Mikkelin Palloilijat (or MP) is a Finnish professional football club, based in Mikkeli, that competes in the Ykkösliiga, the second tier in the Finnish football league system. The club was founded in 1929 and also included volleyball, bandy and ice hockey divisions.
History In 1998, MP merged with Mikkelin Kissat to form FC Mikkeli. Due to financial difficulties, this union was dissolved in 2001 and the two clubs returned to manage individually. It played in the Finnish First Division (Ykkönen) from 2004 to 2006 but was relegated to Kakkonen at the end of the season. The club gained promotion to Ykkönen by winning the Group A of Kakkonen 2009 but was immediately relegated back to Kakkonen in 2010. The club's manager is Juha Pasoja, and it plays its home matches at Mikkelin Urheilupuisto. In 2015, they got promoted to the Ykkönen again.
Ice hockey departments of MP and local rivals MiPK merged in 1970, creating new club Jukurit. Jukurit has since then been quite successful in Finnish amateur levels of ice hockey. However, the only medal in the Finnish championship is still won by MP, a bronze in A-juniors in the year 1961.
Bandy department of MP was disbanded in 1977. After that the colours of Mikkeli on bandy fields have been represented by Mikkelin Kampparit. Kampparit was formed in 1972.
MP was a pioneer of women's football in Finland, forming one of the first ladies team. The spot in Kansallinen Liiga was moved from MP to Porrassalmen Urheilijat-62 in 1992.
Season to season
SeasonLevelDivisionSectionAdministrationPositionMovements1930Tier 3Piirisarja (Second Division)Savo (SPL Savo)?1931Tier 3Piirisarja (Second Division)Savo (SPL Savo)2nd1932Tier 3Piirisarja (Second Division)Savo (SPL Savo)4th1933Tier 3Piirisarja (Second Division)Savo (SPL Savo)2nd1934Tier 3Piirisarja (Second Division)Savo (SPL Savo)3rd1935Tier 3Piirisarja (Second Division)Savo (SPL Savo)5th1936Tier 4Piirisarja (Third Division)?Savo (SPL Savo)?1937Tier 4Piirisarja (Third Division)?Savo (SPL Savo)?1938Tier 4Piirisarja (Third Division)?Savo (SPL Savo)?Play-offs1939Tier 2Itä-Länsi Sarja (First Division)East series north groupFinnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto)6th1940–41Did not participate1943–44Did not participate1945–46Tier 3Maakuntasarja (Second Division)Kymenlaakso NorthFinnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto)3rd1946–47Tier 3Maakuntasarja (Second Division)Kymenlaakso NorthFinnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto)2nd1947–48Tier 3Maakuntasarja (Second Division)Kymenlaakso NorthFinnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto)1stPlay-offs1948Tier 3Maakuntasarja (Second Division)East group AFinnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto)5th1949Tier 3Maakuntasarja (Second Division)East group AFinnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto)6thRelegated1950Tier 4Piirisarja (Third Division)?Savo (SPL Savo)?Play-offs, promoted1951Tier 3Maakuntasarja (Second Division)East group BFinnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto)3rd1952Tier 3Maakuntasarja (Second Division)East group AFinnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto)5th1953Tier 3Maakuntasarja (Second Division)East group BFinnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto)6thRelegated1954Tier 4Piirisarja (Third Division)?Saimaa (SPL Saimaa)?1955Tier 4Piirisarja (Third Division)?Saimaa (SPL Saimaa)?Play-offs, promoted1956Tier 3Maakuntasarja (Second Division)East group IIFinnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto)6th1957Tier 3Maakuntasarja (Second Division)East group IFinnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto)6th1958Tier 3Maakuntasarja (Second Division)Group 6Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto)2nd1959Tier 3Maakuntasarja (Second Division)Group 4Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto)1stPromoted1960Tier 2Suomensarja (First Division)East GroupFinnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto)6th1961Tier 2Suomensarja (First Division)East GroupFinnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto)5th1962Tier 2Suomensarja (First Division)East GroupFinnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto)3rd1963Tier 2Suomensarja (First Division)East GroupFinnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto)4th1964Tier 2Suomensarja (First Division)East GroupFinnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto)3rd1965Tier 2Suomensarja (First Division)East GroupFinnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto)1stPromoted1966Tier 1Mestaruussarja Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto 4th1967Tier 1Mestaruussarja Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto 10th1968Tier 1Mestaruussarja Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto 8th1969Tier 1Mestaruussarja Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto 5th1970Tier 1Mestaruussarja Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto 2nd1971Tier 1Mestaruussarja Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto 5th1972Tier 1Mestaruussarja Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto 2nd1973Tier 1Mestaruussarja Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto 7th1974Tier 1Mestaruussarja Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto 10th1975Tier 1Mestaruussarja Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto 9th1976Tier 1Mestaruussarja Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto 6th1977Tier 