Seinäjoen Jalkapallokerho

Finnish football club From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Seinäjoen Jalkapallokerho, commonly referred to as SJK, also internationally SJK Seinäjoki, is a Finnish professional football club from the city of Seinäjoki. The club plays in the Veikkausliiga, the highest tier of the Finnish league system. Their home ground is OmaSP Stadion, which is located near the city center and next to SJK's training facility Wallsport. SJK was formed in 2007 after the merger of TP-Seinäjoki and Sepsi-78. After starting in the third-tier, the club won the promotion to Veikkausliiga in 2014, and the next year won its first Finnish championship title.

Full nameSeinäjoen Jalkapallokerho
NicknameKerho (The Club)
Founded5 November 2007; 18 years ago (5 November 2007)
Quick facts Full name, Nickname ...
SJK Seinäjoki
Full nameSeinäjoen Jalkapallokerho
NicknameKerho (The Club)
Founded5 November 2007; 18 years ago (5 November 2007)
GroundOmaSP Stadion,
Seinäjoki, Finland
Capacity5,817
ChairmanRaimo Sarajärvi
ManagerJarkko Wiss
LeagueVeikkausliiga
2025Veikkausliiga, 4th of 12
Websitewww.sjk.fi
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SJK supporters.

History

The early years

SJK was formed on 5 November 2007 as a merger between the first teams of TP-Seinäjoki and Sepsi-78. It was told to the public five days later. Sepsi-78 had a board meeting on 24 October and TP-Seinäjoki on the next day. Both clubs supported the merger.[1] Sepsi-78 and TP both gave up their place in Kakkonen.[2] The first signing of the new club was Petri Huttu.[3] There were several negotiations about the merger over the years. The main reason was the inadequacy of players. The clubs continued doing junior work after the merger, but could also have their own team in the lower divisions. The work name of the club was Seinäjoki Futis, and there was a contest about the official name, where everyone could suggest a name. The final name was Seinäjoen Jalkapallokerho, that had been suggested by many people. There was also a contest about the logo and uniform.[4] The registered name of the club is Seinäjoen Jalkapallokerho ry, and it was registered on January 22, 2008.[5] Mikko Latomäki was chosen as the first chairman. Jukka Saarijärvi was chosen as the vice chairman. Saarijärvi was a former TP-Seinäjoki chairman.

Promotion to Veikkausliiga

2012–2016: Simo Valakari era

In 2013 SJK started its second season in Ykkönen. In 2012 SJK had been placed second. SJK made some signings for 2013, which included a Spanish La Masia graduate Josu and Estonian Mihkel Aksalu. SJK started the season on May 4 with a 2–1 win over PK-35 Vantaa. SJK played AC Kajaani on June 30 and won 1–7. Kajaani made a complaint to Palloliitto about the amount of foreigners in SJK. The complaint went through and AC Kajaani was changed as the winner of the match. SJK complained about the decision and the result was again changed. AC Kajaani complained again, but later canceled it.[6] After that SJK lost five matches in a row. SJK however did win eight matches in a row after that. The promotion to Veikkausliiga was confirmed on 29 September 2013 in a homematch against FC Haka. There was a record breaking attendance (4 798). The match was a 1–1 draw.

SJK started the season 2014 with winning the League Cup. SJK won the final 2–0 against local rivals Vaasan Palloseura.[7] The season started poorly, at the end of May the club was at the eleventh place. After that SJK won seven games in a row and those results lifted SJK to the second place. HJK won the league and SJK was second. SJK was the only club to win against HJK under Mika Lehkosuo. SJK lost only two of the last 24 games. The most important players were Mihkel Aksalu, the league's best defender Cedric Gogoua, Johannes Laaksonen and Toni Lehtinen.[8]

For the 2015 season SJK got even stronger. There were new signings like Mehmet Hetemaj and Ariel Ngueukam. SJK was considered as the biggest challenger of HJK. SJK was at the top of the table in September. SJK won HJK 3–0 in Seinäjoki. At the end of the season SJK's biggest challenger was Rovaniemen Palloseura. SJK won the league with one point difference to RoPS. The most important players were Roope Riski and Liverpool FC loanee Allan. SJK was chosen as the team of the year in Finland's sports gala.[9]

SJK won the Finnish Cup in 2016. It was the first time in the club's history.[10]

