Sami Heikkinen: The Winter Soldier

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Sami Heikkinen: We had been making staggering progress in recent seasons, and we were keen to push forward. We were under no illusions, however, that taking the foot of the gas for one second would have left the door open for HJK to regain their crown as Finland's best, and we were determined to not let that happen.

Transfers

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Major Transfers In
(Name - Age - Position - Fee - Signed From)

Astrit Radovanovic - 18 (12/08/2003) - DC - €800,000 - FK Partizan
Big things were expected of Radovanovic. Standing at 201cm, he was an aerial presence to be reckoned with, and had been likened to former Serbian legend Nemanja Vidić. He was an ideal candidate to fit in to the squad at the heart of our defence, alongside Andrea Punzi.

Ludvig Jansson - 19 (21/12/2002) - MC - €2,600,000 - IF Brommapojkarna
He cost the club a small fortune, but we were confident in his abilities. The teenage Swedish playmaker had already earned himself 60 senior club appearances, and we were hoping he would become the tempo setter in our midfield. His technical ability on the ball, combined with his passing range, likened him to Xavi. Jansson was the hottest thing to come from Sweden since Zara Larsson.

Valentin Rosier - 26 (19/08/1996) - DR - €0 - Free Transfer
While Hauksson had been doing an incredible job at full back for us, we were still in the market for a better solution. Rosier provided us with a more attacking option, with years of senior experience. The Frenchman was most recently at Dijon, playing regularly in Ligue 1. However, he failed to agree a new contract with the club in the summer of 2022, and we picked him up on a free.

Major Transfers Out
(Name - Age - Position - Fee - Signed For)

Filip Hlupik - 30 (30/04/1991) - AMR - €250,000 -
AC Oulu
There was no doubting the impact he had at Honka. Hlupik became a cult hero of sorts, scoring a vast number of important goals for the club. The 2020 season was undoubtedly his best at the club, as he scored 37 goals in all competitions. Unfortunately for Hlupik, the arrivals of Yan Dhanda and Santeri Hostikka in recent seasons meant he dropped down the pecking order, and he left to AC Oulu in search of regular football.

Otso Virtanen - 27 (03/04/1994) - GK - €200,000 - Aston Villa
Virtanen's Honka career was certainly a disappointing one. Within days of him joining the club in 2020, Thomas Axberg emerged from the club's youth ranks, securing the senior spot straight away. Micky Senior, another talented goalkeeper, had also emerged from the club's famous youth system since, pushing Virtanen to become third choice goalkeeper. He played thirteen games in his time at Honka, before leaving for Aston Villa, and the money.

Other Transfers
Our scouts in Africa came up with some very promising youngsters, who we signed on either free transfers or low fees. Youssouf Sylla and Patrice Ouattara were the most promising of these.

There were a number of fringe players who found themselves leaving the club. Abdou Aziz Thiam, Lázaro and Robert Taylor were among the bigger names who left the club throughout 2022.

Veikkausliiga

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The domination continued. An opening day hammering of PKKU set the tone as we won each our opening twenty-two league games. This run of form included high-scoring victories over TPS and SJK, where our goal scoring prowess came to the fore. Defeat against FC Inter Turku in mid-July upset the tone, but we bounced back to remain unbeaten for the rest of the season.

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With just one defeat all season, there was never any doubt about who would win the league. Both our offensive and defensive records were on a different level to the rest of the competition, displaying our superiority. The goal for the next season would be to beat each tally.

Suomen Cup

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It wasn't pretty, but we got the trophy in the end. We didn't face any of the big teams (HJK being the only 'big' team), and so I allowed the backup brigade to have their fun in the cup. Another piece of silverware to celebrate, but certainly not a priority in the grand scheme of things.

UEFA Champions League 2021/2022 Latter Rounds

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Coming up against Real Madrid was a privilege, especially in a round of the competition which we were never expected to reach. We failed to score in either leg, but we kept the scoreline quite close. Real Madrid progressed, while we took great experience away from playing against Europe's most successful club.

UEFA Champions League 2022/2023 Earlier Rounds

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Defeat against Real Madrid in March did little to demotivate our players going in to the new Champions League season. We stormed, quite emphatically at that, to the group stages of the competition, where we faced the group of death. Paris Saint-Germain, Borussia Dortmund and Napoli offered thrilling encounters, against three of Europe's finest clubs.

Despite being very much against the odds, we knew that we could take any team at home, but it was our away form which we needed to keep solid. We kept that in mind during our trip to PSG, but were cut open by Neymar & Co. in a narrow 0-1 defeat. Desperate to fight for some sort of result, we took the game to Dortmund at home. Going a goal down early own seemed to inspire our players, as we staged a dramatic comeback which was sealed by a stoppage time Bjarne Hilska winner! This was the kickstart we needed, as we comfortably defeated Napoli at home, but again suffered defeat away. A draw at home to PSG set up an interesting final day, where we knew a draw would send us through to the Last 16, while anything less would see us play Europa League football. We parked the bus in Germany, against a determined Dortmund side, and we held out for passage to the Last 16.

FC Honka Team Of The Season

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GK: Thomas Axberg - 7.18
46 Appearances - 23 Clean Sheets - 26 Goals Conceded - 1 Player of the Match
Another solid season for the young goalkeeper. Axberg was quickly picking up invaluable experience, and kept a clean sheet in every second game. He was growing in to a top keeper and we were determined to hold on to him for his entire career, at his boyhood club.

