{{Short description|Finnish football club}} {{Use dmy dates|date=December 2017}} {{Infobox football club | clubname = Gnistan | image = IF Gnistan logo.svg | upright = 0.9 | nickname = Kipinä | founded = {{start date and age|1924}} | ground = Oulunkylä Football Stadium,<br />Oulunkylä, Helsinki,<br />Finland | capacity = 2,700 | chairman = Risto Murto | mgrtitle = Head Coach | manager = Jussi Leppälahti<ref>[https://gnistan.fi/2023/11/jussi-leppalahti-gnistanin-paavalmentajaksi/ JUSSI LEPPÄLAHTI GNISTANIN PÄÄVALMENTAJAKSI] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231111001936/https://gnistan.fi/2023/11/jussi-leppalahti-gnistanin-paavalmentajaksi/ |date=11 November 2023 }}, gnistan.fi, 10 November 2023</ref> | league = Veikkausliiga | season = 2025 | position = Veikkausliiga, 6th of 12 | pattern_la1 = _pumagoal23yrb | pattern_b1 = _pumagoal24yrb | pattern_ra1 = _pumagoal23yrb | pattern_sh1 = | pattern_so1 = | leftarm1 = FFDD00 | body1 = FFDD00 | rightarm1 = FFDD00 | shorts1 = 0044FF | socks1 = FFDD00 | pattern_la2 = _gnistan25a | pattern_b2 = _gnistan25a | pattern_ra2 = _gnistan25a | pattern_sh2 = | pattern_so2 = | leftarm2 = FFFFFF | body2 = FFFFFF | rightarm2 = FFFFFF | shorts2 = FFFFFF | socks2 = FFFFFF | pattern_la3 = _pumaglory22b | pattern_b3 = _gnistan25t | pattern_ra3 = _pumaglory22b | pattern_sh3 = | pattern_so3 = | leftarm3 = 000000 | body3 = 000000 | rightarm3 = 000000 | shorts3 = 000000 | socks3 = 000000 }}
'''IF Gnistan''' (''Kipinä'' in Finnish; ''The Spark'' in English), commonly known as '''Gnistan''', is a Finnish professional football club from the city of Helsinki, founded in 1924. The club is currently playing in the Veikkausliiga, the first tier of the Finnish league system. IF Gnistan play their home matches at Oulunkylä Football Stadium. The club's home district is Oulunkylä,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gnistan.net/seura/historiaa/|title=Historiaa – IF Gnistan|website=gnistan.net|access-date=13 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170817160528/https://www.gnistan.net/seura/historiaa/|archive-date=17 August 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> which is located in the northern part of the capital city.
==History== The club is originally Swedish-speaking, but nowadays it is supported by Finnish-speaking majority also. The club was founded by a few Svenska Reallyceum and Åggelby Svenska Samskola students from Oulunkylä in 1924. IF Gnistan was a multi-sport club and had several competitive departments including ski, athletics, swim and pesäpallo (Finnish baseball). Football department were founded in 1935, when the club joined Finnish Football Association Helsinki district. Later in the 1950s Gnistan had strong teams in orienteering, women's gymnastics, table tennis and cross country running alongside the classical sports.<ref name="gnistan.fi">{{cite web|url=https://www.gnistan.fi/info/historia/|title=Historia|date=15 April 2012|website=gnistan.fi|access-date=13 June 2019|archive-date=31 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190331000200/https://www.gnistan.fi/info/historia/|url-status=live}}</ref>
During the late 1950s, the club decided to dissolve all the other departments except for the football teams. When ski and athletics were eliminated, Gnistan turned to a football club, and named Jacob Söderman as their new chairman. They became a significant team in lower leagues of the capital region but never promoted to the top tier. After season 1994, they achieved their place to Ykkönen for the first time. They stayed in the second tier four years and then relegated back to Kakkonen in 1998. They have been in Ykkönen level on four occasions.<ref name="gnistan.fi"/>
Gnistan has played seven seasons in the Ykkönen (First Division), the second tier of Finnish football in 1995–98, 2001–02 and from the season 2017. The club has played fourteen seasons in the Kakkonen (Second Division), the third tier of Finnish football in 1990, 1994, 1999–2000 and 2003–2016.<ref>{{cite news |title=Finland – Divisional Movements 1930–2009 |year=2010 |website=RSSSF |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesf/finall.html |access-date=5 June 2010 |archive-date=18 February 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100218125405/http://www.rsssf.com/tablesf/finall.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
In 2002, the club nearly made it to the semi-finals of the Finnish Cup, by leading FC Lahti 2–0 till the 90th minute. A FC Lahti fan, ran naked to the field, which caused 5 minutes of added time. Lahti scored twice in injury time and in extra time they made the final score 2–3.