2017–present

SJK's head coach Simo Valakari was surprisingly sacked on February 17, 2017. He was replaced by Sixten Boström.[11] Sixten Boström got also sacked after poor results in May and was replaced by Spanish José Manuel Roca[12] Roca was sacked in September. SJK Akatemia coaches Brian Page and Toni Lehtinen did the job for the rest of the poor season.[13] Under Page and Lehtinen SJK lost the Finnish Cup final to HJK.[14] Tommi Kautonen was hired as the new head coach in October 2017.[15] The season 2018 didn't start as planned and Kautonen was sacked. He was replaced by Aleksei Borisovich Yeryomenko. Yeryomenko could save SJK from relegation.[16] Yeryomenko continued as the head coach in 2019. SJK signed for example Sergei Eremenko and Moshtagh Yaghoubi.[17][18] SJK didn't win a single game in the group stage of the Finnish Cup in the winter.[19] The Veikkausliiga-campaign started well, because SJK won in the first round for the first time ever.[20] SJK won KPV in the end of April and was at the first place of the league.[21] Despite the good start, SJK couldn't get good results. Yeryomenko was sacked in August. The replacement was Brian Page.[22] SJK didn't win any games for the rest of the season. SJK placed ninth.

After the season SJK appointed Jani Honkavaara as the new head coach.[23] Honkavaara signed many prolific players for the 2020 season, such as Ariel Ngueukam, Robin Sid, Tero Mäntylä and Niko Markkula.[24] In the winter, SJK once again could not get through from the group stage of the Finnish Cup.[25] As the Veikkausliiga season started in July, SJK won in the first round against TPS.[26] SJK had a good start to the season, but the results started to get worse quite quickly.[27] In the summer transfer window the club signed a couple of players, such as Jake Jervis and Emmanuel Ledesma.[28] They proved themselves quickly and with their lead SJK could end the season somewhat brightly. SJK finished seventh, which was disappointing for the club and the supporters.[29] In the 2021 season, Honkavaara led SJK to finish 3rd in the league and win bronze medals.

During the 2022 and 2023 seasons, the first team was managed by Joaquín Gómez. In August 2022, club's academy product Daniel Håkans was loaned out to FK Jerv in Norwegian top-tier, and later acquired by Jerv on a permanent contract.

On 6 March 2023, SJK officially announced a co-operation deal with Ghanaian football academy Vision FC, presented by the sporting director Richie Dorman. SJK and Vision had already worked together for a while before the announcement.[30] After the 2023 season, Terry Yegbe, who had arrived to SJK from Vision, was acquired by IF Elfsborg for a reported transfer fee of €600.000–700.000.[31]

For the 2024 Veikkausliiga season, the reserve team head coach Stevie Grieve was appointed the manager of the first team.[32] However, due to his lack of required UEFA Pro-license, he worked first as an assistant coach to Toni Lehtinen. On 29 May 2024, he was named the manager officially, after he was earlier accepted to UEFA Pro-class.[33]

Statistics

Domestic history

More information Season, Tier ...
Season Tier Pos Pld W D L For Against Points Finnish Cup League Cup Top goalscorer (League)[34] Top goalscorer (All competitions)
200838261079573737Finland Tommi Haanpää  – 10-
2009352614111565243Third roundFinland Mikael Muurimäki  – 14-
201035261196463142Fifth RoundFinland Mikael Muurimäki  – 9-
201131262240721470Seventh RoundFinland Petter Meyer  – 23-
201222271458422947Fifth RoundFinland Toni Lehtinen – 13Finland Toni Lehtinen - 14
201321271854511759Third roundFinland Toni Lehtinen – 10Finland Toni Lehtinen – 10
2014123316116402659Quarter-finalWinnersFinland Akseli Pelvas – 11Finland Akseli Pelvas – 12
201511331869502260Fifth RoundQuarter-finalFinland Akseli Pelvas – 14Finland Akseli Pelvas – 20
2016133317610493657WinnersRunners-upFinland Roope Riski – 17Finland Roope Riski – 25
2017163313812424747Runners-upEngland Billy Ions – 12England Billy Ions – 14
201819338817283732Quarter-finalFinland Johannes Laaksonen – 6Finland Johannes Laaksonen, Democratic Republic of the Congo Aristote M'Boma  – 6
201919277911182930Group-stage-Ukraine Denys Oliynyk - 8Ukraine Denys Oliynyk - 10
20201722859272929Group-stage-Argentina Emmanuel Ledesma - 5Finland Joonas Lepistö - 6
202113271467453448Quarter-final-Cameroon Ariel Ngueukam –14Cameroon Ariel Ngueukam – 14
2022162710512333835Quarter-finalSemi-finalEngland Jake Jervis –6England Jake Jervis – 10
202314271269353342Fourth roundGroup-stageNicaragua Jaime Moreno –11Nicaragua Jaime Moreno – 12
202414271179464440Semi-finalGroup-stageNicaragua Jaime Moreno -12Nicaragua Jaime Moreno - 22
202514321787705159Quarter-finalGroup-stageFinland Kasper Paananen -18Finland Kasper Paananen - 19
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European history

