20th century

The club was founded as Helsingin Jalkapalloklubi – Helsingfors Fotbollsklubb in 1907 by Fredrik Wathén. The founding meeting was held at a bowling alley in Kaisaniemi Park in May. The first ever competitive fixture was played against Ekenäs IF in Ekenäs. HJK won 2–4.

Early on, HJK became popular amongst Finnish-speaking students, while Swedish-speaking students preferred to play mainly for Unitas or HIFK. In late 1908, after a heated debate, the language was switched to unilingually Finnish and this resulted in many Swedish-speaking members switching over to HIFK and other clubs, although a few chose to stay.

HJK squad that won the club's first title in 1911.

In 1909, the colours blue and white were chosen to support the fennoman movement and bandy was introduced as the club's second official sport. The club moved from Kaisaniemi Ground to the new Eläintarha Stadium. At the end of the year, Fredrik Wathen was forced to leave his post as the club's chairman due to illness.

In 1910, Lauri Tanner became the longest-running club chairman to date. The same year, the club's first international match was played, against Eriksdals IF from Stockholm in Kaisaniemi. The first championship title was won in 1911. In 1915, the club moved to newly build Töölön Pallokenttä. In 1916, tennis was introduced as the third official sport in HJK, and it was played in the club until the early 1920s. During the Finnish Civil War in 1918, two HJK club members, fighting for the "Whites", were killed.

Bolt Arena, located in the Töölö district of Helsinki.

In 1921, the first bandy championship was won and during the following five seasons, HJK reached five finals, winning three more titles. Bowling was added to the club's repertoire in 1925, but the bowlers formed their own club, Helsingin Keilaajat, the following year. In 1928, ice hockey became an official sport and the first championship was won in 1929. League format was introduced to Finnish football in 1930 but HJK failed to qualify for the first season. In 1931, HJK played their first season in the league, however at the end of the season, they were relegated.

Nabil Bahoui of AIK taking on HJK winger Demba Savage during a friendly match between the two teams in March 2013.

During World War II, HJK lost 22 members serving in the military, of which nine fell in the Winter War, twelve in the Continuation War and one in the Lapland War. In 1943, handball was introduced as the club's sixth official sport. HJK won one silver and two bronze medals in handball during the following three seasons but did not gain further success. Handball was first of HJK's sports where women also competed. The women's team played a total of 22 seasons at the highest level; their highest finish was fourth.

In 1963, HJK played their last ever season in the second level of the football pyramid, winning 20 out of 22 matches and scoring 127 goals. In 1964, the newly promoted club won their tenth championship title and the following season, in 1965–66, they played their first European Cup match, against Manchester United at the Helsinki Olympic Stadium. However, a 2–9 aggregate loss resulted in HJK's elimination from the competition.

In 1966, the club secured their first ever cup title by winning KTP 6–1 in the final in front of 7,000 spectators. Bandy section was disbanded in the late 1960s. The last official sport, figure skating, was added into the club's repertoire in 1966, was abolished in 1972. The ice hockey section was also disbanded in 1972 and the last season in handball was played in 1978. Hereafter, HJK therefore only participated in football following 69 years as a multisport club.

1998–1999: First Champions League appearance

The 1998–99 season saw HJK become the first and, to date, only Finnish club to play in the group stage of the UEFA Champions League after defeating Metz in the second qualifying round. The club also managed a respectable five points in their group, defeating Benfica at home and earning draws at home to 1. FC Kaiserslautern and away to Benfica. They lost to PSV twice and to Kaiserslautern away.

2000–2018: First Europa League appearance

The club's current home stadium, the Bolt Arena, was opened in 2000. The 20th championship title was won in 2002 and in 2008, the club won its tenth Finnish Cup title. The 2009 season was the start of a championship run that resulted in six titles in a row from 2009 to 2014.