After season 2016, the club won their Kakkonen group and achieved a chance to qualify for Ykkönen for the next season. They faced another group winner Musan Salama on two-legged tie, which started away from home in Pori. Both meetings ended 1–0 victories for the home teams, so the promoting team were solved by penalty shoot-out. Gnistan beat their opponents by 4–3 and promoted to the second tier of Finnish football after spending 14 seasons in a row in Kakkonen.
After establishing their place in then second-tier Ykkönen, Gnistan finished 2nd in the 2023 season, and earned a spot to Veikkausliiga promotion play-offs, where they eventually fell short to IFK Mariehamn. However, it was later announced that Gnistan were granted a Veikkausliiga league license via supplemental process, after FC Honka was declared for bankruptcy. 2024 Veikkausliiga season will be the first in the Finnish top-tier level in the club's entire history.<ref>[https://gnistan.fi/2023/12/if-gnistan-pelaa-ensi-kaudella-veikkausliigassa/ IF GNISTAN PELAA ENSI KAUDELLA VEIKKAUSLIIGASSA] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231219201810/https://gnistan.fi/2023/12/if-gnistan-pelaa-ensi-kaudella-veikkausliigassa/ |date=19 December 2023 }}, gnistan.fi, 19 December 2023</ref><ref>[https://yle.fi/a/74-20013000/64-3-199096 Gnistan sai liigalisenssin Veikkausliigaan] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240215134645/https://yle.fi/a/74-20013000/64-3-199096 |date=15 February 2024 }}, Yle, 19 December 2023</ref> After the 2023 season, the CEO Marko Kolsi, who had served for four seasons, left the position and Ilkka Vanala was named the new chief executive officer of Gnistan.
Early in the morning on 13 July 2024, the main stand and the facilities of Gnistan's home stadium Oulunkylä Football Stadium were destroyed in a fire.<ref>[https://www.iltalehti.fi/kotimaa/a/fd44b4a9-e429-4687-9bcd-34aedac3e3b6 Aamunkajo paljasti tuhon – katso lohduttomat kuvat Mustapekka Areenan palosta], Iltalehti, 13 July 2024</ref>
==Season to season== {{cot|Season to Season}} {| class="wikitable" |- style="background:#f0f6fa;" !'''Season''' !'''Level''' !'''Division''' !'''Section''' !'''Administration''' !'''Position''' !'''Movements''' |- |style="background:#FF7F00;"|1948 |style="background:#FF7F00;"|Tier 4 |style="background:#FF7F00;"|'''Piirinsarja''' ''(District League)'' |style="background:#FF7F00;"| |style="background:#FF7F00;"|Helsinki ''(SPL Helsinki)'' |style="background:#FF7F00;"| |style="background:#FF7F00;"|Promotion Playoff - Promoted |- |style="background:#77DD77;"|1949 |style="background:#77DD77;"|Tier 3 |style="background:#77DD77;"|'''Maakuntasarja''' ''(Third Division)'' |style="background:#77DD77;"|South Group B |style="background:#77DD77;"|Finnish FA ''(Suomen Pallolitto)'' |style="background:#77DD77;"|'''5th''' |style="background:#77DD77;"| |- |style="background:#77DD77;"|1950 |style="background:#77DD77;"|Tier 3 |style="background:#77DD77;"|'''Maakuntasarja''' ''(Third Division)'' |style="background:#77DD77;"|South Group A |style="background:#77DD77;"|Finnish FA ''(Suomen Pallolitto)'' |style="background:#77DD77;"|'''2nd''' |style="background:#77DD77;"| |- |style="background:#77DD77;"|1951 |style="background:#77DD77;"|Tier 3 |style="background:#77DD77;"|'''Maakuntasarja''' ''(Third Division)'' |style="background:#77DD77;"|South Group A |style="background:#77DD77;"|Finnish FA ''(Suomen Pallolitto)'' |style="background:#77DD77;"|'''4th''' |style="background:#77DD77;"| |- |style="background:#77DD77;"|1952 |style="background:#77DD77;"|Tier 3 |style="background:#77DD77;"|'''Maakuntasarja''' ''(Third Division)'' |style="background:#77DD77;"|South Group A |style="background:#77DD77;"|Finnish FA ''(Suomen Pallolitto)'' |style="background:#77DD77;"|'''6th''' |style="background:#77DD77;"| |- |style="background:#77DD77;"|1953 |style="background:#77DD77;"|Tier 3 |style="background:#77DD77;"|'''Maakuntasarja''' ''(Third Division)'' |style="background:#77DD77;"|South Group A |style="background:#77DD77;"|Finnish FA ''(Suomen Pallolitto)'' |style="background:#77DD77;"|'''5th''' |style="background:#77DD77;"| |- |style="background:#77DD77;"|1954 |style="background:#77DD77;"|Tier 3 |style="background:#77DD77;"|'''Maakuntasarja''' ''(Third Division)'' |style="background:#77DD77;"|West Group IV |style="background:#77DD77;"|Finnish FA ''(Suomen Pallolitto)'' |style="background:#77DD77;"|'''3rd''' |style="background:#77DD77;"| |- |style="background:#77DD77;"|1955 |style="background:#77DD77;"|Tier 3 |style="background:#77DD77;"|'''Maakuntasarja''' ''(Third Division)'' |style="background:#77DD77;"|South Group II |style="background:#77DD77;"|Finnish FA ''(Suomen Pallolitto)'' |style="background:#77DD77;"|'''2nd''' |style="background:#77DD77;"| |- |style="background:#77DD77;"|1956 |style="background:#77DD77;"|Tier 3 |style="background:#77DD77;"|'''Maakuntasarja''' ''(Third Division)'' |style="background:#77DD77;"|South Group I |style="background:#77DD77;"|Finnish FA ''(Suomen Pallolitto)'' |style="background:#77DD77;"|'''3rd''' |style="background:#77DD77;"| |- |style="background:#77DD77;"|1957 |style="background:#77DD77;"|Tier 3 |style="background:#77DD77;"|'''Maakuntasarja''' ''(Third Division)'' |style="background:#77DD77;"|South Group I |style="background:#77DD77;"|Finnish FA ''(Suomen Pallolitto)'' |style="background:#77DD77;"|'''6th''' |style="background:#77DD77;"| |- |style="background:#77DD77;"|1958 |style="background:#77DD77;"|Tier 3 |style="background:#77DD77;"|'''Maakuntasarja''' ''(Third Division)'' |style="background:#77DD77;"|Group 1 |style="background:#77DD77;"|Finnish FA ''(Suomen Pallolitto)'' |style="background:#77DD77;"|'''3rd''' |style="background:#77DD77;"| |- |style="background:#77DD77;"|1959 |style="background:#77DD77;"|Tier 3 |style="background:#77DD77;"|'''Maakuntasarja''' ''(Third Division)'' |style="background:#77DD77;"|Group 1 |style="background:#77DD77;"|Finnish FA ''(Suomen Pallolitto)'' |style="background:#77DD77;"|'''3rd''' |style="background:#77DD77;"| |- |style="background:#77DD77;"|1960 |style="background:#77DD77;"|Tier 3 |style="background:#77DD77;"|'''Maakuntasarja''' ''(Third Division)'' |style="background:#77DD77;"|Group 1 |style="background:#77DD77;"|Finnish FA ''(Suomen Pallolitto)'' |style="background:#77DD77;"|'''4th''' |style="background:#77DD77;"| |- |style="background:#77DD77;"|1961 |style="background:#77DD77;"|Tier 3 |style="background:#77DD77;"|'''Maakuntasarja''' ''(Third Division)'' |style="background:#77DD77;"|Group 1 |style="background:#77DD77;"|Finnish FA ''(Suomen Pallolitto)'' |style="background:#77DD77;"|'''5th''' |style="background:#77DD77;"| |- |style="background:#77DD77;"|1962 |style="background:#77DD77;"|Tier 3 |style="background:#77DD77;"|'''Maakuntasarja''' ''(Third Division)'' |style="background:#77DD77;"|Group 1 |style="background:#77DD77;"|Finnish FA ''(Suomen Pallolitto)'' |style="background:#77DD77;"|'''6th''' |style="background:#77DD77;"| |- |style="background:#77DD77;"|1963 |style="background:#77DD77;"|Tier 3 |style="background:#77DD77;"|'''Maakuntasarja''' ''(Third Division)'' |style="background:#77DD77;"|Group 1 |style="background:#77DD77;"|Finnish