FINLAND 2016: American's Playing in Finland, League Changes (Detailed)

Over the past decade, Finland has been a place where young US players have chosen to get a taste of European football, opting out of their home leagues after they leave college. The number of US players has remained fairly constant until recently. The expansions of NASL and USL has provided an alternative route for college players and the numbers traveling to Finland, Sweden and other Scandinavian leagues is down this coming season. US players who have a year or two of experience in Scandinavia are also returning to the US to play.  It should also be noted that equally the numbers of young Fin's, Swede's playing in the lower leagues is up, and the development of young football players will increase because of this.

So lets look at the current crop of US players in Finland (which is the most popular Scandinavian country for young US soccer players) First the leagues;

Veikkausliiga is the premier division of Finnish football, comprising the top 12 clubs of the country.

Ykkonen is the second highest level of the Finnish football league system (after the Veikkausliiga), although it is the highest league managed by the Football Association of Finland.

For the 2016 season the format of the Kakkonen has been changed with the league divided into 3 groups of 12 teams. Each club plays the others in its group twice. The group winners and the best second place team have a chance of winning one of two promotion places to Ykkönen after a four team playoff. The bottom three teams in each group 10, 11 and 12 will be relegated to Kolmonen.

Now, lets see who is playing where (as of today) If you believe I have left anyone out, please let me know.........

Veikkausliiga (Season Starts April 2nd)

• Christian Eissele, is a forward, from Orlando Florida, who play's for Kemi Kings. (Nickname Kemi) After a very successful campaign with Kemi in 2013/14, Christian spent a year with  IK Brage in Sweden, before returning to Kemi last July.
• Tyler Back, is one of the goalkeeper's on the books for Rovaniemi (Nickname RoPs) Tyler joined RoPs from Oregon State early February this year, he has already made 2 appearances in pre-season competition, both of which were shutouts.
• Brian Span is a forward with Mariehamn. Brian, a New Yorker, played college at Virginia, went to Sweden first, then joined FC Dallas. Spent the 2014/15 season on loan to Orlando SC (pre-MLS) before moving to Mariehamn a year ago February.

Ykkönen (Season Starts April 24th)

• Scott Angevine is one of the goalkeepers on the books for Kokkolan Pallo-Veikot (Nickname KPV) Scott, who is from Kansas, has traveled a bit between the US and Finland, joined KPV in January of 2015.
• Mike Banner, a mid-fielder from Washington DC, joined KPV this January. Mike has also spent time moving back and forth between US club's (incl. Chicago) and Finland (FF Jaro)
• Kyle Curinga, a center back from Clearwater Florida, joined FF Jaro from Finland's GBK this February
• Josue Soto, a mid fielder from Ft Worth Texas also joined FF Jaro at the beginning of January this year. Josue had spent time with Chivas USA and Houston, ending up with San Antonio. Finland will be his first 'overseas' club
• Tim Murray from Massachusetts is a goalkeeper who played college at providence before joining the New England Revolution. Like a lot of young players Tim spent time on loan with several US clubs before joining Ekenas SC the junior team of his current club Ekenas IF in January this year.
• Daniel Stevens is a New Yorker, who is one of the senior players (31) playing in Finland. Daniel has been in Finland since 2011, (he has played for Kemi, BK46 & Viikingit) prior to that a few lower level US clubs. Daniel joined Grankulla IFK (Nickname GRIFK) at the beginning of February this year.
  
• Isaac Kannah is a dual national, USA/Liberia forward, who joined Koparit (Nickname KTP) in mid January this year. Prior to that he had been playing for Mikkelin Palloilijat (Nickname MP)

Kakkonen - New Groupings (Season Starts 1st week of May)

GROUP A:

• Craig Hill,  GK,  Kultsu
• Elias McCalip, Forward,  KaPa
• Nathan Stokie,  GK,  PEPO 1
• Jakeem Johnson,  Forward, PEPO 1
• Harrison Hanley, Forward, MP
• Walter Kromholtz,  Center Back, MP

GROUP B:

• Kevin Sawchak,  Defender, FC Honka
• Olutolani "Tolani" Ibikunle,  Defender, Ekenas SC
• James (JC) Mack,  Winger,  Ekenas SC

GROUP C:

• Kyle Knotek, Mid Fielder,  Kraft Narpes
• Lawrence Smith, Defender, GBK
• Chris Corcoran,  Center Back,  GBK
• Cameron Roget, Forward, VIFK

With a number of months still to go till opening day I expect that there will be additions and changes going on, which I will track here. 

Please note that the Kolmonen League has 104 teams in 9 Groups, way to much to add in this article. 

NEXT UP - SWEDEN