In 2014, HJK became the first Finnish club to play in the UEFA Europa League group stage after defeating Rapid Wien in the play-off round. HJK, with wins over Torino and Copenhagen at home, finished third in their group with six points.^[2][3][4]

HJK made several acquisitions during the winter of 2015, including Córdoba forward Mike Havenaar, J-league playmaker Atomu Tanaka and Birmingham City holding midfielder Guy Moussi. With the new signings on their side, HJK began the season on a high by winning the league cup, a feat they had not accomplished since 1998. HJK also played its first local derby against HIFK since April 1972, drawing 1–1. However, HJK could not replicate the league success they had enjoyed for the last six seasons, finishing the 2015 season in third place, behind champions SJK and runners-up RoPS.

During the 2017 campaign the club lost only three games, which resulted in a domestic double.

HJK won the 2018 Veikkausliiga, 16 points clear at the top.

2019–2023: Toni Koskela era

HJK failed to win the 2019 championship, as KuPS won the league. HJK's season was unusually unsuccessful, manager Mika Lehkosuo was replaced by Toni Koskela mid-season, and the club finished in a disappointing 5th place in the league with 37 points. During the season, HJK named Miika Takkula their new sporting director in July.

Koskela's first three full seasons have seen HJK win three titles in a row, including the club's 30th championship in 2020. HJK also won the Finnish cup in 2020. HJK's 2022 title was a remarkable 11th in 15 years.^[5]

The club has also fared well in European competitions under Koskela. During the 2021 season, HJK qualified for the 2021–22 UEFA Europa Conference League group stage, where they finished 3rd in the group with six points. During the 2022 season, HJK qualified for the 2022–23 UEFA Europa League for only the second time in the club's history, by defeating Silkeborg IF 2–1 on aggregate in the play-off round. HJK's group included Italian AS Roma, Spanish Real Betis, and Bulgarian Ludogorets. Despite valiant home performances, HJK performed poorly on the road, losing all three away games with a total goal difference of 0–7. HJK ended the campaign fourth in the group with a single point, from a 1–1 draw to Ludogorets at home.^[6]

HJK started the 2023 Veikkausliiga season relatively poorly, and eventually head coach Koskela was dismissed following a 1–0 victory at home against Larne FC in July.

2023: Korkeakunnas

Koskela was replaced by his last season's assistant coach Toni Korkeakunnas.^[7] Korkeakunnas led HJK to a third consecutive European group stage, advancing to the 2023–24 UEFA Europa Conference League, by defeating Farul Constanta in the play-off round 3–2 on aggregate.^[8] HJK also renewed their league title for the fourth straight season, on goal difference against KuPS.

After the season, the club announced that Toni Korkeakunnas will not receive a contract extension, and that the new manager would be announced soon.^[9] It was also announced earlier in late August 2023, that sporting director Miika Takkula departs from the club.^[10] In September, Vesa Mäki was named as his replacement as a new sporting director.^[11]

2024: Sibila

On 3 November 2023, the club announced that they had appointed Spanish coach Ferran Sibila as the manager of HJK on a two-year deal, starting in January 2024.^[12]

On 21 December 2023, it was reported by Helsingin Sanomat that Sibila lacks the required UEFA Pro -coaching licence, and thus would not be eligible to work as a head coach in Veikkausliiga.^[13] The club's new sporting director Vesa Mäki, who was in charge of recruiting Sibila, said in the media that Sibila is going to start the required UEFA Pro -training in February 2024 in Sweden, or the club could name their assistant coach Ossi Virta as an associate head coach with Sibila.

On 3 January 2024, it was reported in Swedish media that Sibila was not granted a spot in the aforementioned UEFA Pro -training class by Swedish FA.^[14][15][16] On 4 January 2024, HJK announced that the club will comply with the licence requirements set by Veikkausliiga, Finnish FA and UEFA.^[17][18]

Badge

In 1910, HJK arranged competition to find a crest for club, but the club board wasn't happy with the proposals. The crest was finally designed by Osmo Korvenkontio in 1913, it has only gone through minor changes during history.^[19]