FA ''(Suomen Pallolitto)'' |style="background:#77DD77;"|'''3rd''' |style="background:#77DD77;"| |- |style="background:#77DD77;"|1964 |style="background:#77DD77;"|Tier 3 |style="background:#77DD77;"|'''Maakuntasarja''' ''(Third Division)'' |style="background:#77DD77;"|Group 1 |style="background:#77DD77;"|Finnish FA ''(Suomen Pallolitto)'' |style="background:#77DD77;"|'''5th''' |style="background:#77DD77;"| |- |style="background:#77DD77;"|1965 |style="background:#77DD77;"|Tier 3 |style="background:#77DD77;"|'''Maakuntasarja''' ''(Third Division)'' |style="background:#77DD77;"|Group 1 |style="background:#77DD77;"|Finnish FA ''(Suomen Pallolitto)'' |style="background:#77DD77;"|'''2nd''' |style="background:#77DD77;"| |- |style="background:#77DD77;"|1966 |style="background:#77DD77;"|Tier 3 |style="background:#77DD77;"|'''Maakuntasarja''' ''(Third Division)'' |style="background:#77DD77;"|Group 1 |style="background:#77DD77;"|Finnish FA ''(Suomen Pallolitto)'' |style="background:#77DD77;"|'''7th''' |style="background:#77DD77;"| |- |style="background:#77DD77;"|1967 |style="background:#77DD77;"|Tier 3 |style="background:#77DD77;"|'''Maakuntasarja''' ''(Third Division)'' |style="background:#77DD77;"|Group 1 |style="background:#77DD77;"|Finnish FA ''(Suomen Pallolitto)'' |style="background:#77DD77;"|'''3rd''' |style="background:#77DD77;"| |- |style="background:#77DD77;"|1968 |style="background:#77DD77;"|Tier 3 |style="background:#77DD77;"|'''Maakuntasarja''' ''(Third Division)'' |style="background:#77DD77;"|Group 1 |style="background:#77DD77;"|Finnish FA ''(Suomen Pallolitto)'' |style="background:#77DD77;"|'''5th''' |style="background:#77DD77;"| |- |style="background:#77DD77;"|1969 |style="background:#77DD77;"|Tier 3 |style="background:#77DD77;"|'''Maakuntasarja''' ''(Third Division)'' |style="background:#77DD77;"|Group 1 |style="background:#77DD77;"|Finnish FA ''(Suomen Pallolitto)'' |style="background:#77DD77;"|'''8th''' |style="background:#77DD77;"| |- |style="background:#77DD77;"|1970 |style="background:#77DD77;"|Tier 3 |style="background:#77DD77;"|'''III Divisioona''' ''(Third Division)'' |style="background:#77DD77;"|Group 1 |style="background:#77DD77;"|Finnish FA ''(Suomen Pallolitto)'' |style="background:#77DD77;"|'''6th''' |style="background:#77DD77;"| |- |style="background:#77DD77;"|1971 |style="background:#77DD77;"|Tier 3 |style="background:#77DD77;"|'''III Divisioona''' ''(Third Division)'' |style="background:#77DD77;"|Group 1 |style="background:#77DD77;"|Finnish FA ''(Suomen Pallolitto)'' |style="background:#77DD77;"|'''10th''' |style="background:#77DD77;"| |- |style="background:#77DD77;"|1972 |style="background:#77DD77;"|Tier 3 |style="background:#77DD77;"|'''III Divisioona''' ''(Third Division)'' |style="background:#77DD77;"|Group 5 |style="background:#77DD77;"|Finnish FA ''(Suomen Pallolitto)'' |style="background:#77DD77;"|'''5th''' |style="background:#77DD77;"| |- |style="background:#FF7F00;"|1973 |style="background:#FF7F00;"|Tier 4 |style="background:#FF7F00;"|'''III Divisioona''' ''(Third Division)'' |style="background:#FF7F00;"|Group 1 |style="background:#FF7F00;"|Helsinki ''(SPL Helsinki)'' |style="background:#FF7F00;"|'''9th''' |style="background:#FF7F00;"|Relegation Playoff - Relegated |- |style="background:#CECE1B;"|1974 |style="background:#CECE1B;"|Tier 5 |style="background:#CECE1B;"|'''IV Divisioona''' ''(Fourth Division)'' |style="background:#CECE1B;"|Group 3 |style="background:#CECE1B;"|Helsinki District ''(SPL Helsinki)'' |style="background:#CECE1B;"|'''2nd''' |style="background:#CECE1B;"| |- |style="background:#CECE1B;"|1975 |style="background:#CECE1B;"|Tier 5 |style="background:#CECE1B;"|'''IV Divisioona''' ''(Fourth Division)'' |style="background:#CECE1B;"|Group 2 |style="background:#CECE1B;"|Helsinki District ''(SPL Helsinki)'' |style="background:#CECE1B;"|'''4th''' |style="background:#CECE1B;"| |- |style="background:#CECE1B;"|1976 |style="background:#CECE1B;"|Tier 5 |style="background:#CECE1B;"|'''IV Divisioona''' ''(Fourth Division)'' |style="background:#CECE1B;"|Group 3 |style="background:#CECE1B;"|Helsinki District ''(SPL Helsinki)'' |style="background:#CECE1B;"|'''3rd''' |style="background:#CECE1B;"| |- |style="background:#CECE1B;"|1977 |style="background:#CECE1B;"|Tier 5 |style="background:#CECE1B;"|'''IV Divisioona''' ''(Fourth Division)'' |style="background:#CECE1B;"|Group 2 |style="background:#CECE1B;"|Helsinki District ''(SPL Helsinki)'' |style="background:#CECE1B;"|'''1st''' |style="background:#CECE1B;"|Promoted |- |style="background:#FF7F00;"|1978 |style="background:#FF7F00;"|Tier 4 |style="background:#FF7F00;"|'''III Divisioona''' ''(Third Division)'' |style="background:#FF7F00;"|Group 2 |style="background:#FF7F00;"|Helsinki ''(SPL Helsinki)'' |style="background:#FF7F00;"|'''7th''' |style="background:#FF7F00;"| |- |style="background:#FF7F00;"|1979 |style="background:#FF7F00;"|Tier 4 |style="background:#FF7F00;"|'''III Divisioona''' ''(Third Division)'' |style="background:#FF7F00;"|Group 1 |style="background:#FF7F00;"|Helsinki ''(SPL Helsinki)'' |style="background:#FF7F00;"|'''10th''' |style="background:#FF7F00;"| |- |style="background:#FF7F00;"|1980 |style="background:#FF7F00;"|Tier 4 |style="background:#FF7F00;"|'''III Divisioona''' ''(Third Division)'' |style="background:#FF7F00;"|Group 2 |style="background:#FF7F00;"|Helsinki ''(SPL Helsinki)'' |style="background:#FF7F00;"|'''12th''' |style="background:#FF7F00;"|Relegated |- |style="background:#CECE1B;"|1981 |style="background:#CECE1B;"|Tier 5 |style="background:#CECE1B;"|'''IV Divisioona''' ''(Fourth Division)'' |style="background:#CECE1B;"|Group 2 |style="background:#CECE1B;"|Helsinki District ''(SPL Helsinki)'' |style="background:#CECE1B;"|'''6th''' |style="background:#CECE1B;"| |- |style="background:#CECE1B;"|1982 |style="background:#CECE1B;"|Tier 5 |style="background:#CECE1B;"|'''IV Divisioona''' ''(Fourth Division)'' |style="background:#CECE1B;"|Group 1 |style="background:#CECE1B;"|Helsinki District ''(SPL Helsinki)'' |style="background:#CECE1B;"|'''6th''' |style="background:#CECE1B;"| |- |style="background:#CECE1B;"|1983 |style="background:#CECE1B;"|Tier 5 |style="background:#CECE1B;"|'''IV Divisioona''' ''(Fourth Division)'' |style="background:#CECE1B;"|Group 3 |style="background:#CECE1B;"|Helsinki District ''(SPL Helsinki)'' |style="background:#CECE1B;"|'''11th''' |style="background:#CECE1B;"|Relegated |- |style="background:#FBA0E3;"|1984 |style="background:#FBA0E3;"|Tier 6 |style="background:#FBA0E3;"|'''V Divisioona''' ''(Fifth Division)'' |style="background:#FBA0E3;"|Group 2 |style="background:#FBA0E3;"|Helsinki District ''(SPL Helsinki)'' |style="background:#FBA0E3;"| |style="background:#FBA0E3;"| |- |style="background:#FBA0E3;"|1985 |style="background:#FBA0E3;"|Tier 6 |style="background:#FBA0E3;"|'''V Divisioona''' ''(Fifth Division)'' |style="background:#FBA0E3;"| |style="background:#FBA0E3;"|Helsinki District ''(SPL Helsinki)'' |style="background:#FBA0E3;"| |style="background:#FBA0E3;"|Promoted |- |style="background:#CECE1B;"|1986 |style="background:#CECE1B;"|Tier 5 |style="background:#CECE1B;"|'''IV Divisioona''' ''(Fourth Division)'' |style="background:#CECE1B;"|Group 