Mikkelin Palloilijat

Mikkelin Palloilijat (or MP) is a Finnish professional football club, based in Mikkeli, that competes in the Ykkönen, the third tier in Finnish football league system. The club was founded in 1929 and also included volleyball, bandy and ice hockey sections.

Mikkelin Palloilijat

Full name	Mikkelin Palloilijat
Nickname(s)	Siniset (The Blues)
Founded	1929; 96 years ago (1929)
Ground	Mikkelin Urheilupuisto, Mikkeli, Finland
Capacity	7,000
Chairman	Olli Heinikainen
Manager	Issa Thiaw
League	Ykkönen
2024	Ykkösliiga, 10th of 10 (relegated)
Home colours Away colours

History

In 1998, MP merged with Mikkelin Kissat to form FC Mikkeli. Due to financial difficulties, this union was dissolved in 2001 and the two clubs returned to manage individually. It played in the Finnish First Division (Ykkönen) from 2004 to 2006 but was relegated to Kakkonen at the end of the season. The club gained promotion to Ykkönen by winning the Group A of Kakkonen 2009 but was immediately relegated back to Kakkonen in 2010. The club's manager is Juha Pasoja, and it plays its home matches at Mikkelin Urheilupuisto. In 2015, they got promoted to the Ykkönen again.

Ice hockey departments of MP and local rivals MiPK merged in 1970, creating new club Jukurit. Jukurit has since then been quite successful in Finnish amateur levels of ice hockey. However, the only medal in the Finnish championship is still won by MP, a bronze in A-juniors in the year 1961.

Bandy department of MP was disbanded in 1977. After that the colours of Mikkeli on bandy fields have been represented by Mikkelin Kampparit. Kampparit was formed in 1972.

MP was a pioneer of women's football in Finland, forming one of the first ladies team. The spot in Kansallinen Liiga was moved from MP to Porrassalmen Urheilijat-62 in 1992.

