# Kuopion Palloseura

Kuopion Palloseura, commonly referred to as KuPS, is a Finnish football club based in Kuopio. KuPS competes in Veikkausliiga, the top flight of Finnish football. The team plays its home matches at Kuopio Football Stadium.
KuPS has won the Finnish championship seven times, the Finnish Cup five times and the Finnish League Cup once. The club is placed fourth in the all-time Finnish Premier League honor table.

## History

The club was officially founded on 16 March 1923, at Kuopion Seurahuone. The club was named to Kuopion Palloseura ("Kuopio Football Club") and the abbreviation KPS, which was later changed to KuPS.
The 1920s the club spent mostly by playing friendly games against other local clubs. In the 1930s and early 1940s, the club played second in the highest tier of Finnish football. KuPS was first promoted to Mestaruussarja in 1947 only for a single season. The club was promoted again in 1949 and this time remained in the top tier for 44 seasons.
The first years, KuPS played in black and green shirts with vertical stripes, white pants and black socks. In 1935, the colors were changed to yellow shirt, black pants and yellow and black socks. At the same time, the club's abbreviation changed to KuPS.
The golden decades of KuPS take place between the 1950s and 1970s, when the club won five championships, eight silver and one bronze medal. The club also won its first Finnish Cup championship in 1968.
KuPS played in the top flight without significant success in the 1980s. However, the 1980s ended with the club's second Finnish Cup victory in 1989.
In the 1990s, KuPS was in financial problems and even dropped to the third highest league level. In the early 2000s, KuPS spent seasons in both in the First Division and in Veikkausliiga, where it has played ever since 2008.
In the 2019 season KuPS won its sixth league title, coached by Jani Honkavaara. In 2021 and 2022 the club won its third and fourth Cup titles. In the 2024 season, KuPS won its first-ever double championship, after winning the Finnish Championship and the Finnish Cup titles, led again by coach Honkavaara and captain Petteri Pennanen.

## European campaigns
### UEFA club competition record

As of 18 July 2023.
| Competition | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA |
| UEFA Champions League | 7 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 4 | 26 |
| UEFA Cup Winners' Cup | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 7 |
| UEFA Cup / UEFA Europa League | 29 | 8 | 6 | 15 | 27 | 59 |
| UEFA Conference League | 18 | 6 | 7 | 5 | 32 | 26 |
| Total | 58 | 14 | 16 | 28 | 65 | 118 |

