From our football correspondent
Steady
Squad11 Jan 2027
A falling-out at Ilves
Sauli Väisänen and a teammate went at it, and not about football. Training grounds are small places and a long season makes them smaller.
The dugout11 Jan 2027
Sauli Väisänen has become a man the manager trusts
Nobody at Ilves will say this on the record and the team sheets have been saying it for weeks. There is a small group in every squad who get picked when the fixture is difficult, and he has joined it.
Market11 Jan 2027
It has been denied twice and printed three times, which is the usual arithmetic. Until Maksim Stjopin signs something — a contract at Ilves or anywhere else — this column belongs to him.
Back issues
From our football correspondent
Steady
Squad4 Jan 2027
Words exchanged at Ilves
Sauli Väisänen and a teammate said things this week that will take longer than a week to unsay. It was not about football, and both of them play on Saturday.
The dugout4 Jan 2027
Nothing in writing and nothing in public: a word about playing time, given face to face at Ilves. The team sheets over the next month will show whether it was worth having.
Market4 Jan 2027
Every press conference now starts and ends the same way: with Oskari Paavola’s future. The manager has run out of new ways to say nothing.
From our football correspondent
Steady
Squad28 Dec 2026
Words exchanged at Ilves
Roope Riski and a teammate said things this week that will take longer than a week to unsay. It was not about football, and both of them play on Saturday.
The dugout28 Dec 2026
Every manager keeps a short list in his head of the men he wants on the pitch when the stakes rise, and it is never published. The team sheets for the big afternoons say Jere Riissanen is on it.
The dugout28 Dec 2026
A conversation in the manager’s office, and a commitment that came out of it. Promises like that are cheap to make and expensive to break, and Oliver Pettersson has written the date down.
From our football correspondent
Steady
Squad21 Dec 2026
It was not about football and everybody who saw it knows that. Two men who have to play together on Saturday said things at Ilves this week that will take longer than a week to unsay.
The dugout21 Dec 2026
Matias Rale gets it from the manager
“Nobody here is above being told.” It was not said with a name attached, but the dressing room can count, and so can everybody who was listening.
The dugout21 Dec 2026
It is never announced and it is entirely visible: the biggest afternoons of the season keep containing him. A press box works this out long before anybody at the club confirms a word of it.
From our football correspondent
Steady
Squad14 Dec 2026
Words exchanged at Ilves
Goudouss Bamba and a teammate said things this week that will take longer than a week to unsay. It was not about football, and both of them play on Saturday.
The dugout14 Dec 2026
“Nobody here is above being told.” It was not said with a name attached, but the dressing room can count, and so can everybody who was listening.
The dugout14 Dec 2026
Sauli Väisänen has become a man the manager trusts
Nobody at Ilves will say this on the record and the team sheets have been saying it for weeks. There is a small group in every squad who get picked when the fixture is difficult, and he has joined it.
The dugout14 Dec 2026
Matias Rale knocks on the manager's door
“It had gone on long enough. I would rather have it out than leave it sitting there.” Ten minutes behind a closed door at Ilves, and both men came out saying it was fine.
Market14 Dec 2026
It has been denied twice and printed three times, which is the usual arithmetic. Until Maksim Stjopin signs something — a contract at Ilves or anywhere else — this column belongs to him.
The dugout14 Dec 2026
He asked about his future and was given an answer with minutes in it. The manager has now made a promise in a building where promises are remembered, and the clock on it has started.
From our football correspondent
Steady
Squad7 Dec 2026
A falling-out at Ilves
Goudouss Bamba and a teammate went at it, and not about football. Training grounds are small places and a long season makes them smaller.
Squad7 Dec 2026
“The easiest signature of my career.” Ville Kumpu and Ilves agree another 4 years, and the manager can plan around him rather than about him.
The dugout7 Dec 2026
The manager makes an example of Jesse Kilo
“If you cannot run for the shirt, somebody else will wear it.” No name was used and none was needed; every player in that room knew who it was for.
