Kuopion Palloseura

The club was officially founded on 16 March 1923, at Kuopion Seurahuone. The club was named Kuopion Palloseura ("Kuopio Ball Club") with an abbreviation of KPS, which was later changed to KuPS. KuPS golden era took place between the 1950s and 1970s, when the club won five league titles, finished runner up on eight occasions, and third once. The club also won the Finnish Cup for the first time in 1968. The club hasn’t finished lower than 3rd in the league table since 2017. In the 2019 season KuPS won its sixth league title, coached by Jani Honkavaara. In 2021 and 2022 the club won the Finnish Cup for the third and fourth times. In the 2024 season, KuPS won its first-ever league and cup double, after winning the Finnish Championship and the Finnish Cup titles, led again by coach Honkavaara and captain Petteri Pennanen. In the 2025 league season the club won its eight championship in the Finnish league and became runner-ups in the Finnish Cup. KuPS also reached the 2025–26 UEFA Conference League league phase, their first-ever spot in the European competition league phase. One win and four draws secured the club a place in the knockout phase play-offs. The club became the first Finnish club to advance from the league phase to play-off rounds. ==Season to season==

• 63 seasons in Veikkausliiga • 23 seasons in Ykkönen • 1 season in Kakkonen ==European campaigns==

UEFA club competition record Competitions UEFA coefficient The following list ranks the current position of KuPS in UEFA club ranking: ==Transfers==

In the last few decades, KuPS have produced numerous local players for Veikkausliiga and a few who have transferred abroad. Five among their seven biggest incoming transfer fees came from local mostly homegrown players. The club’s previous incoming transfer fee record was for then 17-year old Matias Siltanen, who departed for Djurgården following a great debut season for KuPS in 2024. It was surpassed one year later by the transfer of Otto Ruoppi to Mainz 05 for €1.3 million, and further surpassed by Mohamed Toure's transfer to FC Viktoria Plzeň for €1.5 million in February 2026. Record transfers ==Current squad==

As of 1 January 2026 Boardroom As of 1 January 2026 Image:Ilja Venalainen KuPS vs Sakari Mattila Klubi-04.jpg| Ilja Venäläinen trailed by Klubi-04's Sakari Mattila (2007) Image:Jonni Heikkinen KuPS.jpg| Jonni Heikkinen escapes from a PK-37 player in Finnish Cup 5th Round, 2006 Image:Miikka Turunen KuPS 03 08 nr2.jpg| Miikka Turunen near the corner flag in Finnish League Cup, 2008 Image:Arto Lindberg KuPS Tuomas Haapala HJK 03 08.jpg| Arto Lindberg trying to keep Tuomas Haapala away ==Honours==

• Mestaruussarja/Veikkausliiga • Champions (8): 1956, 1958, 1966, 1974, 1976, 2019, 2024, 2025 • Runners-up (13): 1950, 1954, 1964, 1967, 1969, 1975, 1977, 1979, 2010, 2017, 2021, 2022, 2023 • Third place (3): 1953, 2018, 2020 • Finnish Cup • Champions (5): 1968, 1989, 2021, 2022, 2024 • Runners-up (4): 2011, 2012, 2013, 2025 • Finnish League Cup • Champions (1): 2006 • Runners-up (1): 2024 • Ykkönen (second tier) • Champions (3): 2000, 2004, 2007 • Kakkonen (third tier) • Champions (1): 1998 == Managers ==

• Aaro Heikkinen (1945–57) • Imre Nagy (1947) • Martti Kosma (1958) • Reino Miettinen (1959) • Veijo Pehkonen (1960) • Asser Väisänen (1960) • Aaro Heikkinen (1961–65) • Gunnar Boman (1966–68) • Veikko Jokinen (1969–71) • Unto Nevalainen (1969–71) • Martti Räsänen (1972–79) • Matti Terästö (initial term) (1980) • Jarmo Flink (final season) (1980) • Ari Savolainen (1981) • Matti Väänänen (1982) • Bogusław Hajdas (1983–85) • Jouko Pasanen (1986) • Jouko Pasanen (1987) • Aarre Miettinen (July 1987) • Heikki Turunen (1988) • Aarre Miettinen (1988) • Heikki Turunen (1989) • Markku Hyvärinen (May 1989) • Olavi Rissanen (May 1989) • Martti Räsänen (1990–91) • Olavi Rissanen (1990–91) • Martti Räsänen (1992) • Jouni Jäntti (Sept 1992) • Markku Hyvärinen (Sept 1992) • Keijo Voutilainen (1993–1994) • Hannu Turunen (1995–96) • Atik Ismail (1995–96) • Jouni Jäntti (1997–98) • Ensio Pellikka (1998) • Heikki Turunen (1999) • Esa Pekonen (2000–2001) • Jari Pyykölä (1 January 2002 – 6 June 2003) • Ismo Lius (June 2003) • Juha Malinen (2005–2006) • Kai Nyyssönen (1 January 2007 – 13 June 2009) • Esa Pekonen (14 June 2009 – 24 April 2014) • Marko Rajamäki (2 May 2014 – 2016) • Jani Honkavaara (2017–2019) • Arne Erlandsen (2020) • Simo Valakari (2021– 19 January 2023) • Pasi Tuutti (19 January 2023 – 20 April 2023) • Jani Honkavaara (21 April 2023– 31 December 2024) • Jarkko Wiss (1 January 2025 – 31 December 2025) • Miika Nuutinen (1 January 2026 – present) ==References==