DR: Haukur Hauksson - 7.27
51 Appearances - 0 Goals - 3 Assists - 1 Player of the Match
While Rosier's arrival towards the end of the season did see Hauksson displaced, the Icelandic defender did very well. His defensive skills came to the fore in a consistent season, and he even contributed three assists.

DCR: Andrea Punzi (C) - 7.30
53 Appearances - 5 Goals - 1 Assist - 1 Player of the Match
Captain on the pitch, Punzi lead by example. The Italian defender proved to be rock solid and dependable, and he lead his line well. He made Honka a hard side to break down, especially in a crunch match away to Dortmund in the UEFA Champions League.

DCL: Astrit Radovanovic - 7.40
42 Appearances - 3 Goals - 1 Assist - 3 Player of the Match
Not a bad debut season at all! The Serbian giant was in incredible form alongside Punzi, and showed his potential on many occasions. His performances in Europe brought the attention of Europe's top clubs, and many large bids were expected to come in for Astrit.

DL: Dragan Obradovic - 7.30
35 Appearances - 0 Goals - 4 Assists - 1 Player of the Match
Astrit's compatriot, Dragan Obradovic, was quickly becoming an integral part of the squad. The attacking full back was quickly developing in to a force in defence and attack, and had many suitors presenting large bids for him.

MCR: Ludvig Jansson - 7.15
37 Appearances - 4 Goals - 1 Assist - 0 Player of the Match
A superb debut season for Jansson, as he played a key role for the side in midfield. His passing range, as well as his ability to take the ball under pressure, made him invaluable in Europe, and he showed the world why big things were expected of him.

MCL: Jere Karlsson - 7.45
43 Appearances - 4 Goals - 11 Assists - 5 Player of the Match
Mister reliable! The young Finnish midfielder played superbly in a ball winning role, often winning possession high up the pitch and charging forward with real danger. He was directly involved in fifteen goals, scoring four of them, in a superb season.

AMR: Yan Dhanda - 7.41
38 Appearances - 16 Goals - 11 Assists - 4 Player of the Match
Dhanda's first full season at the club proved he had what it took to become a top player. He had to settle in to an unfamiliar role and position, on the right hand side of attacking midfield/wing, but his goal contribution was phenomenal. Still at a young age, he was expected to develop much further and improve these numbers tremendously.

AMC: Marlon Ritter - 7.46
46 Appearances - 12 Goals - 18 Assists - 10 Player of the Match
In Hilska's absence, due to the World Cup falling halfway through the Finnish domestic season, Ritter stepped up his game and proved to be crucial. The German attacking midfielder scored twelve goals, and provided an incredible eighteen assists as he showed his relentless style of play. His set-piece skills were invaluable, and made him a threat from any range.

AML: Juha Tuomi - 7.44
37 Appearances - 12 Goals - 17 Assists - 6 Player of the Match
He was quickly becoming a top top top top top top top player. What he contributed, in terms of goals and assists, was phenomenal for a player of his style. A traditional winger by nature, we had trained him in to a dangerous inside forward, and the results were impressive.

ST: Jani Roschier - 7.18
53 Appearances - 38 Goals - 7 Assists - 7 Player of the Match
Every successful side has a prolific striker leading the line, and Roschier was our prolific striker in 2022. His 38 goal haul in all competitions proved his value to the club, and we were hoping for similar seasons in the future.

World Football

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The 2018 World Cup champions held on to the 2022 edition. Spain were in strong form, and almost completed an exact replica of their 2010 title, as they defeated Holland in the final. This made it three wins out of four World Cups for Spain, who were truly the best in the world.

Bernardo Silva of Manchester City and Portugal was the Ballon d'Or winner. The wide attacker pipped Isco and Paul Dybala to the award, making it a second consecutive season where neither Messi or Ronaldo won the award.

Comment Section

Feliks, we're not totally alone, tenthreeleader is always a consistent figure here on these forums!

tenthreeleader, knowing Simeone's reputation, he would find a way to make me regret that day off!

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Previous Update: #10 - Season 2021: Season Review
Next Update: #12 - Season 2023: Season Review

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Sami Heikkinen: We were making some serious noises in Europe, giving all the big guns a run for their money. 2023 was set to be an exciting year, with the club set to contest the knockout stages of the UEFA Champions League, once again, while the young stars of Honka were moving from strength-to-strength with each game.

Transfers

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Major Transfers In
(Name - Age - Position - Fee - Signed From)

Paddy Creane - 16 (30/04/2006) - AMC - €400,000 - Derry City
Paddy Creane's name was one forced down my neck by scouts who had been in the UK & Ireland. His was a name which kept popping up, and so I decided to spend some of the money earned from departures on bringing the teenager to the club. He was rated as Northern Ireland's brightest prospect since George Best, so he was worth the risk for a comparatively low fee, right?

Manuel Locatelli - 25 (08/01/1998) - MC - €0 - Free Transfer
A bit more high profile, this one. Locatelli was released from AC Milan, having failed to make an impact in the senior team. Unsuccessful loan spells at Torino and Napoli didn't do much to inspire confidence in his abilities, but he got his second chance at Honka. On a free transfer, it was worth bringing in a player of his pedigree. Hopefully he would be able to reach the heights once expected of him.

Major Transfers Out
(Name - Age - Position - Fee - Signed For)

Maxym Gavrylyuk - 19 (27/08/2003) - DR - €825,000 - AFC Bournemouth
He was a good prospect, but I just couldn't find a place for him in my squad. We had two very competent right backs already and anything short of a future superstar wasn't good enough. I would have happily developed him further at the club before then deciding on his future, but a good offer came in from England, and he got his chance to move to the Premier League.

