FC Hämeenlinna

Initial years edit

FC Hämeenlinna was founded in autumn 1991, when the town's two football teams HPK and Pallo-Kärpät decided to merge. In the spring of 1992, K-Team took the place of HPK in the Kolmonen. The team were coached by Seppo Pyykkö and Teuvo Palkki.

FC Hämeenlinna in the autumn of 1993 gained promotion to the Kakkonen, where their stay was short-lived, as they gained promotion this time to the Ykkönen. The club played at this level until 1998, when they were relegated back to the Kakkonen. The first team won the Ykkönen Cup in the summer of 1996.

In the autumn of 1998, the club launched a project with the objective of achieving to top-level football for Hämeenlinna. Jari-Pekka Keurulainen was hired as coach, and one of his signings was Ismo Lius. The following season Lius took on additional training responsibilities, and he coached the team during the 2000 season. Then Hannu Touru was hired as coach, and season 2001 ended with celebrations, with the team winning the play-off against in Jaro (from Pietarsaari) by 4–2 on aggregate.

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  FIN Jukka Järvinen 3 DF  FIN Esa Mattila 4 MF  FIN Jussi Heikkinen 6 MF  FIN Lauri Hakanen 7 FW  FIN Jussi Ojala 8 DF  FIN Jere Saarinen 9 FW  FIN Jere Suomalainen 11 DF  FIN Mikko Matinaro 14 FW  FIN Aleksi Nieminen 17 MF  FIN Harri Suhonen 18 GK  FIN Jaakko Puronaho 19 MF  FIN Mikko Kalervo

No. Pos. Nation Player 21 MF  FIN Omid Musawi 23 MF  FIN Joni Lindroos 24 DF  FIN Aleksi Topinoja 45 FW  FIN Aleksi Latvanen 69 MF  FIN Jarkko Saarman 71 DF  FIN Miro Purosto 74 DF  FIN Kaarle Keskitalo 90 GK  FIN Ville Kalervo TBA MF  NGA Lyam Friday TBA MF  CMR Chijioke Ibekwe TBA GK  EST Sergei Lepmets

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