Football Season Guide

Lahti were expected to get relegated in 2023 but they defied the odds and stayed in the top flight without too much drama. In attack there were many issues, had the second-fewest goals scored during the regular season – 21 goals in 22 rounds. Defensively Lahti played very well though and this was enough to see them lose only 10 of these 22 games. Then in the play-offs Lahti won 3 out of 5 games and this easily kept them in the division. As it happens every winter the financially troubled Lahti parted ways with most of their regulars from last season. The main reason for the solid 2023 were goalkeeper Ljubic and the trio of centre-backs Simunovic-Kabashi-Pirttijoki. None of them is in the squad for the new season! Up front wingers El Moukhantir and Krekovic also played vital part during the play-offs but they too left. At least coach Lindberg stayed for a second season and he hopes the recruitments made this winter will help him have another solid campaign in 2024. Added a solid new starting goalkeeper in Oluwayemi. The 4 new centre-backs that were signed and the talented right-back Selander bring hope that the defensive record will remain good. Naturally the front line also had to be revamped. Lahti benefited hugely from Honka’s bankruptcy this winter. Both Koskinen and Lopez would have been unaffordable signings if this hadn’t happened but now they are both in Lahti and ready to help. With Koskinen as number 10 and the duo of new strikers Lopez-Ivanovic in front of him Lahti have high hopes that their attacking returns will be much better in 2024.