Rovaniemen Palloseura

RoPS

Full name	Rovaniemen Palloseura
Founded	1950 (1950)
Ground	Keskuskenttä, Rovaniemi
Capacity	4,000
Chairman	Matti Poikajärvi
Manager	Ville Ulanen
League	Ykkönen
2024	Ykkönen, 5th of 12
Website	www.rops.fi
Home colours Away colours

Rovaniemen Palloseura (RoPS) is a football club founded in 1950 and based in Rovaniemi, Finland. RoPS participated 32 years in the Finnish Premier Division, (Veikkausliiga) since 1981. In 2021 RoPS withdrew from professional football and voluntarily relegated to the amateur Kakkonen third division. The club plays home games at the Rovaniemen Keskuskenttä in the Arctic Circle of Lapland.

History

Keskuskenttä, home ground of RoPS

RoPS have won the Finnish Cup on two occasions, in 1986 and 2013, and were runners-up in 1962. They placed third in the Finnish Premier Division in 1988 and 1989, before finishing as runner-up in 2015, losing out on the title by 1 point to eventual champions SJK. The club's most notable international achievement was reaching the quarter-finals of the European Cup-Winners' Cup in 1987–88 against Marseille.

Match fixing allegations and scandal

Throughout the 2000s, RoPS became infamous for suspected involvement in match fixing.

In spring 2011 the Finnish National Bureau of Investigation started a large investigation into match fixing. On February 25 Singaporean businessman Wilson Raj Perumal, a convicted match fixer, was arrested after entering Finland with a fake passport. The National Bureau of Investigation suspected that over 30 games between 2008 and 2011, mostly from the Finnish premier league, had been fixed or manipulated.

On July 19, 2011, the Rovaniemi Court of Appeal convicted Perumal and nine RoPS players of match-fixing. Altogether 24 games had been manipulated, and the intended score had been achieved in 11 of them. Perumal was sentenced to two years in prison and ordered to return 150,000 euros deemed to be match-fixing profits. The bribes ranged from 500 euros offered to one player to a total of 80,000 euros offered to eight players. The highest total of bribes for one individual was slightly over 40,000 euros. The players received suspended sentences. The sentenced players were six Zambian and two Georgian players: Godfrey Chibanga, Chileshe Chibwe, Francis Kombe, Stephen Kunda, Christopher Musonda, Chanda Mwaba, Nchimunya Mweetwa, Pavle Khorguashvili, and Valter Khorguashvili.

