IFK Mariehamn is a Finnish professional football club based in Mariehamn, the capital of the Åland Islands. It plays in the Finnish Premier Division (Veikkausliiga), winning their first title in 2016. The club plays its home matches at Wiklöf Holding Arena.
History While IFK Mariehamn was formed in 1919, the sports club did not have a football department until the mid-1930s. Initially, the team participated primarily in local tournaments on Åland, only sporadically playing other Finnish or Swedish teams. The team has participated in the Finnish football leagues since 1945.
Until the 1970s, IFK Mariehamn played primarily in the Finnish football divisions 3 and 4. The club reached a peak in 1975 and 1976, when the club first advanced to division 2 and then reached division 1 (Ykkönen) the following year. After two seasons in division 1, IFK Mariehamn was relegated to division 2, where it would remain up until the 2000s, except for a few seasons in division 3 during the early 1990s.
In 2003, IFK Mariehamn returned to division 1. After only one season in division 1, the club advanced, for the first time in its history to the premier division of Finnish football, the Veikkausliiga, for the 2005 season following qualifying the October 2004 games against FC Jazz. In its first season in the Veikkausliiga, IFK Mariehamn finished 12th out of 14 teams. In 2006, the club finished in 5th place and the year after 6th after an impressive run of unbeaten matches during the autumn of 2007.
In addition to playing in the Veikkausliiga, IFK Mariehamn participates in local Åland tournaments, having won the Åland cup 40 times and the Åland football championships 42 times. In recent years, the club has been the most dominant football team on Åland, having in 2008 won its 11th and 15th straight titles in these two events, respectively.
In 2009, IFK Mariehamn started its first season as a fully professional football club. In 2015, the team won the Finnish Cup for the first time.
On 23 October 2016, IFK Mariehamn defeated FC Ilves 2–1 to secure the first ever Veikkausliiga Championship for the island club. In the 2017–18 season, IFK played its first-ever two-match UEFA Champions League qualification, where it was knocked out by Poland's champion Legia Warsaw.
The title in 2016 was seen as something "impossible" and well beyond what the club ever could have dreamt of, as their economic resources were well below the bigger clubs on the mainland, and the fact that Åland has 30,000 inhabitants as well as the fact that the squad uses the ferries to travel to away games.
Stadium IFK Mariehamn plays its home matches at the Wiklöf Holding Arena.
Domestic history 1945–1971: Kolmonen and Nelonen (two seasons) 1972: Kakkonen 1973–1975: Kolmonen 1976: Kakkonen 1977–1978: Ykkönen 1979–1990: Kakkonen 1991–1992: Kolmonen 1993–2003: Kakkonen 2004: Ykkönen 2005–present: Veikkausliiga (Premier League)
SeasonLevelDivisionSectionAdministrationPositionMovements1945Tier 1Cup-CompetitionCup formatFinnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)Round of 321945-46Tier 3Maakuntasarja (Third Division)South-West Finland GroupFinnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)4th1946-47Tier 3Maakuntasarja (Third Division)South-West Finland GroupFinnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)3rd1947-48Tier 3Maakuntasarja (Third Division)South-West Finland GroupFinnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)3rd1948Tier 4Piirinsarja (District League)Åland IslandsPromotion Playoff1949Tier 4Piirinsarja (District League)Åland IslandsPromotion Playoff - Promoted1950Tier 3Maakuntasarja (Third Division)South Group BFinnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)5th1951Tier 3Maakuntasarja (Third Division)West Group AFinnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)6thRelegated1952Tier 4Piirinsarja (District League)Åland IslandsPromotion Playoff - Promoted1953Tier 3Maakuntasarja (Third Division)West Group AFinnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)5th1954Tier 3Maakuntasarja (Third Division)West Group IIFinnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)9thRelegated1955-1958District leagues1959Tier 3Maakuntasarja (Third Division)Group 3 Turku & Åland IslandsFinnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)7th1958Tier 4Aluesarja (Fourth Division)Group 6 Turku & Åland IslandsFinnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)1stPromoted1959Tier 3Maakuntasarja (Third Division)Group 3 Turku & Åland IslandsFinnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)7th1960Tier 