FC Haka has won the Vaasa Palloseura in the finals of the Veikkausliiga Eurofinal tournament.
The people of Valkeakoski defeated VPS in the two-part final with a combined goal of 4–2. VPS won the second part played in Valkeakoski 2–1 on Sunday.
With their victory, Haka secured a place in the last division of the Veikkausliiga for the qualifying games of next summer’s European Cup tournaments. Therefore, next season, among the Veikkausliiga teams, HJK will qualify for the Champions League, KuPS, Honka and Haka will qualify for the Conference League.
Valkeakoski’s pride last played on the Euro courts in the summer of 2008. The fifteen-year long wait ended on Tehtaa’s field.
The club’s legendary goalkeeper, former head coach and current CEO Olli Huttunen got in the mood from the long journey.
– Yes, this is a big day. Especially when we think about these backgrounds, where we have been in recent years. When we were in the 1st, many predicted that Haka would never get back to the Veikkausliiga. We have gotten back up and have been here for many years, now we are already knocking on medals and playing on Euro courts, Huttunen described to Urheilu after the match ended.
Haka moved back to the Veikkausliiga at the end of the 2019 season. During its three main league seasons, the club has risen back towards its old success at a steady pace. When the support of the paper mill that supported the club decreased, the journey of the nine-time Finnish champion also became more difficult.
– We have overcome the financial difficulties and have “got our heads above water”. We are now building a good future year by year, Huttunen said.
Erwin’s future in the club is still open
A lot of Haka was concentrated in this successful season Lee to Erwin. The Scotsman scored a total of 22 goals for Haka in all competitions during the season and won the Veikkausliiga goal crown.
– Personally, this was of course an excellent season for me, but we went to Europe together as a team. That was the most important thing for me this season. This was an excellent season, it only became extra sweet when I won the goal kingship, Erwin told Urheilu about his wonderful season.
The biggest question and the most interesting thing for everyone at Valkeakoski after the season is whether the Scottish goalkeeper will remain in Haka’s ranks next season. It has been said that Erwin is particularly interesting in England, for example among Championship teams. Haka already received offers for Erwin in the middle of the season, but nothing interesting for both parties came forward.
The fans appealed to the Scottish hero in the final match of the season with a sheet asking Erwin to stay in Valkeakoski.
The Veikkausliiga goal king himself was still tight-lipped about it.
– I haven’t made any decision yet, I’m sure we’ll talk about it next week.
What do you consider the chances, is it a 50/50 situation between leaving and staying?
– I don’t know, I really don’t know!
When are you going to make your decision?
– I can’t even say yet. Today we’re going to celebrate and then we’ll see after that.
Haka’s head coach Teemu Tainio confirmed to Urheilu that the club has made their star an offer for next season.
– It would be really great if he stayed here. A guy bangs twenty goals, then we know there are takers. It’s his decision though. We have made him an offer and made it clear that we want to keep him, but time will tell what happens, Tainio said.
Tainio considered waiting for the final of the Euro final to be challenging
Tainio said that Haka achieved more than his minimum goals in the season.
– We crossed it. We were aiming for a place in the top six. Fourth place was a very great achievement for us. But this “new” system was challenging in a certain way, when we had to wait a week and a half to see who would play and then two games would decide the European place, Tainio stated.
With his comment, Tainio referred to the Veikkausliiga’s Eurofinal tournament model, where the fourth-placed team received an automatic place in the finals. Places 5–8 played each other for the second place in the final. The purpose was to get more meaningful matches to the end of the season.
– I don’t mean that I don’t like the new system. I only mean that it was challenging for us, Tainio elaborated.
However, the end was good for Haka.
Valkeakoski’s evening also ended the career of one Veikkausliiga legend. Haka celebrated a place in Europe as the second goalkeeper Mika Hilander got a sweet decision to his 272-game major league career. The man who won one Finnish championship and two cup championships was Maireana.
– It feels really good to leave the greens, isn’t it the right time? Above all, what I remember most about my career are the great teammates and the great guardians, the goalkeeper who saved 83 clean sheets in the Veikkausliiga stated with a wide smile.
– Life may not continue with football at all after this, or at least a little. I’m involved through children’s soccer, otherwise hardly at least in the next few years. If a real offer comes along, I can always consider it, but I want to take a look. There is no hurry.
Story edited on 30.10. 18:50: Corrected Mika Hilander’s number of championships. Hilander has won one SM gold and two cup championships, not the other way around.
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