Football Season Guide

SJK enjoyed a great start to the 2023 season and they were unbeaten nearly halfway through the regular season. Solid defending and some impressive narrow wins against top teams saw SJK spending 12 of the first 15 rounds in first place. Things started to slow down after the summer break though. Come the end of the regular season SJK were sitting only third. They ended up finishing in fourth place after winning just once in the play-offs. Despite the solid year first-year coach Gomez was replaced in the winter. Experienced Veikkausliiga manager Toni Lehtinen is now in charge. SJK’s main strength last season was their defence. That’s why it was no surprise that the team’s best centre-backs Hradecky and Yegbe, plus 2 other very useful defenders, were sold. The main goalie Huuhtanen is no longer in the team as he retired. SJK made the most of Honka’s bankruptcy though. With many quality players without a club just overnight SJK were quick to act. They added Honka’s ex-number one Roope Paunio. He will be the new starter on goal. Also, full-back Naamo and winger Laine, both predicted to have very bright futures, came from Honka. To address the hole in defence found 2 new quality centre-backs too – Pires and Ndiaye. The main concern is the squad’s lack of experience. SJK’s oldest player is the 29-year-old Moreno but only 2 players are older than 24. Can all this youth be used to bring constant successes is for coach Lehtinen to answer.