2 |style="background:#CECE1B;"|Helsinki District ''(SPL Helsinki)'' |style="background:#CECE1B;"|'''3rd''' |style="background:#CECE1B;"| |- |style="background:#CECE1B;"|1987 |style="background:#CECE1B;"|Tier 5 |style="background:#CECE1B;"|'''IV Divisioona''' ''(Fourth Division)'' |style="background:#CECE1B;"| |style="background:#CECE1B;"|Helsinki District ''(SPL Helsinki)'' |style="background:#CECE1B;"| |style="background:#CECE1B;"|Promoted |- |style="background:#FF7F00;"|1988 |style="background:#FF7F00;"|Tier 4 |style="background:#FF7F00;"|'''III Divisioona''' ''(Third Division)'' |style="background:#FF7F00;"|Group 1 |style="background:#FF7F00;"|Helsinki ''(SPL Helsinki)'' |style="background:#FF7F00;"|'''3rd''' |style="background:#FF7F00;"| |- |style="background:#FF7F00;"|1989 |style="background:#FF7F00;"|Tier 4 |style="background:#FF7F00;"|'''III Divisioona''' ''(Third Division)'' |style="background:#FF7F00;"|Group 2 |style="background:#FF7F00;"|Helsinki ''(SPL Helsinki)'' |style="background:#FF7F00;"|'''1st''' |style="background:#FF7F00;"|Promoted |- |style="background:#77DD77;"|1990 |style="background:#77DD77;"|Tier 3 |style="background:#77DD77;"|'''II Divisioona''' ''(Second Division)'' |style="background:#77DD77;"|East Group |style="background:#77DD77;"|Finnish FA ''(Suomen Pallolitto)'' |style="background:#77DD77;"| '''10th''' |style="background:#77DD77;"|Relegated |- |style="background:#FF7F00;"|1991 |style="background:#FF7F00;"|Tier 4 |style="background:#FF7F00;"|'''III Divisioona''' ''(Third Division)'' |style="background:#FF7F00;"|Group 1 |style="background:#FF7F00;"|Helsinki ''(SPL Helsinki)'' |style="background:#FF7F00;"|'''5th''' |style="background:#FF7F00;"| |- |style="background:#FF7F00;"|1992 |style="background:#FF7F00;"|Tier 4 |style="background:#FF7F00;"|'''III Divisioona''' ''(Third Division)'' |style="background:#FF7F00;"|Group 2 |style="background:#FF7F00;"|Helsinki ''(SPL Helsinki)'' |style="background:#FF7F00;"|'''2nd''' |style="background:#FF7F00;"| |- |style="background:#FF7F00;"|1993 |style="background:#FF7F00;"|Tier 4 |style="background:#FF7F00;"|'''Kolmonen''' ''(Third Division)'' |style="background:#FF7F00;"|Group 1 |style="background:#FF7F00;"|Helsinki ''(SPL Helsinki)'' |style="background:#FF7F00;"|'''1st''' |style="background:#FF7F00;"|Promoted |- |style="background:#77DD77;"|1994 |style="background:#77DD77;"|Tier 3 |style="background:#77DD77;"|'''Kakkonen''' ''(Second Division)'' |style="background:#77DD77;"|South Group |style="background:#77DD77;"|Finnish FA ''(Suomen Pallolitto)'' |style="background:#77DD77;"| '''2nd''' |style="background:#77DD77;"|Promoted |- |style="background:#87CEFA;"|1995 |style="background:#87CEFA;"|Tier 2 |style="background:#87CEFA;"|''' Ykkönen''' ''(First Division)'' |style="background:#87CEFA;"| |style="background:#87CEFA;"|Finnish FA ''(Suomen Pallolitto)'' |style="background:#87CEFA;"|'''9th''' |style="background:#87CEFA;"| |- |style="background:#87CEFA;"|1996 |style="background:#87CEFA;"|Tier 2 |style="background:#87CEFA;"|''' Ykkönen''' ''(First Division)'' |style="background:#87CEFA;"|South Group |style="background:#87CEFA;"|Finnish FA ''(Suomen Pallolitto)'' |style="background:#87CEFA;"|'''6th''' |style="background:#87CEFA;"| |- |style="background:#87CEFA;"|1997 |style="background:#87CEFA;"|Tier 2 |style="background:#87CEFA;"|''' Ykkönen''' ''(First Division)'' |style="background:#87CEFA;"|South Group |style="background:#87CEFA;"|Finnish FA ''(Suomen Pallolitto)'' |style="background:#87CEFA;"|'''7th''' |style="background:#87CEFA;"|Relegation Group (South) – '''3rd''' – Relegation