### Competitions

| Season | Competition | Round | Club | 1st leg | 2nd leg | Agg. |
| 1959–60 | European Cup | Preliminary round | Eintracht Frankfurt | KuPS withdrew | KuPS withdrew | KuPS withdrew |
| 1967–68 | European Cup | First round | Saint-Étienne | 0–2 | 0–3 | 0–5 |
| 1969–70 | UEFA Cup Winners' Cup | First round | Académica de Coimbra | 0–1 | 0–0 | 0–1 |
| 1975–76 | European Cup | First round | Ruch Chorzów | 0–5 | 2–2 | 2–7 |
| 1976–77 | UEFA Cup | First round | Östers | 3–2 | 0–2 | 3–4 |
| 1977–78 | European Cup | First round | Club Brugge | 0–4 | 2–5 | 2–9 |
| 1978–79 | UEFA Cup | First round | Boldklubben 1903 | 2–1 | 4–4 | 6–5 |
| 1978–79 | UEFA Cup | Second round | Esbjerg fB | 0–2 | 1–4 | 1–6 |
| 1980–81 | UEFA Cup | First round | Saint-Étienne | 0–7 | 0–7 | 0–14 |
| 1990–91 | UEFA Cup Winners' Cup | First round | Dynamo Kyiv | 2–2 | 0–4 | 2–6 |
| 2011–12 | UEFA Europa League | 2nd qualifying round | Gaz Metan Mediaș | 1–0 | 0–2 | 1–2 |
| 2012–13 | UEFA Europa League | 1st qualifying round | Llanelli | 2–1 | 1–1 | 3–2 |
| 2012–13 | UEFA Europa League | 2nd qualifying round | Maccabi Netanya | 0–1 | 2–1 | 2–2 (a) |
| 2012–13 | UEFA Europa League | 3rd qualifying round | Bursaspor | 1–0 | 0–6 | 1–6 |
| 2018–19 | UEFA Europa League | 1st qualifying round | FC Copenhagen | 0–1 | 1–1 | 1–2 |
| 2019–20 | UEFA Europa League | 1st qualifying round | Vitebsk | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 |
| 2019–20 | UEFA Europa League | 2nd qualifying round | Legia Warsaw | 0–1 | 0–0 | 0–1 |
| 2020–21 | UEFA Champions League | 1st qualifying round | Molde | | | 0–5 |
| 2020–21 | UEFA Europa League | 2nd qualifying round | Slovan Bratislava | | | 1–1 (4–3 p) |
| 2020–21 | UEFA Europa League | 3rd qualifying round | Sūduva | | | 2–0 |
| 2020–21 | UEFA Europa League | Play-off round | CFR Cluj | | | 1–3 |
| 2021–22 | UEFA Europa Conference League | 1st qualifying round | Noah | 0–1 | 5–0 | 5–1 |
| 2021–22 | UEFA Europa Conference League | 2nd qualifying round | Vorskla Poltava | 2–2 | 3–2 | 5–4 |
| 2021–22 | UEFA Europa Conference League | 3rd qualifying round | Astana | 1–1 | 4–3 | 5–4 |
| 2021–22 | UEFA Europa Conference League | Play-off round | Union Berlin | 0–4 | 0–0 | 0–4 |
| 2022–23 | UEFA Europa Conference League | 1st qualifying round | Dila Gori | 2–0 | 0–0 | 2–0 |
| 2022–23 | UEFA Europa Conference League | 2nd qualifying round | Milsami Orhei | 2–2 | 4–1 | 6–3 |
| 2022–23 | UEFA Europa Conference League | 3rd qualifying round | Young Boys | 0–2 | 0–3 | 0–5 |
| 2023–24 | UEFA Europa Conference League | 2nd qualifying round | Derry City | 1–2 | 3–3 | 4–5 |
| 2024–25 | UEFA Conference League | 1st qualifying round | UNA Strassen | 0–0 | 5–0 | 5–0 |
| 2024–25 | UEFA Conference League | 2nd qualifying round | Tromsø | 0–1 | 0–1 | 0–2 |
| 2025–26 | UEFA Champions League | 1st qualifying round | | | | |

