Åbo IFK
Encyclopedia
Åbo IFK
(or ÅIFK for short) is a sports club from Turku
, Finland
. The club was founded in 1908.
, the last occasion in 1967
. It also won the Finnish Cup
in 1965 and participated in the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup
in the 1966–67 season, going out in the first round. Currently the ÅIFK football team is playing in the third tier Kakkonen
.
ÅIFK has also fared well in handball
with both its men's and women's teams playing at the national top level at the moment. Moreover, the club has previously played at the top level in ice hockey
.
Currently the club has activities in football, handball, athletics and bowling.
The chairman of the football club is Kari Bäcklund. Since 2008, and also briefly in the 1990s, ÅIFK has acted as the reserve club for TPS
.
The highest ever attendance for a ÅIFK match was in 1967 when 5,861 people attended the home game with Turun Palloseura
.
Second Level (12 seasons): 1936, 1938–39, 1943/44-45, 1961–62, 1966, 1968–70, 2000
Third Level (12 seasons): 1986, 1988–89, 1991, 1994–96, 1998–99, 2001, 2008-current
. In 2009 the team finished in ninth position in their Kakkonen section.
Åbo IFK 2 are participating in the Nelonen administered by the Turku SPL. This team has taken over a club called Goose Park Rangers FC that competed at this level in 2009.
Åbo IFK 3 are competing in the Vitonen administered by the Turku SPL. Last season Åbo IFK 2 were promoted to this level from the Kutonen
.
Idrottsföreningen Kamraterna
Idrottsföreningen Kamraterna , usually abbreviated IFK is a central organisation for a large number of sports clubs in Sweden. There are also eight IFK clubs in Finland but they are organised separately...
(or ÅIFK for short) is a sports club from Turku
Turku
Turku is a city situated on the southwest coast of Finland at the mouth of the Aura River. It is located in the region of Finland Proper. It is believed that Turku came into existence during the end of the 13th century which makes it the oldest city in Finland...
, 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...
. The club was founded in 1908.
Background
The greatest successes of ÅIFK have come in football where it has won three Finnish championship titles, in 1910, 1920 and 1924. It has played a total of 9 seasons in the Finnish premier division MestaruussarjaVeikkausliiga
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 last occasion in 1967
Mestaruussarja 1967
-League standings:-References:*...
. It also won 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...
in 1965 and participated in the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup
UEFA Cup Winners' Cup
The UEFA Cup Winners' Cup was a football club competition contested annually by the most recent winners of all European domestic cup competitions. The cup is one of the many inter-European club competitions that have been organised by UEFA. The first competition was held in the 1960–61 season—but...
in the 1966–67 season, going out in the first round. Currently the ÅIFK football team is playing in the third tier 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...
.
ÅIFK has also fared well in handball
Team handball
Handball is a team sport in which two teams of seven players each pass a ball to throw it into the goal of the other team...
with both its men's and women's teams playing at the national top level at the moment. Moreover, the club has previously played at the top level in ice hockey
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
.
Currently the club has activities in football, handball, athletics and bowling.
The chairman of the football club is Kari Bäcklund. Since 2008, and also briefly in the 1990s, ÅIFK has acted as the reserve club for TPS
Turun Palloseura
Turun Palloseura, TPS for short and nicknamed Tepsi, is a Finnish football club based in Turku. The club was founded in 1922. TPS currently play in the Veikkausliiga, the highest level of Finnish football. They play their home matches at the 9,372 seater Veritas Stadion, Turku.-History:FC TPS Turku...
.
The highest ever attendance for a ÅIFK match was in 1967 when 5,861 people attended the home game with Turun Palloseura
Turun Palloseura
Turun Palloseura, TPS for short and nicknamed Tepsi, is a Finnish football club based in Turku. The club was founded in 1922. TPS currently play in the Veikkausliiga, the highest level of Finnish football. They play their home matches at the 9,372 seater Veritas Stadion, Turku.-History:FC TPS Turku...
.
Football Honours
- Finnish ChampionshipVeikkausliigaVeikkausliiga 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...
:- Winners (3): 1910, 1920, 1924
- Runners-up (5): 1911, 1913, 1915, 1916, 1917
- 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...
:- Winners (1): 1965 (ÅIFK - TPSTurun PalloseuraTurun Palloseura, TPS for short and nicknamed Tepsi, is a Finnish football club based in Turku. The club was founded in 1922. TPS currently play in the Veikkausliiga, the highest level of Finnish football. They play their home matches at the 9,372 seater Veritas Stadion, Turku.-History:FC TPS Turku...
1-0)
- Winners (1): 1965 (ÅIFK - TPS
Divisional Movements since 1930
Top Level (9 seasons): 1930, 1932–35, 1963–65, 1967Second Level (12 seasons): 1936, 1938–39, 1943/44-45, 1961–62, 1966, 1968–70, 2000
Third Level (12 seasons): 1986, 1988–89, 1991, 1994–96, 1998–99, 2001, 2008-current
Season to season
| class="wikitable"> | ||||||
| Season | Level | Division | Section | Administration | Position | Movements |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Tier 2 | Ykkönen (First Division) | South Group | Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) | 9th | Relegation Group - 9th - Relegated |
| 2001 | Tier 3 | Kakkonen (Second Division) | West Group | Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) | 10th | Relegated |
| 2002 | Tier 4 | Kolmonen (Third Division) | |style="background:#FF7F00;"| Turku and Åland Islands (SPL Turku) | 4th | ||
| 2003 | Tier 4 | Kolmonen (Third Division) | |style="background:#FF7F00;"| Turku and Åland Islands (SPL Turku) | 1st | Play-Offs | |
| 2004 | Tier 4 | Kolmonen (Third Division) | |style="background:#FF7F00;"| Turku and Åland Islands (SPL Turku) | 2nd | ||
| 2005 | Tier 4 | Kolmonen (Third Division) | Turku and Åland Islands (SPL Turku) | 4th | ||
| 2006 | Tier 4 | Kolmonen (Third Division) | Turku and Åland Islands (SPL Turku) | 2nd | ||
| 2007 | Tier 4 | Kolmonen (Third Division) | Turku and Åland Islands (SPL Turku) | 1st | Promoted | |
| 2008 | Tier 3 | Kakkonen (Second Division) | Group B | Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) | 8th | |
| 2009 | Tier 3 | Kakkonen (Second Division) | Group B | Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) | 9th | |
| 2010 | Tier 3 | Kakkonen (Second Division) | Group B | Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) |
- 1 season 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:...
- 4 seasons 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...
- 6 seasons 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...
2010 season
For the current season Åbo IFK are competing in Section B of the Kakkonen. This is the third tier of the Finnish football systemFinnish football league system
The Finnish football league system is a series of interconnected leagues for club football in Finland. The three highest levels are managed by the Finnish FA while the higher leagues are managed by the regional departments of the FA.-The system:...
. In 2009 the team finished in ninth position in their Kakkonen section.
Åbo IFK 2 are participating in the Nelonen administered by the Turku SPL. This team has taken over a club called Goose Park Rangers FC that competed at this level in 2009.
Åbo IFK 3 are competing in the Vitonen administered by the Turku SPL. Last season Åbo IFK 2 were promoted to this level from the Kutonen
Kutonen
Kutonen is the seventh tier of the Finnish Soccer League system. The section winners are promoted to the Vitonen and the bottom teams to the Seiska.-Administration:...
.