Giannis Panagiotou - 18 (05/09/2004) - ML - €1,000,000 - Tottenham Hotspur
He was a very bright prospect and not one I wanted to let go. He had pace and skill, and flair for the extraordinary. However, there was plenty of competition for the left wing position already, and the money offered was very very good.

Sami Kosonen - 19 (19/09/2003) - MC/AMC - €525,000 - Kuopion Palloseura
Of all the major departures, this was probably the one that hurt me the most. Not because of his ability, but because he was a graduate of our youth system. Sami was exemplary in his performances for our youth side, and looked to become a Finnish international in the future. However, we couldn't offer him the opportunity to play regularly for us, with the likes of Hilska, Karlsson, Jansson & Co. ahead of him in the pecking order, and I didn't want to hold him back in his development. He was a player who, once he did leave, I instantly placed on my shortlist for potential future transfers.

Other Transfers
Not much here. We signed a few more youngsters touted by our scouts, while a number of fringe players left on loan or for free.

Veikkausliiga

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We reached a new level of dominance in 2023, winning every single Veikkausliiga fixture. It was a phenomenal year for us, exemplified by a total of eleven games where we scored four or more goals. We won most games comfortably, with only six fixtures seeing us sneak through by a one goal margin, with our defence to thank just as much as our attack.

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Not quite 100 points, but we got the next best thing! Maximum points throughout the season was, without need of saying, more than enough to secure the league title. It was very comfortable for us.

Suomen Cup

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We were assertive and confident in the group stages, with five clean sheets from five demonstrating our defensive prowess. The path to the final was nearly as comfortable, with victories over KuPS and AC Oulu enough to pit us against HJK. WIth the vast majority of our squad away on international duty, Yan Dhanda came to the rescue with a stoppage time equaliser, as we went on to win the penalty shootout.

UEFA Champions League 2022/2023 Latter Stages

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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The knockout rounds were tense, fiery and very tightly-contested, in each round. We sneaked past AC Milan on away goals, and showed great defensive resilience to get past Arsenal and in to the semi finals. Diego Simeone's Atlético Madrid awaited us in the semi finals, and they proved to be the strongest team we had ever faced. A 2-1 home victory did little to make the second leg easier for us, as Diego Costa and Raheem Sterling lead an incredible Atlético attack. They went two goals up early on in the first half, forcing us to throw everything at them. Roschier scored for us before half time, which would have sent the game in to extra time. Atlético smelled blood as we tired, but Juha Tuomi picked the perfect moment to score the all-important goal, breaking Atléti hearts in stoppage time and sending us to the final!

A trip to the Stade Orange Vélodrome in Marseille awaited, and Manchester City would be our opponents. Leonardo Jardim had drilled his men in to great shape, in truth, and they were a class above us. Goals from Malcom and Kylian Mbappé gave City a two goal lead with no more than twenty minutes on the clock, leaving us with all the work to do. Juha Tuomi clawed one back for us before half time, but it was not to be. An incredible fairy tale came to a crashing end, as we lost in the final.

UEFA Champions League 2023/2023 Earlier Rounds

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With Finland's qualification places consistently improving with our performances in Europe, we entered the Champions League in the Champions Play-Off, and we were very comfortable in victory over RB Salzburg. A group of Real Madrid, Liverpool and PSV awaited us, and we were very confident of securing a top three spot, at minimum. A thrilling 4-3 victory over PSV in Holland set the tone for us, with a draw against Real Madrid then demonstrating our defensive class. However, a heavy defeat at Anfield did little to inspire confidence, but we quickly picked ourselves back up with comfortable victories at home to Liverpool and PSV. Final day defeat to Real Madrid could not stop us from claiming second place, and passage to the Last 16 yet again.

FC Honka Team Of The Season

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GK: Thomas Axberg - 7.10
44 Appearances - 29 Clean Sheets - 25 Goals Conceded - 1 Player of the Match
Twenty-nine clean sheets, what a year for Axberg! He was coming on in leaps and bounds, and the fans were developing a real affinity with him.

DR: Valentin Rosier - 7.27
45 Appearances - 0 Goals - 4 Assists - 0 Player of the Match
Rosier's first full season at the club was an impressive one. He offered a lot more going forward than Hauksson did, while still providing plenty of defensive stability.

DCR: Andrea Punzi - 7.36
46 Appearances - 4 Goals - 2 Assists - 0 Player of the Match
Another solid season for Punzi as the Italian defender lead the back line well. His experience and intelligence on the football pitch was vital in our tremendous European run.

DCL: Astrit Radovanovic - 7.38
36 Appearances - 5 Goals - 1 Assist - 2 Player of the Matchh
Radovanovic's five goal haul made him more than just a defensive rock. His ability to score from set piece situations made us a feared unit around Europe, as we could truly score from anywhere on the pitch.

DL: Dragan Obradovic - 7.36
40 Appearances - 0 Goals - 5 Assists - 1 Player of the Match
Another year of development for Obradovic, who was quickly becoming one of the most sought-after full backs across Europe. His ability in attack, to combine with his defensive resilience, made him an outstanding option on the flanks.

MCR: Rasmus Schüller (C) - 7.11
40 Appearances - 5 Goals - 4 Assists - 2 Player of the Match
Club captain "Razzy" was in solid form in 2023. He controlled the game from midfield, and contributed directly to nine goals. His all-round play was very important as we faced off against Europe's elite clubs.

MCL: Jere Karlsson - 7.25
35 Appearances - 3 Goals - 3 Assists - 3 Player of the Match
Is it even possible to have a team of the season without this guy? Consistent, consistent, consistent, consistent. Very dependable in midfield, and he contributed to goals too.

