FF Jaro

FF Jaro (Jakobstads Rostfria), commonly referred to as Jaro, is a Finnish professional football club based in the bilingual town of Jakobstad. The club currently plays in Ykkösliiga, the second-highest level in Finland. Home matches are played at the Jakobstads Centralplan.

FF Jaro

Full name	Fotbollsföreningen Jaro Jalkapalloseura
Founded	1965
Ground	Centralplan, Jakobstad
Capacity	5,000
Chairman	Mikael Eklund
Manager	Niklas Vidjeskog
League	Veikkausliiga
2024	Ykkösliiga, 2nd of 10 (promoted via play-offs)
Home colours Away colours

Jakobstads Centralplan

Jaro has played 23 seasons in the top-tier Veikkausliiga. The club won the promotion back at the end of the 2024 season, after spending nine seasons in the second-tier since the relegation in 2015.

Current squad

Updated 6 August 2024^[1]

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  RUS Sergey Lazarev 2 DF  ARG Guillermo Sotelo 3 FW  FIN Sami Sipola 4 DF  NGA Michael Ogungbaro 5 DF  FIN Aron Bjonbäck 6 DF  FIN Johan Brunell (captain) 7 MF  FIN Benjamin Sandnäs 8 FW  FIN Alex Ramsay 9 FW  SWE Edvin Crona 10 MF  FIN Sergei Eremenko 11 FW  FIN Albin Björkskog 12 DF  TRI Kareem Moses

No. Pos. Nation Player 15 MF  FIN Markus Kronholm (2nd captain) 16 MF  FIN Adam Vidjeskog 17 MF  FIN Ludvig Nyman 18 FW  FIN Axel Sandstedt 19 MF  FIN Antonio Hotta 21 MF  FIN Jim Myrevik 22 MF  FIN Roni Björkskog 24 FW  FIN Joni Remesaho (3rd captain) 25 GK  FIN Emil Öhberg 47 DF  FIN Sebastian Huldén 66 MF  FIN Severi Kähkönen 77 GK  SWE Pontus Zvar

Management and boardroom

Management

As of 20 January 2024^[2]

Name Role Niklas Vidjeskog Head coach Rasmus Wikström Assistant coach Anders Brunell Goalkeeping coach Ida Kronholm Fitness coach Johan Hult Naprapath Jesper Ahlvik Masseur Veppe Tervaskangas Team Manager Tobias Sundberg Doctor

Boardroom

As of 22 July 2021^[3]

Name Role Mikael Eklund Chairman Fredrik Haga CEO Mikael Byggmästar Chairman of the Youthsection Tapani Salo Director Joni Remesaho Head of Marketing

