Kalle Koskinen: The Iceman

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Peimari United attacker Riku Sjöroos has been ruled out for the rest of the season after breaking his ankle in a training session. The twenty-five year old attacker had been in incredible form so far this season, scoring nine goals in seventeen appearances in all competitions. Sjöroos had been competing for a starting place on the left of Peimari United's attack with Akseli Ollila, with both players deemed to be stars players for the side, and with both chipping in with their fair share of goals for the team.

Sjöroos was voted as Peimari United's Player of the Season last term as he demonstrated an incredible goal scoring season. Sjöroos scored twenty-three times last term in just thirty-two appearances as he lit up Kakkonen in a title-winning season for his side, and was heavily linked with a move back to Veikkausliiga during the off-season. However, Peimari United retained his services and Sjöroos has continued to flourish.

Sjöroos is unlikely to return to training until January, when preparations for next season are due to begin. He will miss the remainder of the current Ykkönen season, with Peimari United looking likely to lift the title, having shown a devastating run of form as they remain unbeaten in league play.

Peimari United manager Kalle Koskinen has voiced his disappointment over the injury, and his concern for his player. However, Sjöroos will have been pleased with Koskinen's promise to see him return to his position in the side once fit. Koskinen spoke of his admiration for the player and how he looks forward to seeing him recover from his set back.

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The month started with a very positive, and routine, victory over Kemi Kings at home. We were excellent in attack and solid in defence, and we showed our creativity in the types of goals we scored. Justus Kauppinen scored a dramatic late brace against AC Kajaani to make it two wins from two in July, before we were held to a d raw away to FC Ilves. Ilves were fighting with everything that they had for promotion and the result was a point earned, rather than two points lost, for us. Gnistan Helsinki very nearly damaged us at the end of the month. They equalised late on, but goals from Akseli Ollila and Antti Pokela secured the win for us to wrap up the month quite nicely.

Akseli Ollila was our hero in July. Ollila was only fit enough to play two games, but he scored three very important goals which may prove vital in the title race. Ollila scored an away goal against FC Ilves before scoring twice versus Gnistant Helsinki to round the month off with a win.

We were nearly there. Four wins from the remaining nine games would mean league title victory, regardless of the other teams. As far as I was concerned, we only needed one or two to secure the title. Well done team.

Stinky.

We had the opportunity to wrap up the league title in August. We knew that a win against KPV and and a win against FC Haka would basically have it wrapped up in two games. That was the objective.

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Peimari United secured the Ykkönen title today with a 1-0 victory over second placed FC Haka. Kevin Larsson scored in the fourth minute of the game to secure the title-clinching win for the hosts in front of their own fans at HakkisPaana as the visitors were powerless to resist a side who had been so overwhelmingly good throughout the season.

The victory over FC Haka guaranteed the Ykkönen league title for Peimari United with seven games remaining. It was a feat unmatched before as Kalle Koskinen's men look to round off the season undefeated in league play, smashing every single record in sight. It has been a season worthy of many accolades and recognition, but the message from the Peimari Untied camp has been that the staff and players were only focused on winning every single remaining fixture.

League title victory also spells promotion to the Veikkausliiga for Peimari United, who will be playing in Finland's top flight next season for the first time in their history. The promotion demonstrates the significant progression made since the arrival of current manager Kalle Koskinen, who has lead the club to back-to-back promotions (and league titles) in his two seasons at the club.

In the light of confirming promotion to the Veikkausliiga, Peimari United's senior figures announced that the club has turned professional with immediate affect. This requires the club's staff to operate on a full-time basis and the change in status represents a major milestone for the club from the small town of Paimio.

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The club has issued a statement that they would be looking to renegotiate existing contracts with players and staff to reflect the recent change in status for the club, allowing their players to work for the club on a full-time basis. This would mean that the players would begin to train every day, rather than twice or three times a week as had been done previously.

The change to full-time contracts will undoubtedly be of great benefit to the stock of younger players who currently play for the club. For the likes of Jesper Santanen, Jukka Virtanen, Kevin Larsson and Akseli Ollila, the opportunity to hone their skills and to develop as players and people on a daily basis will prove invaluable, to say the least.