The dugout7 Dec 2026
Tatu Miettunen asks for a word with the manager
“I would rather say it to his face than read about it.” The meeting was requested by the player, which tells you most of what you need to know.
Market7 Dec 2026
“We are a long way apart, and pretending otherwise helps nobody.” Neither side is close, and the calendar is not on the club's side.
Market7 Dec 2026
Every press conference now starts and ends the same way: with Oskari Paavola’s future. The manager has run out of new ways to say nothing.
From our football correspondent
Steady
The dugout30 Nov 2026
Faris Krkalić: that is not what I was promised
“Things were said to me before I signed. I am not going to repeat them, but I remember all of them.” Ilves have not answered, which is an answer of sorts.
Squad30 Nov 2026
Tempers go at Ilves
Sauli Väisänen was at the centre of it, and by the time it was pulled apart there were three or four others involved. Training grounds are small places and long seasons make them smaller.
The dugout30 Nov 2026
It is never announced and it is entirely visible: the biggest afternoons of the season keep containing him. A press box works this out long before anybody at the club confirms a word of it.
From our football correspondent
Steady
Squad23 Nov 2026
It was not about football and everybody who saw it knows that. Two men who have to play together on Saturday said things at Ilves this week that will take longer than a week to unsay.
The dugout23 Nov 2026
Every manager keeps a short list in his head of the men he wants on the pitch when the stakes rise, and it is never published. The team sheets for the big afternoons say Oliver Pettersson is on it.
Market23 Nov 2026
The Roope Riski story refuses to die
It has been denied twice and printed three times, which is the usual arithmetic. Until Roope Riski signs something — a contract at Ilves or anywhere else — this column belongs to him.
Market23 Nov 2026
Ilves and Jesse Kilo are talking past each other
“There is a gap, and pretending there is not helps nobody.” Neither side has moved, and the calendar is working for exactly one of them.
The dugout23 Nov 2026
Nothing in writing and nothing in public: a word about playing time, given face to face at Ilves. The team sheets over the next month will show whether it was worth having.
Squad23 Nov 2026
“I did not sign to watch. Nobody does.” The oldest complaint in the game, and Ilves will have to answer it with minutes or with a move.
From our football correspondent
Steady
Squad16 Nov 2026
A falling-out at Ilves
Sauli Väisänen and a teammate went at it, and not about football. Training grounds are small places and a long season makes them smaller.
The dugout16 Nov 2026
Every manager keeps a short list in his head of the men he wants on the pitch when the stakes rise, and it is never published. The team sheets for the big afternoons say Sauli Väisänen is on it.
Market16 Nov 2026
It has been denied twice and printed three times, which is the usual arithmetic. Until Maksim Stjopin signs something — a contract at Ilves or anywhere else — this column belongs to him.
From our football correspondent
Steady
Squad9 Nov 2026
Tempers go at Ilves
Roope Riski was at the centre of it, and by the time it was pulled apart there were three or four others involved. Training grounds are small places and long seasons make them smaller.
Squad9 Nov 2026
“The easiest signature of my career.” Oliver Pettersson and Ilves agree another 4 years, and the manager can plan around him rather than about him.
Market9 Nov 2026
One of our own: Joni Forss joins the Ilves first team
Clubs spend fortunes looking for players and occasionally find one down the corridor. Joni Forss is that, and the reception he gets on his first appearance will be different in kind from the one any signing receives.
From our football correspondent
Steady
Squad2 Nov 2026
Tempers go at Ilves
Sauli Väisänen was at the centre of it, and by the time it was pulled apart there were three or four others involved. Training grounds are small places and long seasons make them smaller.
Squad2 Nov 2026
“I never wanted to be anywhere else. There is unfinished business here.” Oliver Pettersson commits to Ilves for another 4 years.
The dugout2 Nov 2026
The manager makes an example of Matias Rale
“If you cannot run for the shirt, somebody else will wear it.” No name was used and none was needed; every player in that room knew who it was for.
