Kokkolan Palloveikot (KPV) is a Finnish football club based in Kokkola. It currently plays in Ykkönen, the third-highest level in Finnish football. The club plays its home matches at Kokkola Areena.
History KPV is a football club from the town of Kokkola. The rival club is Swedish-speaking GBK.
KPV runs several teams, including 1 men's team, 1 women's team, 10 boys teams and 7 girls teams. The club also runs an academy and Soccer School.
1930s
The first decade for Pallo-Veikot was characterised by a search for its own identity and the establishment of a solid foundation. Notably, under the circumstances of the time, KPV had already incorporated junior activities into its program by 1938. Records indicate team lineups, with names such as Olli Dahlström (Telimaa) and Jukka Uunila emerging from the B-junior team.
1940s
The 1940s were marked by the war years and the subsequent recovery from their impacts. KPV focused primarily on junior activities during the first half of the decade, with notable figures such as future governor Antti Pohjonen among its ranks. By the club’s 20th year of operation, KPV had assembled a team strong enough to gain recognition even in southern Finland, with Helsinki-based clubs showing interest in its players. The team competed for top positions in the then-Suomisarja.
1950s
The following decade can be described as steady but unremarkable. There were ups and downs, with the team even dropping to the regional league at times, though talented individuals stood out. Hannu Vainio, perhaps the most prominent, was part of the national team selection. Toward the end of the decade, youth development began yielding results at the national level, as the A-juniors secured their first Finnish Championship medals—bronze—in 1956 in Kokkola.
1960s
The promise of the previous decades came to fruition in the 1960s. The early years of the decade instilled in some Pallo-Veikot members the realisation that the status quo was insufficient and that the fruits of their youth development efforts should be reaped. A strong sense of camaraderie and resolute decision-making led to promotion to the Finnish Championship League in the autumn of 1966. This was followed by an impressive run for the A-juniors: bronze in 1965, Finnish Championship title in 1967, silver in 1968, and another championship title in 1969. These achievements provided ample evidence that by 1969, the young players had matured into men capable of winning the Finnish Championship.
1970s
The club’s robust junior program continued to bear fruit into the following decades. The senior team added to its trophy collection with a Finnish Championship silver and two bronze medals during the 1970s. The A-juniors secured bronze in 1974, while the youth team earned bronze in 1975, when championships were still contested on smaller fields. Junior players also excelled in national skill competitions. KPV produced medal-winning players nearly every year, and in its best year, the youth national team included a core group of up to five KPV players.
1980s
The 1980s were a period of perseverance between the First Division and the Finnish Championship League. The era saw the introduction of a managing director role. The decade’s lessons were learned off the pitch, which came at a high cost in the following decade, as the club faced financial difficulties due to multiple factors. However, the youth program remained a source of pride, consistently keeping KPV’s teams at the forefront nationally.
1990s
The club’s name officially incorporated the letter “j” due to a debt restructuring process in the 1990s. During this period, the group of junior coaches shouldered significant responsibility, and their work received a much-needed boost despite the challenges. The senior team competed in the First and Second Divisions.
2000s
By the end of 2000, the club celebrated its 70th eventful year with renewed optimism for the future. In 2001, KPV launched its first website. In 2002, the Finnish Football Association granted KPV the status of a talent academy. In 2003, the club resumed activities in women’s football. That same year, the club’s B-juniors won bronze in the Finnish Championship. The senior team’s promotion to the First Division for the 2005 season was a testament to the club’s diligent work. Finishing fifth in their debut season under coach Antti Ylimäki was a commendable achievement. For the 2008 season, KPV’s women’s team was promoted to Ykkönen, the second-highest league tier. In 2009, KPV’s women’s team reached the Women’s League through a merger with Puistola and Kontula. They finished tenth, securing their place in the league for the 2010 season.
2010s
Looking toward the new decade, the board prioritised strict financial discipline and aimed to increase membership to match the club’s activities. The senior team continued its strong performance, positioning KPV/KPV-juniors at the top of Ykkönen’s statistics. The women’s team relinquished its league spot in favour of the newly established Kokkola F10. On the junior side, KPV became the city’s largest club in terms of player numbers, though the focus of the 1970s-era coaching staff remained on prioritising quality over quantity. The decade culminated in a grand 80th-anniversary celebration, attended by approximately 200 guests and featuring a speech by Kimmo J. Lipponen, CEO of the Finnish Football Association. During the event, a record 37 individuals were honoured with the club’s golden merit badge, and the club’s history book, “Kalahallin hiekasta noussut?” (“Risen from the Sand of Kalahalli?”), was unveiled.
