Mikkelin Kissat

Mikkelin Kissat (abbreviated MiKi) is a football club from Mikkeli, Finland. Its home ground is at the Mikkelin Urheilupuisto. MiKi is affiliated to SPL Kaakkois-Suomen piiri, the south eastern regional district of the Finnish FA.

Mikkelin Kissat
Full nameMikkelin Kissat
Founded1981
GroundMikkelin Urheilupuisto, Mikkeli, Finland
Capacity7,000
ChairmanJyri Paasonen
ManagerTommi Ekmark
LeagueKakkonen

Background

The club was formed in 1981 but was not formally registered until 1983. They started in V divisioona, the fifth division in 1984 and rapid progress followed with the club soon gaining promotion to II divisioona, the second division, in 1986. They lasted there only two years as relegation ensued in 1988. Once again Kissat was promoted to II divisioona in 1993 and finally cemented their place there, reaching even the promotion battle of the division quite soon. An especially memorable year was 1995, when Kissat almost achieved an entire season without losses. They also won the "Pikkufinaali", a final for the two best lower league teams in the Finnish Cup (Suomen Cup) in 1994.

Even with MiKi finding success in the second division (now called Kakkonen) as the 2000 millennium neared its end, the perennial local rivals MP were in financial problems after being relegated to Ykkönen, the Finnish first division. In 1999, the two clubs decided to share their resources and players and merged to form mutual first team and an under 21s team called FC Mikkeli, as well as a reserve team called Mikkelin Pallo (MiPa) which played a division below in Kakkonen. The fusion lasted only for three years without much success, as in 2001 FC Mikkeli was relegated to Kakkonen and the club was disbanded. Both MiKi and MP returned to first-team football by taking FC Mikkeli's and MiPa's places in Kakkonen. Since then Kissat has played in Kakkonen in 2002, 2004–2005 and 2007, and the rest of the seasons in Kolmonen.

MiKi's short history is also inextricably linked to that of Mikkelin Pallo-Kissat (MiPK) which was formed in 1946, with roots of the club leading back even to the very early 20th century to a multi-sport club called Mikkelin Vauhti. Pallo-Kissat were quite successful in their day as they played in the top level of Finnish football, back then called Mestaruussarja, over the years 1962–1964, 1971 and 1974–1979. In 1962, 1974 and 1975 they reached fourth place of the league, the most highest position in top-level football in the club's history. But towards the 1980s, the club began experiencing severe economic distress and finally after being relegated to the second division, they were declared bankrupt at the start of the season in 1984. MiPK players transferred to the newly established MiKi which provided a sound foundation for the new club's future.

Mikkelin Kissat run a very active youth section with teams up to under 20's, and hold the popular youth tournament Mikkeli Turnaus each year. West Ham United goalkeeper Jussi Jääskeläinen and former Newcastle United striker Shefki Kuqi are both products of the MiKi youth setup.

From 2016 men's team used name of the clubs predecessor Mikkelin Pallo-Kissat. In 2020 whole club continued as a Mikkelin Pallo-Kissat[1]

Season to season

Season Level Division Section Position Movements
1984 Tier 6 V divisioona (Fifth Division) Saimaa 1st Promoted
1985 Tier 5 IV divisioona (Fourth Division) 11. lohko (Group 11) 1st Promoted
1986 Tier 4 III divisioona (Third Division) 6. lohko (Group 6) 1st Promoted
1987 Tier 3 II divisioona (Second Division) Itälohko (East Group) 8th
1988 Tier 3 II divisioona (Second Division) Itälohko (East Group) 12th Relegated
1989 Tier 4 III divisioona (Third Division) 6. lohko (Group 6) 3rd
1990 Tier 4 III divisioona (Third Division) 6. lohko (Group 6) 5th
1991 Tier 4 III divisioona (Third Division) 6. lohko (Group 6) 8th
1992 Tier 4 III divisioona (Third Division) 6. lohko (Group 6) 4th
1993 Tier 4 III divisioona (Third Division) 7. lohko (Group 7) 2nd Promoted
1994 Tier 3 II divisioona (Second Division) Itälohko (East Group) 8th
1995 Tier 3 Kakkonen (Second Division) Itälohko (East Group) 4th
1996 Tier 3 Kakkonen (Second Division) Itälohko (East Group) 6th
1997 Tier 3 Kakkonen (Second Division) Itälohko (East Group) 3rd
1998 Tier 3 Kakkonen (Second Division) Itälohko (East Group) 6th Merged with MP to form FC Mikkeli
2002 Tier 3 Kakkonen (Second Division) Itälohko (East Group) 11th FC Mikkeli was disbanded and MiKi returned; relegated
2003 Tier 4 Kolmonen (Third Division) Kaakkois-Suomi (South Eastern Finland) 1st Playoff Group C 1st – Promoted
2004 Tier 3 Kakkonen (Second Division) Itälohko (East Group) 9th
2005 Tier 3 Kakkonen (Second Division) Itälohko (East Group) 12th Relegated
2006 Tier 4 Kolmonen (Third Division) Kaakkois-Suomi (South Eastern Finland) 1st Playoff Group C 2nd – Promoted
2007 Tier 3 Kakkonen (Second Division) Lohko A (Group A) 14th Relegated
2008 Tier 4 Kolmonen (Third Division) Kaakkois-Suomi (South Eastern Finland) 5th
2009 Tier 4 Kolmonen (Third Division) Kaakkois-Suomi (South Eastern Finland) 2nd
2010 Tier 4 Kolmonen (Third Division) Kaakkois-Suomi (South Eastern Finland) 3rd
2011 Tier 4 Kolmonen (Third Division) Kaakkois-Suomi (South Eastern Finland) 5th
2012 Tier 4 Kolmonen (Third Division) Kaakkois-Suomi (South Eastern Finland) 8th
2013 Tier 4 Kolmonen (Third Division) Kaakkois-Suomi (South Eastern Finland) 4th
2014 Tier 4 Kolmonen (Third Division) Kaakkois-Suomi (South Eastern Finland) 4th
2015 Tier 4 Kolmonen (Third Division) Kaakkois-Suomi (South Eastern Finland) 2nd
2016 Tier 4 Kolmonen (Third Division) Kaakkois-Suomi (South Eastern Finland) 1st Promoted as MiPK
2017 Tier 3 Kakkonen (Second Division) Lohko A (Group A) 6th as MiPK
2018 Tier 3 Kakkonen (Second Division) Lohko A (Group A) 4th as MiPK
2019 Tier 3 Kakkonen (Second Division) Lohko A (Group A) 9th as MiPK. Continued as a MiPK

Head coaches

  • Teppo Yli-Karro (2002)
  • Jorma Immonen (2003)
  • Tibor Gruborovics (2004)
  • Jorma Immonen (2005)
  • Jukka Gråsten (2006)
  • Janne Wilkman (2007)
  • Risto Lähde (2008–2011)
  • Tommi Sariola (2011)
  • Jukka Gråsten (2012)
  • Timo Vehviläinen (2013–)

Top scorers

Season Player Goals
2002 Iiro Kiukas 14
2003 Miikka Oinonen 24
2004 Joona Ikonen 7
2005 Juha-Matti Murtonen 6
2006 Iiro Kiukas 14
2007 Iiro Kiukas 7
2008 Tommi Sariola 12
2009 Joona Ikonen 13
2010 Tommi Sariola 12
2011 Timo Mattila 9
2012 Riiko Lappalainen 8
2013 Miikka Oinonen 16

References and sources

Specific

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