Colours

First kit of HJK was plain white shirt, black shorts and black socks with few white horizontal stripes on top. In 1909 HJK introduced its trademark blue and white striped shirt. Blue and white colours were homage to fennoman movement.^[20] Black trunks still remained for decades. Shirt was changed to unicolour blue for season 1973 due to pressure from sponsors. In attempt to professionalize hockey department club had fallen in to financial despair and sponsors demanded more visibility for their logos. Clubs financial situation had improved by 1986 and due fans demands shirt was changed back to striped by the end of the year and has remained so ever since.^[21]

HJK home colours 1907–08	HJK home colours 1909–50s	HJK home colours 1960s–72, 1986–	HJK home colours 1973	HJK home colours 1979	HJK home colours 1985 [22]

^[23][24][25]

Football

• Veikkausliiga:
  • Winners (33): 1911, 1912, 1917, 1918, 1919, 1923, 1925, 1936, 1938, 1964, 1973, 1978, 1981, 1985, 1987, 1988, 1990, 1992, 1997, 2002, 2003, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2017, 2018, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023
  • Runners-up (14): 1921, 1933, 1937, 1939, 1956, 1965, 1966, 1982, 1983, 1999, 2001, 2005, 2006, 2016
• Finnish Cup:
  • Winners (14): 1966, 1981, 1984, 1993, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2008, 2011, 2014, 2016–17, 2020
  • Runners-up (6): 1975, 1985, 1990, 1994, 2010, 2021
• Finnish League Cup:
  • Winners (6): 1994, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2015, 2023
  • Runners-up (3): 1995, 2009, 2012

Women's football

• Finnish Women's Championship:
  • Winners (23): 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1984, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1991. 1992, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2005, 2019
• Finnish Women's Cup:
  • Winners (17): 1981, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2017, 2019

Ice hockey

• Finnish Championship:
  • Winners (3): 1928–29, 1931–32, 1934–35
  • Runners-up (6): 1930–31, 1932–33, 1937–38, 1938–39, 1940–41, 1971–72
• Finnish Cup:
  • Winners (1): 1970

Bandy

• Finnish Championship:
  • Winners (5): 1921, 1923, 1924, 1928, 1937
  • Runners-up (3): 1925, 1927, 1946

Figure skating

• Finnish Champions
  • Pia Wingisaar: 1966, 1967
  • Anuliisa Numminen: 1970
  • Tarja Säde: 1971
  • Tarja Näsi: 1972

Season to season

• 84 seasons in Veikkausliiga / SM-Sarja
• 6 seasons in Ykkönen / Suomisarja

The Helsinki Derby and other local rivalries

HJK's main rivals in Helsinki were widely considered to be Kiffen, HPS and HIFK. In the past these were the four big clubs from Helsinki. The clubs were mainly separated by language, HJK and HPS being Finnish speaking clubs whereas HIFK and KIF were Swedish speaking. These four clubs competed also in bandy, ice hockey and handball. The support for HJK mainly came from around the inner city and after 1940s also from Töölö, in its early years HPS Support came from same areas as HJK. Later in 1940s and 1950s when HJK support shifted more towards Töölö area, HPS gained more support in Vallila and Alppila districts, this was mostly due their youth activities taking part in those particular areas, these boundaries were not strict however and each of the four clubs had support, players and members across the city. HJK were already founding youth teams to new suburbs in 1960s and their reputation as a Töölöan club was short lived.^[28] KIF and HPS were both struggling to survive and were both relegated to lower leagues after 1964 season and rapidly lost their support. KIF made a brief two season stint to first level in 1977–78. While both KIF and HPS are still active as of 2020, they have spend their recent decades playing in lower levels, HPS focusing more on youth football in northern Helsinki.^[29]

HJK squad in 1964.

