Football Season Guide

Veikkausliiga
Finland
Veikkausliiga
2024
FC Haka
Clean filter

FC Haka

In


Liam Hughes (gk) free agent; Hassan Ndam (def) New York Red Bull; Nikolas Talo (def) KTP; Nicolas Gianini Dantas (def) Oskarshamns; Rodrigo Macedo (def) free agent; Guilherme Morais (mid) free agent; Juho Kilo (mid) free agent; Imani Lanquedoc (mid) Fulham U21 – on loan; Arlind Sejdiu (mid) Inter Turku; Evangelos Patoulidis (att) free agent; Marko Bacanin (att) free agent;

Out


Logan Rogerson (k) (mid) FC Noah; Aatu Hakala (r) (gk) KuPS; Fallou Ndiaye (r) (def) SJK Seinajoki; Haik Moussakhanian (r) (def) released; Mehdi Boukassi (r) (mid) Raja Casablanka – end of loan; Juan Lescano (r) (att) Chongqing (CHN); Felix Lehtinen (sp) (gk) Gujda United; Eero-Matti Auvinen (sp) (def) Mariehamn; Henri Malundama (sp) (def) Ekenas; Anthony Herbert (sp) (def) New Mexico; Atte Sihvonen (sp) (mid0 TPS; Tino Purme (sp) (mid) Ylojarvi; Jesús Alvarado (sp) (att) Grecia; Stavros Zarokostas (sp) (att) Egaleo; Thomas Saarinen (def) SexyPoxy; Konsta Mervelä (def) released;

Haka took a step back in 2023 but despite the inconsistencies they remained a solid team. Missed out on a top 6 finish. Then in Play-off II struggled for consistency – 2 wins and 3 defeats. This resulted in a modest ninth place in the final standings. Never got in trouble regarding survival though. Haka’s big issues last season were in defence. They had the worst defensive record during the regular season (37 goals conceded in 22 matches). The club felt a change was needed and this winter they sacked their manager and appointed Northern Irishman Andy Smith in charge. Smith’s tenure so far had been very busy as just in his first week at the club he saw several regulars leave. The assist-king Rogerson is no longer in the squad, starting goalkeeper Hakala and 2 of the main centre-backs also left. Haka opted to be looking at free agents this winter and 6 such players were added to the ranks. Serbian striker Bacanin is the only natural centre forward in the squad so keeping him fit and match-ready will be vital. Hughes joins hoping to be selected as the new number one. The most important winter signing was probably that of centre-back Ndam from the MLS. The hopes are that his addition will improve the defensive record and this should be enough to see Haka challenging again.

Target


The ambitions are high and hope to match or better their best-ever fourth place finish from 2022. Have the squad to do that and can be in medal contention with a bit of luck.