FC Honka explained

Upright:0.6
Clubname:Honka
Fullname:FC Honka
Founded:1957
Ground:Tapiolan Urheilupuisto,
Espoo
Capacity:6,000
Manager:Mika Väyrynen
League:Kakkonen
Season:2023
Position:Veikkausliiga, 5th of 12 (demoted due to bankruptcy)
Website:http://fchonka.fi/
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FC Honka is a Finnish football club based in Espoo. It was founded in 1957 as Tapion Honka, and changed its name to FC Honka in 1975. The club will play in Kakkonen in the 2024 season, after Esport Honka filed for bankruptcy in November 2023. The club previously played in the Finnish premier division (Veikkausliiga), having been promoted for the first time in their history at the end of the 2005 season. It plays its home matches at the Tapiolan Urheilupuisto.

FC Honka is largely renowned in Finland for its extensive youth scheme with over 1,000 youth players playing in various age groups. It also has a women's team in the Kansallinen Liiga.

History

Until 2005 FC Honka was thought of as a "nearly, but not quite" team, a promising but always underachieving side in the Finnish First Division (Ykkönen). In the late 1990s the objective was promotion, but year after year they failed. At the beginning of the 21st century FC Honka almost went bankrupt but was saved at the last moment.In early 2005 the club was taken over by Jouko Pakarinen and Jouko Harjunpää, who had a plan to turn FC Honka from underachievers to a UEFA Champions League candidate.

In the first year of their take-over of FC Honka, the new management succeeded in assembling a squad which won the First Division (Ykkönen) with ease and also made the semi-finals of the Finnish Cup where they eventually lost 1–0 to FC Haka.

FC Honka was able to fight for top positions instantly, but narrowly missed the top three in their first two seasons. In 2007 the team reached the Finnish Cup final, losing to Tampere United on penalties after extra time. As Tampere United also won the league title that season, FC Honka qualified for the 2008–09 UEFA Cup. In 2008, FC Honka achieved its highest place by finishing 2nd in the league.

Financial difficulties

FC Honka won the Finnish Cup in 2012. However, due to financial difficulties the team was relegated to the third tier Kakkonen in 2015. In 2015 the fitness center company Esport bought the club and after that, the club has also been known as Esport Honka. The club dominated their first season in the Kakkonen in 2015 and lost only two games, but were defeated in the promotion battle. After the 2016 season, the team was promoted to the second tier Finnish First Division (Ykkönen). After the 2017 Ykkönen season Honka was promoted to the highest Finnish tier (Veikkausliiga) after Promotion playoffs against HIFK.

Financial problems again and the bankruptcy

On 31 October 2023, it was widely reported in Finnish media, that with no prior announcement or warning, Honka hadn't paid the salaries for the staff or the players on time.[1] Kurt Möller, the head of development and public relations of Esport, the company currently running the club, stated that Esport Honka had run out of money. On 5 November 2023, it was further reported that the severe financial difficulties might force Honka into bankruptcy, as it's probable that the owner Färid Ainetdin is not willing to keep covering the annual losses of millions of euros anymore.[2] [3] Möller or Hexi Arteva, the General Manager of the club, did not comment on the reports in media.[4]

On 8 November 2023, it was reported that the General Manager Hexi Arteva had resigned from his job two days earlier, with no announcement or comments.[5]

On 10 November 2023, it was reported that Honka is unable to fulfill the requirements for the league license of Veikkausliiga and will not play in the top tier in the 2024 season. Henri Aalto, the former captain of Honka who announced his retirement from his professional career after the 2023 season, criticized the club in an interview with Yle: "Every time, when Honka faces financial difficulties, I am frustrated by how poorly things are communicated and solved with the players, coaches and the rest of the staff. Nothing is announced beforehand. And when something negative happens, even then you have to be the one asking for information and to live in uncertainty."[6]

On 15 November 2023, when Honka wasn't able to get a league license for the second or the third tier, Henri Aalto commented on a case again to Finnish media. The players and the staff were still yet to get their salaries and bonuses. Foreign-born players are still stuck in the country clueless of the future. The owner Färid Ainetdin hasn't commented a word on the situation, and no one has managed to get a contact to him.[7]

Finally on 16 November 2023, Färid Ainetdin spoke to a small free local newspaper Länsiväylä. He stated that the reason for the sudden cutting of funding of the club, is the long delay in the new stadium project in Tapiola, and he is not ready to fund the club for four more years and waiting for the possible new stadium to be built and completed. According to Ainetdin, there are no financial conditions for Honka to keep playing in any of the three highest tiers of Finnish football. He also wishes that the players would get their salaries soon via insurance.[8] On the same day, Esport Honka filed for bankruptcy at the Court of Länsi-Uusimaa.[9] On 21 November 2023, Esport Honka was declared for bankruptcy.[10]