AMR: Yan Dhanda - 7.48
47 Appearances - 24 Goals - 17 Assists - 9 Player of the Match
Now, this was the Yan Dhanda we all wanted to see! His goal scoring statistic, and assist statistic, proved that playing him as an inside forward on the right was a great call to make. He was quickly becoming one of the most feared attackers in Finland and Europe, but an England call-up still eluded him.

AMC: Bjarne Hilska - 7.52
37 Appearances - 6 Goals - 14 Assists - 7 Player of the Match
Hilska did everything with a touch of class, often providing the pass before the assist. While he was not physically the greatest athlete, his best work was certainly with the ball at his feet, and he created a chance with almost every move.

AML: Juha Tuomi - 7.78
45 Appearances - 21 Goals - 22 Assists - 11 Player of the Match
Phenomenal. No other words.

ST: Jani Roschier - 7.15
39 Appearances - 24 Goals - 9 Assists - 2 Player of the Match
Another good goal scoring season for Roschier. Sverrisson also scored a high number of goals, but Roschier just about made it in to the team of the season.

World Football

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The Brazilian attacker won his first Ballon d'Or award, with Eden Hazard and Malcom finishing behind him in the rankings.

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Previous Update: #11 - Season 2022: Season Review
Next Update: #13 - Heikkinen: We Are One Of The Best

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What a year 2023 was for Honka! Can you sum up your thoughts of the past year?

Sami Heikkinen: "It was a fantastic year for the football club. We hit new heights domestically, winning every single game in the Veikkausliiga and the Suomen Cup. No team has ever done that before, so we can be very proud of making that type of history! But, of course, we are even more thrilled with what we achieved in Europe. Who would have thought a Finnish club would reach the final of the Champions League! Okay, we didn't win, but the journey to the final was something out of a fairy tale for us. I cannot describe how proud I am of my players, my colleagues in the backroom, and of the fans who supported us, and continue to support us, with real vibrancy and emotion."

Let's talk about that run to the Champions League final. You beat some big teams on the way, but what was your side's greatest achievement in that run?

Sami Heikkinen: "I think it was how we consistently improved on each and every game. We played teams of extremely contrasting playing styles all the way through and we learned a lot about competing against these different brands of football. If you look at the quarter finals and semi finals for us, for example, we played against Arsenal and Atlético Madrid, who differ enormously in style. Arsenal like to play a largely possession based game with quick movements forward, while Atlético are a lot more physical in approach, while still holding key the true technical elements of football. So yeah, it was how we learned and adapted to challenges which impressed me."

Do you think your Honka team can now consistently compete among the top clubs in Europe?

Sami Heikkinen: "Yeah, absolutely. There is no doubt in my mind that we are one of the best teams in the world now. We, perhaps, come from a country where football is not so reputable yet, but we have with us a group of players who can compete with the very best. Our core of Finnish players are among the finest the nation has ever produced, and credit has to go to the coaches who work hard to train the kids to become players of this quality. We have a number of young stars coming through who can compete with the very best, as proven by our run to the Champions League final this season."

How do the young Finnish stars in your squad compare with the likes of Jari Litmanen and Sami Hyypiä?

Sami Heikkinen: I think Jari and Sami are certainly legends of the game, and the players we have here at Honka can certainly make a similar impact in the future. They have been competing at the highest level in Europe, and for their country, for several years now, and are still very very young. They could play for at the highest level for over ten more years, and could achieve anything they want. Our players can become legends of the game, no doubt."

How does Honka progress from the stage it is at now?

Sami Heikkinen: "We keep working hard every day to develop ourselves on the pitch, and off it. The players have made great progress already but it is still very early in their careers and they can push on to become better and better every day. That is the objective of the playing and coaching staff, to ensure that we keep developing our ability to perform at the highest level.

The exciting news for the football club as a whole is that we are constantly looking to develop our infrastructure. Our training and youth facilities have been upgraded constantly with the money we have earned for competing in Europe, and we are always looking to develop the other facilities which we have. We have a number of affiliate clubs all around Europe too, improving our connections. We now have a number of fans from other countries, which I don't think many Finnish clubs have, and our audience is certainly growing in size. That is exciting for the club and we are making steps on and off the pitch to facilitate that."

Comment Section

De Magere, thank you! Truth be told, it was easy to develop in to the top club in Finland as the club was already financially stronger than all but one (HJK) in the country, had some of the best players in Finnish domestic football and had, by far, the best youth set up in the country. Once European money came flooding in, we dominated domestically and we could turn our full attention to European competition. And we are almost caught up with the save!

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Previous Update: #12 - Season 2023: Season Review
Next Update: #14 - Season 2024: Season Review

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Sami Heikkinen: Following last year's epic run to the Champions League final, we were keen to continue our impressive European form and challenge in the knockout rounds once again. However, it was also very important for us to continue our consistency in domestic competition and not allow our rivals to snatch the league title away from us.

Transfers

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Major Transfers In
(Name - Age - Position - Fee - Signed From)

Moshtagh Yaghoubi - 29 (08/11/1994) - MC - €2,500,000 - HJK
Finland's captain and best player, Moshtagh Yaghoubi joined us from our fierce rivals HJK. The midfield playmaker was a target of ours for a number of years, and our new-found financial power allowed us to bring him to the club. His versatility, combined with his incredible intelligence, made him the ultimate utility player in midfield, and he added great leadership to the team.