HJK and HIFK share the biggest rivalry being two of the oldest and most successful clubs. Both were also successful in Bandy which was major winter sport in the first half of the 20th century, KIF and HPS gained lesser success. Also in Ice Hockey clubs faced numerous times and played more seasons in first level than HPS or KIF. A match between these two clubs is called as Stadin derby. Language was the biggest separating factor between the clubs, HIFK was the club of choice for the Swedish speaking population of the city and HJK for the Finnish speaking. In 2015 HIFK was promoted back to the top flight after 40 years of struggling in the lower leagues having played their last season in the top division in 1972. Since HJK ceased their activity in other sports during the 1960s and 1970s the rivalry faded away on a large scale and in recent decades many even supported both clubs at the same time, HJK in football and HIFK in ice hockey. However, due to the rise of the Finnish supporter scene in the 2000s, there is a high tension between the most vocal supporters.

HJK shared a short but fierce rivalry with FC Jokerit around the late 1990s and the early 2000s. Jokerit were well supported due to their popular ice hockey section and the clubs also competed against each other in ice hockey in the late 1960s and the early 1970s.^[30][31][32]

Multiple Helsinki based clubs have played in the league but due to their short term visits and relatively low support base large scale rivalries were never born. Some notable clubs were Ponnistus, FinnPa, Pallo-Pojat and Helsingin Toverit.^{[33][34][35][36][3][2]}

Helsinki-Lahti rivalry

HJK has competed against Lahti based clubs from the 1960s, between 1964 and 1980 HJK and Lahden Reipas had a minor rivalry as both clubs gained good success winning some titles and were also generally well supported. Reipas also won seven cup titles against one of HJK. Reipas was relegated after 1980 season. More notable rivalry was against Kuusysi from the early 1980s to the mid-1990s. Between 1981 and 1992 HJK won six league titles against Kuusysi's five, both clubs also won the cup twice, facing two times in the finals (which were both won by HJK). Both clubs also performed well in the European competitions. In 1996 both the Lahti clubs merged and FC Lahti was born, HJK and FC Lahti matches are more known from outside pitch activities, some crowd disturbances and small fights have occurred^[37] which otherwise are rare in Finnish football. Due to a relatively short distance between the two cities, these matches often draw more notable away support than others.

HJK-Haka rivalry

HJK and Valkeakosken Haka are the two most successful clubs in Finnish football, HJK with 27 league and 12 cup titles and Haka with 9 league and 12 cup titles. The match is also considered as "urban vs. rural" rivalry as HJK is a club from Finland's biggest city Helsinki and Haka is representing the small town of Valkeakoski.

First team squad

As of 4 January 2024^[38]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player 1 GK  FIN Jesse Öst 2 DF  FIN Tuomas Ollila 4 DF  FIN Joona Toivio 6 DF  FIN Aapo Halme 7 FW  FIN Santeri Hostikka 10 MF  FIN Lucas Lingman 13 DF  FIN Patrik Raitanen 17 FW  BFA Hassane Bandé 18 FW  FIN Topi Keskinen 20 FW  FIN David Ezeh 24 MF  GRE Georgios Kanellopoulos

No. Pos. Nation Player 27 DF  FIN Kevin Kouassivi-Benissan 28 DF  FIN Miska Ylitolva 29 FW  FIN Anthony Olusanya 37 FW  JPN Atomu Tanaka 41 FW  FIN Samuel Anini Junior 45 GK  FIN Elmo Henriksson 46 DF  FIN Oliver Pettersson — DF  FIN Aaro Soiniemi — MF  FIN Johannes Yli-Kokko — DF  FIN Noah Pallas

Out on loan

As of 15 December 2023

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player — FW  FIN Kai Meriluoto (at Stal Mielec until 30 June 2024)

No. Pos. Nation Player

Klubi 04

HJK's reserve team currently plays in the Finnish second Division. ^[39]

Coaching Staff

Updated 2 January 2024^[40]

Name	Role
Ferran Sibila	Manager
Ossi Virta	Assistant Manager
Aleksi Lalli	Assistant Manager
Ville Wallén	Goalkeeping Coach
Luis Anula	Fitness Coach

Performance Unit

Also with Women's team and Reserve team. Updated 30 March 2022

Name	Role
Niklas Virtanen	Head of physical therapy and fitness coaching
Álvaro Molinos	Fitness Coach
Toni Taipale	Physiotherapist
Pauliina Pitkänen	Physiotherapist
Tuomas Brinck	Doctor
Klaus Köhler	Doctor
Antti Peltonen	Mental Coach

Boardroom

Updated 11 September 2023^[41][42]

Name	Role
Aki Riihilahti	CEO
Sirja Luomaniemi	Commercial Director
Vesa Mäki	Sports Director

Managers

Captains

UEFA club competition record

Updated 5 October 2023.