2024: New era

On 16 November 2023, after Esport Honka had filed for bankruptcy, the club, FC Honka ry, announced that Honka will continue playing in Kakkonen, which will be the fourth-tier division starting in 2024. Honka will gain the division position of its former reserve team Honka II, and use the name Honka Akatemia.[11] On 24 November 2023, the club announced that Mika Väyrynen will be the new first team head coach.[12]

Honours

League

Veikkausliiga

Ykkönen

Cups

Finnish Cup

Finnish League Cup

European competitions

As runners-up in the 2007 Finnish Cup to Tampere United, who had also won the league title, FC Honka qualified for the 2008–09 UEFA Cup, beating the Icelandic club ÍA 4–2 in the 1st qualifying round and the Norwegian club Viking in the 2nd. In the first round of actual competition, they were drawn against Racing Santander and lost 0–2 on aggregate.

Next year, Honka qualified for the new UEFA Europa League, starting from the second qualifying round. The club beat Welsh side Bangor City F.C. 3–0 on aggregate but lost 1–3 to FK Karabakh from Azerbaijan in the third qualifying round.

For the 2010–11 season, FC Honka was again drawn against Bangor City in the second round but lost 3–2 on aggregate.

During the winter of 2009, Honka won the annual La Manga Cup, beating FC Nordsjælland in the final.

European cups record

CompetitionPldWDLGFGA
UEFA Europa League / UEFA Cup175391421
UEFA Europa Conference League613255
UEFA Intertoto Cup413075
Total2779112631

Matches

SeasonCompetitionRoundClubHomeAwayAggregate
2007UEFA Intertoto CupFirst round TVMK0–04–24–2
Second round AaB2–21–13–3 (a)
2008–09UEFA CupFirst qualifying round IA Akranes3–01–24–2
Second qualifying round Viking Stavanger0–02–12–1
First round Racing Santander0–10–10–2
2009–10UEFA Europa LeagueSecond qualifying round Bangor City2–01–03–0
Third qualifying round Qarabağ FK0–11–21–3
2010–11UEFA Europa LeagueSecond qualifying round Bangor City1–11–22–3
2011–12UEFA Europa LeagueFirst qualifying round JK Nõmme Kalju0–02–02–0
Second qualifying round BK Häcken0–20–10–3
2013–14UEFA Europa LeagueSecond qualifying round Lech Poznań1–31–22–5
2014–15UEFA Europa LeagueFirst qualifying round Sillamäe Kalev3–21–24–4 (a)
2020–21UEFA Europa LeagueFirst qualifying round AGF2–5
2021–22UEFA Europa Conference LeagueFirst qualifying round NSÍ Runavík0–03–13–1
Second qualifying round Domžale0–11–11–2
2023–24UEFA Europa Conference LeagueFirst qualifying round Tobol0–01–21–2

UEFA club ranking

This is the UEFA Club Ranking, including season 2013–14.[13]

Last update: 22 June 2021

Rank Team Points
397 Ballymena United FC1.391
398 Glenavon FC1.391
399 FC Dinamo Batumi1.375
400 FC Dinamo-Auto Tiraspol1.375
400 FC Honka 1.375
402 Speranța Nisporeni1.375
403 FC Lahti1.375
404 IFK Mariehamn1.375
405 VPS Vaasa1.375