Jan Chlumecky - 16 (28/02/2008) - MC - €775,000 - Slavia Prague
My scouts kept mentioning Chlumecky's name, and I'm glad they did! The Czech midfield wonderkid was expected to reach the same level of former football elite Luka Modrić, and we were keen to bring him in. His passing range, and ability to control the ball, made him a superb creative force in midfield, and his intelligence on the pitch was exemplary.

Major Transfers Out
(Name - Age - Position - Fee - Signed For)

Badara Fall - 20 (07/06/2003) - ST - €1,700,000 - IF Elfsborg
A sale I was reluctant to make. Badara arrived from Senegal in 2002 on a free transfer and made steady progress since. He found himself out on loan ever since, with the options we had up front already significant in quality. We got significant money for Fall, however, and he had the opportunity to forge his own career in Sweden.

Other Transfers
We signed a few players for our B team and youth squad, while a number of our former youth players left the club for first team football. The number of players who left for fees demonstrated how good our youth system was.

Veikkausliiga

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Another strong season for us in the Veikkausliiga. We started with a 4-2 victory over IFK Mariehamn, and ended in similar style with a 5-0 win for FC Lahti. Our goal scoring form was tremendous, as we scored four goals or more fourteen league games.

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Another unbeaten season for us domestically, and we scored an incredible 100 goals over the course of the season. That's over three goals per game, on average. Our defensive record was outstanding, as we only conceded 20 goals.

Suomen Cup

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Goals galore! We were outstanding in attack, as we smashed teams throughout the entire Suomen Cup campaign. En route to the final, we scored a minimum of five goals per game in each game but one (against SJK), conceding two in the process. A final against HJK proved to be tense, as we were at 0-0 after ninety minutes. However, we turned in the style in extra time, scoring three times to secure the cup.

UEFA Champions League 2023/2024 Latter Rounds

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Following last year's run to the final, we were beaten in the last sixteen this time out, by the very same opponent who defeated us in the final. A 1-1 home draw in the first leg left us with some hope of progressing, but the Citizens proved too strong in Manchester, as we were swept aside.

UEFA Champions League 2024/2025 Group Stage

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We qualified directly to the group stage, due to Finland's qualification coefficients improving significantly in recent seasons. A group of Bayer 04 Leverkusen, Real Sociedad and FC Porto was a relatively favourable one for us, as we finished up with five wins and a draw. We scored eighteen goals in the six games, averaging three goals per game.

FC Honka Team Of The Season

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GK: Thomas Axberg - 7.14
37 Appearances - 16 Clean Sheets - 27 Goals Conceded - 0 Player of the Match
He didn't play as much as usual, due to being away with Finland at the Euros. He kept a solid sixteen clean sheets, however, conceding just 27 in 37 games. Another solid season for the young goalkeeper.

DR: Valentin Rosier - 7.42
36 Appearances - 0 Goals - 4 Assists - 0 Player of the Match
Wonderful season for Rosier. The attacking full back charged down the wing at every opportunity, proving our attack with plenty of supply from wide positions.

DCR: Andrea Punzi (C) - 7.50
42 Appearances - 3 Goals - 6 Assists - 2 Player of the Match
Our captain on the pitch, Punzi was a solid rock in our back line. He was directly involved in nine goals in 2024, and his defensive work was top notch.

DCL: Astrit Radovanovic - 7.70
29 Appearances - 6 Goals - 4 Assist - 2 Player of the Match
He was away with Serbia at the Euros, so his game time for Honka was restricted, but he contributed enormously when he did play for us. He scored six goals over the season. His ability in the air made him invaluable to our cause, especially in set pieces.

DL: Dragan Obradovic - 7.59
29 Appearances - 0 Goals - 5 Assists - 2 Player of the Match
Dragan was also away with Serbia at the Euros mid-season, limiting his game time for Honka. However, he was very very good when he did play, offering great support in defence and attack.

MCR: Ludvig Jansson - 7.27
32 Appearances - 3 Goals - 1 Assist - 1 Player of the Match
Jansson was also away at the Euros, with Sweden. He dictated play from midfield for us, running the show from central positions.

MCL: Manuel Locatelli - 7.07
41 Appearances - 4 Goals - 1 Assist - 0 Player of the Match
A consistent figure in our side throughout the season, Locatelli held the fort in midfield. The Italian ball winner was solid, without being incredibly good, and even provided four goals throughout the season.

AMR: Yan Dhanda - 7.58
38 Appearances - 23 Goals - 12 Assists - 3 Player of the Match
Dhanda showed his form in the attacking third yet again, scoring 23 goals and assisting 12 more. His creative ability marked him out as a key player for us.

AMC: Bjarne Hilska - 7.73
30 Appearances - 13 Goals - 11 Assists - 5 Player of the Match
Hislka was also at the Euros with Finland, but his form for Honka otherwise was incredible. He scored 13 and assisted 11 more in just 30 games in attacking midfield. He was involved in every attack, and was starting to truly become a top top player.

AML: Juha Tuomi - 8.22
33 Appearances - 18 Goals - 28 Assists - 11 Player of the Match
Just magical. He was away with Finland at the Euros, but he was directly involved in 46 goals in just 33 games. Messi would have been proud of this record, and Tuomi was expected to continue this outstanding form in future seasons.

ST: Kristján Sverrisson - 7.57
40 Appearances - 36 Goals - 16 Assists - 9 Player of the Match
Incredible! Sverisson replaced Roschier as our starting striker, due to form, and was directly involved in 52 goals in just 40 games. The Icelandic striker looked like becoming a top class striker in the future, with the numbers he was recording a good indicator of his ability.

