Kakkonen or II divisioona is the fourth level in the league system of Finnish football and comprises 36 Finnish football teams. Until the end of 2023, Kakkonen was the third-highest level in Finland, but after the creation of new second-tier Ykkösliiga, Kakkonen also dropped down one level in the league pyramid. The new fourth-tier Kakkonen is divided to three groups, each consisting of 10 teams.

Kakkonen (in Finnish)
Tvåan (in Swedish)
Founded1973
CountryFinland
Divisions3
Number of teams30
Level on pyramid3 (1973–2023)
4 (2024–)
Promotion toYkkönen
Relegation toKolmonen
Domestic cup(s)Finnish Cup
Current championsPK-35
(2023)
Websitepalloliitto.fi/kakkonen
Current: 2024 Kakkonen

The II divisioona was introduced in 1973 and in the mid-1990s became known as the Kakkonen (Finnish for 'Number Two'; Swedish: Tvåan). Sakari Tukiainen finished the season 2014 as the top goal scorer and setting a new league record with 40 goals for the Kakkonen.[1] Petter Meyer finished the 2015 as the top goal scorer for GrIFK with 23 goals.[2]

League structure

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For the 2012 season the format of the Kakkonen has been changed with the league divided in 4 groups of 10 teams, each representing a geographical area. Every club plays each of the others in the same group three times. Clubs gain three points for a win, one for a draw, and none for a loss. The group winners may win promotion to Ykkönen while two bottom clubs of each group and weakest 8th ranked club will be relegated to Kolmonen.

For the 2016 season the format of the Kakkonen has been changed with the league divided into 3 groups of 12 teams. Each club plays the others in its group twice. The group winners and the best second place team have a chance of winning one of two promotion places to Ykkönen after a four team playoff. The bottom three teams in each group 10, 11 and 12 will be relegated to Kolmonen.[3]

Administration

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The Football Association of Finland (Finnish: Suomen Palloliitto, SPL; Swedish: Finlands Bollförbund, FBF) administers the Kakkonen.

Sections and teams 2022

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Kakkonen Group A

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No. Abbreviated Name Town or Settlement Official Club and Team Name Movements from 2021
1. Atlantis Helsinki Atlantis FC
2. FC Futura Porvoo FC Futura Promoted from Kolmonen
3. Kiffen Helsinki Kronohagens Idrottsförening
4. FC LaPa Lappeenranta FC LaPa
5. JIPPO Joensuu JIPPO Joensuu Relegated from 2021 Ykkönen
6. KuPS Akatemia Kuopio Kuopion Palloseura Akatemia Inherited place of KuFu-98
7. KäPa Käpylä, Helsinki Käpylän Pallo
8. NJS Nurmijärvi Nurmijärven Jalkapalloseura
9. PKKU Järvenpää, Kerava and Tuusula Pallokerho Keski-Uusimaa
10. PPJ Helsinki Pallo-Pojat Juniorit Promoted from Kolmonen
11. PeKa Karhula, Kotka Peli-Karhut
12. Reipas Lahti Lahden Reipas

Kakkonen Group B

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No. Abbreviated Name Town or Settlement Official Club and Team Name Movements from 2021
1. EPS Espoonlahti, Espoo Espoon Palloseura
2. FC Honka/Akatemia Espoo Esport Honka Akatemia
3. FC Jazz Pori FC Jazz
4. GrIFK Kauniainen Grankulla Idrottsföreningen Kamraterna
5. Klubi 04 Helsinki HJK Klubi 04 Relegated from 2021 Ykkönen
6. HJS Hämeenlinna Hämeenlinnan Jalkapalloseura
7. Ilves-Kissat Tampere Tampereen-Viipurin Ilves-Kissat
8. Ilves/2 Tampere Tampereen Ilves/2
9. KaaPo Kaarina Kaarinan Pojat
10. MuSa Musa, Pori Musan Salama Relegated from 2021 Ykkönen
11. SalPa Salo Salon Palloilijat
12. TamU Tampere Tampere United
13. VJS Vantaa Vantaan Jalkapalloseura