Season to season

SeasonLevelDivisionSectionAdministrationPositionMovements
1964Tier 4Aluesarja (Fourth Division)Group 1 Helsinki & Central UusimaaHelsinki & Uusimaa (SPL Uusimaa)4th
1965Tier 4Aluesarja (Fourth Division)Group 2 Helsinki & Central UusimaaHelsinki & Uusimaa (SPL Uusimaa)1stPromoted
1966Tier 3Maakuntasarja (Third Division)HelsinkiFinnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)2nd
1967Tier 3Maakuntasarja (Third Division)Helsinki & UusimaaFinnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)1stPromoted
1968Tier 2Suomensarja (Second Division)South GroupFinnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)8th
1969Tier 2Suomensarja (Second Division)South GroupFinnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)3rd
1970Tier 2II Divisioona (Second Division)East GroupFinnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)7th
1971Tier 2II Divisioona (Second Division)East GroupFinnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)4th
1972Tier 2II Divisioona (Second Division)East GroupFinnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)8th
1973Tier 3II Divisioona (Second Division)East GroupFinnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)3rd
1974Tier 3II Divisioona (Second Division)East GroupFinnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)12thRelegated
1975Tier 4III Divisioona (Third Division)Group 2Helsinki & Uusimaa (SPL Uusimaa)2nd
1976Tier 4III Divisioona (Third Division)Group 2Helsinki & Uusimaa (SPL Uusimaa)5th
1977Tier 4III Divisioona (Third Division)Group 1Helsinki & Uusimaa (SPL Uusimaa)1stPromoted
1978Tier 3II Divisioona (Second Division)East GroupFinnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)1stPromoted
1979Tier 2I Divisioona (First Division)Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)10thRelegation Group 6th – Relegation Playoff
1980Tier 2I Divisioona (First Division)Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)7thRelegation Group 1st
1981Tier 2I Divisioona (First Division)Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)4thPromotion Group 7th
1982Tier 2I Divisioona (First Division)Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)5thRelegation Group 1st
1983Tier 2I Divisioona (First Division)Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)11thRelegation Group 6th – Relegated
1984Tier 3II Divisioona (Second Division)East GroupFinnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)6th
1985Tier 3II Divisioona (Second Division)West GroupFinnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)6th
1986Tier 3II Divisioona (Second Division)East GroupFinnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)4th
1987Tier 3II Divisioona (Second Division)West GroupFinnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)11thRelegated
1988Tier 4III Divisioona (Third Division)Group 2Helsinki & Uusimaa (SPL Uusimaa)3rd
1989Tier 4III Divisioona (Third Division)Group 2Helsinki & Uusimaa (SPL Uusimaa)2nd
1990Tier 4III Divisioona (Third Division)Group 2Helsinki & Uusimaa (SPL Uusimaa)9thRelegation Playoff – Relegated
1991Tier 5IV Divisioona (Fourth Division)Group 3 Helsinki & UusimaaHelsinki & Uusimaa (SPL Uusimaa)9th
1992Tier 5IV Divisioona (Fourth Division)Group 3 Helsinki & UusimaaHelsinki & Uusimaa (SPL Uusimaa)3rd
1993Tier 5Nelonen (Fourth Division)Group 3 Helsinki & UusimaaHelsinki & Uusimaa (SPL Uusimaa)1stPromoted
1994Tier 4Kolmonen (Third Division)Section 1Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)2ndPlayoffs – Promoted
1995Tier 3Kakkonen (Second Division)South GroupFinnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)2ndPromoted
1996Tier 2 Ykkönen (First Division)South GroupFinnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)5th
1997Tier 2 Ykkönen (First Division)South GroupFinnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)5thPromotion Group – 9th
1998Tier 2 Ykkönen (First Division)South GroupFinnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)6thRelegation Group South – 6th
1999Tier 2 Ykkönen (First Division)South GroupFinnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)5thPromotion Group – 5th
2000Tier 2 Ykkönen (First Division)South GroupFinnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)7thRelegation Group South – 6th
2001Tier 2 Ykkönen (First Division)South GroupFinnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)4th
2002Tier 2 Ykkönen (First Division)South GroupFinnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)3rdLower Group South – 3rd
2003Tier 2 Ykkönen (First Division)Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)4th
2004Tier 2 Ykkönen (First Division)Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)3rd
2005Tier 2 Ykkönen (First Division)Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)1stPromoted
2006Tier 1 Veikkausliiga (Premier League)Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)4th
2007Tier 1 Veikkausliiga (Premier League)Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)4th
2008Tier 1 Veikkausliiga (Premier League)Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)2nd
2009Tier 1 Veikkausliiga (Premier League)Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)2nd
2010Tier 1 Veikkausliiga (Premier League)Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)4th
2011Tier 1 Veikkausliiga (Premier League)Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)4th
2012Tier 1 Veikkausliiga (Premier League)Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)7th
2013Tier 1 Veikkausliiga (Premier League)Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)2nd
2014Tier 1 Veikkausliiga (Premier League)Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)11thDid not get a new Veikkausliiga license due to finances. Continued in Kakkonen (Tier 3).
2015Tier 3Kakkonen (Second Division)South GroupFinnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)1stPlayoffs – Not promoted
2016Tier 3Kakkonen (Second Division)Group BFinnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)1stPlayoffs – Promoted
2017Tier 2Ykkönen (First Division)Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)2ndPlayoffs – Promoted
2018Tier 1 Veikkausliiga (Premier League)Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)4th
2019Tier 1 Veikkausliiga (Premier League)Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)3rd
2020Tier 1 Veikkausliiga (Premier League)Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)4th
2021Tier 1 Veikkausliiga (Premier League)Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)9th
2022Tier 1 Veikkausliiga (Premier League)Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)3rd