Season to season

Season to season of MP

Season Level Division Section Administration Position Movements 1930 Tier 3 Piirisarja (Second Division) Savo (SPL Savo) ? 1931 Tier 3 Piirisarja (Second Division) Savo (SPL Savo) 2nd 1932 Tier 3 Piirisarja (Second Division) Savo (SPL Savo) 4th 1933 Tier 3 Piirisarja (Second Division) Savo (SPL Savo) 2nd 1934 Tier 3 Piirisarja (Second Division) Savo (SPL Savo) 3rd 1935 Tier 3 Piirisarja (Second Division) Savo (SPL Savo) 5th 1936 Tier 4 Piirisarja (Third Division) ? Savo (SPL Savo) ? 1937 Tier 4 Piirisarja (Third Division) ? Savo (SPL Savo) ? 1938 Tier 4 Piirisarja (Third Division) ? Savo (SPL Savo) ? Play-offs 1939 Tier 2 Itä-Länsi Sarja (First Division) East series north group Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 6th 1940–41 Did not participate 1943–44 Did not participate 1945–46 Tier 3 Maakuntasarja (Second Division) Kymenlaakso North Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 3rd 1946–47 Tier 3 Maakuntasarja (Second Division) Kymenlaakso North Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 2nd 1947–48 Tier 3 Maakuntasarja (Second Division) Kymenlaakso North Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 1st Play-offs 1948 Tier 3 Maakuntasarja (Second Division) East group A Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 5th 1949 Tier 3 Maakuntasarja (Second Division) East group A Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 6th Relegated 1950 Tier 4 Piirisarja (Third Division) ? Savo (SPL Savo) ? Play-offs, promoted 1951 Tier 3 Maakuntasarja (Second Division) East group B Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 3rd 1952 Tier 3 Maakuntasarja (Second Division) East group A Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 5th 1953 Tier 3 Maakuntasarja (Second Division) East group B Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 6th Relegated 1954 Tier 4 Piirisarja (Third Division) ? Saimaa (SPL Saimaa) ? 1955 Tier 4 Piirisarja (Third Division) ? Saimaa (SPL Saimaa) ? Play-offs, promoted 1956 Tier 3 Maakuntasarja (Second Division) East group II Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 6th 1957 Tier 3 Maakuntasarja (Second Division) East group I Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 6th 1958 Tier 3 Maakuntasarja (Second Division) Group 6 Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 2nd 1959 Tier 3 Maakuntasarja (Second Division) Group 4 Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 1st Promoted 1960 Tier 2 Suomensarja (First Division) East Group Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 6th 1961 Tier 2 Suomensarja (First Division) East Group Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 5th 1962 Tier 2 Suomensarja (First Division) East Group Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 3rd 1963 Tier 2 Suomensarja (First Division) East Group Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 4th 1964 Tier 2 Suomensarja (First Division) East Group Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 3rd 1965 Tier 2 Suomensarja (First Division) East Group Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 1st Promoted 1966 Tier 1 Mestaruussarja Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto 4th 1967 Tier 1 Mestaruussarja Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto 10th 1968 Tier 1 Mestaruussarja Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto 8th 1969 Tier 1 Mestaruussarja Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto 5th 1970 Tier 1 Mestaruussarja Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto 2nd 1971 Tier 1 Mestaruussarja Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto 5th 1972 Tier 1 Mestaruussarja Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto 2nd 1973 Tier 1 Mestaruussarja Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto 7th 1974 Tier 1 Mestaruussarja Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto 10th 1975 Tier 1 Mestaruussarja Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto 9th 1976 Tier 1 Mestaruussarja Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto 6th 1977 Tier 1 Mestaruussarja Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto 11th Relegated 1978 Tier 2 I divisioona (First Division) Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 4th 1979 Tier 2 I divisioona (First Division) Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 1st Promotion Group 6th 1980 Tier 2 I divisioona (First Division) Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 1st Promotion Group 3rd, promoted 1981 Tier 1 Mestaruussarja Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto 11th Relegation Group 6th, relegated 1982 Tier 2 I divisioona (First Division) Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 3rd Promotion Group 5th 1983 Tier 2 I divisioona (First Division) Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 1st Promotion Group 2nd, promoted 1984 Tier 1 Mestaruussarja Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto 12th Relegated 1985 Tier 2 I divisioona (First Division) Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 1st Promoted 1986 Tier 1 Mestaruussarja Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto 7th 1987 Tier 1 Mestaruussarja Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto 7th 1988 Tier 1 Mestaruussarja Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto 9th Relegation Group 3rd 1989 Tier 1 Mestaruussarja Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto 9th Relegation Group 4th 1990 Tier 1 Futisliiga Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto 3rd Play-offs 1991 Tier 1 Futisliiga Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto 2nd 1992 Tier 1 Veikkausliiga Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto 10th 1993 Tier 1 Veikkausliiga Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto 9th Relegation Group 1st 1994 Tier 1 Veikkausliiga Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto 11th 1995 Tier 1 Veikkausliiga Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto 11th Relegation play-off 1996 Tier 1 Veikkausliiga Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto 12th Relegated 1997 Tier 2 Ykkönen (First Division) South Group Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 4th Promotion Group 7th 1998 Tier 2 Ykkönen (First Division) North Group Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 6th Relegation Group 1st 1999 did not participate 2000 did not participate 2001 did not participate 2002 Tier 3 Kakkonen (Second Division) East Group Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 2nd 2003 Tier 3 Kakkonen (Second Division) East Group Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 2nd Play-offs, promoted 2004 Tier 2 Ykkönen (First Division) Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 7th 2005 Tier 2 Ykkönen (First Division) Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 9th 2006 Tier 2 Ykkönen (First Division) Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 13th Relegated 2007 Tier 3 Kakkonen (Second Division) Group A Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 3rd 2008 Tier 3 Kakkonen (Second Division) Group A Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 6th 2009 Tier 3 Kakkonen (Second Division) Group A Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 1st Promoted 2010 Tier 2 Ykkönen (First Division) Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 14th Relegated 2011 Tier 3 Kakkonen (Second Division) Group A Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 3rd 2012 Tier 3 Kakkonen (Second Division) East Group Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 3rd 2013 Tier 3 Kakkonen (Second Division) East Group Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 2nd 2014 Tier 3 Kakkonen (Second Division) East Group Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 2nd Promoted 2015 Tier 2 Ykkönen (First Division) Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 9th Relegated 2016 Tier 3 Kakkonen (Second Division) Group A Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 3rd 2017 Tier 3 Kakkonen (Second Division) Group A Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 9th 2018 Tier 3 Kakkonen (Second Division) Group A Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 7th 2019 Tier 3 Kakkonen (Second Division) Group A Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 1st Promoted 2020 Tier 2 Ykkönen (First Division) Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 7th 2021 Tier 2 Ykkönen (First Division) Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 9th 2022 Tier 2 Ykkönen (First Division) Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 8th 2023 Tier 2 Ykkönen (First Division) Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 3rd Promotion Playoff 2024 Tier 2 Ykkösliiga (League One) Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 10th Relegated 2025 Tier 3 Ykkönen (First Division) Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 25 seasons in Veikkausliiga 25 seasons in Second Tier 32 seasons in Third Tier 6 seasons in Fourth Tier

Current squad

As of 3 August 2024^[1]

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 5 DF  FIN Olli Kilpelainen 7 MF  FIN Niila Forsell 8 MF  FIN Rasmus Lehtonen 10 FW  FIN Ajack Deng 12 DF  FIN Ville Laiho 14 MF  FIN Jesse Jäppinen 15 DF  FIN Joel Laitinen 17 MF  FIN Valtteri Nikulainen 18 MF  FIN Ossi Torniainen

No. Pos. Nation Player 20 MF  FIN Oliver Häyhänen 22 DF  FIN Kasper Viramäki 23 FW  FIN Eero Ylönen 24 DF  FIN Jesse Kilpeläinen 27 MF  FIN Veeti Määttä 30 GK  FIN Timi Heikkinen 45 FW  FIN Veikko Karttunen — FW  GHA Torfiq Ali-Abubakar — GK  FIN Samu Volotinen — MF  FIN Akon Kuek (on loan from VPS)

Management and boardroom

Management

As of 21 February 2020^[2]

Name Role Issa Thiaw Head coach Jorma Naakka Coach Ozeias Graciano Coach Janne Loukiainen Coach Mika Korpela Team manager Aki Lampinen Kit manager Hannu Paajanen Doctor Ilari Kuitunen Doctor Timo Kyttä Physiotherapist Janne Lindberg Coaching coordinator Ilkka Mäkelä Club president

Notable former players

• Jussi Jääskeläinen
• Topi Keskinen
• Shefki Kuqi
• Eetu Muinonen