KuPS

Football club infobox
clubname = KuPS


fullname = Kuopion Palloseura
nickname = "Keltamusta (yellowblack)"
founded = 1923
ground = Magnum Areena,
Kuopio
capacity = 2 700 + ca. 800 standing | chairman = Ari Lahti
manager = Kai Nyyssönen
league = Veikkausliiga
season = 2007
position = Ykkönen, 1st (promoted)
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Kuopion Palloseura (or KuPS) is a Finnish football club, based in the 8th most populated city of Finland, Kuopio. In just recently finished season KuPS achieved a promotion back to Finland's Premier League, Veikkausliiga. KuPS plays its home matches at Magnum Areena. Until June 2005, KuPS used to play at an aged track and field stadium in Väinölänniemi, which is said to be one of the most beautiful sporting places in Finland. Väinölänniemi is a cape surrounded by a local lake, Kallavesi.

KuPS holds the Finnish club record of Most consequent seasons at the top flight, from 1949 to 1992. The team is placed fourth in the all-time Finnish premier league honour table. [ [http://www.rsssf.com/tablesf/finalltime.html "Finnish League Premier Division All-Time Tables 1930-2007". RSSSF.com] . (March 12, 2008)]

The supporters' club of KuPS is called Banzai.

Honors

KuPS was founded in 1923 and holds 4th place in the all-time table of the Finnish Premier League (called Veikkausliiga since 1991).

KuPS have played in the top flight for 50 seasons and claimed five league (1956, 1958, 1966, 1974, 1976), two Finnish Cup (1968, 1989) titles and one Finnish League Cup title (2006). In addition to that KuPS have finished in second place eight times (1950, 1954, 1964, 1967, 1969, 1975, 1977, 1979), third in 1953 and claimed numerous junior titles.

Recent events

KuPS returned to the top flight for the 2005 season after a year in the First Division (Ykkönen). They finished the 2005 season in 10th place, easily avoiding the relegation play-off (13th place) and direct relegation (14th place).

eason 2006

On 1st of April 2006 KuPS beat reigning Veikkausliiga champions, MyPa 1-0 in the semi-final of the Finnish League Cup and secured a place in the Finnish League Cup Final. On 12th of April 2006 in Finnair Stadium, Helsinki KuPS beat FC KooTeePee 2-1 in the League Cup Final and ended their 17-year run without titles. However, the club ended the 2006 season in last place, and was once again demoted to "Ykkönen" for the 2007 season. This resulted in manager Juha Malinen being replaced by his former player/assistant manager Kai Nyyssönen.

Reserve team, KuPS Akatemia (tr: KuPS Academy) played in the Second Division Group A (Kakkonen lohko A), but the team was terminated in December 2006 to cut costs and as a replacement, an agreement with Kings Kuopio, which plays also in the Second Division was signed.

In December 2006, it was revealed that the team was heavily in debt and about to go bankrupt. KuPS fans held their breath, until a Helsinki-based CEO of an Investment bank ICECAPITAL, also a former Chairman of the Board of the Veikkausliiga, Ari Lahti increased his stake at the club to ca. 95 % and saved the club.

eason 2007

After escaping imminent destruction, season 2007 began with reasonably low expectations. A target to achieve promotion back to top flight in two years was set.

Manager Kai Nyyssönen lured his former team-mate Harri Ylönen back to strengthen the team and to serve as an assistant manager. The duo lured in Roope Reinikainen, Ilja Venäläinen and Miikka Turunen, who also returned to their former home club.Jussi Hakasalo from JJK Jyväskylä and Tero Mäkäläinen from MyPa were new names.

Because of relegation KuPS lost its prized assets, Sierraleonese players, Patrick Bantamoi to FC Inter Turku and Medo to HJK. KuPS and Ghanaian midfielder Seth Ablade parted their ways earlier, with Ablade terminating his contract.

Season 2007 started well with mostly local players. The team suffered a run of draws in the mid-season, but by winning their last six games with their main opponent RoPS of Rovaniemi at the same time losing its lead, KuPS won Ykkönen and went straight back. RoPS also achieved a promotion, by winning a promotion play-off against 13th place finisher of Veikkausliiga, FC Viikingit.

Current squad

Notable players

* Marcus Gayle (1990, 9 goals in 22 league games, was top goalscorer of the season)
* Mart Poom (1992, played in 9 league games)
* Aulis Rytkönen (KuPS-icon)
* Dean Edwards (1982)

References

External links

* [http://www.kups.fi/ Official website]
* [http://www.banzaikups.net/ Banzai - Supporters of KuPS, club's website]