3Maakuntasarja (Third Division)Group 3 Turku & Åland IslandsFinnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)3rd1961Tier 3Maakuntasarja (Third Division)Group 2 Turku & Åland IslandsFinnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)4th1962Tier 3Maakuntasarja (Third Division)Group 1 Turku & Åland IslandsFinnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)3rd1963Tier 3Maakuntasarja (Third Division)Group 2 Turku & Åland IslandsFinnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)4th1964Tier 3Maakuntasarja (Third Division)Group 3 Turku & Åland IslandsFinnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)8thRelegated1965Tier 4Aluesarja (Fourth Division)Group 5 Åland IslandsFinnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)1stPromoted1966Tier 3Maakuntasarja (Third Division)Group 4 Turku & Åland IslandsFinnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)4th1967Tier 3Maakuntasarja (Third Division)Group 3 Turku & Åland IslandsFinnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)2nd1968Tier 3Maakuntasarja (Third Division)Group 3 Turku & Åland IslandsFinnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)5th1969Tier 3Maakuntasarja (Third Division)Group 3 Satakunta, Turku & Åland IslandsFinnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)5th1970Tier 3III Divisioona (Third Division)Group 3 Satakunta, Turku & Åland IslandsFinnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)3rd1971Tier 3III Divisioona (Third Division)Group 2 Turku & Åland IslandsFinnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)1stPromoted1972Tier 2II Divisioona (Second Division)West GroupFinnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)12thDue to new league system relegated 2 levels1973Tier 4III Divisioona (Third Division)Group 3Turku & Åland Islands District (SPL Turku)3rd1974Tier 4III Divisioona (Third Division)Group 3Turku & Åland Islands District (SPL Turku)2nd1975Tier 4III Divisioona (Third Division)Group 3Turku & Åland Islands District (SPL Turku)1stPromoted1976Tier 3II Divisioona (Second Division)West GroupFinnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)1stPromoted1977Tier 2I Divisioona (First Division)Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)8th1978Tier 2I Divisioona (First Division)Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)10thRelegated1979Tier 3II Divisioona (Second Division)West GroupFinnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)3rd1980Tier 3II Divisioona (Second Division)West GroupFinnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)5th1981Tier 3II Divisioona (Second Division)West GroupFinnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)7th1982Tier 3II Divisioona (Second Division)West GroupFinnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)8th1983Tier 3II Divisioona (Second Division)West GroupFinnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)12thRelegated1984Tier 4III Divisioona (Third Division)Group 3Turku & Åland Islands District (SPL Turku)1stPromotion Playoff - Promoted1985Tier 3II Divisioona (Second Division)West GroupFinnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)4th1986Tier 3II Divisioona (Second Division)West GroupFinnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)11thRelegated1987Tier 4III Divisioona (Third Division)Group 3Turku & Åland Islands District (SPL Turku)2nd1988Tier 4III Divisioona (Third Division)Group 3Turku & Åland Islands District (SPL Turku)1stPromotion rematch - Promoted1989Tier 3II Divisioona (Second Division)West GroupFinnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)4th1990Tier 3II Divisioona (Second Division)West GroupFinnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)10thRelegated1991Tier 4III Divisioona (Third Division)Group 3Turku & Åland Islands District (SPL Turku)2nd1992Tier 4III Divisioona (Third Division)Group 3Turku & Åland Islands District (SPL Turku)1stPromoted1993Tier 3Kakkonen (Second Division)West GroupFinnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)4th1994Tier 3Kakkonen (Second Division)West GroupFinnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)4th1995Tier 3Kakkonen (Second Division)South GroupFinnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)9th1996Tier 3Kakkonen (Second Division)South GroupFinnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)7th1997Tier 3Kakkonen (Second Division)South GroupFinnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)5th1998Tier 3Kakkonen (Second Division)South GroupFinnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)8th1999Tier 3Kakkonen (Second Division)West GroupFinnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)2nd2000Tier 3Kakkonen (Second Division)West GroupFinnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)6th2001Tier 3Kakkonen (Second Division)South GroupFinnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)4th2002Tier 3Kakkonen (Second Division)South GroupFinnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)5th2003Tier 3Kakkonen (Second Division)South GroupFinnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)2ndPlay-offs – Promoted2004Tier 2 Ykkönen (First Division)Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)2ndPlay-offs – Promoted2005Tier 1 Veikkausliiga (Premier League)Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)12th2006Tier 1 Veikkausliiga (Premier League)Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)5th2007Tier 1 Veikkausliiga (Premier League)Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)6th2008Tier 1 Veikkausliiga (Premier League)Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)12th2009Tier 1 Veikkausliiga (Premier League)Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)4th2010Tier 1 Veikkausliiga (Premier League)Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)12th2011Tier 1 Veikkausliiga (Premier League)Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)7th2012Tier 1 Veikkausliiga (Premier League)Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)4th2013Tier 1 Veikkausliiga (Premier League)Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)4th2014Tier 1 Veikkausliiga (Premier League)Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)5th2015Tier 1 Veikkausliiga (Premier League)Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)6th2016Tier 1 Veikkausliiga (Premier League)Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)1stChampions2017Tier 1 Veikkausliiga (Premier League)Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)5th2018Tier 1 Veikkausliiga (Premier League)Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)10th2019Tier 1 Veikkausliiga (Premier League)Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)6th2020Tier 1 Veikkausliiga (Premier League)Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)9th2021Tier 1 Veikkausliiga (Premier League)Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)10th2022Tier 1 Veikkausliiga (Premier League)Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)10th2023Tier 1 Veikkausliiga (Premier League)Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)11thRelegation play-offs2024Tier 1 Veikkausliiga (Premier League)Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)10th
20 seasons in Veikkausliiga 4 season in Ykkönen 41 seasons in Kakkonen 13 seasons in Kolmonen
European history Season Competition Round Club Home Away Aggregate 2013–14 UEFA Europa League 1QR Inter Baku 0–2 1–1 1–3 2016–17 UEFA Europa League 1QR Odds BK 1–1 0–2 1–3 2017–18 UEFA Champions League 2QR Legia Warsaw 0–3 0–6 0–9
Notes 1QR: First qualifying round 2QR: Second qualifying round
Current squad Truppen
On loan
IFK Mariehamn II |IFK Mariehamn II plays in Kolmonen for the 2026 season
Former players All following players who have represented IFK Mariehamn have been capped at least once by their respective national team's first squad.
Ivan Yagan Charlie Trafford Mason Trafford Lembit Rajala Andreas Vaikla Paulus Arajuuri Sebastian Dahlström Peter Enckelman Daniel Enqvist Anders Eriksson | Michael Fonsell Petteri Forsell Albin Granlund Mikael Granskog Kristian Kojola Niilo Kujasalo Johannes Laaksonen Pekka Lagerblom Toni Lehtinen Jani Lyyski Niilo Mäenpää Juho Mäkelä Mikko Paatelainen Akseli Pelvas Robin Sid Daniel Sjölund Sebastian Strandvall Mikko Sumusalo Kalle Taimi Walter Viitala Oscar Wiklöf Saku Ylätupa Mohammed Abubakari Yussif Chibsah Baba Mensah Alanzo Adlam Dever Orgill Anthony Dafaa Amos Ekhalie Willis Ochieng Kris Bright Mamane Amadou Sabo John Owoeri Amin Nazari Abdulfattah Asiri Emile Paul Tendeng Samuel Barlay Clive Hachilensa Yann Fillion
Fans' Player of the Year
2005: David Carlsson 2006: Antti Kuismala 2007: Mika Niskala 2008: Mattias Wiklöf 2009: Paulus Arajuuri 2010: Tamas Gruborovics 2011: Kristian Kojola 2012: Simon Nurme 2013: Otso Virtanen 2014: Luis Solignac 2015: Diego Assis 2016: Dever Orgill 2017: Robin Sid 2018: Gabriel Petrovic 2019: Rick Ketting 2020: Oskari Forsman 2021: Oskari Forsman (2) 2022: Robin Sid (2) 2023: Robin Sid (3) 2024: Adam Larsson 2025: Niilo Kujasalo