The 2024 Veikkausliiga was the 94th season of top-tier football in Finland, which takes place from April to November. Veikkaus was the league's sponsor.
| Season | 2024 |
|---|---|
| Dates | 6 April – 19 October 2024 |
| Champions | KuPS |
| Relegated | EIF Lahti |
| Champions League | KuPS |
| Conference League | HJK Ilves SJK |
| Top goalscorer | Ashley Coffey(12 goals) |
| Biggest home win | Ilves 5–0 FC Haka 17 May 2024 |
| Biggest away win | Ekenäs IF 0–7 Inter Turku 14 July 2024 |
| Highest scoring | Ilves 4–6 IF Gnistan 13 April 2024 SJK 5–5 FC Lahti 27 July 2024 |
| Highest attendance | 8,835 HJK 0–1 Ilves (28 September 2024) |
← 2023 2025 →
All statistics correct as of 19 October 2024. | |
Teams
editThe league consisted of twelve teams; ten teams remaining from the previous season, and two teams promoted from the Ykkönen. HJK entered the season as defending champions (for the fourth consecutive season).
Team changes
edit| Promoted from 2023 Ykkönen |
Relegated to 2024 Ykkösliiga |
Relegated to 2025 Ykkösliiga |
|---|---|---|
| EIF Gnistan |
KTP | EIF Lahti |
EIF were promoted as champions of the 2023 Ykkönen (returning to the top flight after a 90-year absence), replacing the bottom-placed 2023 Veikkausliiga team (KTP, relegated after a single-year stint in top flight). Ykkönen runners-up Gnistan were also promoted (marking their debut in the top flight) after fifth-placed Veikkausliiga team Honka were demoted due to bankruptcy, replacing them in the league.[1][2]
At the end of the season, EIF were relegated back to Ykkösliiga after finishing 12th. The 11th placed team FC Lahti were defeated in the relegation play-offs by FF Jaro and were also relegated.
Stadiums and locations
edit
| Club | Location | Stadium | Turf | Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AC Oulu | Oulu | Raatti Stadium | Natural | 5,000 |
| Ekenäs IF | Ekenäs, Raseborg | Ekenäs Centrumplan | Artificial | 1,900 |
| FC Haka | Valkeakoski | Tehtaan kenttä | Artificial | 3,516 |
| FC Inter Turku | Turku | Veritas Stadion | Artificial | 9,372 |
| FC Lahti | Lahti | Lahti Stadium | Natural | 7,465 |
| HJK | Töölö, Helsinki | Bolt Arena | Artificial | 10,770 |
| IF Gnistan | Oulunkylä, Helsinki | Mustapekka Areena | Artificial | 2,200 |
| IFK Mariehamn | Mariehamn | Wiklöf Holding Arena | Artificial | 1,650 |
| Ilves | Tampere | Tammelan Stadion | Artificial | 8,000 |
| KuPS | Kuopio | Väre Areena | Artificial | 4,778 |
| SJK | Seinäjoki | OmaSP Stadion | Artificial | 5,817 |
| VPS | Vaasa | Hietalahti Stadium | Artificial | 6,005 |
Personnel and kits
editAll teams are obligated to have the Veikkausliiga logo on the right sleeve of their shirt.
Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players and Managers may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
| Team | Head coach | Captain | Kit manufacturer |
|---|---|---|---|
| AC Oulu |  Mikko Isokangas and  / Rafinha
|
Niklas Jokelainen
|
Craft |
| Ekenäs IF | Christian Sund
|
 Enoch Kofi Adu
|
Craft |
| FC Haka |  Andy Smith
|
 Guilherme Morais
|
Puma |
| FC Inter Turku | Vesa Vasara
|
Juuso Hämäläinen
|
Nike |
| FC Lahti | Ricardo Duarte
|
Mikko Viitikko
|
Adidas |
| HJK | Toni Korkeakunnas
|
Joona Toivio
|
Adidas |
| IF Gnistan | Jussi Leppälahti
|
Jukka Raitala
|
Puma |
| IFK Mariehaman |  Gary Williams
|
Robin Sid
|
Puma |
| Ilves | Joonas Rantanen
|
Otso Virtanen
|
Adidas |
| KuPS | Jani Honkavaara
|
Petteri Pennanen
|
Puma |
| SJK |  Stevie Grieve
|
Ville Tikkanen
|
Adidas |
| VPS | Jussi Nuorela
|
Jesper Engström
|
Nike |
Managerial changes
edit| Team | Outgoing manager | Manner of departure | Date of vacancy | Position in the table | Incoming manager | Date of appointment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AC Oulu | Rauno Ojanen / Jussi-Pekka Savolainen
|
Contract expired | 30 November 2023 | Pre-season | Tuomas Silvennoinen
|
8 November 2023 |
| AC Oulu | Tuomas Silvennoinen
|
Dismissed | 13 June 2024 | 10th |  Kostas Bratsos
|
20 June 2024 |
| AC Oulu | Kostas Bratsos
|
Dismissed | 2 September 2024 | 9th | Mikko Isokangas
|
2 September 2024 |
| Ekenäs IF |  Gabriel Garcia Xatart
|
Dismissed | 10 August 2024 | 12th | Christian Sund
|
12 August 2024 |
| FC Haka | Teemu Tainio
|
Signed by AEL Limassol | Pre-season | Andy Smith
|
31 October 2023[3] | |
| FC Inter Turku | Jarkko Wiss
|
Contract terminated | 6 November 2023[4] | Vesa Vasara
|
17 November 2023[5] | |
| FC Lahti | Toni Lindberg
|
Dismissed | 20 June 2024 | 11th | Ricardo Duarte
|
21 June 2024 |
| HJK | Toni Korkeakunnas
|
Contract expired | Pre-season | Ossi Virta / Ferran Sibila
|
14 November 2023 | |
| HJK | Ossi Virta / Ferran Sibila
|
Dismissed | 20 May 2024 | 5th | Toni Korkeakunnas
|
20 May 2024 |
| IF Gnistan | Joonas Rantanen
|
Signed by Ilves | 23 October 2023[6] | Pre-season | Jussi Leppälahti
|
10 November 2023[7] |
| IFK Mariehamn | Jimmy Wargh
|
Appointed the club director | Bruno Romão
|
20 December 2023[8] | ||
| IFK Mariehamn | Bruno Romão
|
Resigned | 14 August 2024[9] | 11th | Gary Williams
|
16 August 2024 |
| Ilves | Joni Lehtonen
|
Appointed the assistant coach | Pre-season | Joonas Rantanen
|
23 October 2023 | |
| SJK | Joaquín Gomez
|
Signed by Al Qadsiah FC | 4 November 2023 | Stevie Grieve/ Toni Lehtinen
|
12 January 2024[10] |
Regular season
editLeague table
edit
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | KuPS | 22 | 13 | 5 | 4 | 39 | 22 | +17 | 44 | Qualification for the Championship Round |
| 2 | HJK | 22 | 13 | 4 | 5 | 41 | 21 | +20 | 43 | |
| 3 | Ilves | 22 | 11 | 6 | 5 | 45 | 25 | +20 | 39 | |
| 4 | SJK | 22 | 10 | 6 | 6 | 40 | 33 | +7 | 36 | |
| 5 | Haka | 22 | 10 | 5 | 7 | 35 | 32 | +3 | 35 | |
| 6 | VPS | 22 | 9 | 5 | 8 | 34 | 36 | −2 | 32 | |
| 7 | Inter Turku | 22 | 9 | 4 | 9 | 38 | 29 | +9 | 31 | Qualification for the Relegation Round |
| 8 | Gnistan | 22 | 8 | 6 | 8 | 32 | 34 | −2 | 30 | |
| 9 | Oulu | 22 | 5 | 6 | 11 | 26 | 36 | −10 | 21 | |
| 10 | Mariehamn | 22 | 5 | 5 | 12 | 20 | 38 | −18 | 20 | |
| 11 | Lahti | 22 | 3 | 10 | 9 | 26 | 38 | −12 | 19 | |
| 12 | EIF | 22 | 3 | 4 | 15 | 19 | 51 | −32 | 13 |
Source: Flashscore
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored; 4) Head-to-head points; 5) Head-to-head goal difference; 6) Head-to-head away goals scored; 7) Play-off
(Note: Play-off is only played if need to decide champion, teams for relegation or UEFA competition and will be played on a neutral ground).