The first man to be offered a full-time contract was manager Kalle Koskinen. The Helsinki-born manager penned a two-year deal with the club until November 2022 and is reported to now be earning €875 per week. The news comes shortly after Koskinen turned down the opportunity to manage the German national team. Koskinen's new contract sees a clause included where his wage will be reduced by 50% if Peimari United are relegated.

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The club also announced that there will be more major news coming today, with sources close to the club suggesting that a number of new players are about to sign for Peimari United. With today being transfer deadline day across Finland, the club's change in status to being a full-time professional club has certainly attracted players who would have otherwise refused the opportunity to play for the Paimion Leijonat and, while unconfirmed, three players are set to join the club.

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Peimari United secured the Ykkönen title earlier today with a 1-0 win over FC Haka. With seven games remaining in the league season, Peimari smashed records left, right and centre to guarantee a first-place finish in Finland's second-top tier. Title victory prompted the club to become a full-time professional side today, with the board also securing the future of maager Kalle Koskinen on a two-year full-time deal.

Peimari United chairman Antti Eklund spoke earlier of his desire to bring in new players on full-time contracts to prepare the club for life in the Veikkausliiga and the club were quick to act, securing three new signings today, on the transfer deadline day. Experienced defender Johannes Mononen joined on a free transfer from JIPPO Joensuu, while defensive-minded midfielder Aleksi Kylmälä joined on a free from OLS Oulu. Peimari United smashed their transfer record to sign promising young attacking midfielder Oliver Antman for €250 from Ykkönen rivals Gnistant Helsinki. All three players were expected to play some part in the remaining fixtures of the season, but were secured with Veikkausliiga football in mind.

Johannes Mononen joins the club to bolster central defensive options. The twenty-nine year old has racked up 221 league appearances at all of the top four divisions of Finnish football. The Joensuu-born defender was a graduate of JIPPO's youth sides and made his senior debut for the club in 2006 in Ykkönen. Mononen made 25 league appearances before moving to Veikkausliiga giants Tampere United in 2009. Mononen made 15 league appearances for Tampere United over two seasons, but spent more time on loan at TPV Tampere and FC Ilves. Monnonen enjoyed short spells at AC Oulu, FC OPA and FC Hämeenlinna before moving back to childhood club JIPPO. Mononen bounced from JIPPO to Ekenäs Tammisaari to Kultsu and back to JIPPO, where he stayed until he signed for Peimari United.

At 188 cm, Mononen was considered to be a fairly tall player. He was noted for his excellent technical qualities in the defensive side of football, and he was fairly athletic too. He was considered to be a gladiator on the football pitch, with his determination and bravery coming to the fore regularly. Mononen was capable of filling in at different positions across the defence, should he be required, and was expected to become a starter for Peimari United.


Aleksi Kylmälä was probably the more unknown of the three signings. Born in Oulu, Kylmälä played his youth football for FC Raahe and OLS Oulu. However, Kylmälä made his senior debut for JS Hercules of Oulu in 2017, making 18 league appearances in Kakkonen for the club. Kylmälä moved back to OLS Oulu for the following season and since went on to make 56 appearances for the club at Kakkonen and Kolmonen levels.

Kylmälä was renowned for his defensive contribution in midfield. Naturally a holding midfielder, Kylmälä was capable of playing in any of the three midfield roles that Peimari United used. He was a fierce tackler and a very hard worker. His athletic ability made him a very good utility player to have, and he was also capable of providing goals from distance.


Oliver Antman was the signing that all of the Peimari United fans were excited about. Born in Vantaa, a suburban region of Helsinki, Antman made his senior debut for TiPS in 2017 in Kolmonen football at the age of 15 and made 5 league appearances that season. Antman moved to Gnistan Helsinki for the following season, making 29 league appearances at Kakkonen and Ykkönen level before moving to Peimari United for a club record fee of €250.

Naturally an attacking midfielder, Antman was renowned for his incredile dribbling ability and his electrifying pace. His control of a football and his ability to read the game well made him an incredible creative talent, and many expect him to become a roaming playmaker under Kalle Koskinen. Having already solidified his position in the Finland U21s team as a teenager, many expected Antman to become one of the nation's best players in the future.

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