Squad2 Nov 2026
The manager has re-ordered his thinking and Goudouss Bamba has come out of it lower. He will be told it is temporary, and the players who have heard that before will avoid his eye.
Squad2 Nov 2026
Not a new contract, not a new number: a new place in the manager’s thinking, which is the only promotion in football that actually matters. Oliver Pettersson has moved up it.
The dugout2 Nov 2026
It is never announced and it is entirely visible: the biggest afternoons of the season keep containing him. A press box works this out long before anybody at the club confirms a word of it.
From our football correspondent
Steady
The dugout26 Oct 2026
“I remember the meeting. I remember exactly what was promised in it.” Ilves may remember it differently, which is precisely the problem.
The dugout26 Oct 2026
“I pick players who do the work. All of it.” No name was spoken; every camera still turned to Lauri Ala-Myllymäki, and the manager let it.
Squad26 Oct 2026
“The easiest signature of my career.” Matti Ojala and Ilves agree another 3 years, and the manager can plan around him rather than about him.
From our football correspondent
Steady
The dugout19 Oct 2026
Tatu Miettunen: that is not what I was promised
“Things were said to me before I signed. I am not going to repeat them, but I remember all of them.” Ilves have not answered, which is an answer of sorts.
The dugout19 Oct 2026
The manager makes an example of Anton Popovitch
“If you cannot run for the shirt, somebody else will wear it.” No name was used and none was needed; every player in that room knew who it was for.
The dugout19 Oct 2026
It is never announced and it is entirely visible: the biggest afternoons of the season keep containing him. A press box works this out long before anybody at the club confirms a word of it.
Market19 Oct 2026
It has been denied twice and printed three times, which is the usual arithmetic. Until Maksim Stjopin signs something — a contract at Ilves or anywhere else — this column belongs to him.
The dugout19 Oct 2026
“Thirty minutes, door closed, everything said. We shook hands after.” Whatever was in the room stayed in the room, and Oliver Pettersson trained the next morning like a man with less to carry.
Loan watch19 Oct 2026
8 starts now, an average of 6.45, and the team sheet at Mjondalen has stopped being a question. Exactly what everybody signed up for.
From our football correspondent
Steady
Squad12 Oct 2026
Words exchanged at Ilves
Sauli Väisänen and a teammate said things this week that will take longer than a week to unsay. It was not about football, and both of them play on Saturday.
Loan watch12 Oct 2026
“I watch every Ilves game from here. That says everything about where my head is.” The loan at RoPS runs its course, but his heart never made the trip.
Market12 Oct 2026
The academy exists for exactly this morning. Daniel Raitala has come through every age group the club runs and has now been handed a senior number, and the people who coached him at twelve will be the proudest in the building.
Market12 Oct 2026
One of our own: Matti Ojala joins the Ilves first team
Clubs spend fortunes looking for players and occasionally find one down the corridor. Matti Ojala is that, and the reception he gets on his first appearance will be different in kind from the one any signing receives.
Squad12 Oct 2026
5 new faces, and Ilves are still learning each other
A squad rebuilt inside one window pays for it in a currency nobody budgets for. The football is not worse than the sum of the players; it is worse than the sum of the players who have played together before.
The dugout12 Oct 2026
“Thirty minutes, door closed, everything said. We shook hands after.” Whatever was in the room stayed in the room, and Anton Popovitch trained the next morning like a man with less to carry.
The dugout12 Oct 2026
“I pick players who do the work. All of it.” No name was spoken; every camera still turned to Faris Krkalić, and the manager let it.
Squad12 Oct 2026
Sauli Väisänen joins up with his country. Ilves lose him for the window and would like him back in one piece.
Market12 Oct 2026
Every press conference now starts and ends the same way: with Otto Tiitinen’s future. The manager has run out of new ways to say nothing.
From our football correspondent
Steady
Squad5 Oct 2026
Words exchanged at Ilves
Roope Riski and a teammate said things this week that will take longer than a week to unsay. It was not about football, and both of them play on Saturday.