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored; 4) Head-to-head points; 5) Head-to-head goal difference; 6) Head-to-head away goals scored; 7) Play-off
(Note: Play-off is only played if need to decide champion, teams for relegation or UEFA competition and will be played on a neutral ground).
Results
editChampionship Round
editLeague table
edit
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | KuPS (C) | 27 | 17 | 5 | 5 | 46 | 24 | +22 | 56 | Qualification for the Champions League first qualifying round |
| 2 | Ilves | 27 | 16 | 6 | 5 | 56 | 27 | +29 | 54 | Qualification for the Conference League second qualifying round[a] |
| 3 | HJK | 27 | 13 | 6 | 8 | 44 | 27 | +17 | 45 | Qualification for the Conference League first qualifying round[a] |
| 4 | SJK (O) | 27 | 11 | 7 | 9 | 46 | 44 | +2 | 40 | Qualification for the Conference League first qualifying round play-off final |
| 5 | VPS | 27 | 11 | 6 | 10 | 43 | 45 | −2 | 39 | Qualification for the Conference League first qualifying round play-off quarter-finals |
| 6 | Haka | 27 | 11 | 5 | 11 | 40 | 43 | −3 | 38 |
Source: Flashscore
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored; 4) Head-to-head points; 5) Head-to-head goal difference; 6) Head-to-head away goals scored; 7) Play-off
(Note: Play-off is only played if need to decide champion, teams for relegation or UEFA competition and will be played on a neutral ground).
(C) Champions; (O) Play-off winners
Notes:
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored; 4) Head-to-head points; 5) Head-to-head goal difference; 6) Head-to-head away goals scored; 7) Play-off
(Note: Play-off is only played if need to decide champion, teams for relegation or UEFA competition and will be played on a neutral ground).
(C) Champions; (O) Play-off winners
Notes:
- ^ a b The 2024 Finnish Cup winners qualified for the Conference League second qualifying round. Since the cup winners (KuPS) qualified based on league position, the Conference League second round spot was passed to the second-placed team, the Conference League first round spot was passed to the third-placed team, the Conference League play-off final spot was passed to the fourth-placed team, and the fourth Conference League play-off quarter-final spot was passed to the eighth-placed team.
Results
editRelegation Round
editLeague table
edit
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Inter Turku | 27 | 12 | 5 | 10 | 46 | 34 | +12 | 41 | Qualification for the Conference League first qualifying round play-off quarter-finals |
| 2 | Gnistan | 27 | 10 | 7 | 10 | 40 | 43 | −3 | 37 | |
| 3 | Oulu | 27 | 7 | 7 | 13 | 32 | 40 | −8 | 28 | |
| 4 | Mariehamn | 27 | 7 | 5 | 15 | 27 | 44 | −17 | 26 | |
| 5 | Lahti (R) | 27 | 4 | 12 | 11 | 31 | 47 | −16 | 24 | Qualification for the Veikkausliiga play-off |
| 6 | EIF (R) | 27 | 4 | 7 | 16 | 24 | 57 | −33 | 19 | Relegation to the Ykkösliiga |
Source: Flashscore
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored; 4) Head-to-head points; 5) Head-to-head goal difference; 6) Head-to-head away goals scored; 7) Play-off
(Note: Play-off is only played if need to decide champion, teams for relegation or UEFA competition and will be played on a neutral ground).
(R) Relegated
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored; 4) Head-to-head points; 5) Head-to-head goal difference; 6) Head-to-head away goals scored; 7) Play-off
(Note: Play-off is only played if need to decide champion, teams for relegation or UEFA competition and will be played on a neutral ground).