Accurate as of 17 July 2025
More information Competition, Played ...
CompetitionPlayedWonDrewLostGFGAGDWin%
UEFA Champions League 201124−2000.00
UEFA Europa League 401304−4000.00
UEFA Europa Conference League 410369−3025.00
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Legend: GF = Goals For. GA = Goals Against. GD = Goal Difference.

More information Season, Competition ...
Season Competition Round Opponent Home Away Aggregate
2015–16 UEFA Europa League 1Q Iceland FH 0–1 0–1 0–2
2016–17 UEFA Champions League 2Q Belarus BATE Borisov 2–2 0–2 2–4
2017–18 UEFA Europa League 1Q Iceland KR Reykjavík 0–2 0–0 0–2
2022–23 UEFA Europa Conference League 1Q Estonia Flora 4–2 (a.e.t.) 0–1 4–3
2Q Norway Lillestrøm 0–1 2–5 2–6
2025–26 UEFA Conference League 1Q Faroe Islands KÍ Klaksvík 1–2 0–2 1–4
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Notes
  • 1Q: First qualifying round
  • 2Q: Second qualifying round

Stadium and sponsors

Stadium

OmaSP Stadion

SJK play their home matches at OmaSP Stadion. Previously SJK played their home matches at Seinäjoen keskuskenttä.

In 2010, it was reported for the first time that SJK were planning a new football stadium. Eventually, in autumn 2014 it was announced that the construction of SJK's new stadium would start soon. The construction began in summer 2015 and the new stadium was completed in June 2016.[35] Stadium has a capacity of 5817 seats.

SJK play their friendlies and cup matches during the winter at Wallsport Areena which is an indoor training facility owned and operated by the team.

Kit suppliers and shirt sponsors

As of 26 March 2025[36]
More information Period, Kit manufacturer ...
Period Kit manufacturer Shirt sponsors Ref
2008–2009 England Umbro Nordea, S-Market
2010–2011 Germany Adidas Nordea, Carlsberg, Eepee
2012 Kotijoukkue, Prisma
2013 Kotijoukkue, LähiTapiola, ABC, Sokos Hotels
2014 Conline, Ilkka, LähiTapiola, GapCon, Sokos Hotels
2015 Conline, Kotijoukkue, LähiTapiola, EPPK, ABC, Sokos Hotels
2016 Conline, Kotijoukkue, LähiTapiola, EPPK, Prima Power
2017 FinCap, I-Print, OmaSp, LähiTapiola, Prima Power, Elisa
2018 Visura, ProPrint, Peab, LähiTapiola, OmaSp, Elisa [37]
2019 Atria, ProPrint, Peab, LähiTapiola, OmaSp, Elisa
2020 Atria, ProPrint, LähiTapiola, OmaSp, Elisa
2021 Atria, ProPrint, Ilkka-Pohjalainen, LähiTapiola, OmaSp, Elisa
2022-2023 Ilkka-Pohjalainen, ProPrint, Lecklé, LähiTapiola, OmaSp, Pihlajalinna
2024 Seinäjoki, ProPrint, Lecklé, LähiTapiola, OmaSp, Pihlajalinna [38]
2025 LähiTapiola, OmaSp, ProPrint, Pihlajalinna
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Honours

Transfers

SJK have invested in their academy system, and has produced a fair amount of young Finnish and international players for Veikkausliiga and for transfers abroad.

Record transfers

More information Rank, Player ...
Rank Player To Fee Year
1.Ghana Terry YegbeSweden Elfsborg€700,0002024[39]
2.Ivory Coast Cedric GogouaSerbia Partizan€300,0002016[40]
3.Finland Daniel HåkansNorway Jerv€210,0002023
4.Finland Dario NaamoAustria St. Pölten€200,0002024[41]
5.Malaysia Nooa LaineMalaysia Selangor€160,0002024
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Players

First team squad

As of 2 August 2026[42][43][44]

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

More information No., Pos. ...
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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.

