Käpylän Pallo

"Käpa" redirects here. For the village in Estonia, see Käpa, Estonia.

Käpylän Pallo, commonly referred to as KäPa for short, is a football (soccer) club from the Käpylä district of Helsinki. The club currently plays in the Ykkösliiga, the new second tier of the Finnish league system. Their home arena is Max Westerberg Areena in Käpylän liikuntapuisto, Käpylä, Helsinki. KäPa first team currently play their home matches at the Brahenkenttä, Helsinki due to the requirements in the second-tier.

KäPa

Full name	Käpylän Pallo
Founded	1956; 69 years ago (1956)
Ground	Brahenkenttä Helsinki, Finland
Capacity	1,000
Chairman	Petri Vanhala
Head coach	Lari Lummepuro
League	Ykkösliiga
2024	Ykkösliiga, 9th of 10
Home colours Away colours

Background

The club played 21 seasons in the Kakkonen (Second Division), the third tier of Finnish football, in 1979, 1983–1989, 1997–2007 and 2009–2012. KäPa played one season in the Ykkönen (First Division), the second tier of Finnish football, in 2008 and one season in the Kolmonen, the fourth tier of Finnish football, in 2012.^[1]

KäPa was the first club in Finland to organise football leagues for youth players. The teams in these leagues were named after English League clubs and some teams even received their shirts as gifts from the English clubs they were named for. It has youth teams in a wide range of age groups, and it is the organiser of Finland's biggest youth football tournament, Helsinki Cup, together with FC Honka.

Current squad

As of 7 August 2025^[2]

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. Nation Player 1 GK  FIN Aleksi Piispa 2 DF  FIN Urho Huhtamäki 3 DF  FIN Niilo Heikurinen 4 DF  FIN Pekka Hietalahti 5 DF  FIN Pontus Lindberg 6 DF  FIN Niko Nurmi 7 MF  FIN Niklas Leinonen 8 MF  FIN Reko Huhtamäki 9 FW  FIN Willem Haapiainen 10 MF  FIN Daniel Ripatti 11 MF  GAM Foday Manneh 12 FW  FIN Samu Herronen 14 FW  FIN Yllson Lika 15 DF  FIN Antti Pastinen 16 DF  FIN Milo Niskanen

No. Pos. Nation Player 17 FW  FIN Samuel Anini Junior 18 MF  FIN Toivo Valakari 19 DF  FIN Kasper Meriläinen 22 DF  FIN Aaron Sivonen 23 DF  FIN Joel Huovinen 24 GK  FIN Tuomas Väänänen 25 MF  FIN Mikko Kuningas 27 MF  FIN Elias Kallio 29 DF  FIN Otto Minkkinen 29 DF  FIN Joonas Salmi 30 GK  FIN Tuomas Collin 31 MF  FIN Adam Jouhi 33 FW  FIN Kenny Prince Ume 36 MF  FIN Denis Cukici