The dugout5 Oct 2026
Every manager keeps a short list in his head of the men he wants on the pitch when the stakes rise, and it is never published. The team sheets for the big afternoons say Jere Riissanen is on it.
Market5 Oct 2026
The name of Andre Raymond keeps appearing in other people's back pages. Ilves say nothing, which says plenty.
From our football correspondent
Steady
Squad28 Sep 2026
A falling-out at Ilves
Roope Riski and a teammate went at it, and not about football. Training grounds are small places and a long season makes them smaller.
The dugout28 Sep 2026
It is never announced and it is entirely visible: the biggest afternoons of the season keep containing him. A press box works this out long before anybody at the club confirms a word of it.
Market28 Sep 2026
The Roope Riski story refuses to die
It has been denied twice and printed three times, which is the usual arithmetic. Until Roope Riski signs something — a contract at Ilves or anywhere else — this column belongs to him.
From our football correspondent
Steady
Boardroom21 Sep 2026
The rules permit it and it stings anyway. Sebastian Suvanne has agreed terms with FF Jaro for the summer, and until then he pulls on this shirt as a player who has already chosen his next one.
Squad21 Sep 2026
Roope Riski in a row with a teammate
It was not about football and everybody who saw it knows that. Two men who have to play together on Saturday said things at Ilves this week that will take longer than a week to unsay.
The dugout21 Sep 2026
Every manager keeps a short list in his head of the men he wants on the pitch when the stakes rise, and it is never published. The team sheets for the big afternoons say Sauli Väisänen is on it.
From our football correspondent
Steady
Loan watch14 Sep 2026
“I am grateful for the games, but I did not become a footballer to be somebody else's spare part.” He wants to be at Ilves, and 0 appearances in 5 say he has earned the hearing.
Squad14 Sep 2026
Too much change too quickly at Ilves
5 signings in three months. Every one of them may be an upgrade and the team can still be worse for a while, which is the part of a rebuild that never appears in the transfer-window verdicts.
Loan watch14 Sep 2026
41 days of the agreement remain and 4 appearances sit behind him. Somebody has to decide what happens next.
From our football correspondent
Steady
Player ratings7 Sep 2026
Successful dribbles: 32. He went past people as if he had been told there was a prize for it, and by the end the full-back had stopped pretending to try.
Match5 Sep 2026
IFK Mariehamn left with the points after a 0‑1 defeat that will take some explaining on the terraces.
The dugout7 Sep 2026
Matias Rale gets it from the manager
“Nobody here is above being told.” It was not said with a name attached, but the dressing room can count, and so can everybody who was listening.
The dugout7 Sep 2026
The manager’s verdict
“That is on me. I pick the team and I picked wrong.” Managers say that when they mean it and when they need to be seen to, and after 0‑1 Oliver Uronen left the room before anybody could ask which.
Squad7 Sep 2026
Four or five weekends of consistency, measured against everybody else in the division. A quieter compliment than an award and a more reliable one.
Squad7 Sep 2026
Andre Raymond moves up the pecking order
Nothing is announced when this happens and everybody knows. He is a bigger part of the plan at Ilves than he was a month ago, and the training ground worked that out before the team sheet said so.
The dugout7 Sep 2026
Jere Riissanen has become a man the manager trusts
Nobody at Ilves will say this on the record and the team sheets have been saying it for weeks. There is a small group in every squad who get picked when the fixture is difficult, and he has joined it.
Squad7 Sep 2026
Roope Riski goes off with his country
A call-up flatters the player and the club that produced him in the same breath. Ilves would like him back in one piece and know they will not be consulted.
Squad7 Sep 2026
Otso Virtanen joins up with his country. Ilves lose him for the window and would like him back in one piece.
From our football correspondent
Upbeat
Match29 Aug 2026
The 86th minute, half the ground already edging towards the exits, and Roope Riski decided nobody was going anywhere. KTP had no time left to answer.