More information No., Pos. ...
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SJK Akatemia

Reserve team squad

As of 16 March 2026[45]

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

More information No., Pos. ...
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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.

More information No., Pos. ...
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Management and boardroom

Management

As of 2 August 2026[46][47][48][49][50]

More information Name, Role ...
Name Role
Finland Jarkko Wiss Head coach
Finland Toni Lehtinen Assistant coach
Brazil Luís Fernando Goalkeeping coach
Finland Mikko Kujala Fitness coach
Finland Tiitus Lehtinen Physiotherapist
Finland Pekka Lehtinen Team Manager
Finland Ranno Kukk Doctor
Brazil Adriel Gabilan Technical Director
Finland Arttu Aromaa Head of Academy
Portugal Paulo Lopes SJK Akatemia Head coach
Ukraine Denys Oliynyk SJK Akatemia/2 Head coach
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Boardroom

As of 18 June 2025[51]

More information Name, Role ...
Name Role
Finland Raimo Sarajärvi Chairman
Brazil Adriel Gabilan Technical director
Finland Elina Paavola Finance Manager
Finland Joonas Kuivalainen Sales Manager
Finland Joonas Kuivalainen Sales Negotiator
Finland Tommi Kilpiö Marketing
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Records and notable stats

Club Records

  • Biggest home win: SJK 8–1 TUS (30 May 2008), SJK 7-0 KPV (11 June 2025)
  • Biggest away win: RoPo 0-8 SJK (15 April 2024)
  • Biggest home loss: SJK 0–6 HJK (10 August 2017)
  • Biggest away loss: HJK 6–0 SJK (31 May 2017)
  • Most consecutive matches without lost: 44 (18 August 2010 – 30 May 2012)
  • Most consecutive wins: 9 (11 July 2011 – 27 August 2011)
  • Most consecutive losses: 5 (8 April 2022 – 7 May 2022)

Individual Records

Most appearances

As of 16 March 2025
More information #, Name ...
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Club captains

More information Name, Nat ...
Name Nat Period
Juha-Pekka Salminen[52] Finland 2008
Petri Niemi[53] Finland 2009
Ville Ylinen[54] Finland 2010
Chris Cleaver[55] England 2011–2013
Pavle Milosavljević[56] Serbia 2014–2015
Mihkel Aksalu[57] Estonia 2016–2018
Mehmet Hetemaj[58] Finland 2019–2022
Matej Hradecky[59] Finland 2023
Ville Tikkanen Finland 2024
Rasmus Karjalainen Finland 2025
Markus Arsalo Finland 2026
Roope Paunio Finland 2026-
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Supporters player of the year

[60]

More information Name, Nat ...
Name Nat Period
Jani Asuintupa Finland 2008
Ville Pajula Finland 2009
Ville Pajula Finland 2010
Aki Sipilä Finland 2011
Patrik Lomski Finland 2012
Pavle Milosavljević Serbia 2013
Cedric Gogoua Ivory Coast 2014
Mihkel Aksalu Estonia 2015
Roope Riski Finland 2016
Mehmet Hetemaj Finland 2017
Johannes Laaksonen Finland 2018
Denys Oliynyk Ukraine 2019
Emmanuel Ledesma Argentina 2020
Ville Tikkanen Finland 2021
Jake Jervis England 2022
Ville Tikkanen Finland 2023
Rasmus Karjalainen Finland 2024
Kasper Paananen Finland 2025
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SJK All Stars

In April 2020, SJK fans participated in a fan vote selecting their 11 favourite SJK players from the 2014-2019-seasons.[61]

More information Name, Pos ...
NamePosNatYearsGamesGoalsLeague
games
League
goals
Mihkel AksaluGKEstonia2013–201922101580
Richie DormanRBWales2012–20181687954
Pavle MilosavljevićCBSerbia2013–2015771381
Cedric GogouaCBIvory Coast2014–2015593523
Timo TahvanainenLBFinland2013–20171284792
Johannes LaaksonenCMFinland2013–20182001814114
Mehmet HetemajCMFinland2015–2002214214
Denys OliynykCMUkraine2018–2022116299423
Ariel NgueukamRWCameroon2015–2016
2020–2021
1333610828
Roope RiskiCFFinland2015–201658344625
Billy IonsLWEngland2016–202074196417
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Managers

More information Name, Period ...
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References

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