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
Full nameKuopion Palloseura
Nickname(s)Keltamusta (The Yellow-black)
Kanarialinnut (The Canaries)
Founded1923; 101 years ago (1923)
GroundVäre Areena
Kuopio
Capacity5,000 (2,700 seated)
ChairmanAri Lahti
ManagerJani Honkavaara
LeagueVeikkausliiga
2024Veikkausliiga, 1st of 12 (champions)
Websitewww.kups.fi Edit this at Wikidata
Current season

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.[1]

History

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First team in 1923

The club was officially founded on March 16, 1923, at Kuopion Seurahuone. The club was named to Kuopion Palloseura and the abbreviation KPS, which was later changed to KuPS. [2]

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. [2]

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. [3][2]

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. [2]

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. [2]

 
Kuopio Football Stadium in 2010.
 
KuPS vs HJK at Magnum Areena, Kuopio. Finnish League Cup, March 11, 2008.

In the 1990s, KuPS was in financial problems and even dropped to the third highest league level.[3] In the early 2000s, KuPS spent seasons in both in the First Division and in Veikkausliiga, where it has played ever since 2008. [4]

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

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UEFA club competition record

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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

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Season Competition Round Country Club 1st leg 2nd leg Agg.
1959–60 European Cup Preliminary round   Eintracht Frankfurt KuPS withdrew
1967–68 European Cup First round   Saint-Étienne 0–2 0–3 0–5
1969–70 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
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 Cup Winners' Cup First round   Dynamo Kyiv 2–2 0–4 2–6
2011–12 Europa League 2nd qualifying round   Gaz Metan Mediaș 1–0 0–2 1–2
2012–13 Europa League 1st qualifying round   Llanelli 2–1 1–1 3–2
2nd qualifying round   Maccabi Netanya 0–1 2–1 2–2 (a)
3rd qualifying round   Bursaspor 1–0 0–6 1–6
2018–19 Europa League 1st qualifying round   FC Copenhagen 0–1 1–1 1–2
2019–20 Europa League 1st qualifying round   Vitebsk 2–0 1–1 3–1
2nd qualifying round   Legia Warsaw 0–1 0–0 0–1
2020–21 Champions League 1st qualifying round   Molde 0–5
Europa League 2nd qualifying round   Slovan Bratislava 1–1 (4–3 p)
3rd qualifying round   Sūduva 2–0
Play-off round   CFR Cluj 1–3
2021–22 Europa Conference League 1st qualifying round   Noah 0–1 5–0 5–1
2nd qualifying round   Vorskla Poltava 2–2 3–2 5–4
3rd qualifying round   Astana 1–1 4–3 5–4
Play-off round   Union Berlin 0–4 0–0 0–4
2022–23 Europa Conference League 1st qualifying round   Dila Gori 2–0 0–0 2–0
2nd qualifying round   Milsami Orhei 2–2 4−1 6–3
3rd qualifying round   Young Boys 0–2 0–3 0–5
2023–24 Europa Conference League 2nd qualifying round   Derry City 1–2 3−3 4−5
2024–25 Conference League 1st qualifying round   UNA Strassen 0−0 5−0 5−0
2nd qualifying round   Tromsø 0−1 0−1 0−2
2025–26 Champions League 1st qualifying round

Season to season

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Season to Season
Season Level Division Section Administration Position Movements
1930 Tier 2 B-sarja (First Division) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) Cup-format Semifinals
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

[5][6]

Current squad

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As of 2 August 2024. [7][8] 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   AUT Johannes Kreidl
4 DF   CPV Kristopher Da Graca (on loan from Sirius)
6 DF   FIN Saku Savolainen
7 MF   FIN Jerry Voutilainen
8 MF   FIN Petteri Pennanen
9 FW   FIN Jonathan Muzinga
10 FW   BRA Lucas Rangel
11 FW   SWE Ousmane Diawara (on loan from SCR Altach)
12 GK   FIN Aatu Hakala
13 MF   FIN Jaakko Oksanen
15 DF   CIV Ibrahim Cissé
16 DF   FIN Samuli Miettinen
17 MF   FIN Arttu Heinonen
No. Pos. Nation Player
18 DF   FIN Seth Saarinen
19 DF   FIN Samu Koistinen
21 FW   FIN Joslyn Luyeye-Lutumba
25 DF   GHA Clinton Antwi
26 MF   FIN Axel Vidjeskog
28 MF   FIN Matias Siltanen
30 MF   FIN Lauri Sahimaa
31 DF   FIN Tatu Hukkanen
33 DF   FIN Taneli Hämäläinen
34 MF   FIN Otto Ruoppi
MF   FIN Samuel Pasanen
MF   FIN Eemil Tanninen

Out on loan

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Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player

Management

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As of 1 May 2023[9][10]

Name Role
  Jani Honkavaara 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

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As of 22 October 2024

Name Role
  Tomi Erola CEO
  Ari Lahti President
  Sixten Boström Sporting director

Honours

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Managers

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References

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  1. ^ "Finnish League Premier Division All-Time Tables 1930–2007". rsssf.org Archived 28 January 2023 at the Wayback Machine. (March 12, 2008)
  2. ^ a b c d e Karjalainen, Markus & Huttunen, Jouni (2005). Kuopion Palloseura 1923–2004. Kuopion Palloseura.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  3. ^ a b "Historia & Saavutukset". KuPS - Kuopion Palloseura (in Finnish). Retrieved 13 April 2024.
  4. ^ "Tilastot ja taulukot". KuPS - Kuopion Palloseura (in Finnish). Retrieved 12 April 2024.
  5. ^ "Finland – List of League First Level Tables". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 17 July 2010. Retrieved 9 March 2017.
  6. ^ "Finland – List of League Second Level Tables". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 24 September 2022. Retrieved 9 March 2017.
  7. ^ KuPS. "KuPS miehet edustusjoukkue 2023". kups.fi. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
  8. ^ Edustusjoukkueen rakennus etenee, on aika kiittää pois lähteviä pelaajia
  9. ^ "KuPS miehet edustusjoukkue 2021" (in Finnish). KuPS. Archived from the original on 27 February 2021. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
  10. ^ "Simo Valakari on KuPS:n uusi päävalmentaja". kups.fi. Retrieved 5 November 2020.
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