UEFA Club Ranking

This is the current UEFA Club Ranking.^[55]

As of 9 September 2022

Rank	Team	Points
108	Torino	12.413
109	Jablonec	12.000
110	Rijeka	11.500
111	Maccabi Haifa	11.000
112	HJK	11.000
113	Vitesse	11.000
114	FCSB	11.000
115	Legia Warsaw	11.000
116	Rosenborg	11.000

Season Competition Round Opposing team Home Away Aggregate 1965–66 European Cup PR Manchester United 2–3 0–6 2–9 1967–68 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup 1R Wisła Kraków 1–4 0–4 1–8 1974–75 European Cup 1R Valletta 4–1 0–1 4–2 2R Åtvidabergs FF 0–3 0–1 0–4 1975–76 UEFA Cup PR Hertha Berlin 1–2 1–4 2–6 1979–80 European Cup 1R Ajax Amsterdam 1–8 1–8 2–16 1982–83 European Cup 1R Omonia 3–0 0–2 3–2 2R Liverpool 1–0 0–5 1–5 1983–84 UEFA Cup 1R Spartak Moscow 0–5 0–2 0–7 1984–85 UEFA Cup PR Dinamo Minsk 0–6 0–4 0–10 1985–86 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup 1R Flamurtari 3–2 2–1 5–3 2R Dynamo Dresden 1–0 2–7 3–7 1986–87 European Cup 1R APOEL 3–2 0–1 3–3 (a) 1988–89 European Cup 1R FC Porto 2–0 0–3 2–3 1989–90 European Cup 1R A.C. Milan 0–1 0–4 0–5 1991–92 European Cup 1R Dynamo Kyiv 0–1 0–3 0–4 1993–94 UEFA Champions League PR Norma Tallinn 1–1 1–0 2–1 1R Anderlecht 0–3 0–3 0–6 1994–95 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup PR B71 Sandur 2–0 5–0 7–0 1R Beşiktaş 1–1 0–2 1–3 1995 UEFA Intertoto Cup Group 5 IFK Norrköping — 1–1 3rd Bohemians 3–2 — OB Odense — 1–2 Bordeaux 1–1 — 1996–97 UEFA Cup PR Pyunik Yerevan 5–2 (aet) 1–3 6–5 QR Chernomorets Odesa 2–2 0–2 2–4 1997–98 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup QR Red Star Belgrade 1–0 0–3 1–3 1998–99 UEFA Champions League 1QR FC Yerevan 2–0 3–0 5–0 2QR FC Metz 1–0 1–1 2–1 Group F PSV Eindhoven 1–3 1–2 4th 1. FC Kaiserslautern 0–0 2–5 Benfica 2–0 2–2 1999–00 UEFA Cup QR Shirak Gyumri 2–0 0–1 2–1 1R Lyon 0–1 1–5 1–6 2000–01 UEFA Cup QR CS Grevenmacher 4–1 0–2 4–3 1R Celtic 2–1 (aet) 0–2 2–3 2001–02 UEFA Cup QR FK Ventspils 2–1 1–0 3–1 1R Parma 0–2 0–1 0–3 2002–03 UEFA Cup QR FC Gomel 0–4 0–1 0–5 2003–04 UEFA Champions League 1QR Glentoran 1–0 0–0 1–0 2QR MTK Budapest 1–0 1–3 2–3 2004–05 UEFA Champions League 1QR Linfield 1–0 1–0 2–0 2QR Maccabi Tel Aviv 0–0 0–1 0–1 2006–07 UEFA Cup 1QR Drogheda