(R) Relegated
Results
editResults by round
editPlay-offs
editConference League play-off
editTeams placed 4th-8th entered play-off matches for the second spot in the Conference League first qualifying round; the 4th-placed team received a bye to the final. The quarter and semi-finals are held over one leg (with the higher-placed team gaining home advantage), while the final is held over two legs.
Quarter-finals
edit| 23 October 2024 | Haka (6th) | 2–1 (a.e.t.) | Inter Turku (7th) | Valkeakoski |
| 13:00 BST | Olusanya  73'Bah-Traoré 114' |
Botué 40' |
Stadium: Tehtaan kenttä |
| 23 October 2024 | VPS (5th) | 0–1 | Gnistan (8th) | Vaasa |
| 13:00 BST | Penninkangas 78' |
Stadium: Hietalahti |
Semi-finals
edit| 26 October 2024 | Haka (6th) | 3–3 (a.e.t.) (4–3 p) | Gnistan (8th) | Valkeakoski |
| 15:00 BST | Olusanya 32' Whyte 89'Dantas 115' |
Väyrynen 68' Heiskanen 83'Latonenn 109' |
Stadium: Tehtaan kenttä | |
| Penalties | ||||
Lanquedoc  Mastokangas Olusanya Dantas  Whyte |
Väyrynen Pyyskänen Eremenko Kabashi Tatar |
|||
Final
editFirst leg
edit| 30 October 2024 | Haka (6th) | 1–2 | SJK (4th) | Valkeakoski |
| 16:00 BST | Fall 66' |
Streng 45' Moreno 80' |
Stadium: Tehtaan kenttä |
Second leg
editVeikkausliiga play-off
editThe eleventh-placed team (Lahti) faced the second-placed team from the 2024 Ykkösliiga (Jaro) in a two-legged play-off for the final place in the 2025 Veikkausliiga.
First leg
editSecond leg
editSeason statistics
edit
Top goalscorersedit
|
Hat-tricksedit
|
Awards
editTeam of the Year
edit
Kreidl
Pikkarainen
Antwi
Cissé
Heiskanen
Pennanen
Popovitch
Veteli
Haarala
Moreno
Jukkola
|
| Team of the Year[14] | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Goalkeeper |  Johannes Kreidl (KuPS)
| |||||||||||
| Defence |
Clinton Antwi (KuPS) |
Juhani Pikkarainen (Ilves) |
Ibrahim Cissé (KuPS) |
Saku Heiskanen (Gnistan) | ||||||||
| Midfield |
Petteri Pennanen (KuPS) |
|
Joona Veteli (Ilves) |
Oiva Jukkola (Ilves) | ||||||||
| Attack |  Jaime Moreno (SJK)
|
Santeri Haarala (Ilves)
| ||||||||||
| Manager | Jani Honkavaara (KuPS)
|
| Director | Miika Takkula (Ilves)
|
Monthly awards
edit| Month | Coach of the Month | Player of the Month |
|---|---|---|
| April[15] | Toni Lehtinen (SJK)
|
Topi Keskinen (HJK)
|
| May[16] | Jani Honkavaara (KuPS)
|
Ashley Coffey (AC Oulu)
|
| June[17] | Toni Korkeakunnas (HJK)
|
Jaime Moreno (SJK)
|
| July[18] | Jani Honkavaara (KuPS) (2)
|
Santeri Haarala (Ilves)
|
| August[19] | Jussi Leppälahti (Gnistan)
|
Tim Väyrynen (Gnistan)
|
| September | Joonas Rantanen (Ilves)
|
 Adeleke Akinyemi (Ilves)
|
| October[20] | Jani Honkavaara (KuPS) (3)
|
Petteri Pennanen (KuPS)
|
Attendance
edit| Pos | Team | Total | High | Low | Average | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | HJK | 85,069 | 8,835 | 6,361 | +13.0% | |
| 2 | Ilves | 80,941 | 8,017 | 5,782 | +128.2% | |
| 3 | KuPS | 49,843 | 8,543 | 3,560 | +26.4% | |
| 4 | SJK | 40,384 | 4,619 | 3,106 | +1.2% | |
| 5 | VPS | 37,727 | 3,412 | 2,961 | +10.6% | |
| 6 | FC Inter | 35,967 | 4,023 | 2,511 | −17.0% | |
| 7 | FC Lahti | 29,315 | 3,471 | 2,255 | +3.7% | |
| 8 | Haka | 29,116 | 4,347 | 2,240 | −11.8% | |
| 9 | Gnistan | 29,838 | 3,024 | 2,131 | +161.8%† | |
| 10 | AC Oulu | 24,336 | 2,929 | 1,738 | −10.5% | |
| 11 | IFK Mariehamn | 17,446 | 1,723 | 1,342 | +14.4% | |
| 12 | EIF | 15,053 | 1,640 | 1,158 | +24.2%† | |
| League total | 473,225 | 8,835 | 2,957 | +9.3% |
Source: [1]
Notes:
† Promoted from 2023 Ykkönen
See also
edit
References
edit- ^ "Ghanaian midfielder Enoch Adu Kofi leads Ekenäs IF to Finnish top-flight promotion after 90-year hiatus". Ghana Soccernet. 14 November 2023.