Season to season

Season to season of KäPa

4 season in Ykkönen/Ykkösliiga (Tier 2) 32 seasons in Ykkönen/Kakkonen/II Divisioona/Maakuntasarja (Tier 3) 24 season in Kolmonen (Tier 4) 1 season in Nelonen (Tier 5) Season Level Division Section Administration Position Movements 1959 Tier 4 Aluesarja (Fourth Division) Group 2 Helsinki & Uusimaa (SPL Helsinki) 4th 1960 Tier 4 Aluesarja (Fourth Division) Group 2 Helsinki & Uusimaa (SPL Helsinki) 1st Promotion Playoff - Promoted 1961 Tier 3 Maakuntasarja (Third Division) Group 1 Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 8th Relegated 1962 Tier 4 Aluesarja (Fourth Division) Group 1 Helsinki & Uusimaa (SPL Helsinki) Withdrew 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 Tier 4 Aluesarja (Fourth Division) Group 1 Helsinki & Uusimaa (SPL Helsinki) 5th 1970 Tier 4 IV Divisioona (Fourth Division) Group 1 Helsinki & Uusimaa (SPL Helsinki) 2nd 1971 Tier 4 IV Divisioona (Fourth Division) Group 1 Helsinki & Uusimaa (SPL Helsinki) 4th 1972 Tier 4 IV Divisioona (Fourth Division) Group 2 Helsinki & Uusimaa (SPL Helsinki) 1st Promoted 1973 Tier 4 III Divisioona (Third Division) Group 1 Helsinki & Uusimaa (SPL Helsinki) 7th 1974 Tier 4 III Divisioona (Third Division) Group 1 Helsinki & Uusimaa (SPL Helsinki) 8th 1975 Tier 4 III Divisioona (Third Division) Group 2 Helsinki & Uusimaa (SPL Helsinki) 5th 1976 Tier 4 III Divisioona (Third Division) Group 2 Helsinki & Uusimaa (SPL Helsinki) 7th 1977 Tier 4 III Divisioona (Third Division) Group 1 Helsinki & Uusimaa (SPL Helsinki) 3rd 1978 Tier 4 III Divisioona (Third Division) Group 2 Helsinki & Uusimaa (SPL Helsinki) 1st Promotion Playoff - Promoted 1979 Tier 3 II Divisioona (Second Division) East Group Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 10th Relegated 1980 Tier 4 III Divisioona (Third Division) Group 1 Helsinki & Uusimaa (SPL Helsinki) 5th 1981 Tier 4 III Divisioona (Third Division) Group 2 Helsinki & Uusimaa (SPL Helsinki) 2nd Promotion Playoff 1982 Tier 4 III Divisioona (Third Division) Group 1 Helsinki & Uusimaa (SPL Helsinki) 1st Promotion Playoff - Promoted 1983 Tier 3 II Divisioona (Second Division) East Group Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 8th 1984 Tier 3 II Divisioona (Second Division) East Group Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 8th 1985 Tier 3 II Divisioona (Second Division) West Group Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 7th 1986 Tier 3 II Divisioona (Second Division) East Group Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 5th 1987 Tier 3 II Divisioona (Second Division) East Group Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 4th 1988 Tier 3 II Divisioona (Second Division) West Group Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 6th 1989 Tier 3 II Divisioona (Second Division) East Group Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 10th Relegated 1990 Tier 4 III Divisioona (Third Division) Group 1 Helsinki & Uusimaa (SPL Helsinki) 8th 1991 Tier 4 III Divisioona (Third Division) Group 2 Helsinki & Uusimaa (SPL Helsinki) 4th 1992 Tier 4 III Divisioona (Third Division) Group 2 Helsinki & Uusimaa (SPL Helsinki) 8th 1993 Tier 4 Kolmonen (Third Division) Group 2 Helsinki & Uusimaa (SPL Helsinki) 6th 1994 Tier 4 Kolmonen (Third Division) Group 2 Helsinki & Uusimaa (SPL Helsinki) 10th Relegated 1995 Tier 5 Nelonen (Fourth Division) Group 2 Helsinki District (SPL Helsinki) 1st Promoted 1996 Tier 4 Kolmonen (Third Division) Group 1 Helsinki & Uusimaa (SPL Helsinki) 2nd Promotion Playoff - Promoted 1997 Tier 3 Kakkonen (Second Division) East Group Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 6th 1998 Tier 3 Kakkonen (Second Division) East Group Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 9th 1999 Tier 3 Kakkonen (Second Division) West Group Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 6th 2000 Tier 3 Kakkonen (Second Division) South Group Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 4th 2001 Tier 3 Kakkonen (Second Division) South Group Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 5th 2002 Tier 3 Kakkonen (Second Division) South Group Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 4th 2003 Tier 3 Kakkonen (Second Division) South Group Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 6th 2004 Tier 3 Kakkonen (Second Division) South Group Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 11th 2005 Tier 3 Kakkonen (Second Division) South Group Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 5th 2006 Tier 3 Kakkonen (Second Division) Group A Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 5th 2007 Tier 3 Kakkonen (Second Division) Group A Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 1st Promoted 2008 Tier 2 Ykkönen (First Division) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 14th Relegated 2009 Tier 3 Kakkonen (Second Division) Group A Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 3rd 2010 Tier 3 Kakkonen (Second Division) Group A Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 10th 2011 Tier 3 Kakkonen (Second Division) Group A Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 14th Relegated 2012 Tier 4 Kolmonen (Second Division) Section 1 Helsinki & Uusimaa (SPL Uusimaa) 1st Promoted 2013 Tier 3 Kakkonen (Second Division) South Group Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 7th 2014 Tier 3 Kakkonen (Second Division) South Group Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 4th 2015 Tier 3 Kakkonen (Second Division) South Group Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 3rd 2016 Tier 3 Kakkonen (Second Division) Group A Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 8th 2017 Tier 3 Kakkonen (Second Division) Group B Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 7th 2018 Tier 3 Kakkonen (Second Division) Group B Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 8th 2019 Tier 3 Kakkonen (Second Division) Group B Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 11th Relegated 2020 Tier 4 Kolmonen (Second Division) Group A Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 1st Promotion Playoff - Promoted 2021 Tier 3 Kakkonen (Second Division) Group A Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 7th 2022 Tier 3 Kakkonen (Second Division) Group A Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 1st Promoted 2023 Tier 2 Ykkönen (First Division) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 10th Remained in second level due to Bankcrupties of FC Honka and HIFK 2024 Tier 2 Ykkösliiga (League One) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 9th Won Relegation Playoff 2025 Tier 2 Ykkösliiga (League One) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) [3] [4]

Club structure

KäPa currently has 2 men's teams, 1 veterans' team, 1 ladies' team, 24 boys' teams and 7 girls' teams. The club operates a large junior section and is able to take full advantage of the extensive training facilities at the indoor Käpylän Juniorihalli (Käpylä Junior Hall). The club provides a number of additional initiatives, including sports camps and events.

References and sources

• Official Website
• Finnish Wikipedia
• Suomen Cup
• Käpylän Pallo Facebook