 21st century FC Honka almost went bankrupt but was saved at the last moment.
In early 2005 the club was taken over by Jouko Pakarinen and Jouko Harjunpää, who had a plan to turn FC Honka from underachievers to a UEFA Champions League
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
candidate.
In the first year of their take-over of FC Honka, the management succeeded in assembling a squad which won the First Division (Ykkönen
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:...
) with ease and also made the semi-finals of the 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...
where they eventually lost 1–0 to FC Haka
FC Haka
Haka is a Finnish football club, based in the industry town of Valkeakoski. It is one of the most successful clubs in Finland, with nine Finnish championships and 12 Finnish Cup wins.- History :...
.
FC Honka was able to fight for top positions instantly, but narrowly missed the top three in their first two seasons. However, in 2007 team lost 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...
final to Tampere United
Tampere United
Tampere United is a Finnish football club, which played in the Veikkausliiga, the premier football league in Finland, until the 2010 season, but is currently excluded from participating in Finnish football. The club comes from the city of Tampere. The current head coach of the club is Jarkko Wiss,...
on penalties. As Tampere United also won league title, FC Honka qualified for the 2008-09 UEFA Cup. In 2008, FC Honka achieved its first medal by finishing 2nd in the league.
Honours
- 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...
:- Runners-up (2): 2008Veikkausliiga 2008The 2008 season of Veikkausliiga was the seventy-eighth season of top-tier football in Finland. It started on 27 April 2008 and ended on 26 October 2008. The defending champions were Tampere United.-Promotion and relegation:...
, 2009
- Runners-up (2): 2008
- Finnish CupFinnish CupThe 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...
:- Runners-up (3): 1969, 2007, 2008Finnish Cup 20082008 Finnish Cup was the fifty–fourth season of the main annual cup competition in Finland. It was organized as a single-elimination knock–out tournament.Participation in the competition is voluntary...
- Runners-up (3): 1969, 2007, 2008
- Finnish League CupFinnish League CupThe Finnish League Cup is a knock-out football competition contested annually during pre-season in winter by teams from Veikkausliiga.-Finnish League Cup finals:...
:- Winners (2): 2010, 2011
- 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:...
:- Winners (1): 2005
- La Manga CupLa Manga CupLa Manga Cup is a winter football tournament played in La Manga del Mar Menor . Usual participants are clubs from countries with a summer football season: Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Norway, Russia, Ukraine, and the United States and Canada. The first cup was played in 1999 which was won by Rosenborg...
:- Winners (1): 2009
European competitions
As runners-up in yh 2007 Finnish Cup to Tampere United, who had also won the league title, FC Honka qualified for the 2008-09 UEFA Cup, beating IcelandIceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
ic ÍA
Íþróttabandalag Akraness
Íþróttabandalag Akraness is an Icelandic sports club founded in 1946 and based in the town of Akranes, west Iceland. Among the main sports its members can practice are basketball, football, golf, horsemanship, gymnastics, volleyball, bowling, karate, badminton, swimming and powerlifting...
4–2 in the 1st qualifying round and Norwegian
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
Viking in the 2nd. In the first round of actual competition, they were drawn against Racing Santander
Racing de Santander
Real Racing Club de Santander, S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in Santander, in the autonomous community of Cantabria. Founded in 1913, it currently plays in La Liga, holding home games at Estadio El Sardinero, with a capacity for 22,400 spectators....
and lost 0–2 on aggregate.
Next year, Honka qualified for the new UEFA Europa League, starting from the second qualifying round. The club beat Welsh
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
Bangor City F.C.
Bangor City F.C.
Bangor City Football Club are a semi-professional Welsh football club from the City of Bangor. The club compete in the Welsh Premier League, being ever present since the league was founded in 1992....
3–0 on aggregate but lost 1–3 to FK Karabakh
FK Karabakh
FK Qarabağ Ağdam , also known as FK Karabakh Aghdam, is an Azerbaijani football club from Agdam, playing in Azerbaijan Premier League and three times Azerbaijan Cup holders....
from Azerbaijan in the third qualifying round.
For the 2010–11 season, FC Honka was again drawn against Bangor City in the second round but lost 3–2 on aggregate.
