Vaasan Palloseura

Vaasan Palloseura, commonly referred to as VPS, is a Finnish football club, based in Vaasa. It currently plays in the first tier of Finnish football (Veikkausliiga). The club's current manager is Jussi Nuorela. The club plays its home matches at Hietalahti. VPS played twice in the UEFA Cup in 1998–99 and in 1999–00, but were knocked out in the 2nd Qualifying Round by Grazer AK of Austria and in the 1st Qualifying Round by St Johnstone of Scotland.

VPS

Full name	Vaasan Palloseura
Nickname(s)	Vepsu, Raita (the Stripe)
Founded	1924; 101 years ago (1924)
Ground	Hietalahti, Vaasa, Finland
Capacity	6,005
Chairman	Timo Harri
Manager	Jussi Nuorela
League	Veikkausliiga
2024	Veikkausliiga, 5th of 12
Website	vepsu.fi
Home colours Away colours Third colours

Hietalahden Jalkapallostadion

In spring of 2015 it was announced that the construction of VPS's new stadium would start soon. The construction of the new stadium began in the summer of 2015 and was completed in August 2016.^[1]

Achievements

• Mestaruussarja/Veikkausliiga
  • Winners (2): 1945, 1948
  • Runners-up (5): 1932, 1940–41, 1949, 1997, 1998
  • Third place (3): 1938, 2013, 2023^[2]
• Ykkönen:
  • Winners (1): 2021
• Finnish Cup:
  • Runners-up (1): 1972
• Finnish League Cup:
  • Winners (2): 1999, 2000
  • Runners-up (2): 1997, 2014

European campaigns

Season	Competition	Round	Club	1st Leg	2nd Leg	Aggregate
1998–99	UEFA Cup	1Q	HB Tórshavn	0–2	4–0	4–2
		2Q	Grazer AK	0–0	0–3	0–3
1999–00	UEFA Cup	QR	St Johnstone	1–1	0–2	1–3
2014–15	UEFA Europa League	1Q	IF Brommapojkarna	2–1	0–2	2–3
2015–16	UEFA Europa League	1Q	AIK	2–2	0–4	2–6
2017–18	UEFA Europa League	1Q	Olimpija Ljubljana	1–0	1–0	2–0
		2Q	Brøndby IF	0–2	2–1	2–3
2024–25	UEFA Conference League	1Q	Žalgiris	1–2	0–1	1−3

