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.
 | |
| Founded | 1973 |
|---|---|
| Country | Finland |
| Divisions | 3 |
| Number of clubs | 30 |
| Level on pyramid | 3 (1973–2023) 4 (2024–) |
| Promotion to | Ykkönen |
| Relegation to | Kolmonen |
| Domestic cup(s) | Finnish Cup |
| Current champions | PK-35 (2023) |
| Website | palloliitto.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
editFor 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
editThe Football Association of Finland (Finnish: Suomen Palloliitto, SPL; Swedish: Finlands Bollförbund, FBF) administers the Kakkonen.
Sections and teams 2022
editKakkonen Group A
edit| 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
edit| 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
edit| 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
edit| 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
edit1970–1972 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
edit- ^ "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.
- ^ "Summary - Kakkonen - Finland - Results, fixtures, tables and news - Soccerway". int.soccerway.com. Retrieved 9 April 2018.
- ^ http://www.palloliitto.fi/palloliitto/sarajat-ja-tulokset/miehet/kakkonen-2016/[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Tulospalvelu". Palloliitto. Retrieved 28 March 2022.