Player ratings31 Aug 2026
Roope Riski, 35, rolls back the years — 8.61
There is an age at which every good afternoon gets described as a throwback, which is unfair and also accurate. 8.61 at 35, and nobody on the pitch was better.
Transfer targets31 Aug 2026
Ilves offered $910.0K; HJK said it was not close. The manager will be told the money is still there for the right player, which is what managers are told.
Match29 Aug 2026
Ilves get the job done against KTP
A 2‑1 win over KTP, earned rather than given, and the sort of afternoon that sends everyone home talking about next week instead of this one.
The terraces31 Aug 2026
There is a particular warmth a ground reserves for a 21-year-old it feels ownership of. Stanislav Baranov has it now, and everything he does for the rest of his time here will be measured against the goodwill he was handed for free.
The dugout31 Aug 2026
The manager makes an example of Anton Popovitch
“If you cannot run for the shirt, somebody else will wear it.” No name was used and none was needed; every player in that room knew who it was for.
Player ratings31 Aug 2026
Successful dribbles: 18. Every time he got the ball somebody had to make a decision, and every time the decision was wrong.
The dugout31 Aug 2026
“That is what I want every week. Not the result, the way they went about it.” The manager, after 2‑1, already talking about the next one.
The dugout31 Aug 2026
It is never announced and it is entirely visible: the biggest afternoons of the season keep containing him. A press box works this out long before anybody at the club confirms a word of it.
From our football correspondent
Steady
Match19 Aug 2026
Ilves bow out of the cup
HJK go through and Ilves go home, 0‑0 the scoreline that did it. The dressing room will call the league the priority now, because that is what dressing rooms say.
Player ratings24 Aug 2026
A defender's goal wins it for Ilves — 7.79
1 for Anton Popovitch, marked 7.79, and a centre-half's name in the part of the report he normally only reaches by mistake. He will not be allowed to forget it in the dressing room for a month.
Transfer targets24 Aug 2026
Inter Turku wanted more than $1.2M and the board would not go there. Walked away, for now, which in a transfer window means until somebody blinks.
Squad24 Aug 2026
A falling-out at Ilves
Sauli Väisänen and a teammate went at it, and not about football. Training grounds are small places and a long season makes them smaller.
Transfer targets24 Aug 2026
Not now, not at any price the club was prepared to say out loud. Talleres have kept their man, and Ilves go back to a list with one name crossed off it.
Match22 Aug 2026
Inter Turku left with the points after a 1‑2 defeat that will take some explaining on the terraces.
Player ratings24 Aug 2026
From twelve yards, and Maksim Stjopin misses
A penalty is the one moment in football with nowhere to hide, and he did not score it. The walk back was long and the week will be longer.
The dugout24 Aug 2026
“The supporters are entitled to be angry. So am I. We will put it right.” 1‑2, a manager saying the necessary things, and a dressing room that heard a different version of them.
Player ratings24 Aug 2026
Successful dribbles: 15. There was always a defender in front of him and there was never a defender in front of him for long.
From our football correspondent
Upbeat
Match15 Aug 2026
Ilves march on in the cup
FF Jaro are out and Ilves go through, 1‑0 the final word. The bracket opens up a little, and everyone allows themselves a look at it.
Player ratings17 Aug 2026
At 35 every good afternoon gets called a throwback, and this one was: 7.90, and nobody on the pitch better.
Boardroom17 Aug 2026
Window shuts: 15 in, 5 out at Ilves
The deadline has passed and the squad is the squad. 15 arrived, 5 left, and everything else printed about this club last month was a rumour that stayed one.
Transfer targets17 Aug 2026
An offer of $840.0K for Jean Botué
Ilves have gone to Inter Turku with a bid, and the supporters have gone to the internet with an opinion about it. Whether either changes anything is up to the selling club.
Transfer targets17 Aug 2026
The offer went to HJK this week and it is theirs to answer. First bids are rarely meant to succeed; they are meant to find out how loud the door closes.