United 1–1 1–3 (aet) 2–4 2007–08 UEFA Cup 1QR FC Etzella Ettelbruck 2–0 1–0 3–0 2QR Aalborg BK 2–1 0–3 2–4 2009–10 UEFA Europa League 2QR FK Vėtra 1–3 1–0 2–3 2010–11 UEFA Champions League 2QR FK Ekranas 2–0 (aet) 0–1 2–1 3QR FK Partizan 1–2 0–3 1–5 UEFA Europa League PO Beşiktaş 0–4 0–2 0–6 2011–12 UEFA Champions League 2QR Bangor City 10–0 3–0 13–0 3QR Dinamo Zagreb 1–2 0–1 1–3 UEFA Europa League PO Schalke 04 2–0 1–6 3–6 2012–13 UEFA Champions League 2QR KR Reykjavik 7–0 2–1 9–1 3QR Celtic 0–2 1–2 1–4 UEFA Europa League PO Athletic Bilbao 3–3 0–6 3–9 2013–14 UEFA Champions League 2QR Nõmme Kalju 0–0 1–2 1–2 2014–15 UEFA Champions League 2QR FK Rabotnički 2–1 0–0 2–1 3QR APOEL 2–2 0–2 2–4 UEFA Europa League PO SK Rapid Wien 2–1 3–3 5–4 Group B Copenhagen 2–1 0–2 3rd Club Brugge 0–3 1–2 Torino 2–1 0–2 2015–16 UEFA Champions League 2QR FK Ventspils 1–0 3–1 4–1 3QR Astana 0–0 3–4 3–4 UEFA Europa League PO Krasnodar 0–0 1–5 1–5 2016–17 UEFA Europa League 1QR FK Atlantas 1–1 2–0 3–1 2QR Beroe Stara Zagora 1–0 1–1 2–1 3QR IFK Göteborg 0–2 2–1 2–3 2017–18 UEFA Europa League 1QR Connah's Quay Nomads 3–0 0–1 3–1 2QR Shkëndija 1–1 1–3 2–4 2018–19 UEFA Champions League 1QR Víkingur Gøta 3–1 2–1 5–2 2QR BATE Borisov 1–2 0–0 1–2 UEFA Europa League 3QR Olimpija Ljubljana 1–4 0–3 1–7 2019–20 UEFA Champions League 1QR HB Tórshavn 3–0 2–2 5−2 2QR Red Star Belgrade 2–1 0–2 2−3 UEFA Europa League 3QR Riga FC 2–2 1–1 3−3 (a) 2021–22 UEFA Champions League 1QR Budućnost Podgorica 3–1 4–0 7–1 2QR Malmö FF 2–2 1–2 3−4 UEFA Europa League 3QR Neftçi Baku 3–0 2–2 5–2 PO Fenerbahçe 2–5 0–1 2–6 UEFA Europa Conference League Group A LASK 0–2 0–3 3rd Alashkert 1–0 4–2 Maccabi Tel Aviv 0−5 0−3 2022–23 UEFA Champions League 1QR RFS 1–0 1−2 (a.e.t.) 2–2 (5–4 p) 2QR Viktoria Plzeň 1−2 0−5 1–7 UEFA Europa League 3QR Maribor 1–0 2–0 3–0 PO Silkeborg 1–0 1–1 2–1 Group C AS Roma 1−2 0−3 4th Ludogorets Razgrad 1–1 0−2 Real Betis 0−2 0−3 2023–24 UEFA Champions League 1QR Larne 1–0 2–2 (a.e.t.) 3–2 2QR Molde 1–0 0−2 1−2 UEFA Europa League 3QR Qarabağ 1−2 1−2 2–4 UEFA Europa Conference League PO Farul Constanța 2–0 1−2 3–2 Group G Eintracht Frankfurt 0–1 0–6 4th PAOK 2–3 2–4 Aberdeen 2–2 1–1 2024–25 UEFA Champions League 1QR