Domestic history

Season to season of RoPS

Season Level Division Section Administration Position Movements Finnish Cup League Cup 1955 Tier 4 Piirinsarja (District League) Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) Qualifiers for 3rd Tier 1956 Tier 4 Aluesarja (Area Division) Group 12 Lapland Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 1st Promoted 1957 Tier 3 Maakuntasarja (Regional League) North Group II Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 5th 1958 Tier 3 Maakuntasarja (Regional League) Group 9 Northern Finland Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 3rd 1959 Tier 3 Maakuntasarja (Regional League) Group 9 Northern Finland Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 1st Promoted 1960 Tier 2 Suomensarja (Finland Series) North Group Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 11th Relegated 1961 Tier 3 Maakuntasarja (Regional League) Group 9 Northern Finland Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 2nd 1962 Tier 3 Maakuntasarja (Regional League) Group 9 Northern Finland Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 1st Promoted 1963 Tier 2 Suomensarja (Finland Series) North Group Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 8th 1964 Tier 2 Suomensarja (Finland Series) North Group Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 10th Relegated 1965 Tier 3 Maakuntasarja (Regional League) Group 9 Northern Finland Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 5th 1966 Tier 3 Maakuntasarja (Regional League) Group 9 Northern Finland Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 3rd 1967 Tier 3 Maakuntasarja (Regional League) Group 10 Northern Finland Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 2nd 1968 Tier 3 Maakuntasarja (Regional League) Group 8 Northern Finland Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 1st Promoted 1969 Tier 2 Suomensarja (Finland Series) North Group Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 10th Relegated 1970 Tier 3 3. Divisioona (Third Division) Group 8 Northern Finland Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 1st Promoted 1971 Tier 2 2. Divisioona (Second Division) North Group Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 9th 1972 Tier 2 2. Divisioona (Second Division) North Group Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 11th Relegated 1973 Tier 4 3. Divisioona (Third Division) Group 9 Northern Finland Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 1st Promoted 1974 Tier 3 2. Divisioona (Second Division) North Group Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 3rd 1975 Tier 3 2. Divisioona (Second Division) North Group Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 2nd 1976 Tier 3 2. Divisioona (Second Division) North Group Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 2nd 1977 Tier 3 2. Divisioona (Second Division) North Group Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 9th 1978 Tier 3 2. Divisioona (Second Division) North Group Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 1st Promoted 1979 Tier 2 1. Divisioona (First Division) Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 6th 1980 Tier 2 1. Divisioona (First Division) Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 2nd Promotion/Relagtion Group 2nd - Promoted 1981 Tier 1 SM-Sarja (Premier League) Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 10th Promotion/Relagtion Group 5th - Relegated 1982 Tier 2 1. Divisioona (First Division) Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 2nd Promotion/Relagtion Group 1st - Promoted 1983 Tier 1 SM-Sarja (Premier League) Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 8th 1984 Tier 1 SM-Sarja (Premier League) Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 6th 1985 Tier 1 SM-Sarja (Premier League) Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 7th 1986 Tier 1 SM-Sarja (Premier League) Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 4th 1987 Tier 1 SM-Sarja (Premier League) Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 5th 1988 Tier 1 SM-Sarja (Premier League) Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 3rd 1989 Tier 1 SM-Sarja (Premier League) Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 3rd 1990 Tier 1 Futisliiga (Premier League) Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 2nd Championship Playoff - Quarter-finals 1991 Tier 1 Veikkausliiga (Premier League) Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 7th 1992 Tier 1 Veikkausliiga (Premier League) Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 7th 1993 Tier 1 Veikkausliiga (Premier League) Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 7th Runners-up 1994 Tier 1 Veikkausliiga (Premier League) Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 5th 1995 Tier 1 Veikkausliiga (Premier League) Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 9th 9th Round 1996 Tier 1 Veikkausliiga (Premier League) Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 9th - Relegation Group 2nd 7th Round 1997 Tier 1 Veikkausliiga (Premier League) Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 6th Semi-finals 1998 Tier 1 Veikkausliiga (Premier League) Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 8th 1999 Tier 1 Veikkausliiga (Premier League) Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 8th 7th Round 2000 Tier 1 Veikkausliiga (Premier League) Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 9th 2001 Tier 1 Veikkausliiga (Premier League) Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 12th Relegated 6th Round 2002 Tier 2 Ykkönen (First Division) Northern Group Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 5th Quarter-finals 2003 Tier 2 Ykkönen (First Division) Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 2nd Promotion Playoff - Promoted 6th Round 2004 Tier 1 Veikkausliiga (Premier League) Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 12th Quarter-finals 2005 Tier 1 Veikkausliiga (Premier League) Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 13th Relegation Playoff - Relegated 2006 Tier 2 Ykkönen (First Division) Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 7th 2007 Tier 2 Ykkönen (First Division) Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 2nd Promotion Playoff - Promoted 2008 Tier 1 Veikkausliiga (Premier League) Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 10th 6th Round 2009 Tier 1 Veikkausliiga (Premier League) Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 14th Relegated 6th Round 2010 Tier 2 Ykkönen (First Division) Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 1st Promoted 4th Round 2011 Tier 1 Veikkausliiga (Premier League) Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 12th Relegated 5th Round 2012 Tier 2 Ykkönen (First Division) Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 1st Promoted 5th Round 2013 Tier 1 Veikkausliiga (Premier League) Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 11th Winners 2014 Tier 1 Veikkausliiga (Premier League) Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 9th 6th Round 2015 Tier 1 Veikkausliiga (Premier League) Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 2nd 6th Round 2016 Tier 1 Veikkausliiga (Premier League) Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 6th 6th Round 2017 Tier 1 Veikkausliiga (Premier League) Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 7th Group Stage - 2nd - Quarter-final Qualifiers 2018 Tier 1 Veikkausliiga (Premier League) Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 2nd Group Stage - 3rd 2019 Tier 1 Veikkausliiga (Premier League) Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 10th Group Stage - 4th - Quarter-finals 2020 Tier 1 Veikkausliiga (Premier League) Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 12th Relegated Group Stage - 6th 2021 Tier 2 Ykkönen (First Division) Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 2nd Promotion Playoff. Gave up league spot due to financial difficulties Group Stage - 2nd 2022 Tier 3 Kakkonen (Second Division) Group C Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 6th 4th Round 2023 Tier 3 Kakkonen (Second Division) Group C Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 3rd Qualifiers for Ykkönen - Qualified 4th Round 2024 Tier 3 Ykkönen (First Division) Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 5th 3rd Round 2025 Tier 3 Ykkönen (First Division) Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 32 seasons in Veikkausliiga 16 seasons in Ykkösliiga 19 seasons in Ykkönen 3 seasons in 4th Tier

European history

Season	Competition	Round	Club	Home	Away	Aggregate
1987–88	Cup Winners' Cup	1R	Glentoran	0–0	1–1	1–1(a)
		2R	Vllaznia	1–0	1–0	2–0
		QF	Marseille	0–1	0–3	0–4
1989–90	UEFA Cup	1R	GKS Katowice	1–1	1–0	2–1
		2R	Auxerre	0–5	0–3	0–8
1990–91	UEFA Cup	1R	1. FC Magdeburg	0–1	0–0	0–1
2014–15	UEFA Europa League	2Q	Asteras Tripoli	1–1	2–4	3–5
2016–17	UEFA Europa League	1Q	Shamrock Rovers	1–1	2–0	3–1
		2Q	Lokomotiva	1–1	0–3	1–4
2019–20	UEFA Europa League	1Q	Aberdeen	1–2	1–2	2–4