During the winter of 2009, Honka won the annual La Manga Cup
La Manga Cup
La Manga Cup is a winter football tournament played in La Manga del Mar Menor . Usual participants are clubs from countries with a summer football season: Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Norway, Russia, Ukraine, and the United States and Canada. The first cup was played in 1999 which was won by Rosenborg...
, beating Nordsjaelland in the final.
European cups record
| Competition | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UEFA Europa League / UEFA Cup UEFA Cup The UEFA Europa League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1971 for eligible European football clubs. It is the second most prestigious European club football contest after the UEFA Champions League... |
16 | 5 | 3 | 8 | 12 | 16 |
| UEFA Intertoto Cup UEFA Intertoto Cup The UEFA Intertoto Cup, also abbreviated as UI Cup and originally called the International Football Cup, was a summer football competition for European clubs that had not qualified for one of the two major UEFA competitions, the Champions League and the UEFA Cup. The competition was discontinued... |
4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 5 |
| Total | 20 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 19 | 21 |
Europa League
| Season | Round | Country | Club | Home | Away | Aggregate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008–09 | Q1 |  |
IA Akranes | 3–0 | 1–2 | 4–2 |
| Q2 |  |
Viking Stavanger | 0–0 | 2–1 | 2–1 | |
| 1 |  |
Racing Santander | 0–1 | 0–1 | 0–2 | |
| 2009–10 | Q2 |  |
Bangor City | 2–0 | 1–0 | 3–0 |
| Q3 |  |
FK Qarabağ | 0–1 | 1–2 | 1–3 | |
| 2010–11 | Q2 | |
Bangor City | 1–1 | 1–2 | 2–3 |
| 2011–12 | Q1 |  |
JK Nõmme Kalju JK Nõmme Kalju JK Nõmme Kalju is an Estonian football club based in Nõmme, Tallinn. The club was originally established in 1923 and then re-established in 1997. Nõmme Kalju currently play in the Meistriliiga, the highest level of Estonian football after many adventures in lower divisions. Hiiu Staadion is their... |
0–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 |
| Q2 |  |
BK Häcken BK Häcken BK Häcken is a Swedish football club based in Gothenburg. The club, formed on 2 August 1940, is currently playing in the Swedish premier division, Allsvenskan after being promoted in 2008.- The beginning :... |
0–2 | 0–1 | 0–3 |
Intertoto Cup
| Season | Round | Country | Club | Home | Away | Aggregate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 1 | |
TVMK | 0–0 | 4–2 | 4–2 |
| 2 |  |
AaB | 2–2 | 1–1 | 3–3 (a) |
UEFA club ranking
This is the current UEFA Club Ranking, including season 2010–11.Last update: June 12, 2011
| Rank | Team | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 247 | Gefle IF Gefle IF Gefle IF is a Swedish football club located in Gävle. The club's name is the old spelling of the town Gävle. The club, formed 5 December 1882, is currently playing in the highest Swedish league, Allsvenskan. Gefle IF and Brynäs IF merged and played under the name Gefle IF/Brynäs between the 1979... |
3.325 |
| 248 | FK Sarajevo FK Sarajevo FK Sarajevo is a professional football club based in Sarajevo, the capital city of Bosnia-Herzegovina and is one of the most popular clubs in the country. Founded on October 24, 1946, the club was the most successful club from SR Bosnia and Herzegovina in former Yugoslavia, winning two First League... |
3.324 |
| 249 |  FC Honka |
3.293 |
| 250 | Levadia Tallinn |
3.258 |
| 251 | FK Baku FK Baku Football Club Baku is an Azerbaijani football club in Baku, Azerbaijan. The club sponsored by the Baghlan Group Company and ZQAN Holding.FC Baku plays in the Azerbaijan Premier League and have won two Azerbaijan Premier League championships and two Azerbaijan Cups.-History:FC Baku was founded in... |
3.233 |
Season to season
| class="wikitable"> | ||||||
| Season | Level | Division | Section | Administration | Position | Movements |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | Tier 4 | Kolmonen (Third Division) | Section 1 | Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) | 2nd | Playoffs – Promoted |
| 1995 | Tier 3 | Kakkonen (Second Division) | South Group | Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) | 2nd | Promoted |
| 1996 | Tier 2 | Ykkönen (First Division) | South Group | Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) | 5th | |
| 1997 | Tier 2 | Ykkönen (First Division) | South Group | Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) | 5th | Promotion Group – 9th |