## Season to season

Season to Season :
| Season | Level | Division | Section | Administration | Position | Movements |
| 1930 | Tier 2 | B-sarja (First Division) | | Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) | Cup-format | Semi-finals |
| 1931 | Tier 2 | B-sarja (First Division) | | Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) | | Fell before group stage |
| 1932 | Tier 2 | B-sarja (First Division) | | Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) | 6th | |
| 1933 | Tier 2 | B-sarja (First Division) | | Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) | 6th | |
| 1934 | Tier 2 | B-sarja (First Division) | East Group | Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) | 3rd | |
| 1935 | Tier 2 | B-sarja (First Division) | East Group | Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) | 2nd | Promotion Group 4th |
| 1936 | Tier 2 | Itä-Länsi-sarja (First Division) | East Group | Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) | 4th | |
| 1937 | Tier 2 | Itä-Länsi-sarja (First Division) | East Group | Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) | 3rd | |
| 1938 | Tier 2 | Itä-Länsi-sarja (First Division) | East Series, North Group | Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) | 3rd | |
| 1939 | Tier 2 | Itä-Länsi-sarja (First Division) | East Series, North Group | Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) | 1st | |
| 1940–41 | Tier 2 | B-sarja (First Division) | | Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) | 3rd | |
| 1943–44 | | | | | | Did not participate |
| 1945 | Tier 2 | Suomensarja (First Division) | Group 2 | Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) | 1st | |
| 1945–46 | Tier 2 | Suomensarja (First Division) | | Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) | 7th | |
| 1946–47 | Tier 2 | Suomensarja (First Division) | North Group | Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) | 1st | Promotion Group 2nd, promoted |
| 1947–48 | Tier 1 | Mestaruussarja (Premier League) | | Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) | 7th | Relegated |
| 1948 | Tier 2 | Suomensarja (First Division) | North Group | Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) | 1st | Promoted |
| 1949 | Tier 1 | Mestaruussarja (Premier League) | | Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) | 8th | |
| 1950 | Tier 1 | Mestaruussarja (Premier League) | | Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) | 2nd | |
| 1951 | Tier 1 | Mestaruussarja (Premier League) | | Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) | 5th | |
| 1952 | Tier 1 | Mestaruussarja (Premier League) | | Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) | 5th | |
| 1953 | Tier 1 | Mestaruussarja (Premier League) | | Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) | 3rd | |
| 1954 | Tier 1 | Mestaruussarja (Premier League) | | Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) | 2nd | |
| 1955 | Tier 1 | Mestaruussarja (Premier League) | | Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) | 4th | |
| 1956 | Tier 1 | Mestaruussarja (Premier League) | | Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) | 1st | Champions |
| 1957 | Tier 1 | Mestaruussarja (Premier League) | | Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) | 4th | |
| 1958 | Tier 1 | Mestaruussarja (Premier League) | | Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) | 1st | Champions |
| 1959 | Tier 1 | Mestaruussarja (Premier League) | | Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) | 4th | |
| 1960 | Tier 1 | Mestaruussarja (Premier League) | | Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) | 6th | |
| 1961 | Tier 1 | Mestaruussarja (Premier League) | | Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) | 9th | |
| 1962 | Tier 1 | Mestaruussarja (Premier League) | | Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) | 5th | |
| 1963 | Tier 1 | Mestaruussarja (Premier League) | | Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) | 6th | |
| 1964 | Tier 1 | Mestaruussarja (Premier League) | | Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) | 2nd | |
| 1965 | Tier 1 | Mestaruussarja (Premier League) | | Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) | 6th | |
| 1966 | Tier 1 | Mestaruussarja (Premier League) | | Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) | 1st | Champions |
| 1967 | Tier 1 | Mestaruussarja (Premier League) | | Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) | 2nd | |
| 1968 | Tier 1 | Mestaruussarja (Premier League) | | Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) | 4th | |
| 1969 | Tier 1 | Mestaruussarja (Premier League) | | Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) | 2nd | |
| 1970 | Tier 1 | Mestaruussarja (Premier League) | | Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) | 4th | |
| 1971 | Tier 1 | Mestaruussarja (Premier League) | | Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) | 7th | |
| 1972 | Tier 1 | Mestaruussarja (Premier League) | | Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) | 4th | |
| 1973 | Tier 1 | Mestaruussarja (Premier League) | | Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) | 4th | |
| 1974 | Tier 1 | Mestaruussarja (Premier League) | | Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) | 1st | Champions |
| 1975 | Tier 1 | Mestaruussarja (Premier League) | | Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) | 2nd | |
| 1976 | Tier 1 | Mestaruussarja (Premier League) | | Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) | 1st | Champions |
| 1977 | Tier 1 | Mestaruussarja (Premier League) | | Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) | 2nd | |
| 1978 | Tier 1 | Mestaruussarja (Premier League) | | Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) | 7th | |
| 1979 | Tier 1 | Mestaruussarja (Premier League) | | Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) | 2nd | |
| 1980 | Tier 1 | Mestaruussarja (Premier League) | | Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) | 8th | |
| 1981 | Tier 1 | Mestaruussarja (Premier League) | | Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) | 7th | |
| 1982 | Tier 1 | Mestaruussarja (Premier League) | | Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) | 8th | |
| 1983 | Tier 1 | Mestaruussarja (Premier League) | | Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) | 9th | Relegation Group 1st |
| 1984 | Tier 1 | Mestaruussarja (Premier League) | | Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) | 8th | |
| 1985 | Tier 1 | Mestaruussarja (Premier League) | | Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) | 6th | |
| 1986 | Tier 1 | Mestaruussarja (Premier League) | | Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) | 10th | |
| 1987 | Tier 1 | Mestaruussarja (Premier League) | | Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) | 8th | |
| 1988 | Tier 1 | Mestaruussarja (Premier League) | | Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) | 11th | Relegation Play-off |
| 1989 | Tier 1 | Mestaruussarja (Premier League) | | Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) | 7th | |
| 1990 | Tier 1 | Futisliiga (Premier League) | | Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) | 4th | Play-offs, final position 6th |
| 1991 | Tier 1 | Futisliiga (Premier League) | | Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) | 10th | |
| 1992 | Tier 1 | Veikkausliiga (Premier League) | | Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) | 12th | Relegated |
| 1993 | Tier 2 | I divisioona (First Division) | | Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) | 1st | Promotion Group 3rd, promoted |
| 1994 | Tier 1 | Veikkausliiga (Premier League) | | Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) | 14th | Relegated |
| 1995 | Tier 2 | Ykkönen (First Division) | | Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) | 12th | |
| 1996 | Tier 2 | Ykkönen (First Division) | North Group | Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) | 7th | |
| 1997 | Tier 2 | Ykkönen (First Division) | North Group | Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) | 7th | Lower Group North – 3rd – Playoffs – Relegated |
| 1998 | Tier 3 | Kakkonen (Second Division) | North Group | Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) | 1st | Promoted |
| 1999 | Tier 2 | Ykkönen (First Division) | South Group | Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) | 4th | Upper Group – 7th |
| 2000 | Tier 2 | Ykkönen (First Division) | North Group | Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) | 1st | Upper Group – 1st – Promoted |
| 2001 | Tier 1 | Veikkausliiga (Premier League) | | Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) | 8th | |
| 2002 | Tier 1 | Veikkausliiga (Premier League) | | Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) | 9th | Promotion / Relegation Group – 1st |
| 2003 | Tier 1 | Veikkausliiga (Premier League) | | Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) | 14th | Relegated |
| 2004 | Tier 2 | Ykkönen (First Division) | | Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) | 1st | Promoted |
| 2005 | Tier 1 | Veikkausliiga (Premier League) | | Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) | 10th | |
| 2006 | Tier 1 | Veikkausliiga (Premier League) | | Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) | 13th | Relegated |
| 2007 | Tier 2 | Ykkönen (First Division) | | Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) | 1st | Promoted |
| 2008 | Tier 1 | Veikkausliiga (Premier League) | | Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) | 13th | Relegation Playoffs |
| 2009 | Tier 1 | Veikkausliiga (Premier League) | | Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) | 12th | |
| 2010 | Tier 1 | Veikkausliiga (Premier League) | | Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) | 2nd | |
| 2011 | Tier 1 | Veikkausliiga (Premier League) | | Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) | 6th | |
| 2012 | Tier 1 | Veikkausliiga (Premier League) | | Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) | 10th | |
| 2013 | Tier 1 | Veikkausliiga (Premier League) | | Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) | 7th | |
| 2014 | Tier 1 | Veikkausliiga (Premier League) | | Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) | 7th | |
| 2015 | Tier 1 | Veikkausliiga (Premier League) | | Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) | 9th | |
| 2016 | Tier 1 | Veikkausliiga (Premier League) | | Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) | 7th | |
| 2017 | Tier 1 | Veikkausliiga (Premier League) | | Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) | 2nd | |
| 2018 | Tier 1 | Veikkausliiga (Premier League) | | Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) | 3rd | |
| 2019 | Tier 1 | Veikkausliiga (Premier League) | | Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) | 1st | Champions |
| 2020 | Tier 1 | Veikkausliiga (Premier League) | | Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) | 3rd | |
| 2021 | Tier 1 | Veikkausliiga (Premier League) | | Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) | 2nd | |
| 2022 | Tier 1 | Veikkausliiga (Premier League) | | Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) | 2nd | |
| 2023 | Tier 1 | Veikkausliiga (Premier League) | | Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) | 2nd | |
| 2024 | Tier 1 | Veikkausliiga (Premier League) | | Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) | 1st | Champions |

