Ilves (football club)

Team Creation

On April 10, 1931, the first meeting was held to create a football team in Tampere. Among the possible names of the teams were proposed: Guys with the ball, Hawks and Ilves (Lynx). At the final vote on May 27, the team chose the name Ilves. The team's uniform shirt was green with black vertical stripes, and the shorts were black. The following year, Ilves already played in official matches.

But Ilves’s first time in football was short-lived. In 1938, football was removed from the team’s sports, and the Ilves hockey club remained in the city.

Second Coming

The second coming began in 1942.

In 1946, Ilves played his first international football match against Danish Copenhagen. The match ended with the defeat of Ilves with a score of 0: 3.

In the 1950s, Ilves played in the division of the Tampere region, and also participated in the Finnish championship in the 1960s and 1970s. In 1954, Ilves took 3rd place and rose to the division higher, but this did not bring a big football boom in the city.

1980s - Golden Time

The 1980s were a golden time for Ilves. In 1983, Ilves became the champion of Finland for the first time in history. In 1984, Ilves took 3rd place and was close to a new championship in the next season. A record was also set for Ilves attendance, a match with Italian Juventus in the Champions League was attended by 24,000 people. In 1985, Ilves took 2nd place in the championship and lost to the HIKu Cup finals, although he won the first match 1-0.

1990s - financial difficulties

In 1990, Ilves won the Finland Cup, having won in the final against HIK 2: 1.

In 1998, as a result of financial difficulties, Ilves ceased to exist. A new Tampere United team was created in the city, which had nothing to do with Ilves.

Ilves was originally planned to merge with another team from Tampere TPV , but the latter refused to merge.

In 2000, Ilves entered into a cooperation agreement with the Dax Park Rangers. Since 2001, the club was called Dax Park Rangers and played in the club colors of ducks. In 2004, the team name was again changed to Ilves, and the team switched to playing futsal.

2007 - Rebirth Team

In 2007, Ilves actually returned to professional football. The team took 2nd place in the league Kolmonen (third division) and went to Kakkonen. In 2008, Ilves takes 5th place, in 2009 3rd.

In 2010, Ilves took 1st place in his group in Kakkonen, but this was not enough to move to the higher division. One trip to Jukkönen was contested by 3 winners of their groups: HIFK, Ilves and Santa Claus. As a result, Ilves lost to HIFK 1: 2 and Santa Claus 3: 5, and HIFK went to Yukkenen.

In 2011, Ilves celebrated his 80th birthday, and in honor of this event in July he played a match with the English Leighton Orient . The match took place at Tammela Stadium and ended with the victory of “Leighton Orient” 2: 3. After that, Ilves announced a new strategy for 2011-2016. The goal was to go to Jukkönen no later than 2013, and to Veikkausligu already in 2015.

In 2011, Ilves took the 2nd place and again stopped one step away from reaching Jukkönen, losing to the SIK in the playoff semifinal (1: 2, 0: 2).

In 2012, Ilves took 1st place, and in the playoffs he beat AIFK (1: 0, 4: 1) and went to Jukkönen .

In 2014, Ilves took 3rd place in Jukkönen, but this was not enough to rise higher, but 2 teams ( MyuPa and Honka ) did not receive a license for the season and thus Ilves climbed to Veikkausliga .

In 2017, Ilves took 3rd place, thanks to which he received the right to play in the UEFA Europa League in the 2018/19 season .

Wakekausliga

•   Champion (1): 1983
•   Silver medalist (1): 1985
•   Bronze medalist (2): 1984, 2017

Finnish Cup

•   Owner (3): 1979, 1990, 2019
•   Finalist (1): 1977

• Official website (Fin.)