Domestic history
SeasonLevelDivisionSectionPositionLeague CupFinnish CupResult1939Tier 2Itä-Länsi-SarjaWest League Group 4 6th – – –1940No Data Available1940-41Tier 3C-Sarja Group 45th – – –1942 – – – – – 1st Round –1943No Data Available19441945 – – – – – 3rd Round –1945-46Tier 3SPL MaakuntasarjaNorth Group 3rd – – –1946-47Tier 3SPL MaakuntasarjaNorth Group 1st – –Promoted to Suomensarja1947-48Tier 2SuomensarjaNorth Group 4th – – –1948Tier 2SuomensarjaNorth Group 6th – – –1949Tier 2SuomensarjaWest Group 3rd – – –1950Tier 2SuomensarjaWest Group 4th – – –1951Tier 2SuomensarjaWest Group 8th – – –1952Tier 2SuomensarjaWest Group9th – –Relegated to Maakuntasarja1953Tier 3MaakuntasarjaNorth Group A1st – –Promoted to Suomensarja1954Tier 2SuomensarjaWest Group 4th – – –1955Tier 2SuomensarjaWest Group 6th – 1st Round –1956Tier 2SuomensarjaWest Group 8th – 1st Round –1957Tier 2SuomensarjaWest Group9th – 1st RoundRelegated to Maakuntasarja1958Tier 3MaakuntasarjaGroup 84th – 3rd Qualifying Round –1959Tier 3MaakuntasarjaGroup 8 1st – 1st RoundPromoted to Suomensarja1960Tier 2SuomensarjaNorth Group 8th – 2nd Round –1961Tier 2SuomensarjaNorth Group 5th – 2nd Round –1962Tier 2SuomensarjaNorth Group 3rd – 2nd Round –1963Tier 2SuomensarjaNorth Group 7th – 3rd Round –1964Tier 2SuomensarjaNorth Group 5th – 1st Round –1965Tier 2SuomensarjaNorth Group 8th – – –1966Tier 2SuomensarjaNorth Group1st – 2nd RoundPromoted to Mestaruussarja1967Tier 1Mestaruussarja – 8th – 1st Round –1968Tier 1Mestaruussarja – 5th – Quarter-Finals –1969Tier 1Mestaruussarja –1st – 2nd RoundChampions Qualified to European Cup1970Tier 1Mestaruussarja – 6th – 2nd Round –1971Tier 1Mestaruussarja – 3rd – 1st Round –1972Tier 1Mestaruussarja – 5th – Semi-Finals –1973Tier 1Mestaruussarja – 2nd – 2nd RoundQualified to UEFA Cup1974Tier 1Mestaruussarja – 9th – Semi-Finals –1975Tier 1Mestaruussarja – 3rd – 3rd Round –1976Tier 1Mestaruussarja – 8th – 1st Round –1977Tier 1Mestaruussarja – 6th – 3rd Round –1978Tier 1Mestaruussarja – 8th – 3rd Round –1979Tier 1Mestaruussarja – 9th – Quarter-Finals –1980Tier 1Mestaruussarja –12th – 1st RoundPromotion/Relegation League 6th - Relegated to Ykkönen1981Tier 2Ykkönen – 2nd – 8th RoundPromotion/Relegation League 3rd - Promoted to Mestaruussarja1982Tier 1Mestaruussarja – 6th – Final –1983Tier 1Mestaruussarja – 6th – 1st Round –1984Tier 1Mestaruussarja – 11th – 4th Round Relegation Playoff1985Tier 1Mestaruussarja –12th – 5th RoundRelegated to Ykkönen1986Tier 2Ykkönen – 5th – 5th Round –1987Tier 2Ykkönen – 5th – 4th Round –1988Tier 2Ykkönen – 5th – 1st Round –1989Tier 2Ykkönen –1st – 6th RoundPromoted to Veikkausliiga1990Tier 1Veikkausliiga –11th – 6th RoundRelegation Playoff - Relegated to Ykkönen1991Tier 2Ykkönen – 8th – 5th Round –1992Tier 2Ykkönen – 6th – 4th Round –1993Tier 2Ykkönen – 9th – 5th Round –1994Tier 2Ykkönen – 8th – 7th Round –1995Tier 2Ykkönen –13th – 7th RoundRelegated to Kakkonen1996Tier 3KakkonenNorth Group6th – 5th Round –1997Tier 3KakkonenWest Group1st – 5th RoundPromoted to Ykkönen1998Tier 2Ykkönen