Slovenian Filip Valencic, who excelled in the Veikkausliiga during his career, has returned to Finland. He promises that the team from Kuopio will play interestingly on the field.
Riku Porvari,
Jussi Saarinen
Slovenian striker Filip Valencic returns to the main league of Finnish football. The place to play was found in Kuopio’s Palloseura.
– KuPS was the club that really wanted me. When the contract was offered, I didn’t hesitate for a moment, Valencic explains his choice of club.
The previous season in the Belarusian Dinamo Minsk was tough. Playing time was short, and Valencic did not manage to score once.
– When the war in Ukraine started, I tried to get out of Belarus. Many months were difficult, but I managed to be professional and practice. In addition, it was physically tough, because there is a completely different mentality and culture.
According to him, returning to Finland started a “certain healing process”. Now Valencic can fully focus on football, when everyday life around him is in order.
The story continues after the picture.
“I believe we will go really far in Europe”
Valencic says that he is already looking forward to his first match in a KuPS shirt. He will be eligible on July 14 when KuPS face Georgia’s Dila Gori in a Conference League qualifier.
– We were lucky in terms of the Conference League draw. I believe that we will go really far in Europe.
Valencic says the head coach Simo Valakarin having told what he expects from a Slovenian. Valencic believes that Valakar’s plans are to play him as a hidden striker or attacking midfielder between the opponent’s defense and midfield lines.
– The head coach expects me to be able to hold the ball and promote the offensive game. Last passes and Laukominen are my biggest strengths.
If given a choice, Valencic prefers to build the game rather than playing at the forefront of the attack. In his own words, “in the shadows, so to speak”.
The story continues after the picture.
Successes on the Finnish fields
Valencic moved from Slovenia’s main league in 2015 to Italy and through it to England. In both countries, the matches were less than ten, so playing time had to be found elsewhere.
In 2017, the road took Finland to the main league in the lineup of PS Kemi, which was promoted in the previous season.
The Slovenian’s first season in Finland was exceptional – 15 goals and 12 assists (you switch to another service). In the past seven years, no one in the main league has reached similar figures. At that time, IFK Mariehamn Aleksei Kangaskolkka however, took the goal kingship with 16 goals.
– Everything has to fall into place so that the player can score a lot of goals. That’s what Finnish football is for me, things just work. I can’t complain, Valencic says with a laugh.
In Finland, Valencic has also played for Turku FC Inter, where in 2019 he won the goal kingship with 16 hits. After that, he played in the Helsinki Football Club before going to the Belarusian Dinamo Minsk.
– Regarding my own expectations, I can say that I really want to win the double championship (league and cup wins).
What can be expected when Valencic plays in a KuPS shirt for the first time?
– Then there is a really aggressive and dangerous team on the field that scores a lot of goals and plays interesting football.
See Valencic’s experiences playing in Belarus below. The story continues after the video.
The career will continue in football
Valencic is still getting to know his new club, his teammates and the way of playing. Familiar players from HJK make it easier to adapt Sebastian Dahlström and Tim Vayrynen.
– We know how each of us plays, and what each other’s strengths are. This is a big plus for me and the team.
KuPS now has four players who played in HJK in the next few years; In addition to Dahlström, Väyrynen and Valencic Henri Toivomäki. Joining the people of Kuopio also brings its own spice to the Slovenian’s playing.
– When I played for HJK and Inter, KuPS was always a challenging opponent. Now, when I’m on the other side, it feels the same – hard struggles I know.
KuPS leads the Veikkausliiga with 29 points. HJK is three points behind in second place. The top fight will take place in Helsinki on Saturday, July 2.
– In that match, we want to show why we are at the top of the league, Valencic says.
The 30-year-old striker believes that his playing career will continue for a few more years. However, he has already had time to think a little about his future career plans.
– I am no longer the youngest footballer, even though I am a young man. Football has always been a part of my life, and I don’t feel that I would like to do anything else. As a coach, player-agent or in the background – I think I will continue my career in some such role.
Valencic says that he followed the games of the Finnish men’s national team in the European football championships. Watch the video below.