| 1998 | Tier 2 | Ykkönen (First Division) | South Group | Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) | 6th | Relegation Group South – 6th |
| 1999 | Tier 2 | Ykkönen (First Division) | South Group | Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) | 5th | Promotion Group – 5th |
| 2000 | Tier 2 | Ykkönen (First Division) | South Group | Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) | 7th | Relegation Group South – 6th |
| 2001 | Tier 2 | Ykkönen (First Division) | South Group | Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) | 4th | |
| 2002 | Tier 2 | Ykkönen (First Division) | South Group | Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) | 3rd | Lower Group South – 3rd |
| 2003 | Tier 2 | Ykkönen (First Division) | Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) | 4th | ||
| 2004 | Tier 2 | Ykkönen (First Division) | Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) | 3rd | ||
| 2005 | Tier 2 | Ykkönen (First Division) | Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) | 1st | Promoted | |
| 2006 | Tier 1 | Veikkausliiga (Premier League) | Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) | 4th | ||
| 2007 | Tier 1 | Veikkausliiga (Premier League) | Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) | 4th | ||
| 2008 | Tier 1 | Veikkausliiga (Premier League) | Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) | 2nd | ||
| 2009 | Tier 1 | Veikkausliiga (Premier League) | Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) | 2nd | ||
| 2010 | Tier 1 | Veikkausliiga (Premier League) | Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) | 4th | ||
| 2011 | Tier 1 | Veikkausliiga (Premier League) | Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) | 4th |
- 6 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...
- 10 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...
- 1 season in KolmonenKolmonenKolmonen is the fourth highest football league in Finland. The most famous club competing at this level is Helsingin Palloseura who won the Finnish Championship on 9 occasions, the last time being in 1957. They also won the Finnish Cup in 1962...
Current squad
Notable former players
- See also .
| Tuomo Turunen Tuomo Turunen Tuomo Turunen is a Finnish footballer. He currently represents Trelleborgs FF, playing in Allsvenskan the Swedish primer division. He plays as a defender or midfielder. Before moving to IFK Göteborg, he played for FC Honka, FC KooTeePee and IFK Göteborg. He is also a member of Finland national... Ville Jalasto Ville Jalasto Ville Jalasto is a Finnish professional footballer who currently plays for the Tippeligaen side Aalesunds FK. Jalasto plays position of right back.... Roni Porokara Roni Porokara Roni Porokara is a Finnish international football player, who currently plays for Beerschot AC in the Belgium Jupiler Pro League. Porokara is the first Jewish player on the Finnish national team since 1949.- FC Hämeenlinna :... Tomi Maanoja Tomi Maanoja Tomi Maanoja is a Finnish goalkeeper who currently plays for FC Honka in the Finnish top flight Veikkausliiga... Hannu Patronen Hannu Patronen Hannu Patronen is a Finnish footballer who is best known as a central defender despite his history as a defensive midfielder. He made 47 caps for his Finnish club side FC Honka before agreeing on a move to Swedish Premier Division outfit Helsingborgs IF on 12 July 2008... Joel Perovuo Joel Perovuo Joel Perovuo is a Finnish professional football player who is currently playing for the Veikkausliiga side HJK.- Career :... Janne Saarinen Janne Saarinen Janne Johannes Saarinen is a Finnish footballer who plays for HJK Helsinki in Finland.-Career:Saarinen started his career as a promising attacking midfielder at HJK Helsinki, making his Veikkausliiga debut in 1993. In 1997 he moved to Swedish giants IFK Göteborg, but never made a breakthrough... Hermanni Vuorinen Hermanni Vuorinen Hermanni Vuorinen is a Finnish footballer playing as a striker. He currently plays for Sporting Charleroi in the Belgian premier division.Even though 1.93 m tall, and he is very strong on aerial challenges.... John Weckström John Weckström John Weckström is a Finnish professional footballer who currently plays for the Veikkausliiga side FC Haka based in Valkeakoski, Finland.-References:*-External links:*http://www.fchonka.fi/pelaajakuvat2/pages/page_11.html... Sergei Terehhov Sergei Terehhov Sergei Terehhov is an Estonian footballer, who plays in the Meistriliiga, for JK Nõmme Kalju. He is a winger.-Club career:... |