## Current squad

    As of 28 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 | AUT | Johannes Kreidl |
| 2 | DF | GHA | Eric Danso Boateng |
| 6 | MF | FIN | Saku Savolainen |
| 7 | MF | FIN | Jerry Voutilainen |
| 8 | MF | FIN | Petteri Pennanen |
| 12 | GK | FIN | Aatu Hakala |
| 13 | MF | FIN | Jaakko Oksanen |
| 14 | MF | FIN | Samuel Pasanen |
| 15 | DF | CIV | Ibrahim Cissé |
| 16 | DF | FIN | Samuli Miettinen |
| 17 | MF | FIN | Arttu Heinonen |
| 18 | MF | FIN | Eemil Tanninen |
| 21 | FW | FIN | Joslyn Luyeye-Lutumba |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 23 | DF | FIN | Arttu Lötjönen |
| 24 | DF | GHA | Bob Nii Armah |
| 25 | DF | GHA | Clinton Antwi |
| 29 | DF | GHA | Derrick Atta Agyei |
| 30 | MF | FIN | Lauri Sahimaa |
| 31 | DF | FIN | Tatu Hukkanen |
| 34 | MF | FIN | Otto Ruoppi |
| 37 | GK | FIN | Miilo Pitkänen |
| — | FW | GUI | Mohamed Toure |
| — | MF | FIN | Doni Arifi |
| — | DF | FIN | Rasmus Tikkanen |
| — | FW | FIN | Agon Sadiku (on loan from Emmen) |