Season to season

Season to Season

Season Level Division Section Administration Position Movements 1930 Tier 1 A-sarja (Premier League) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 5th 1931 Tier 1 A-sarja (Premier League) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 4th 1932 Tier 1 A-sarja (Premier League) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 2nd 1933 Tier 1 A-sarja (Premier League) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 7th Relegated 1934 Tier 2 Itä-Länsi-sarja (First Division) West Group Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 1st Promotion Group 1st, Promoted 1935 Tier 1 Mestaruussarja (Premier League) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 5th 1936 Tier 1 Mestaruussarja (Premier League) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 7th Relegated 1937 Tier 2 Itä-Länsi-sarja (First Division) West Group Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 1st Promotion Play-Off, Promoted 1938 Tier 1 Mestaruussarja (Premier League) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 3rd 1939 Tier 1 Mestaruussarja (Premier League) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 6th 1940-41 Tier 1 Mestaruussarja (Premier League) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 2nd 1943-44 Tier 1 Mestaruussarja (Premier League) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 6th 1945 Tier 1 Mestaruussarja Karsinta (Premier League Qualification) Group 1 Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 3rd Qualification to 1945-46 Mestaruussarja, Official Champions via cup-competition 1945-46 Tier 1 Mestaruussarja (Premier League) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 3rd 1946-47 Tier 1 Mestaruussarja (Premier League) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 3rd 1947-48 Tier 1 Mestaruussarja (Premier League) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 6th 1948 Tier 1 Mestaruussarja (Premier League) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 1st Championship Rematch, Champions 1949 Tier 1 Mestaruussarja (Premier League) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 2nd 1950 Tier 1 Mestaruussarja (Premier League) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 5th 1951 Tier 1 Mestaruussarja (Premier League) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 8th 1952 Tier 1 Mestaruussarja (Premier League) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 6th 1953 Tier 1 Mestaruussarja (Premier League) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 9th Relegated 1954 Tier 2 Suomensarja (First Division) West Group Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 1st Promoted 1955 Tier 1 Mestaruussarja (Premier League) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 5th 1956 Tier 1 Mestaruussarja (Premier League) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 6th 1957 Tier 1 Mestaruussarja (Premier League) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 7th 1958 Tier 1 Mestaruussarja (Premier League) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 9th Relegated 1959 Tier 2 Suomensarja (First Division) North Group Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 5th 1960 Tier 2 Suomensarja (First Division) North Group Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 4th 1961 Tier 2 Suomensarja (First Division) North Group Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 1st Promotion Play-Off, Promoted 1962 Tier 1 Mestaruussarja (Premier League) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 10th Relegated 1963 Tier 2 Suomensarja (First Division) North Group Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 2nd 1964 Tier 2 Suomensarja (First Division) North Group Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 1st Promoted 1965 Tier 1 Mestaruussarja (Premier League) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 9th 1966 Tier 1 Mestaruussarja (Premier League) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 9th 1967 Tier 1 Mestaruussarja (Premier League) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 9th 1968 Tier 1 Mestaruussarja (Premier League) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 12th Relegated 1969 Tier 2 II divisioona (First Division) West Group Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 4th 1970 Tier 2 II divisioona (First Division) North Group Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 1st Promoted 1971 Tier 1 Mestaruussarja (Premier League) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 10th 1972 Tier 1 Mestaruussarja (Premier League) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 11th Relegated 1973 Tier 2 I divisioona (First Division) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 3rd 1974 Tier 2 I divisioona (First Division) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 2nd Promoted 1975 Tier 1 Mestaruussarja (Premier League) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 7th 1976 Tier 1 Mestaruussarja (Premier League) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 7th 1977 Tier 1 Mestaruussarja (Premier League) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 12th Relegated 1978 Tier 2 I divisioona (First Division) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 11th Relegated 1979 Tier 3 II divisioona (Second Division) North Group Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 7th 1980 Tier 3 II divisioona (Second Division) North Group Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 11th Relegated 1981 Tier 4 III divisioona (Third Division) Section 8 1st Promotion play-offs, Promoted 1982 Tier 3 II divisioona (Second Division) North Group Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 3rd 1983 Tier 3 II divisioona (Second Division) North Group Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 3rd 1984 Tier 3 II divisioona (Second Division) North Group Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 5th 1985 Tier 3 II divisioona (Second Division) North Group Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 5th 1986 Tier 3 II divisioona (Second Division) North Group Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 2nd 1987 Tier 3 II divisioona (Second Division) North Group Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 4th 1988 Tier 3 II divisioona (Second Division) North Group Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 9th 1989 Tier 3 II divisioona (Second Division) North Group Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 5th 1990 Tier 3 II divisioona (Second Division) North Group Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 4th 1991 Tier 3 II divisioona (Second Division) North Group Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 1st Promoted 1992 Tier 2 I divisioona (First Division) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 5th 1993 Tier 2 I divisioona (First Division) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 10th 1994 Tier 2 Ykkönen (First Division) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 2nd Promoted 1995 Tier 1 Veikkausliiga (Premier League) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 10th 1996 Tier 1 Veikkausliiga (Premier League) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 7th Relegation Group – 7th 1997 Tier 1 Veikkausliiga (Premier League) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 2nd UEFA Cup First qualifying round 1998 Tier 1 Veikkausliiga (Premier League) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 2nd UEFA Cup Qualifying round 1999 Tier 1 Veikkausliiga (Premier League) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 11th Relegation Group – Play-offs 2000 Tier 1 Veikkausliiga (Premier League) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 10th 2001 Tier 1 Veikkausliiga (Premier League) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 6th 2002 Tier 1 Veikkausliiga (Premier League) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 11th Relegation Group – 7th – Relegated 2003 Tier 2 Ykkönen (First Division) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 5th 2004 Tier 2 Ykkönen (First Division) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 6th 2005 Tier 2 Ykkönen (First Division) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 2nd Play-offs – Promoted 2006 Tier 1 Veikkausliiga (Premier League) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 9th 2007 Tier 1 Veikkausliiga (Premier League) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 10th 2008 Tier 1 Veikkausliiga (Premier League) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 11th 2009 Tier 1 Veikkausliiga (Premier League) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 8th 2010 Tier 1 Veikkausliiga (Premier League) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 10th 2011 Tier 1 Veikkausliiga (Premier League) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 9th 2012 Tier 1 Veikkausliiga (Premier League) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 8th 2013 Tier 1 Veikkausliiga (Premier League) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 3rd UEFA Europa League First qualifying round 2014 Tier 1 Veikkausliiga (Premier League) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 4th UEFA Europa League First qualifying round 2015 Tier 1 Veikkausliiga (Premier League) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 10th 2016 Tier 1 Veikkausliiga (Premier League) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 4th UEFA Europa League First qualifying round 2017 Tier 1 Veikkausliiga (Premier League) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 8th 2018 Tier 1 Veikkausliiga (Premier League) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 6th 2019 Tier 1 Veikkausliiga (Premier League) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 12th Relegated 2020 Tier 2 Ykkönen (First Division) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 6th 2021 Tier 2 Ykkönen (First Division) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 1st Promoted 2022 Tier 1 Veikkausliiga (Premier League) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 8th 2023 Tier 1 Veikkausliiga (Premier League) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 3rd 2024 Tier 1 Veikkausliiga (Premier League) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 59 seasons in Veikkausliiga 21 seasons in Ykkönen 12 seasons in Kakkonen 1 season in Kolmonen [3][4][5]