Kakkonen Group C

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No. Abbreviated Name Town or Settlement Official Club and Team Name Movements from 2021
1. FC Vaajakoski Vaajakoski, Jyväskylä Football Club Vaajakoski
2. GBK Kokkola Gamlakarleby Bollklubb
3. Hercules Oulu Jalkapalloseura Hercules
4. JBK Jakobstad Jakobstads Bollklubb
5. JJK Jyväskylä Jyväskylän Jalkapalloklubi
6. KajHa Kajaani Kajaanin Haka Promoted from Kolmonen
7. Komeetat Jyväskylä Jyväskylän Komeetat Promoted from Kolmonen
8. Närpes Kraft Närpes Närpes Kraft Fotbollsförening
9. OLS Oulu Oulun Luistinseura
10. OTP Oulu Oulun Työväen Palloilijat
11. RoPS Rovaniemi Rovaniemen Palloseura Gave up its place in Ykkönen
12. VIFK Vaasa Vasa Idrottsföreningen Kamraterna

All details taken from Finnish FA website.[4]

Seasons – League Tables

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1970s: 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979
1980s: 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989
1990s: 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999
2000s: 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009
2010s: 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
2020s: 2020 2021 2022

Group Winners

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1970–1972 II divisioona, Tier 2

Year East Group West Group North Group
1970 MiPK TPV VPS
1971 Ponnistus TaPa KPT
1972 Ponnistus I-Kissat OTP

1973–1993 II divisioona, Tier 3

Year East Group West Group North Group
1973 HPS TuTo KaPa
1974 LaPS Pyrkivä Sport
1975 KIF MuSa KPS
1976 FinnPa IFK Mariehamn Into
1977 KTP GrIFK OLS
1978 Honka LappBK RoPS
1979 LaPa RPallo Jaro
1980 Elo FinnPa JyP-77
1981 Ponnistus GrIFK KePS
1982 HPS PPT Huima
1983 Karpalo P-Iirot KaPa
1984 LauTP HPK KajHa
1985 TPV KontU PK-37
1986 GrIFK VaKP KaPa
1987 VanPa TuTo Jaro
1988 KumuP TuPa PK-37
1989 JoKu GrIFK TP-55
1990 FinnPa P-Iirot OLS
1991 VanPa TPV VPS
1992 Ponnistus P-Iirot KajHa
1993 KTP PIF FC 1991

1994-2023 Kakkonen, Tier 3

Year South Group East Group West Group North Group
1994 K-Team Rakuunat PP-70 GBK
1995 HIK TiPS TP-Seinäjoki OPS
1996 PK-35 VarTP Kraft KPT-85
1997 Atlantis Kultsu KPV-j KajHa
1998 TiPS RiPS MuSa KuPS
1999 FC Hämeenlinna Rakuunat ÅIFK Tervarit
2000 Gnistan FC Kuusankoski SalPa TP-47
2001 Viikingit KooTeePee VG-62 KoMu
2002 FC Espoo WJK TPV OLS
2003 PK-35 Kings P-Iirot PS Kemi
2004 Atlantis JJK FJK KPV
2005 Klubi 04 JIPPO SalPa VIFK
Year A-Group B-Group C-Group
2006 JJK TPV GBK
2007 KäPa GrIFK PS Kemi
2008 Klubi 04 PoPa Kiisto
2009 MP FC Espoo OPS-jp
2010 HIFK Ilves Santa Claus
2011 Klubi 04 BK-46 SJK
Year South Group East Group West Group North Group
2012 ÅIFK JäPS Ilves AC Kajaani
2013 EIF HIFK FC Jazz PS Kemi
2014 EIF Atlantis VIFK PS Kemi
2015 FC Honka Klubi 04 GrIFK KPV
Year A-Group B-Group C-Group
2016 Gnistan FC Honka Oulun Palloseura
2017 KTP FC Viikingit AC Kajaani
2018 MYPA MuSa TPV
2019 Mikkelin Palloilijat IF Gnistan SJK Akatemia
2020 PK-35 Klubi 04 JIPPO
2021 JäPS Pargas IF SJK Akatemia
2022 KäPa SalPa JJK
2023 JIPPO EPS OLS

2024- Kakkonen, Tier 4

Year A-Group B-Group C-Group
2024 Reipas Inter Turku 2 GBK Kokkola

Footnotes

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  1. ^ "Kakkosen ihmemies iski taas hattutempun - maaliennätys uudelle kymmenluvulle". iltasanomat.fi. 4 October 2014. Archived from the original on October 6, 2014. Retrieved 9 April 2018.
  2. ^ "Summary - Kakkonen - Finland - Results, fixtures, tables and news - Soccerway". int.soccerway.com. Retrieved 9 April 2018.
  3. ^ http://www.palloliitto.fi/palloliitto/sarajat-ja-tulokset/miehet/kakkonen-2016/[permanent dead link]
  4. ^ "Tulospalvelu". Palloliitto. Retrieved 28 March 2022.
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