### 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

As of 1 May 2023
| Name | Role |
| Jarkko Wiss | Head coach |
| Sixten Boström | Assistant coach |
| Joonas Pöntinen | Goalkeeping coach |
| Mika Lähderinne | Conditioning coach |
| Viki Savonen | Analyst |
| Joonas Ojantie | Physiotherapist |
| Janne Pesonen | Doctor |
| Sami Miettinen | Kit Manager |

### Boardroom

As of 22 October 2024
| Name | Role |
| Tomi Erola | CEO |
| Ari Lahti | President |
| Sixten Boström | Sporting director |
* Ilja Venäläinen trailed by Klubi-04's Sakari Mattila (2007)
* Jonni Heikkinen escapes from a PK-37 player in Finnish Cup 5th Round, 2006
* Miikka Turunen near the corner flag in Finnish League Cup, 2008
* Arto Lindberg trying to keep Tuomas Haapala away

## Honours

* Mestaruussarja/Veikkausliiga
** Champions (7): 1956, 1958, 1966, 1974, 1976, 2019, 2024
** Runners-up (13): 1950, 1954, 1964, 1967, 1969, 1975, 1977, 1979, 2010, 2017, 2021, 2022, 2023
** Third place (3): 1953, 2018, 2020
* Finnish Cup
** Champions: 1968, 1989, 2021, 2022, 2024
** Runners-up: 2011, 2012, 2013
* Finnish League Cup
** Champions: 2006
** Runners-up: 2024
* Ykkönen (second tier)
** Champions: 2000, 2004, 2007
* Kakkonen (third tier)
** Champions: 1998

## Managers

* Aaro Heikkinen (1945–57)
* Imre Nagy (1947)
* Martti Kosma (1958)
* Reino Miettinen (1959)
* Veijo Pehkonen (1960)
* Asser Väisänen (1960)
* Aaro Heikkinen (1961–65)
* Gunnar Boman (1966–68)
* Veikko Jokinen (1969–71)
* Unto Nevalainen (1969–71)
* Martti Räsänen (1972–79)
* Matti Terästö (initial term) (1980)
* Jarmo Flink (final season) (1980)
* Ari Savolainen (1981)
* Matti Väänänen (1982)
* Bogusław Hajdas (1983–85)
* Jouko Pasanen (1986)
* Jouko Pasanen (1987)
* Aarre Miettinen (July 1987)
* Heikki Turunen (1988)
* Aarre Miettinen (1988)
* Heikki Turunen (1989)
* Markku Hyvärinen (May 1989)
* Olavi Rissanen (May 1989)
* Martti Räsänen (1990–91)
* Olavi Rissanen (1990–91)
* Martti Räsänen (1992)
* Jouni Jäntti (Sept 1992)
* Markku Hyvärinen (Sept 1992)
* Keijo Voutilainen (1 January 1993 – 31 December 1994)
* Hannu Turunen (1995–96)
* Atik Ismail (1995–96)
* Jouni Jäntti (1997–98)
* Ensio Pellikka (1998)
* Heikki Turunen (1999)
* Esa Pekonen (1 January 2000 – 31 December 2001)
* Jari Pyykölä (1 January 2002 – 6 June 2003)
* Ismo Lius (June 2003)
* Juha Malinen (1 January 2005 – 31 December 2006)
* Kai Nyyssönen (1 January 2007 – 13 June 2009)
* Esa Pekonen (14 June 2009 – 24 April 2014)
* Marko Rajamäki (2 May 2014 – 2016)
* Jani Honkavaara (2017–2019)
* Arne Erlandsen (2020)
* Simo Valakari (2021–2023)
* Pasi Tuutti (19 January 2023 – 20 April 2023)
* Jani Honkavaara (21 April 2023–)