1Mestaruussarja Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto 11thRelegated1978Tier 2I divisioona (First Division)Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto)4th1979Tier 2I divisioona (First Division)Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto)1stPromotion Group 6th1980Tier 2I divisioona (First Division)Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto)1stPromotion Group 3rd, promoted1981Tier 1Mestaruussarja Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto 11thRelegation Group 6th, relegated1982Tier 2I divisioona (First Division)Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto)3rdPromotion Group 5th1983Tier 2I divisioona (First Division)Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto)1stPromotion Group 2nd, promoted1984Tier 1Mestaruussarja Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto 12thRelegated1985Tier 2I divisioona (First Division)Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto)1stPromoted1986Tier 1Mestaruussarja Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto 7th1987Tier 1Mestaruussarja Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto 7th1988Tier 1Mestaruussarja Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto 9thRelegation Group 3rd1989Tier 1Mestaruussarja Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto 9thRelegation Group 4th1990Tier 1Futisliiga Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto 3rdPlay-offs1991Tier 1Futisliiga Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto 2nd1992Tier 1 Veikkausliiga Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto 10th1993Tier 1 Veikkausliiga Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto 9thRelegation Group 1st1994Tier 1 Veikkausliiga Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto 11th1995Tier 1 Veikkausliiga Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto 11thRelegation play-off1996Tier 1 Veikkausliiga Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto 12thRelegated1997Tier 2 Ykkönen (First Division)South GroupFinnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto)4thPromotion Group 7th1998Tier 2 Ykkönen (First Division)North GroupFinnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto)6thRelegation Group 1st1999did not participate2000did not participate2001did not participate2002Tier 3Kakkonen (Second Division)East GroupFinnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto)2nd2003Tier 3Kakkonen (Second Division)East GroupFinnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto)2ndPlay-offs, promoted2004Tier 2 Ykkönen (First Division)Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto)7th2005Tier 2 Ykkönen (First Division)Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto)9th2006Tier 2 Ykkönen (First Division)Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto)13thRelegated2007Tier 3Kakkonen (Second Division)Group AFinnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto)3rd2008Tier 3Kakkonen (Second Division)Group AFinnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto)6th2009Tier 3 Kakkonen (Second Division)Group AFinnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto)1stPromoted2010Tier 2 Ykkönen (First Division)Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto)14thRelegated2011Tier 3 Kakkonen (Second Division)Group AFinnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto)3rd2012Tier 3 Kakkonen (Second Division)East GroupFinnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto)3rd2013Tier 3 Kakkonen (Second Division)East GroupFinnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto)2nd2014Tier 3 Kakkonen (Second Division)East GroupFinnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto)2ndPromoted2015Tier 2 Ykkönen (First Division)Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto)9thRelegated2016Tier 3 Kakkonen (Second Division)Group AFinnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto)3rd2017Tier 3 Kakkonen (Second Division)Group AFinnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto)9th2018Tier 3 Kakkonen (Second Division)Group AFinnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto)7th2019Tier 3 Kakkonen (Second Division)Group AFinnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto)1stPromoted2020Tier 2 Ykkönen (First Division)Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto)7th2021Tier 2 Ykkönen (First Division)Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto)9th2022Tier 2 Ykkönen (First Division)Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto)8th2023Tier 2 Ykkönen (First Division)Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto)3rdPromotion Playoff2024Tier 2 Ykkösliiga (League One)Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto)10thRelegated2025Tier 3 Ykkönen (First Division)Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto)1stPromoted2026Tier 2 Ykkösliiga (League One)Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 25 seasons in Veikkausliiga 26 seasons in Second Tier 32 seasons in Third Tier 6 seasons in Fourth Tier
Current squad
Management and boardroom
Management
NameRole Issa ThiawHead coach Jorma NaakkaCoach Ozeias GracianoCoach Janne LoukiainenCoach Mika KorpelaTeam manager Aki LampinenKit manager Hannu PaajanenDoctor Ilari KuitunenDoctor Timo KyttäPhysiotherapist Janne LindbergCoaching coordinator Ilkka MäkeläClub president
Notable former players Jussi Jääskeläinen Topi Keskinen Shefki Kuqi Eetu Muinonen Antti Kuismala Antti Ronkainen Olli Rehn Ilkka Mäkelä
References
External links