World Football

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I was actually manager of Finland for this tournament, as we reached the quarter finals of the competition. I resigned immediately after the competition, as I only wanted to take charge of the team for one major tournament. The next update will explain my brief spell as manager of the country.

Kylian Mbappé had a fine 2024, winning the Ballon d'Or award for the first time. His compatriot Thomas Lemar finished as runner-up, while Real Madrid's Eden Hazard had to settle for third place.

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Previous Update: #13 - Heikkinen: We Are One Of The Best
Next Update: #15 - UEFA European Championship 2024

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Sami Heikkinen: During the year 2024, I was approached by the Finnish FA to take charge of the national team. The country had just missed out on automatic promotion to the UEFA European Championship 2024, and were faced with a second chance of qualification in the form of playoff competition. I took the job, in agreement that I would resign after the tournament, should we qualify. I still wished to stay as Honka manager in the long run, and the future didn't see me managing Finland at the same time.

Qualification Playoff Rounds

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I was immediately thrown in to the deep end, with Finland to compete in the playoffs in hope of qualification. We were pitted against Slovakia in the semi finals, and the Slovaks earned an early lead. We pushed and harried and eventually got an equaliser with twenty minutes to go, through Honka player Santeri Hostikka. We forced the game to a penalty shootout, where we emerged as victors to progress to the finals of the qualification playoffs.

Scotland stood in our way, and what a game it was! The Honka players were on the day, as Roschier and Yaghoubi both equalised during the game. With the game set to run in to extra time, Honka youth product Lasse Pohjanpalo stepped up to score a dramatic 95th minute winner in Helsinki to send us to the European Championship!

Group Stage

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We were drawn in to a very very difficult group, with Germany, Serbia and Russia all expected to beat us. However, we battled to a hard-earned 2-1 victory against Russia to build some positive momentum, as both Joel Pohjanpalo and Lasse Pohjanpalo (no relation) scored.

Up next was a major clash against Germany, a side who were among the favourites to win the competition. We set up to hold tight in defence and hit them on the counter, using our pacey attackers. It worked wonders as Lasse Pohjanpalo scored two goals from such counter attacks, and we were happy to sit back and attempt to hold on to our two goal lead. Leon Goretzka scored an absolute thunderbolt just after half time, but we held out for a priceless victory, as six points was enough to send us through to the knockout stages.

Our final group game was against Serbia, who proved too much for us in the end. The scored the opener with twenty minutes to go, before Jani Roschier quickly equalised for us. However, the game ended in stoppage time heartbreak for us as Serbia snatched a late winning goal.

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Our victory over Germany saw us top the group over them, based on group placing criteria. Serbia qualified as one of the best ranked third placed teams, while Russia dropped out. Our top spot finish meant we wouldn't face a team who topped one of the other groups.

Knockout Stage

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The last sixteen saw us face off against our oldest foes, Sweden. It was an epic of a rivalry game, with neither team expected to even make it to the knockout stage. Goals from Honka wonderkid Juha Tuomi and the experienced Joel Pohjanpalo gave us a two goal lead, with only twenty five minutes remaining. Victor Lindelöf halved the deficit with just two minutes left on the clock, but we held out for a place in the quarter finals.

Up next was Croatia, and we were completely outclassed. Our players had worked their socks off to fight for a place in the quarter finals, and found themselves with no more energy to compete. Croatia rolled us over with a brace from Bruno Petkovic.

European Championship Summary

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The hosts of the competition, Spain, went on to win the title. For Finland, it was an impressive performance, with the nation never reaching the quarter finals of any major competition previously. It was a stepping stone to build upon, but it would be without myself, Sami Heikkinen. The game against Croatia was my last as Finland manager, as I returned to just being manager of FC Honka Espoo. It was an experience to remember, and one I was proud to have lived.

Comment Section

Scott T, yeah €ity have become somewhat of a superpower (just like irl) under Leonardo Jardim. Getting a draw against them was encouraging!

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Previous Update: #14 - Season 2024: Season Review
Next Update: #16 - Season 2025: Season Review

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Sami Heikkinen: Finnish football was certainly on the rise, and we were leading that charge. With plenty of money in the bank, we were ready to spend relatively big money to bring in players who would take us to the next level. 2025 was set to be an exciting year.

Transfers

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Major Transfers In
(Name - Age - Position - Fee - Signed From)

Evgeny Yevgrafov - 18 (26/10/2006) - DC - €30,500,000 - Akhmat Grozny
To take us to the next level, we knew we had to spend big money. Evgeny Yevgrafov was on our radar for quite a while, and we were willing to meet the Russian defender's minimum release clause. Yevgrafov had already made 66 senior club appearances, and even made his Russian senior team debut in 2023, going on to make 8 more appearances for his country. He was one of the brightest prospects of his generation in Russia, and was set to add to the quality we already had in defence.

Nahuel Libramento - 18 (14/10/2006) - AMR - €7,000,000 - Estudiantes
We continued to spend a reasonable amount of money on new players throughout the season. Libramento was hot property, with Manchester United and Chelsea tracking his progress. The Argentine wide attacker had made twenty two appearances for Estudiantes, impressing in his performances. He had made a number of appearances for Argentina's U-20s already, and was expected to become a senior international in the future.

Major Transfers Out
(Name - Age - Position - Fee - Signed For)

Jorge Cano - 31 (01/01/1994) - DC - €850,000 - Real Zaragoza
It was the departure of a Honka hero. Jorge Cano had been at the club since 2018, in my first season in charge, and made a total of 229 appearances before leaving for Zaragoza. He was born a Spaniard, but became a Finnish national during his time at Honka. He even went on to make 12 appearances for Finland, his adopted country. However, his time at Honka came to an end when he wished to return to Spain, and we refused to stand in his way. He was a terrific servant and will long be remembered as a great player of the football club.

