Finnish Veikkausliiga 2006 review

By Edmundo
October 31 2006

The Finnish Veikkausliiga season had a truly memorable ending with the two sides fighting for the title, HJK and Tampere Utd, facing each other in the final round with Tampere three points clear. Should they end up with the same points, a two-leg rematch would take place to define the champion.

Such drama was eventually not needed after Tampere Utd made it crystal clear they were the deserving side to take the trophy, clinching the title with a comfortable 3-0 away win. HJK however still have the chance to take home some silverware from the Finnish Cup final, where they face First Division minnows KPV.

Rather surprisingly HJK cleared the table in the annual awards gala, with Farid Ghazi named the Striker of the Year, Mika Nurmela the Midfielder of the Year and Keith Armstrong the Manager of the Year. Tampere Utd's Mikko Kavén was the Goalkeeper of the Year, Jarkko Okkonen of FC Haka the Defender of the Year, and TPS's Mika Ääritalo the Fans' Favourite.

Tampere Utd cruised through the season without major slips, lead by dominant veteran midfielder Jarkko Wiss, Finland's second choice goalkeeper Mikko Kavén and the on-off striker Ville Lehtinen, who managed to poach away 11 goals en route to the title.

HJK managed to squeeze into second spot despite their woeful start for the season, largely thanks to Ghazi's 12 and Antti Pohja's 11 goals. Pohja was hailed as one of the hottest players in the league after his return from Vaduz of Liechtenstein, but to an extend failed to live up to the expectations with brilliant Ghazi making all the headlines.

Eternal performers FC Haka finished third, leaving the suprise package of the season, newly-promoted FC Honka, rue their luck after dropping out of the top three in the final rounds. Haka still base their game plan on magnificent Russian maestro Valeri Popovich, 36, whereas Honka play attractive attacking football as a team, reflecting their rookie-manager Mika Lehkosuo's ambitious approach for the game. Honka-striker Hermanni Vuorinen was the top goalscorer of the league with 16 goals, despite been sold to Norwegian Fredrikstad after 17 games and winger-cum-striker Roni Porokara made a suprise debut for the national team after an incredible season.

IFK Mariehamn of the Swedish-speaking island of Åland achieved their highest ever finish being fifth, ahead of last season's winners MyPa, who played a below-par season. TPS, as well as FC Lahti, managed by unpopular former national team coach Antti Muurinen, were doomed for midtable mediocrity all the way, whereas VPS's rise to 10th spot was a big surprise. The VPS coach Jari Pyykölä has often been accused of playing anti-football, but one can't argue with results.

Inter Turku, owned by sugar daddy Stefan Håkans, made a miraculous escape from the depths of relegation battle after the signing of Macedonian captain Artim Sakiri and the appointment of Dutch coach René van Eck, who was even touted as a suprise name for the Manager of the Year award. Modest, but hilariously-named FC KooTeePee had no difficulties maintaing their topflight status in the odd 13-team league, which was played this season because of the match-fixing scandal and subsequent bankruptcy of AC Allianssi.

The relegation battle was very tight, with both Jaro and KuPS eventually finishing with 19 points, only for Jaro to stay up thanks to their superior goal difference. Northern side AC Oulu and Helsinki-based Viikingit were promoted to the Veikkausliiga 2007.