Squad17 Aug 2026
Tempers go at Ilves
Roope Riski was at the centre of it, and by the time it was pulled apart there were three or four others involved. Training grounds are small places and long seasons make them smaller.
Transfer targets17 Aug 2026
Ilves asked and FC Copenhagen said no without discussing a figure. It is the least ambiguous answer in football and the one clubs most often come back to test.
The terraces17 Aug 2026
He is 23 and the ground already sings his name, which is a thing that happens to local boys and almost never to signings. Everything from here is measured against an affection he did nothing to earn except be from here.
Player ratings17 Aug 2026
Successful dribbles: 17. He went past people as if he had been told there was a prize for it, and by the end the full-back had stopped pretending to try.
In brief
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Player ratings
Maksim Stjopin stands above it all
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Squad
5 new faces, and Ilves are still learning each other
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The dugout
The view from the dugout
From our football correspondent
Crisis
Player ratings10 Aug 2026
Successful dribbles: 28. There is a particular sort of despair on a full-back's face by the seventieth minute, and it was on display.
Transfer targets10 Aug 2026
Ilves had done everything except persuade the man himself. He stays at Patronato, and the manager goes back to the drawing board with the money still in the bank.
Squad10 Aug 2026
A falling-out at Ilves
Roope Riski and a teammate went at it, and not about football. Training grounds are small places and a long season makes them smaller.
Transfer targets10 Aug 2026
Not now, not at any price the club was prepared to say out loud. FF Jaro have kept their man, and Ilves go back to a list with one name crossed off it.
Match8 Aug 2026
KuPS take the points off Ilves
Beaten 1‑2, and beaten fairly. The manager kept his words short afterwards, which was probably wise.
Market10 Aug 2026
The academy exists for exactly this morning. Onni Sparv has come through every age group the club runs and has now been handed a senior number, and the people who coached him at twelve will be the proudest in the building.
Market10 Aug 2026
There is no fee, no unveiling and no agent on the steps. Juhani Toivio has been at this club since he was a boy and is now, formally, one of the first-team squad — which for a local readership beats any signing of any size.
Market10 Aug 2026
Clubs spend fortunes looking for players and occasionally find one down the corridor. Petteri Jensen is that, and the reception he gets on his first appearance will be different in kind from the one any signing receives.
Market10 Aug 2026
There is no fee, no unveiling and no agent on the steps. Oliver Ojala has been at this club since he was a boy and is now, formally, one of the first-team squad — which for a local readership beats any signing of any size.
From our football correspondent
Uneasy
Player ratings3 Aug 2026
Successful dribbles: 44. He went past people as if he had been told there was a prize for it, and by the end the full-back had stopped pretending to try.
Squad3 Aug 2026
301 appearances across 12 seasons in one shirt. Careers like that are not built on purpose any more, and Ilves know exactly what they have.
Player ratings3 Aug 2026
Roope Riski, 34, rolls back the years — 8.18
There is an age at which every good afternoon gets described as a throwback, which is unfair and also accurate. 8.18 at 34, and nobody on the pitch was better.
Market3 Aug 2026
The interest is real enough to have reached print. Ilves have said nothing, which in a transfer window is its own kind of answer.
Squad3 Aug 2026
“Some decisions take a long time. This one took ten minutes, and most of that was finding a pen.” Roope Riski and Ilves agree another 2 years.
Squad3 Aug 2026
Words exchanged at Ilves
Roope Riski and a teammate said things this week that will take longer than a week to unsay. It was not about football, and both of them play on Saturday.
Transfer targets3 Aug 2026
Not now, not at any price the club was prepared to say out loud. Quilmes have kept their man, and Ilves go back to a list with one name crossed off it.
Squad3 Aug 2026
200 times in these colours, in all weathers and under four or five different managers. That kind of service is quietly disappearing from the game.
Market3 Aug 2026
24 months to run and not a word offered. A club that lets the calendar negotiate for it usually ends up losing to the calendar.