Ekenäs IF

Ekenäs Idrottsförening (abbreviated EIF or Ekenäs IF) is a sports club from Ekenäs, Raseborg in Finland. EIF was formed in 1905 and they are one of the oldest clubs in the south-west of Finland. The men's football first team currently plays in the Veikkausliiga, Finnish premier division. Their home ground is at the Ekenäs Sparbank Arena, formerly known as "Ekenäs Centrumplan" in Ekenäs. The Chairman of EIF is Peter Haglund.

Ekenäs Idrottsförening

Full name	Ekenäs Idrottsförening
Nickname(s)	EIF Ekenäs IF
Founded	1905; 119 years ago (1905)
Ground	Ekenäs Sparbank Arena, Ekenäs, Raseborg, Finland
Capacity	1,900
Chairman	Peter Haglund
Head Coach	Christian Sund
League	Ykkösliiga
2024	Veikkausliiga, 12th of 12 (relegated)
Home colours Away colours

The club currently has sections covering football, handball, floorball and disc golf. EIF's athletics section set up Karis IK and from 1 January 2009, simultaneously with a municipal merger, transferred its activities to the new IF Raseborg club. Ekenäs is one of the few towns in Swedish-speaking area to have had a team in the top division.

History

Ekenäs Idrottsförening has a long football history which reached its pinnacle with one season in the highest division, the Mestaruussarja (Championship), back in 1933. They have also had 8 seasons in the Suomisarjaa (Finland League) which at that time was the second tier of Finnish football in 1938–39 and 1946/47–51.^[1]

EIF have had five periods covering 26 seasons in the Kakkonen (Second Division), the third tier of Finnish football from 1975 to 1976, 1981–88, 1991–92, 1994–98 and 2002 to the current day.^[2]

EIF has a thriving junior section with a large number of teams.

A new highest ever attendance for an EIF match was made in 2013 when 2,014 people attended the home game with FC Jazz. The old record was from 1975 when 1,625 people attended the home game with HAIK.^[3]

EIF made history in March 2018 by qualifying for the Semi-final of the Finnish Cup for the first time, beating FC Haka 2–1 at home.