Season to season

Season to Season

Season Level Division Section Administration Position Movements 1966 Tier 3 Maakuntasarja (Third Division) Group 8 – Vaasa & Central Ostrobothnia Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 1st Promoted 1967 Tier 2 Suomensarja (Second Division) North Group Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 4th 1968 Tier 2 Suomensarja (Second Division) North Group Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 7th 1969 Tier 2 Suomensarja (Second Division) North Group Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 9th Relegated 1970 Tier 3 III Divisioona (Third Division) Group 7 – Vaasa & Central Ostrobothnia Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 1st Promoted 1971 Tier 2 II Divisioona (Second Division) North Group Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 7th 1972 Tier 2 II Divisioona (Second Division) North Group Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 2nd 1973 Tier 2 I Divisioona (First Division) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 12th Relegated 1974 Tier 3 II Divisioona (Second Division) North Group Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 5th 1975 Tier 3 II Divisioona (Second Division) North Group Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 9th 1976 Tier 3 II Divisioona (Second Division) North Group Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 4th 1977 Tier 3 II Divisioona (Second Division) North Group Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 7th 1978 Tier 3 II Divisioona (Second Division) North Group Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 5th 1979 Tier 3 II Divisioona (Second Division) North Group Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 1st Promotion Playoff – Promoted 1980 Tier 2 I Divisioona (First Division) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 8th Relegation Group 5th 1981 Tier 2 I Divisioona (First Division) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 9th Relegation Group 5th 1982 Tier 2 I Divisioona (First Division) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 8th Relegation Group 2nd 1983 Tier 2 I Divisioona (First Division) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 4th Promotion Group 5th 1984 Tier 2 I Divisioona (First Division) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 6th 1985 Tier 2 I Divisioona (First Division) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 4th 1986 Tier 2 I Divisioona (First Division) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 10th Relegated 1987 Tier 3 II Divisioona (Second Division) North Group Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 1st Promoted 1988 Tier 2 I Divisioona (First Division) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 1st Promoted 1989 Tier 1 Veikkausliiga (Premier League) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 12th Relegated 1990 Tier 2 I Divisioona (First Division) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 2nd Promotion Playoff – Promoted 1991 Tier 1 Veikkausliiga (Premier League) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 4th 1992 Tier 1 Veikkausliiga (Premier League) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 5th 1993 Tier 1 Veikkausliiga (Premier League) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 11th Relegation group 2nd 1994 Tier 1 Veikkausliiga (Premier League) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 7th 1995 Tier 1 Veikkausliiga (Premier League) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 5th 1996 Tier 1 Veikkausliiga (Premier League) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 1st Upper Group – 5th 1997 Tier 1 Veikkausliiga (Premier League) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 8th Third round – 8th 1998 Tier 1 Veikkausliiga (Premier League) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 9th Third round – 10th – Relegated 1999 Tier 2 Ykkönen (First Division) North Group Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 2nd Promotion Group – 3rd – Play-offs 2000 Tier 2 Ykkönen (First Division) North Group Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 2nd Promotion Group – 5th 2001 Tier 2 Ykkönen (First Division) North Group Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 2nd Play-offs – Promoted 2002 Tier 1 Veikkausliiga (Premier League) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 8th Upper Group – 7th 2003 Tier 1 Veikkausliiga (Premier League) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 8th 2004 Tier 1 Veikkausliiga (Premier League) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 11th 2005 Tier 1 Veikkausliiga (Premier League) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 11th 2006 Tier 1 Veikkausliiga (Premier League) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 12th 2007 Tier 1 Veikkausliiga (Premier League) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 11th 2008 Tier 1 Veikkausliiga (Premier League) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 9th 2009 Tier 1 Veikkausliiga (Premier League) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 10th 2010 Tier 1 Veikkausliiga (Premier League) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 5th 2011 Tier 1 Veikkausliiga (Premier League) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 11th 2012 Tier 1 Veikkausliiga (Premier League) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 11th 2013 Tier 1 Veikkausliiga (Premier League) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 10th 2014 Tier 1 Veikkausliiga (Premier League) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 6th 2015 Tier 1 Veikkausliiga (Premier League) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 12th Relegated 2016 Tier 2 Ykkönen (First Division) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 3rd 2017 Tier 2 Ykkönen (First Division) Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 5th 2018 Tier 2 Ykkönen (First Division) Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 6th 2019 Tier 2 Ykkönen (First Division) Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 3rd 2020 Tier 2 Ykkönen (First Division) Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 3rd 2021 Tier 2 Ykkönen (First Division) Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 4th 2022 Tier 2 Ykkönen (First Division) Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 3rd 2023 Tier 2 Ykkönen (First Division) Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 9th 2024 Tier 2 Ykkösliiga (First Division) Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 2nd Promotion play-offs – Promoted 23 seasons in Veikkausliiga 27 seasons in Ykkönen/Ykkösliiga 9 seasons in Kakkonen

International achievements

1996 UEFA Intertoto Cup

FF Jaro – Guingamp 0-0
Dinamo Bucharest – FF Jaro 0–2
FF Jaro – Kolkheti Poti 2–0
Zemun – FF Jaro 3–2

Former managers

• Börje Nygård (1966–67)
• Rainer Aho (1968–70)
• Matti Aarni (1971–74)
• Bjarne Sjöholm (1975–77)
• Esko Vikman (1978)
• Ulf Larsson (1979)
• Bjarne Sjöholm (1980)
• Jan–Eric Holmberg (1981)
• Kalle Jaskari (1982–84)
• Matti Huotari (1985)
• Kalle Jaskari (1986)
• Richard Wilson (1987–89)
• Kari Mars (1989)
• Hannu Touru (1990–93)
• Antti Muurinen (1994–96)
• Veijo Wahlsten (1997)
• Keijo Paananen (1997)
• Janne Westerlund (1998)
• Keijo Paananen (1999–01)
• Sixten Boström (2002–04)
• Hannu Touru (2004–05), (2006)
• Mika Laurikainen (2007–09)
• Alexei Eremenko Sr. (Aug 19, 2009–Jun 10, 2016)
• Kristian Heames (Jul 28, 2016–Jul 10, 2017)
• Calle Löf (Jul 11, 2017-Oct, 2017)
• Tomi Kärkkäinen (Jan 1, 2018-Aug 13, 2018)
• Niklas Käcko (Aug 14, 2018-Dec 31, 2020)
• Jimmy Wargh (Jan 1, 2021–Oct, 2022)
• Stephen Ward (2023)
• Niklas Vidjeskog (Jan 1, 2024 – present)

References

1. FF Jaro. "Joukkue". www.ffjaro.fi. Retrieved 3 August 2023.
2. FF Jaro. "Joukkue". www.ffjaro.fi. Archived from the original on 27 September 2020. Retrieved 15 September 2020.
3. "Toimisto" (in Finnish). FF Jaro. Archived from the original on 28 September 2020. Retrieved 15 September 2020.

External links

• Official website (in Finnish and Swedish)
• Official fansite (in Finnish and Swedish)