Notes

• 1R: First round
• 2R: Second round
• 1Q: First qualifying round
• QF: Quarter-finals

Honours

• Finnish Cup
  • Champions (2): 1986, 2013
• Ykkönen
  • Champions (2): 2010, 2012

Current squad

As of 1 January 2022

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

No.	Pos.	Nation	Player
1	GK	FIN	Miikka Mujunen
2	DF	FIN	Simo Majander
6	MF	NED	Nino Roffelsen
7	FW	FIN	Veka Pyyny
8	MF	FIN	Vili Saarikoski
12	GK	FIN	Mikko Rantala
15	DF	FIN	Miska Ylitolva
16	FW	FIN	Kirill Bullat
19	DF	FIN	Joona Lahdenmäki

No.	Pos.	Nation	Player
20	FW	FIN	Simo Roiha
21	MF	FIN	Elmeri Hirvonen
22	DF	POR	Rodrigo Antunes
23	DF	FIN	Sampo Ala-Iso
26	DF	FIN	Eerik Kantola
28	FW	FIN	Jarkko Luiro
33	MF	GHA	Geoffrey Acheampong
34	FW	SRB	Srđan Vujaklija
—	DF	FIN	Aaro Tiihonen

Management and boardroom

Management

As of 18 February 2020.

Name Role Vesa Tauriainen Head Coach Mika Pulkkinen Coach Jari Alamäki Fitness Coach Ossi Koskela Goalkeeping Coach Tuomas Könönen Physiotherapist Vilma Poutiainen David Coull Kit Manager Essi Jokelainen Masseur Olavi Tammimies Team Manager

Boardroom

As of 18 February 2020

Name Role Risto Niva Chairman, Managing director Pekka Konstenius Vice chairman Jari Ilola Director of Football

Rovaniemi Football Academy

Rovaniemi Football Academy (RFA) is the reserve team of RoPS. The team plays in Kakkonen in 2020 season. It is coached by Aleksi Tanner.

As of 14 September 2020

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

No.	Pos.	Nation	Player
11	GK	FIN	Lauri Vetri
24	MF	FIN	Kirill Bullat
30	GK	FIN	Tino Korhonen
35	GK	FIN	Pauli Tuisku
36	MF	FIN	Vertti Hänninen
37	DF	FIN	Joona Lahdenmäki
36	MF	FIN	Jonne Länsipää
39	DF	FIN	Akseli Kantola
40	MF	FIN	Ville Ojala
40	FW	FIN	Santeri Matilainen
41	MF	FIN	Jonne Koistinen
42	MF	FIN	Riku-Veli Niska

No.	Pos.	Nation	Player
43	FW	FIN	Joona Kähkönen
44	DF	FIN	Tuomas Leppäkangas
46	FW	FIN	Adam Mekki
47	FW	FIN	Janne Ojaniemi
49	MF	EGY	Karam Hadhoud
50	DF	FIN	Severi Salmirinne
52	DF	FIN	Miska Ylitolva
53	MF	FIN	Roni Pietsalo
54	FW	FIN	Antti Salmi
56	DF	FIN	Luka Kuittinen
57	DF	FIN	Sampo Ala-Iso

Managers

• Jerzy Masztaler (1990–91)
• Graham Williams (1991)
• Olavi Tammimies (1992)
• Keith Armstrong (1993–94)
• Timo Salmi (1995)
• Graham Williams (1995)
• Ari Matinlassi (1995)
• Ari Rantamaa (1996–97)
• Kari Virtanen (1997–99)
• Olavi Tammimies (2000)
• Mauri Holappa (2001)
• Tomi Molin (2002)
• György Hamori (Jan 1, 2003 – June 23, 2004)
• Mika Lumijärvi (June 23, 2004 – June 30, 2005)
• Matti Vikman (interim) (June 30, 2005 – Dec 31, 2005)
• Jukka Ikäläinen (2006)
• Tom Saintfiet (Jan 1, 2008 – April 7, 2008)
• Valeri Bondarenko (April 14, 2008 – May 27, 2009)
• Mika Lumijärvi (May 27, 2009 – Oct 6, 2009)
• Zeddy Saileti (Oct 6, 2009 – Dec 31, 2009)
• John Allen (Jan 1, 2010 – Aug 9, 2011)
• Matti Hiukka (Aug 9, 2011 – Dec 31, 2011)
• Kari Virtanen (Jan 1, 2012 – Oct 13)
• Juha Malinen (Nov, 2013 – Oct, 2017)
• Toni Koskela (Oct, 2017 – May 22, 2019)
• Pasi Tuutti (May 22, 2019 – Dec 31, 2019)
• Vesa Tauriainen (Jan 1, 2020 – Sep 15, 2020)
• Mikko Mannila (Sep 16, 2020 – Dec 31, 2021)
• Aleksi Tanner (Jan 1, 2022 – Dec 31, 2022)
• Ville Ulanen (Jan 1, 2023 – Dec 31, 2023)
• Jari Alamäki (Jan 1, 2024 – )

External links

• Official website (in Finnish)