Season to season

Season to Season

Season Level Division Section Administration Position Movements 1930 Tier 2 B-Sarja (Second Division) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) Quarterfinal Cup-format 1931 1932 Tier 2 B-Sarja (Second Division) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 2nd Promoted 1933 Tier 1 A-Sarja (Division One) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 8th Relegated 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 Tier 2 Itä-Länsi-sarja (Second Division) West League, Southern Group Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 6th 1939 Tier 2 Itä-Länsi-sarja (Second Division) West League, Group 2 Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 5th 1940-41 Tier 3 C-Sarja (Third Division) Group 1 Helsinki & Turku Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 3rd 1941-45 Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) Wartime series unknown 1945-46 Tier 3 Maakuntasarja (Third Division) West Uusimaa Group Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 1st Promotion Playoff - Promoted 1946-47 Tier 2 Suomensarja (Second Division) South Group Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 6th 1947-48 Tier 2 Suomensarja (Second Division) South Group Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 5th 1948 Tier 2 Suomensarja (Second Division) South Group Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 4th 1949 Tier 2 Suomensarja (Second Division) West Group Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 7th 1950 Tier 2 Suomensarja (Second Division) West Group Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 8th 1951 Tier 2 Suomensarja (Second Division) West Group Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 9th Relegated 1952 Tier 3 Maakuntasarja (Third Division) West Group A Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 5th 1953 Tier 3 Maakuntasarja (Third Division) West Group A Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 1st Promotion Group West 8th 1954 Tier 3 Maakuntasarja (Third Division) West Group III Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 4th 1955 Tier 3 Maakuntasarja (Third Division) South Group I Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 5th 1956 Tier 3 Maakuntasarja (Third Division) South Group I Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 7th Relegated 1957 Tier 4 Aluesarja (Fourth Division) Group 2 Helsinki & West Uusimaa Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 1st Promoted 1958 Tier 3 Maakuntasarja (Third Division) Group 3 Turku Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 8th 1959 Tier 3 Maakuntasarja (Third Division) Group 1 Helsinki & Uusimaa Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 6th 1960 Tier 3 Maakuntasarja (Third Division) Group 1 Helsinki & Uusimaa Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 5th 1961 Tier 3 Maakuntasarja (Third Division) Group 3 Häme & Tampere Withdrew 1962 Tier 4 Aluesarja (Fourth Division) Group 3 West Uusimaa Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 4th 1963 Tier 4 Aluesarja (Fourth Division) Group 3 West Uusimaa Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 1st Promoted 1964 Tier 3 Maakuntasarja (Third Division) Group 2 Häme & Uusimaa Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 8th Relegated 1965 Tier 4 Aluesarja (Fourth Division) Group 3 West Uusimaa Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 1st Promoted 1966 Tier 3 Maakuntasarja (Third Division) Group 3 Häme & Uusimaa Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 8th Relegated 1967 Tier 4 Aluesarja (Fourth Division) Group 3 West Uusimaa Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 2nd 1968 Tier 4 Aluesarja (Fourth Division) Group 3 West Uusimaa Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 1st Promoted 1969 Tier 3 Maakuntasarja (Third Division) Group 2 Häme & Uusimaa Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 3rd 1970 Tier 3 III Divisioona (Second Division) Group 2 Turku & Uusimaa Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 3rd 1971 Tier 3 III Divisioona (Second Division) Group 1 Helsinki & Uusimaa Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 4th 1972 Tier 3 III Divisioona (Second Division) Group 1 Helsinki & Uusimaa Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 3rd 1973 Tier 4 III Divisioona (Third Division) Group 2 Helsinki & Uusimaa (SPL Helsinki) 3rd 1974 Tier 4 III Divisioona (Third Division) Group 2 Helsinki & Uusimaa (SPL Helsinki) 1st Promoted 1975 Tier 3 II Divisioona (Second Division) West Group Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 3rd 1976 Tier 3 II Divisioona (Second Division) West Group Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 11th Relegated 1977 Tier 4 III Divisioona (Third Division) Group 2 Helsinki & Uusimaa (SPL Helsinki) 4th 1978 Tier 4 III Divisioona (Third Division) Group 2 Helsinki & Uusimaa (SPL Helsinki) 2nd Promotion Playoff 1979 Tier 4 III Divisioona (Third Division) Group 2 Helsinki & Uusimaa (SPL Helsinki) 2nd Promotion Playoff 1980 Tier 4 III Divisioona (Third Division) Group 2 Helsinki & Uusimaa (SPL Helsinki) 1st Promotion Playoff - Promoted 1981 Tier 3 II Divisioona (Second Division) West Group Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 2nd Promotion Playoff 1982 Tier 3 II Divisioona (Second Division) West Group Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 4th 1983 Tier 3 II Divisioona (Second Division) West Group Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 6th 1984 Tier 3 II Divisioona (Second Division) West Group Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 3rd 1985 Tier 3 II Divisioona (Second Division) West Group Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 5th 1986 Tier 3 II Divisioona (Second Division) West Group Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 4th 1987 Tier 3 II Divisioona (Second Division) West Group Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 3rd 1988 Tier 3 II Divisioona (Second Division) West Group Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 10th Relegated 1989 Tier 4 III Divisioona (Third Division) Group 2 Helsinki & Uusimaa (SPL Helsinki) 5th 1990 Tier 4 III Divisioona (Third Division) Group 2 Helsinki & Uusimaa (SPL Helsinki) 1st Promoted 1991 Tier 3 II Divisioona (Second Division) West Group Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 8th 1992 Tier 3 II Divisioona (Second Division) West Group Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 10th Relegated 1993 Tier 4 Kolmonen (Third Division) Group 2 Helsinki & Uusimaa (SPL Helsinki) 1st Promoted 1994 Tier 3 Kakkonen (Second Division) West Group Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 5th 1995 Tier 3 Kakkonen (Second Division) South Group Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 5th 1996 Tier 3 Kakkonen (Second Division) South Group Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 9th 1997 Tier 3 Kakkonen (Second Division) South Group Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 2nd Promotion Group South 2nd 1998 Tier 3 Kakkonen (Second Division) South Group Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 12th Relegated 1999 Tier 4 Kolmonen (Third Division) Group 1 Helsinki & Uusimaa (SPL Helsinki) 8th 2000 Tier 4 Kolmonen (Third Division) Section 1 Helsinki & Uusimaa (SPL Helsinki) 5th 2001 Tier 4 Kolmonen (Third Division) Section 1 Helsinki & Uusimaa (SPL Uusimaa) 1st Promoted 2002 Tier 3 Kakkonen (Second Division) South Group Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 7th 2003 Tier 3 Kakkonen (Second Division) West Group Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 3rd 2004 Tier 3 Kakkonen (Second Division) West Group Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 5th 2005 Tier 3 Kakkonen (Second Division) South Group Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 7th 2006 Tier 3 Kakkonen (Second Division) Group B Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 8th 2007 Tier 3 Kakkonen (Second Division) Group B Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 7th 2008 Tier 3 Kakkonen (Second Division) Group B Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 10th 2009 Tier 3 Kakkonen (Second Division) Group B Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 8th 2010 Tier 3 Kakkonen (Second Division) Group B Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 12th Relegated 2011 Tier 4 Kolmonen (Third Division) Section 1 Helsinki & Uusimaa (SPL Helsinki) 1st Promoted 2012 Tier 3 Kakkonen (Second Division) South Group Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 4th 2013 Tier 3 Kakkonen (Second Division) South Group Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 1st Play-offs 2014 Tier 3 Kakkonen (Second Division) South Group Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 1st Play-offs – Promoted 2015 Tier 2 Ykkönen (First Division) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 8th 2016 Tier 2 Ykkönen (First Division) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 8th 2017 Tier 2 Ykkönen (First Division) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 7th 2018 Tier 2 Ykkönen (First Division) Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 3rd 2019 Tier 2 Ykkönen (First Division) Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 6th 2020 Tier 2 Ykkönen (First Division) Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 4th 2021 Tier 2 Ykkönen (First Division) Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 5th 2022 Tier 2 Ykkönen (First Division) Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 4th Play-offs 2023 Tier 2 Ykkönen (First Division) Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 1st Promoted 2024 Tier 1 Veikkausliiga Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 2 seasons in Veikkausliiga 19 seasons in Ykkönen 46 seasons in Kakkonen 19 season in Kolmonen [4]

