# IF Gnistan

IF Gnistan (Kipinä in Finnish; The Spark in English), commonly known as Gnistan, is a Finnish football club from the city of Helsinki, founded in 1924. The club is currently playing in the Veikkausliiga, the first tier of the Finnish league system. IF Gnistan play their home matches at Mustapekka Areena. Club's home district is Oulunkylä, which locates in northern part of the capital city.

## History

The club is originally Swedish-speaking, but nowadays it is supported by Finnish-speaking majority also. The club was founded by a few Svenska Reallyceum and Åggelby Svenska Samskola students from Oulunkylä in 1924. IF Gnistan were multi-sport club and had several competitive departments including ski, athletics, swim and pesäpallo (Finnish baseball). Football department were founded in 1935, when the club joined Finnish Football Association Helsinki district. Later in the 1950s Gnistan had strong teams in orienteering, women's gymnastics, table tennis and cross country running alongside the classical sports.
During the late 1950s, the club decided to dissolve all the other departments except for the football teams. When ski and athletics were eliminated, Gnistan turned to a football club, and named Jacob Söderman as their new chairman. They became a significant team in lower leagues of the capital region but never promoted to the top tier. After season 1994, they achieved their place to Ykkönen for the first time. They stayed in the second tier four years and then relegated back to Kakkonen in 1998. They have been in Ykkönen level on four occasions.
Gnistan has played seven seasons in the Ykkönen (First Division), the second tier of Finnish football in 1995–98, 2001–02 and from the season 2017. The club has played fourteen seasons in the Kakkonen (Second Division), the third tier of Finnish football in 1990, 1994, 1999–2000 and 2003–2016.
In 2002, the club nearly made it to the semi-finals of the Finnish Cup, by leading FC Lahti 2–0 till the 90th minute. A FC Lahti fan, ran naked to the field, which caused 5 minutes of added time. Lahti scored twice in injury time and in extra time they made the final score 2–3.
After season 2016, the club won their Kakkonen group and achieved a chance to qualify for Ykkönen for the next season. They faced another group winner Musan Salama on two-legged tie, which started away from home in Pori. Both meetings ended 1–0 victories for the home teams, so the promoting team were solved by penalty shoot-out. Gnistan beat their opponents by 4–3 and promoted to the second tier of Finnish football after spending 14 seasons in a row in Kakkonen.
After establishing their place in then second-tier Ykkönen, Gnistan finished 2nd in the 2023 season, and earned a spot to Veikkausliiga promotion play-offs, where they eventually fell short to IFK Mariehamn. However, it was later announced that Gnistan were granted a Veikkausliiga league license via supplemental process, after FC Honka was declared for bankruptcy. 2024 Veikkausliiga season will be the first in the Finnish top-tier level in the club's entire history. After the 2023 season, the CEO Marko Kolsi, who had served for four seasons, left the position and Ilkka Vanala was named the new chief executive officer of Gnistan.
Early in the morning on 13 July 2024, the main stand and the facilities of Gnistan's home stadium Mustapekka Areena were destroyed in a fire.

