Football Season Guide

Ilves had a strong 2025 and finished third, while being only a point behind the leaders at the end of the regular season. The Lynxes ended up with the second-most wins (18) only to champions KuPS last year. They scored 68 goals in 32 games and with a bit more luck could have won the title. Defeats against KuPS in the play-offs and damaging losses away against the bottom 2 clubs during the regular season proved costly in the end. After 2 good years in charge coach Rantanen resigned last winter, tempted by the offer to take charge of giants HJK. Ilves try to keep the same philosophy and tactics going and appointed Joni Lehtonen in charge. This is his first job as a head coach but he has been an assistant coach at Ilves since 2017 so he knows the club and the players very well. It has been a relatively quiet winter in terms of transfers. The only major departure so far was attacking midfielder Jukkola. Made Kanga’s stay permanent last autumn though and he was likely to take the role from Jukkola anyway. The main weakness last term was the defence. Tried to strength in that area. Bamba is young but very promising right-back that can operate on the opposite flank with ease too. Also, added a new body for the heart of the defence in Pettersson. The regulars from last season are all still there and with the manager working with them for years in his role as an assistant Ilves should have good continuity and synchrony from round 1.