- ^ "Gnistan gets Veikkausliiga-level conditions in Oulunkylä - "Thanks to the city for excellent cooperation"". Veikkausliiga. 22 February 2024.
- ^ FC Haka palkkasi yllätysnimen – ansioluettelo päävalmentajana erittäin lyhyt, Helsingin Sanomat, 31 October 2023.
- ^ Turun Inter erotti Jarkko Wissin – MTV: päävalmentaja ahdisteli naistyöntekijää, Yle, 6 November 2023.
- ^ Vesa Vasara siirtyy FC Interin päävalmentajaksi, suomifutis.com, 17 November 2023.
- ^ Joonas Rantanen Ilveksen päävalmentajaksi – jalkapallojoukkueen nykyinen valmennustiimi jatkaa tukena, Yle, 23 October 2023.
- ^ JUSSI LEPPÄLAHTI GNISTANIN PÄÄVALMENTAJAKSI, gnistan.fi, 10 November 2023.
- ^ IFK Mariehamn portugalilaiskomentoon - Bruno Romão uusi päävalmentaja, veikkausliiga.com, 20 December 2023.
- ^ IFK Mariehamnin vuoro vaihtaa päävalmentajaa: Bruno Romao sivuun, Yle
- ^ Seinäjoen Jalkapallokerhon päävalmentaja kaudella 2024 on Toni Lehtinen, sjk.fi, 12 January 2024.
- ^ "Veikkausliiga perustilastot". Veikkausliiga.
- ^ Villi 10 maalin ottelu Veikkausliigassa – tulikuuma Joakim Latonen iski hattutempun ja Gnistan nousi sarjakärkeen, Yle, 13 April 2024.
- ^ Luke Plangen hattutempulla kolme pistettä – ”Tarvitsimme tätä voittoa”, hjk.fi, 8 June 2024
- ^ "Koplajoukkue 2024 nimetty - jalkapallotoimittajien valinnat vuoden parhaiksi palkitaan lauantaina". www.veikkausliiga.com (in Finnish). Retrieved 2024-10-20.
- ^ Huhtikuun joukkue valittu - HJK:n Topi Keskinen Veikkausliigan kuukauden pelaaja (in Finnish)
- ^ AC Oulun Ashley Coffey kuukauden pelaaja - Veikkausliigan toukokuun joukkue valittu (in Finnish)
- ^ SJK:n Jaime Moreno Veikkausliigan kuukauden pelaaja kesäkuussa, veikkaus.fi, 5 July 2024
- ^ Ilveksen Santeri Haarala Veikkausliigan kuukauden pelaaja heinäkuussa, veikkaus.fi, 2 August 2024
- ^ Gnistanin Tim Väyrynen Veikkausliigan kuukauden pelaaja elokuussa, veikkaus.fi, 30 August 2024
- ^ KuPS:n Petteri Pennanen Veikkausliigan kuukauden pelaaja lokakuussa, veikkaus.fi, 6 November 2024