Club structure

EIF currently has 2 men's team, 1 ladies teams, 12 boys teams and 4 girls team.

Other facts

EIF Akademi are participating in Section 1 (Lohko 1) of the Kolmonen (Third Division) administered by the Uusimaa SPL. In 2009 the team finished in top position in their Nelonen (Fourth Division) section and were promoted to the Kolmonen.

EIF Ladies Team are competing in the Kolmonen (Third Division) administered by the Football Association of Finland (Suomen Palloliitto) . In 2017 the team finished in top position in their Nelonen (Fourth Division) section and were promoted to the Kolmonen.

Current squad

First team

As of 1 August 2024.^[5]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player 1 GK  BRA Ramilson Almeida 2 DF  FIN Joel Lehtonen 3 DF  FIN Väinö Vehkonen 5 DF  FIN Kalle Katz 6 DF  SWE Benjamin Hjertstrand 7 MF  FIN Roni Pietsalo 8 MF  GHA Enoch Kofi Adu 9 FW  FIN Salomo Ojala 10 MF  BRA Lucas Kaufmann 11 MF  FIN Eetu Puro 13 DF  FIN William Lindqvist 14 MF  FIN Simon Lindholm 15 MF  FIN August Björklund 16 DF  GHA Frank Owusu 18 MF  FIN Arttu Sivonen

No. Pos. Nation Player 19 FW  SWE Elton Hedström (on loan from Hammarby Talang) 20 FW  FIN Noah Lundström 22 DF  GHA Nasiru Mohammed 24 DF  GHA Kingsley Gyamfi (on loan from Hammarby) 25 FW  FIN Jakob Gottberg 29 MF  SOM Fahad Mohamed 30 MF  FIN Emil Pallas 31 MF  RUS Stanislav Yefimov 35 DF  SWE Alexander Leksell 41 FW  FIN Samuel Anini Junior 73 FW  CIV Tiemoko Fofana 77 GK  FIN Jere Koponen 90 GK  FIN Onni Rintamäki

References

1. "Finland – Divisional Movements 1930–2009". RSSSF. 2010. Retrieved 11 May 2010.
2. "Finland – Divisional Movements 1930–2009". RSSSF. 2010. Retrieved 11 May 2010.
3. "Jalkapallokirja 1991". Jalkapallokirja. Suomen Palloliitto. 1991. ISSN 0787-7188.
4. "Home". finlandfootball.net.
5. "spelare". Ekenäs IF. Retrieved 3 August 2023.

External links

• Official website
• EIF Football website