[14]

Current squad

.[15]

Out on loan

Management

Updated 19 February 2021.[16]

NameRole
Mika VäyrynenHead coach
Sampo KoskinenCoach
Eemeli ReponenGoalkeeping coach
Juha SaavalainenKit manager
Harri KokkoFitness Coach
Max ThibaultPhysiotherapist and fitness coach

FC Honka Akatemia

See main article: Pallohonka. FC Honka Akatemia is the reserve team of FC Honka. The team plays in Kakkonen in 2022 season.

Managers

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. https://www.hs.fi/urheilu/art-2000009960977.html FC Hongan pelaajien palkat ovat myöhässä – ”Ei ole tällä hetkellä rahaa kassassa”
  2. https://yle.fi/a/74-20013000/64-3-188693 MTV: FC Hongan toiminta jalkapalloilussa on talousvaikeuksien takia uhattuna
  3. https://www.sportti.com/uutinen.asp?CAT=3-1&ID=503621 Isoissa vaikeuksissa oleva Honka tehnyt järkyttäviä tappioita
  4. https://www.mtvuutiset.fi/artikkeli/fc-hongan-joukkueen-tulevaisuus-vaakalaudalla-jopa-konkurssi-uhkaa/8813060 FC Hongan Veikkausliiga-joukkueen tulevaisuus vaakalaudalla – jopa konkurssi uhkaa
  5. https://www.mtvuutiset.fi/artikkeli/mtv-urheilun-tiedot-talousvaikeuksissa-rypevan-hongan-manageri-irtisanoutui-palkkarasteista-uhka-jatkolle/8815682#gs.05kemj MTV Urheilun tiedot: Talousvaikeuksissa rypevän Hongan manageri irtisanoutui – palkkarästeistä uhka jatkolle
  6. https://yle.fi/a/74-20059778 HS ja MTV: Honka ulos Veikkausliigasta – seura ei hae liigalisenssiä
  7. https://www.iltalehti.fi/veikkausliiga/a/bda5fa21-465a-4553-9770-4a4bf663f571 FC Hongan pelaajat surkeassa tilanteessa – Yhden perhe jumissa Suomessa, omistaja vaikenee
  8. https://www.lansivayla.fi/paikalliset/6355685 FC Hongan pääomistaja Länsiväylälle: Tapiolan stadionin viivästyminen on syy, miksi Hongan rahoitusta ei jatketa – "Edellytyksiä ei ole"
  9. https://www.iltalehti.fi/jalkapallo/a/0b5b253d-8527-4f9b-8693-39ad300709b9 Esport Honka hakeutuu konkurssiin
  10. https://www.hs.fi/urheilu/art-2000010005625.html Hongan taustayhtiö asetettiin konkurssiin
  11. https://fchonka.fi/2023/11/fc-hongan-tarinalle-uusi-alku-fc-honka-ry-tulee-ottamaan-haltuunsa-miesten-kakkosdivisioonan-sarjapaikan-ja-p17-sm-karsintasarjapaikan/ FC Hongan tarinalle uusi alku – FC Honka ry tulee ottamaan haltuunsa Miesten kakkosdivisioonan sarjapaikan ja P17 SM-karsintasarjapaikan
  12. https://fchonka.fi/2023/11/mika-vayrynen-miesten-edustusjoukkueen-paavalmentajaksi-toiminnan-suunnittelu-hyvalla-mallilla/ Mika Väyrynen miesten edustusjoukkueen päävalmentajaksi – Toiminnan suunnittelu hyvällä mallilla!
  13. Web site: Club coefficients 2020/21 . UEFA . 22 June 2021 . 22 June 2021 . 11 July 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180711060132/https://www.uefa.com/memberassociations/uefarankings/club/index.html#/yr/2021 . live .
  14. Web site: Index of SPL Finnish League Suomen Cup Seasons . 2 August 2020 . 2 July 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220702093913/http://www.finlandfootball.net/ . live .
  15. Web site: Joukkue . esporthonka.com . fi . Team . 2021-03-16 . 15 April 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190415202339/http://esporthonka.com/joukkue/ . live .
  16. Web site: Valmentajat. Esport Honka. fi. 19 January 2021. 28 January 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210128144113/https://esporthonka.com/joukkue/. live.