## Season to season

Season to Season :
| Season | Level | Division | Section | Administration | Position | Movements |
| 1948 | Tier 4 | Piirinsarja (District League) | | Helsinki (SPL Helsinki) | | Promotion Playoff - Promoted |
| 1949 | Tier 3 | Maakuntasarja (Third Division) | South Group B | Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) | 5th | |
| 1950 | Tier 3 | Maakuntasarja (Third Division) | South Group A | Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) | 2nd | |
| 1951 | Tier 3 | Maakuntasarja (Third Division) | South Group A | Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) | 4th | |
| 1952 | Tier 3 | Maakuntasarja (Third Division) | South Group A | Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) | 6th | |
| 1953 | Tier 3 | Maakuntasarja (Third Division) | South Group A | Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) | 5th | |
| 1954 | Tier 3 | Maakuntasarja (Third Division) | West Group IV | Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) | 3rd | |
| 1955 | Tier 3 | Maakuntasarja (Third Division) | South Group II | Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) | 2nd | |
| 1956 | Tier 3 | Maakuntasarja (Third Division) | South Group I | Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) | 3rd | |
| 1957 | Tier 3 | Maakuntasarja (Third Division) | South Group I | Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) | 6th | |
| 1958 | Tier 3 | Maakuntasarja (Third Division) | Group 1 | Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) | 3rd | |
| 1959 | Tier 3 | Maakuntasarja (Third Division) | Group 1 | Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) | 3rd | |
| 1960 | Tier 3 | Maakuntasarja (Third Division) | Group 1 | Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) | 4th | |
| 1961 | Tier 3 | Maakuntasarja (Third Division) | Group 1 | Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) | 5th | |
| 1962 | Tier 3 | Maakuntasarja (Third Division) | Group 1 | Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) | 6th | |
| 1963 | Tier 3 | Maakuntasarja (Third Division) | Group 1 | Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) | 3rd | |
| 1964 | Tier 3 | Maakuntasarja (Third Division) | Group 1 | Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) | 5th | |
| 1965 | Tier 3 | Maakuntasarja (Third Division) | Group 1 | Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) | 2nd | |
| 1966 | Tier 3 | Maakuntasarja (Third Division) | Group 1 | Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) | 7th | |
| 1967 | Tier 3 | Maakuntasarja (Third Division) | Group 1 | Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) | 3rd | |
| 1968 | Tier 3 | Maakuntasarja (Third Division) | Group 1 | Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) | 5th | |
| 1969 | Tier 3 | Maakuntasarja (Third Division) | Group 1 | Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) | 8th | |
| 1970 | Tier 3 | III Divisioona (Third Division) | Group 1 | Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) | 6th | |
| 1971 | Tier 3 | III Divisioona (Third Division) | Group 1 | Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) | 10th | |
| 1972 | Tier 3 | III Divisioona (Third Division) | Group 5 | Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) | 5th | |
| 1973 | Tier 4 | III Divisioona (Third Division) | Group 1 | Helsinki (SPL Helsinki) | 9th | Relegation Playoff - Relegated |
| 1974 | Tier 5 | IV Divisioona (Fourth Division) | Group 3 | Helsinki District (SPL Helsinki) | 2nd | |
| 1975 | Tier 5 | IV Divisioona (Fourth Division) | Group 2 | Helsinki District (SPL Helsinki) | 4th | |
| 1976 | Tier 5 | IV Divisioona (Fourth Division) | Group 3 | Helsinki District (SPL Helsinki) | 3rd | |
| 1977 | Tier 5 | IV Divisioona (Fourth Division) | Group 2 | Helsinki District (SPL Helsinki) | 1st | Promoted |
| 1978 | Tier 4 | III Divisioona (Third Division) | Group 2 | Helsinki (SPL Helsinki) | 7th | |
| 1979 | Tier 4 | III Divisioona (Third Division) | Group 1 | Helsinki (SPL Helsinki) | 10th | |
| 1980 | Tier 4 | III Divisioona (Third Division) | Group 2 | Helsinki (SPL Helsinki) | 12th | Relegated |
| 1981 | Tier 5 | IV Divisioona (Fourth Division) | Group 2 | Helsinki District (SPL Helsinki) | 6th | |
| 1982 | Tier 5 | IV Divisioona (Fourth Division) | Group 1 | Helsinki District (SPL Helsinki) | 6th | |
| 1983 | Tier 5 | IV Divisioona (Fourth Division) | Group 3 | Helsinki District (SPL Helsinki) | 11th | Relegated |
| 1984 | Tier 6 | V Divisioona (Fifth Division) | Group 2 | Helsinki District (SPL Helsinki) | | |
| 1985 | Tier 6 | V Divisioona (Fifth Division) | | Helsinki District (SPL Helsinki) | | Promoted |
| 1986 | Tier 5 | IV Divisioona (Fourth Division) | Group 2 | Helsinki District (SPL Helsinki) | 3rd | |
| 1987 | Tier 5 | IV Divisioona (Fourth Division) | | Helsinki District (SPL Helsinki) | | Promoted |
| 1988 | Tier 4 | III Divisioona (Third Division) | Group 1 | Helsinki (SPL Helsinki) | 3rd | |
| 1989 | Tier 4 | III Divisioona (Third Division) | Group 2 | Helsinki (SPL Helsinki) | 1st | Promoted |
| 1990 | Tier 3 | II Divisioona (Second Division) | East Group | Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) | 10th | Relegated |
| 1991 | Tier 4 | III Divisioona (Third Division) | Group 1 | Helsinki (SPL Helsinki) | 5th | |
| 1992 | Tier 4 | III Divisioona (Third Division) | Group 2 | Helsinki (SPL Helsinki) | 2nd | |
| 1993 | Tier 4 | Kolmonen (Third Division) | Group 1 | Helsinki (SPL Helsinki) | 1st | Promoted |
| 1994 | Tier 3 | Kakkonen (Second Division) | South Group | Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) | 2nd | Promoted |
| 1995 | Tier 2 | Ykkönen (First Division) | | Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) | 9th | |
| 1996 | Tier 2 | Ykkönen (First Division) | South Group | Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) | 6th | |
| 1997 | Tier 2 | Ykkönen (First Division) | South Group | Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) | 7th | Relegation Group (South) – 3rd – Relegation Play-offs |
| 1998 | Tier 2 | Ykkönen (First Division) | South Group | Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) | 9th | Relegation Group (South) – 4th – Relegated |
| 1999 | Tier 3 | Kakkonen (Second Division) | West Group | Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) | 7th | |
| 2000 | Tier 3 | Kakkonen (Second Division) | South Group | Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) | 1st | Promoted |
| 2001 | Tier 2 | Ykkönen (First Division) | South Group | Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) | 8th | Relegation Play-offs |
| 2002 | Tier 2 | Ykkönen (First Division) | South Group | Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) | 9th | Relegation Group (South) – 7th – Relegated |
| 2003 | Tier 3 | Kakkonen (Second Division) | South Group | Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) | 7th | |
| 2004 | Tier 3 | Kakkonen (Second Division) | South Group | Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) | 5th | |
| 2005 | Tier 3 | Kakkonen (Second Division) | South Group | Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) | 2nd | |
| 2006 | Tier 3 | Kakkonen (Second Division) | Group A | Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) | 4th | |
| 2007 | Tier 3 | Kakkonen (Second Division) | Group A | Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) | 7th | |
| 2008 | Tier 3 | Kakkonen (Second Division) | Group A | Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) | 4th | |
| 2009 | Tier 3 | Kakkonen (Second Division) | Group A | Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) | 2nd | |
| 2010 | Tier 3 | Kakkonen (Second Division) | Group A | Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) | 3rd | |
| 2011 | Tier 3 | Kakkonen (Second Division) | Group A | Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) | 2nd | |
| 2012 | Tier 3 | Kakkonen (Second Division) | East Group | Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) | 2nd | |
| 2013 | Tier 3 | Kakkonen (Second Division) | South Group | Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) | 2nd | |
| 2014 | Tier 3 | Kakkonen (Second Division) | South Group | Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) | 8th | |
| 2015 | Tier 3 | Kakkonen (Second Division) | South Group | Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) | 2nd | |
| 2016 | Tier 3 | Kakkonen (Second Division) | Group A | Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) | 1st | Promoted via Play-offs |
| 2017 | Tier 2 | Ykkönen (First Division) | | Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) | 10th | Relegated |
| 2018 | Tier 3 | Kakkonen (Second Division) | Group A | Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) | 6th | |
| 2019 | Tier 3 | Kakkonen (Second Division) | Group B | Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) | 1st | Promoted |
| 2020 | Tier 2 | Ykkönen (First Division) | | Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) | 9th | |
| 2021 | Tier 2 | Ykkönen (First Division) | | Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) | 6th | |
| 2022 | Tier 2 | Ykkönen (First Division) | | Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) | 7th | |
| 2023 | Tier 2 | Ykkönen (First Division) | | Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) | 2nd | Promotion play-offs – Promoted via supplemental process |
| 2024 | Tier 1 | Veikkausliiga (Premier League) | | Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) | 8th | |