Other Transfers
With our newfound financial power, we spent money on players our scouts had identified. Players from across Europe, Africa and South America joined our club, either at senior level or youth level. A number of fringe/youth players left the club in search of regular football.

Veikkausliiga

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Kaboom! Our goal scoring form was tremendous. We rinsed teams left, right and center as our young squad demonstrated what they were capable of. Notable victories included a 7-0 strumming of TPS, and a 5-0 thumping of our fierce rivals of HJK. It was our defensive form, however, which shined through as we conceded just 8 goals in the 33 games.

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33 wins from 33 saw us clear the league table by a massive margin. TPS came closest to us, but they were closer to 11th than to 1st. We could be proud of our league performance in 2025.

Suomen Cup

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Once again, we won the Suomen Cup. After a 6-1 opening game victory over GBK Kokkola in the group stage, we conceded 0 goals en route to lifting the trophy. It was our very own academy graduate Lasse Pohjanpalo who scored a stoppage time winner in the final, capping off an excellent season for the striker and the club.

UEFA Champions League 2024/2025 Knockout Stage

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Ajax were our opponents in the Last 16, and a 1-1 draw in Amsterdam in the first leg set us up well. Bjarne Hilska scored the only goal in the return leg, in stoppage time, to send us to the quarter finals.

Up next was FC Barcelona, who were expected to go through. The first leg was in Spain, and we took the lead just after half time through Bjarne Hilska. However, the Catalan club showed their class to score two late goals to win the first leg. The second leg in Finland was a thriller. We held strong in defence, and scored twice from corners as Evgeny Yevgrafov lived up to his price tag, scoring two excellent headers. Barcelona struck back with eight minutes to go through Gabriel Fernando to set up a potential extra time contest. However, Bjarne Hilska showed up in stoppage time to score a last second winner, sending us to the semi finals in incredible style.

We were rewarded for our victory over Barcelona with a semi final tie against Real Madrid. The first game in Finland saw all five goals scored in the last twenty minutes. Mohsen scored the opener for Real Madrid, before Jan Chlumecky scored from all of twenty five yards to equalise. Madrid once again took the lead before Chlumecky once again scored from long distance, in stoppage time. However, Real broke our hearts in the 95th minute through Sander Berge.

The semi final second leg may go down in history as the greatest Champions League game of all time. We needed to score at least twice, and win, for any chance of a place in the final. We hit an early set back as Real Madrid scored twice in the opening fifteen minutes to put us up against us, we required four goals to progress. We looked down and out, but we rallied back as Tuomi starred, scoring and assisting for Sverrisson to level the game before half time. Real Madrid's Malcom was sent off just after half time for taking down Dhanda as he went one on one. This was the turning point. Yan Dhanda turned on the style, scoring an incredible hat trick in the second half to write his name in history, and Jan Chlumecky scored a sensational volley from the edge of the area to secure our place in the final.

AS Monaco were our final opponents, and it was a piece of cake compared to our games against Real Madrid and FC Barcelona. Bjarne Hilska scored a superb long range effort in the first half, and Manuel Locatelli wrapped up the game in stoppage time with a bullet header. We were CHAMPIONS OF EUROPE!!!

UEFA Super Cup

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Arsenal won the UEFA Europa League, meaning they would be our opponents in the UEFA Super Cup. They scored the opener through Kasper Dolberg, but Sverrisson came to the rescue for us with a goal on the half-hour mark. The game went in to extra time, where Bjarne Hilska and Lasse Pohjanpalo scored to win us the game.

UEFA Champions League 2025/2026 Group Stage

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We faced Manchester United, Sporting CP and Vitesse in the group stage in the following Champions League season, and we were expected to progress to the knockout stage. We earned twelve points against Sporting CP and Vitesse, but just one against Manchester United. Second place in the group earned us passage to the Last 16.

FIFA Club World Cup

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We faced Mexican side Tigres in the semi finals, where we ran out 4-2 victors. Brazilian giants Palmeiras were our opponents in the final in a tight game. Bjarne Hilska had a habit of scoring in big games, and he opened the scoring for us. Palmeiras equalised and the game was set to head to extra time, were it not for Ludvig Jansson's timely stoppage time winner to crown us CHAMPIONS OF THE WORLD!!!

FC Honka Team Of The Season

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GK: Thomas Axberg - 7.10
41 Appearances - 27 Clean Sheets - 20 Goals Conceded - 0 Player of the Match
Micky Senior's emergence from the youth ranks gave plenty of competition for the goalkeeper position, but Axberg was our star man in nets in 2025. He conceded just 20 goals throughout the season, keeping 27 clean sheets. Incredible.

DR: Valentin Rosier - 7.57
36 Appearances - 0 Goals - 13 Assists - 2 Player of the Match
It was, by far, Rosier's best season in football. The French full back recorded an incredible 13 assists, demonstrating his outstanding attacking contribution.

DCR: Andrea Punzi - 7.38
39 Appearances - 3 Goals - 1 Assist - 0 Player of the Match
The arrival of Yevgrafov brought fantastic competition to the central defender spots, but Punzi did well to hang on to his slot. The Italian rock was superb in his work, and his experience was vital to our cause.

DCL: Astrit Radovanovic - 7.61
39 Appearances - 3 Goals - 1 Assist - 2 Player of the Match
Radovanovic's season was an outstanding one, as he was our best defender in a trophy-laden year. The 201cm tall Serbian defender was superior in the air, and nobody could match his ability to deal with crosses.