North Group 9th – 5th Round –1999Tier 2Ykkönen North Group7th – 4th RoundRelegated to Kakkonen 2000Tier 3KakkonenNorth Group6th – 6th Round –2001Tier 3KakkonenNorth Group5th – 5th Round –2002Tier 3KakkonenNorth Group2nd – 5th Round –2003Tier 3KakkonenNorth Group4th – 4th Round –2004Tier 3KakkonenNorthern Group1st – 4th RoundPromotion Playoff - Promoted to Ykkönen2005Tier 2Ykkönen – 4th – 5th Round –2006Tier 2Ykkönen – 9th – Final –2007Tier 2Ykkönen – 10th – 6th Round –2008Tier 2Ykkönen – 6th – 6th Round –2009Tier 2Ykkönen – 2nd – 4th Round Promotion Playoff2010Tier 2Ykkönen – 4th – 6th Round –2011Tier 2Ykkönen –12th – 4th RoundRelegated to Kakkonen 2012Tier 3KakkonenNorthern Group7th – 5th Round –2013Tier 3KakkonenNorthern Group6th – 3rd Round –2014Tier 3KakkonenNorthern Group6th – 3rd Round –2015Tier 3KakkonenNorthern Group1st – 6th RoundPromotion Playoff - Promoted to Ykkönen2016Tier 2Ykkönen – 5th – 6th Round –2017Tier 2Ykkönen – 3rd – Group Stage - 1st - Quarter-finals –2018Tier 2Ykkönen – 2nd –Group Stage - 3rd - Round of 16Promotion Playoff - Promoted to Veikkausliiga2019Tier 1Veikkausliiga –11th – Group Stage - 3rd - Semi-finalsRelegation Playoff - Relegated to Ykkönen2020Tier 2Ykkönen – 8th –Group Stage - 2nd - Round of 16 –2021Tier 2Ykkönen – 7th –Group Stage - 4th –2022Tier 2Ykkönen – 5th – 4th Round –2023Tier 2Ykkönen –11th – Round of 16Relegated to Ykkönen2024Tier 3Ykkönen –2nd –Quarter-finalsPromotion Playoff2025Tier 3Ykkönen –4th –Round of 16 –2026Tier 3Ykkönen – –5th Round
Appearances: 20 seasons in Tier 1 Division (Veikkausliiga) 44 seasons in Tier 2 Division (Ykkösliiga) 20 seasons in Tier 3 Division(Ykkönen)
Sources:
European history Winning the domestic league the previous season for the first time, KPV qualified for the European Cup and played in a European competition for the first time in the 1970-71 season. Celtic beat KPV in the first round with an aggregate of 0–14.
For the 1974–75 season, the team managed to qualify in the UEFA Cup, but 1. FC Köln beat KPV in the first round with an aggregate of 2–9.
Season Competition Round Club Home Away Aggregate 1970–71 European Cup First Round Celtic 0–9 0–5 0–14 1974–75 UEFA Cup First Round 1. FC Köln 1–5 1–4 2–9
Current squad Updated 20 March 2026
Former players For a complete list of former Kokkolan Palloveikot players with Wikipedia articles, see :Category:Kokkolan Palloveikot players.
Management
As of 11 March 2026 NameRole Niko Kalliokoski Head coach Aki Sipilä Coach Pasi Torppa Goalkeeper Coach Oskar Ylimäki Fitness Coach
Honours League Finnish First Division (Mestaruussarja 1930–1989, Veikkausliiga 1990–onwards) Champions (1): 1969
Finnish Second Division (Suomensarja 1936–1972, Ykkönen 1973–2023, Ykkösliiga 2024–onwards) Champions (2): 1966, 1989
Finnish Third Division (Maakuntasarja 1936–1972, Kakkonen 1973–2023, Ykkönen 2024–onwards) Champions (6): 1946-47, 1953, 1959, 1997, 2004, 2015
Cup Finnish Cup Runners-up (2): 1982, 2006
Footnotes
External links
(archived) Finnish Wikipedia Suomen Cup (archived) KPV – Facebook