## Club structure

Gnistan run a number of teams including 4 men's teams, 3 veteran's teams, 2 ladies teams, 11 boys team and 6 girls teams. The club also runs a Football School for youngsters.

## 2025 season

IF Gnistan are competing in Veikkausliiga, highest level of the Finnish football league system.
Gnistan/Ogeli are participating in Group B of the Kolmonen (Third Division) administered by the Helsinki SPL. This is the current fifth tier in Finland.
Gnistan/3 are participating in the Southern Group of the Vitonen (Fifth Division) administered by the Helsinki SPL. This is the current seventh tier in Finland
Gnistan's women's top representative team competes in the third-tier Naisten Kakkonen.
Gnistan's women's reserve team Gnistan/2 is competing in Naisten Nelonen, which is the fifth-tier in Finnish women's football.

## Current squad

    As of 4 February 2025
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 1 | GK | BEL | Álex Craninx |
| 2 | DF | FIN | Benjamin Dahlström |
| 3 | MF | FIN | Saku Heiskanen |
| 4 | DF | FIN | Oliver Pettersson |
| 6 | MF | FIN | Hannes Woivalin |
| 7 | DF | FIN | Tim Väyrynen |
| 9 | FW | NOR | Didrik Hafstad |
| 10 | FW | FIN | Joakim Latonen |
| 11 | MF | FIN | Elmer Vauhkonen |
| 12 | MF | GHA | Edmund Arko-Mensah |
| 13 | GK | FIN | Oskar Lyberopoulos |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 15 | MF | FIN | Gabriel Europaeus |
| 19 | MF | FIN | Vertti Hänninen |
| 21 | MF | FIN | Elmeri Lappalainen |
| 22 | DF | FIN | Jukka Raitala |
| 24 | DF | BFA | Pakwo Gnanou |
| 25 | GK | FIN | Joel Tynkkynen |
| 26 | MF | FIN | Roman Eremenko |
| 28 | MF | FIN | Armend Kabashi |
| 34 | DF | BRA | Marcelo Costa |
| 40 | DF | FIN | Juhani Ojala |
| 44 | MF | RUS | Yevgeni Bashkirov |

### Out on loan

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |

## Management and boardroom
### Management

As of 15 February 2024
| Name | Role |
| Jussi Leppälahti | Head Coach |
| Mikke Salonen | Assistant Coach |
| Marko Frantsi | Goalkeeping Coach |
| Patrick Cousins | Team Manager |
| Ari Ahonen | Kit Manager |
| Joni Välilä | Physiotherapist |

### Boardroom

As of 28 August 2024
| Name | Role |
| Risto Murto | Chairman |
| Patrik Ekström | Vice Chairman |
| Ilkka Vanala | CEO |
| Jarkko Jokiranta | Sporting Director |