DL: Dragan Obradovic - 7.40
36 Appearances - 1 Goals - 3 Assists - 0 Player of the Match
Another great season by Obradovic. He was strong in defensive shape, and he contributed enormously going forward. He was a reliable option at full back, and was wanted by top clubs around Europe.

MCR: Jan Chlumecky - 7.55
37 Appearances - 8 Goals - 7 Assists - 1 Player of the Match
This kid was special. His ability to score ridiculously incredible goals made him a star, in the eyes of the media. Still just 17 years old, he was already a star turn of the team, and was set to become one of the best players in the world.

MCL: Ludvig Jansson (C) - 7.10
32 Appearances - 3 Goals - 3 Assists - 2 Player of the Match
Our captain on the pitch, Jansson played well in a ball winning role. He lead his team well, and lifted several prestigious trophies to mark a good year.

AMR: Yan Dhanda - 7.67
40 Appearances - 22 Goals - 17 Assists - 8 Player of the Match
Another superb goal scoring season for Yan Dhanda as he continued to prove his worth for the club. The English attacker had been tasked with playing in a number of roles throughout the season, with the right side of attack his preferred place in the team.

AMC: Bjarne Hilska - 7.75
34 Appearances - 16 Goals - 9 Assists - 8 Player of the Match
The man for the big occasion, Hilska was our hero of the season. He scored in the big games for us, winning us the big trophies. Hero. Legend (to be).

AML: Juha Tuomi - 7.70
30 Appearances - 9 Goals - 16 Assists - 5 Player of the Match
Not his finest goal scoring season, but his contribution to the team was still sensational. His quality in attack was unmatched, by all but Hilska, and he deserved all the trophies and awards he won.

ST: Lasse Pohjanpalo - 7.31
39 Appearances - 27 Goals - 6 Assists - 5 Player of the Match
Pohjanpalo finally broke in to our senior team, having come through our youth ranks. He had been out on loan in recent seasons, and finally earned his place in the team. Boy, did he take it. 27 goals in 39 appearances marked a good season for the striker.

World Football

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It was a year to remember for Barcelona's Pietro Pellegri. The Italian striker was in incredible form, scoring 34 goals in 40 appearances. Real Madrid's Eden Hazard and Manchester City's Kylian Mbappé finished in second and third, respectively. Perhaps a Honka player deserved to win, however?

Comment Section

ML Scouter, thank you for the kind words! As you can see, we didn't have to wait too long to lift the Champions League

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Previous Update: #15 - UEFA European Championship 2024
Next Update: #17 - Honka To Build New Stadium

So the story has now caught up to the point in the save where I was when this story started, which means more detailed writing (for now)! The updates for the 'real-time' story will start tomorrow.

I hope you guys are enjoying this so far, and now the update style will change somewhat in places. There will be more updates on different things, which you will see in the near future.

On a side note, I also started a new interactive series; FM Scout: The Hunger Games, which you can all be involved in. All it requires you to do is to sign up for it, and I'll take care of the rest. Of course, I would appreciate it if those who signed up would read up on it somewhat regularly. Its just something a little different to what is normally done here.

A big thank you to everybody who has followed this story so far. It has been a pleasure!

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21/12/2028

FC Honka Espoo fans have been treated to an early Christmas president as the club announced plans to begin building a new football stadium for their team. Espon jalkapallostadion, an initial 10,375 capacity stadium, is scheduled to be open and ready for use on 26/11/2028. The project is expected to cost over €20,000,000 as the club's owners continue to invest money earned from their European successes.

The new stadium will see Honka move away from Tapiola in south east Espoo, to just south of Mikkelä, west of Espoo's city centre. The stadium plans will see a new train station opened on the nearby tracks, to assist with public transport to the ground, while Honka's chairman Jussi Sieppi has also promised the construction of a number of plazas and fan zone areas near the stadium.

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The stadium itself will hold an initial maximum capacity of 10,375 fans, with plenty of room in the design for future expansion. While a number of football pitches in Finland consist of synthetic/grass mixes, Espoon jalkapallostadion will have a pure grass surface, with under soil heating to ensure it is kept in good condition. The stadium will also, more impressively, have a roof which will protect the pitch from the harsh conditions of a Finnish winter. This will benefit the pitch during any potential UEFA Champions League games played from November until March, when Finland's winter is typically at its coldest.

The stadium's design is similar to that of Nouveau Stade Lausanne, home of Switzerland's FC Lausanne, with similarly imposing triangular corner entrances for fans, and glazed walls on each side. While most modern day stadia are designed to be circular in shape, Espoon jalkapallostadion will hold a rectangular design, with an elegant angled roof covering the stands. The pitch roof will extract from this cover.

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Jussi Sieppi (Honka Chairman):

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"It is a very proud moment for me as chairman of Honka. We have the opportunity to create a legacy of success in brand new ground, where we can thrive in the fantastic facilities that will come with it. It is a major step forward for the football club and we are delighted with the opportunity to be able to welcome more and more football fans to our games in the future."

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Sami Heikkinen (Honka Manager):

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"It is a great opportunity for this football club to play at a fantastic ground. We have been unable to play our home games at our home due to Champions League capacity requirements, so it will be nice for us to be able to play our European fixtures at our own stadium.

It will also be a sad moment for this club, to move away from Tapiolan urheilupuisto, which has been our home since 1970. We have many fond memories of the stadium and it will always be a spiritual home for the club, no matter where we play our football."

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Previous Update: #16 - Season 2025: Season Review
Next Update: #18 - Club Overview: FC Honka 2026