Current squad

As of 2 April 2025^[6]

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 Teppo Marttinen 2 DF  FIN Josep Nuorela 4 DF  FIN Jesper Engström 7 DF  ENG Alfie Cicale 11 FW  DEN Mads Borchers 12 GK  FIN Lauri Vetri 15 FW  AUS Luka Smyth 19 DF  FIN Martti Haukioja 21 MF  GHA Prosper Ahiabu 23 DF  FIN Miika Niemi 24 GK  FIN Rasmus Leislahti 25 MF  FIN Samuel Lindeman 26 MF  FIN Antonio Almen 29 DF  GNB Pedro Justiniano

No. Pos. Nation Player 30 MF  FIN Joonas Vahtera 31 DF  FIN Deng Madut 33 MF  FIN Akon Kuek 34 MF  FIN Antti-Ville Räisänen 36 DF  FIN Felix Friberg — MF  FRA Yassine El Ouatki — DF  SWE Vilmer Rönnberg — MF  NGA Mmenie-Abasi Etok 36 FW  FIN Olli Jakonen — DF  NED Tristan Dekker — DF  FIN Joonas Lakkamäki — DF  ENG Tyler Reid — MF  SEN Maissa Fall — FW  CAN Nicolas Fleuriau Chateau (on loan from Vancouver Whitecaps)

Out on loan

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 — DF  FIN Felix Friberg (at KPV Kokkola until 31 December 2025)

Management and boardroom

Management

As of 10 March 2024^[7]

Name	Role
Jussi Nuorela	Head Coach
Henri Sillanpää	Assistant Coach
Kari Salmi	Fitness Coach
Vesa Kumpula	Goalkeeper Coach
Tommi Helminen	Video Analyst
Loai Mohamed	Video Analyst
Veli Lampi	Team Manager
Jouko Jokinen	Team Manager

Boardroom

As of 24 September 2020^[8]

Name Role Timo Harri Chairman Riku Asukas Vice Chairman Tommi Pikkarainen Sporting director

Managers

• Nuutti Lintamo (1945–46)
• Heikki Kultti (1945–48)
• Géza Toldi (1948–49)
• Tauno Koistinen (1950)
• Jussi Sillanpää (1951)
• Tauno Koistinen (1952–53)
• Martti Häyhä (1954–58)
• Ole Stolpe (1959)
• Erkki Riihimäki (1960–62)
• Niilo Kinnunen (1963)
• Jussi Sillanpää (1964–68)
• Jovan Jevtić (1969–70)
• Kari Dahlsten (1970–72)
• Raimo Hudd (1973)
• Eero Tuhkanen (1974–77)
• Pekka Mäkelä (1978)
• Erkki Myllyaho (1979)
• Esa Virta (1980–82)
• Raimo Hudd (1983)
• Jarmo Meltoranta (1984)
• Jerzy Wojtowicz (1985–87)
• Jarmo Meltoranta (1988–89)
• Markku Myötänen (1989–90)
• Boguslaw Hajdas (1991–92)
• Jerzy Wojtowicz (1993)
• Bogusław Hajdas (1993–95)
• Tomasz Arceusz (1995)
• Heikki Suhonen (1995)
• Hannu Touru (1996–98)
• Sören Cratz (1999)
• Kimmo Lipponen (1999)
• Jukka Ikäläinen (2000–01)
• Keijo Paananen (2002)
• Stephen Ward (2003–04)
• Jari Pyykölä (1 January 2006 – 9 June 2007)
• Mika Koivumäki (2007)
• Janne Lindberg (18 June 2007 – 31 December 2007)
• Tomi Kärkkäinen (1 January 2008 – 15 May 2009)
• Petri Vuorinen (1 January 2009 – 15 May 2009)
• Tommi Pikkarainen (2010–11)
• Petri Vuorinen (10 January 2011 – 28 July 2011)
• Olli Huttunen (1 January 2012 – 29 June 2015)
• Petri Vuorinen (29 June 2015 – 8 July 2019)
• Christian Sund (8 July 2019 – 31 December 2020)
• Jukka Karjalainen (1 January 2021 – 17 June 2021)
• Jussi Nuorela (18 June 2021–)