Play-offs |- |style="background:#87CEFA;"|1998 |style="background:#87CEFA;"|Tier 2 |style="background:#87CEFA;"|''' Ykkönen''' ''(First Division)'' |style="background:#87CEFA;"|South Group |style="background:#87CEFA;"|Finnish FA ''(Suomen Pallolitto)'' |style="background:#87CEFA;"|'''9th''' |style="background:#87CEFA;"|Relegation Group (South) – '''4th''' – Relegated |- |style="background:#77DD77;"|1999 |style="background:#77DD77;"|Tier 3 |style="background:#77DD77;"|'''Kakkonen''' ''(Second Division)'' |style="background:#77DD77;"|West Group |style="background:#77DD77;"|Finnish FA ''(Suomen Pallolitto)'' |style="background:#77DD77;"| '''7th''' |style="background:#77DD77;"| |- |style="background:#77DD77;"|2000 |style="background:#77DD77;"|Tier 3 |style="background:#77DD77;"|'''Kakkonen''' ''(Second Division)'' |style="background:#77DD77;"|South Group |style="background:#77DD77;"|Finnish FA ''(Suomen Pallolitto)'' |style="background:#77DD77;"| '''1st''' |style="background:#77DD77;"|Promoted |- |style="background:#87CEFA;"|2001 |style="background:#87CEFA;"|Tier 2 |style="background:#87CEFA;"|''' Ykkönen''' ''(First Division)'' |style="background:#87CEFA;"|South Group |style="background:#87CEFA;"| Finnish FA ''(Suomen Pallolitto)'' |style="background:#87CEFA;"|'''8th''' |style="background:#87CEFA;"| Relegation Play-offs |- |style="background:#87CEFA;"|2002 |style="background:#87CEFA;"|Tier 2 |style="background:#87CEFA;"|''' Ykkönen''' ''(First Division)'' |style="background:#87CEFA;"|South Group |style="background:#87CEFA;"| Finnish FA ''(Suomen Pallolitto)'' |style="background:#87CEFA;"| '''9th''' |style="background:#87CEFA;"| Relegation Group (South) – '''7th''' – Relegated |- |style="background:#77DD77;"|2003 |style="background:#77DD77;"|Tier 3 |style="background:#77DD77;"|'''Kakkonen''' ''(Second Division)'' |style="background:#77DD77;"|South Group |style="background:#77DD77;"|Finnish FA ''(Suomen Pallolitto)'' |style="background:#77DD77;"| '''7th''' |style="background:#77DD77;"| |- |style="background:#77DD77;"|2004 |style="background:#77DD77;"|Tier 3 |style="background:#77DD77;"|'''Kakkonen''' ''(Second Division)'' |style="background:#77DD77;"|South Group |style="background:#77DD77;"|Finnish FA ''(Suomen Pallolitto)'' |style="background:#77DD77;"| '''5th''' |style="background:#77DD77;"| |- |style="background:#77DD77;"|2005 |style="background:#77DD77;"|Tier 3 |style="background:#77DD77;"|'''Kakkonen''' ''(Second Division)'' |style="background:#77DD77;"|South Group |style="background:#77DD77;"|Finnish FA ''(Suomen Pallolitto)'' |style="background:#77DD77;"| '''2nd''' |style="background:#77DD77;"| |- |style="background:#77DD77;"|2006 |style="background:#77DD77;"|Tier 3 |style="background:#77DD77;"|'''Kakkonen''' ''(Second Division)'' |style="background:#77DD77;"|Group A |style="background:#77DD77;"|Finnish FA ''(Suomen Pallolitto)'' |style="background:#77DD77;"| '''4th''' |style="background:#77DD77;"| |- |style="background:#77DD77;"|2007 |style="background:#77DD77;"|Tier 3 |style="background:#77DD77;"|'''Kakkonen''' ''(Second Division)'' |style="background:#77DD77;"|Group A |style="background:#77DD77;"|Finnish FA ''(Suomen Pallolitto)'' |style="background:#77DD77;"| '''7th''' |style="background:#77DD77;"| |- |style="background:#77DD77;"|2008 |style="background:#77DD77;"|Tier 3 |style="background:#77DD77;"|'''Kakkonen''' ''(Second Division)'' |style="background:#77DD77;"|Group A |style="background:#77DD77;"|Finnish FA ''(Suomen Pallolitto)'' |style="background:#77DD77;"| '''4th''' |style="background:#77DD77;"| |- |style="background:#77DD77;"|2009 |style="background:#77DD77;"|Tier 3 |style="background:#77DD77;"|'''Kakkonen''' ''(Second Division)'' |style="background:#77DD77;"|Group A |style="background:#77DD77;"|Finnish FA ''(Suomen Pallolitto)'' |style="background:#77DD77;"| '''2nd''' |style="background:#77DD77;"| |- |style="background:#77DD77;"|2010 |style="background:#77DD77;"|Tier 3 |style="background:#77DD77;"|'''Kakkonen''' ''(Second Division)'' |style="background:#77DD77;"|Group A |style="background:#77DD77;"|Finnish FA ''(Suomen Pallolitto)'' |style="background:#77DD77;"| '''3rd''' |style="background:#77DD77;"| |- |style="background:#77DD77;"|2011 |style="background:#77DD77;"|Tier 3 |style="background:#77DD77;"|'''Kakkonen''' ''(Second Division)'' |style="background:#77DD77;"|Group A |style="background:#77DD77;"|Finnish FA ''(Suomen Pallolitto)'' |style="background:#77DD77;"| '''2nd''' |style="background:#77DD77;"| |- |style="background:#77DD77;"|2012 |style="background:#77DD77;"|Tier 3 |style="background:#77DD77;"|'''Kakkonen''' ''(Second Division)'' |style="background:#77DD77;"|East Group |style="background:#77DD77;"|Finnish FA ''(Suomen Pallolitto)'' |style="background:#77DD77;"| '''2nd''' |style="background:#77DD77;"| |- |style="background:#77DD77;"|2013 |style="background:#77DD77;"|Tier 3 |style="background:#77DD77;"|'''Kakkonen''' ''(Second Division)'' |style="background:#77DD77;"|South Group |style="background:#77DD77;"|Finnish FA ''(Suomen Pallolitto)'' |style="background:#77DD77;"| '''2nd''' |style="background:#77DD77;"| |- |style="background:#77DD77;"|2014 |style="background:#77DD77;"|Tier 3 |style="background:#77DD77;"|'''Kakkonen''' ''(Second Division)'' |style="background:#77DD77;"|South Group |style="background:#77DD77;"|Finnish FA ''(Suomen Pallolitto)'' |style="background:#77DD77;"| '''8th''' |style="background:#77DD77;"| |- |style="background:#77DD77;"|2015 |style="background:#77DD77;"|Tier 3 |style="background:#77DD77;"|'''Kakkonen''' ''(Second Division)'' |style="background:#77DD77;"|South Group |style="background:#77DD77;"|Finnish FA ''(Suomen Pallolitto)'' |style="background:#77DD77;"| '''2nd''' |style="background:#77DD77;"| |- |style="background:#77DD77;"|2016 |style="background:#77DD77;"|Tier 3 |style="background:#77DD77;"|'''Kakkonen''' ''(Second Division)'' |style="background:#77DD77;"|Group A |style="background:#77DD77;"|Finnish FA ''(Suomen Pallolitto)'' |style="background:#77DD77;"| '''1st''' |style="background:#77DD77;"|Promoted via Play-offs |- |style="background:#87CEFA;"|2017 |style="background:#87CEFA;"|Tier 2 |style="background:#87CEFA;"|'''Ykkönen''' ''(First Division)'' |style="background:#87CEFA;"| |style="background:#87CEFA;"|Finnish FA ''(Suomen Pallolitto)'' |style="background:#87CEFA;"| '''10th''' |style="background:#87CEFA;"|Relegated |- |style="background:#77DD77;"|2018 |style="background:#77DD77;"|Tier 3 |style="background:#77DD77;"|'''Kakkonen''' ''(Second Division)'' |style="background:#77DD77;"|Group A |style="background:#77DD77;"|Finnish FA ''(Suomen Pallolitto)'' |style="background:#77DD77;"|'''6th''' |style="background:#77DD77;"| |- |style="background:#77DD77;"|2019 |style="background:#77DD77;"|Tier 3 |style="background:#77DD77;"|'''Kakkonen''' ''(Second Division)'' |style="background:#77DD77;"|Group B |style="background:#77DD77;"|Finnish FA ''(Suomen Pallolitto)'' |style="background:#77DD77;"|'''1st''' |style="background:#77DD77;"|Promoted |- |style="background:#87CEFA;"|2020 |style="background:#87CEFA;"|Tier 2 |style="background:#87CEFA;"|'''Ykkönen''' ''(First Division)'' |style="background:#87CEFA;"| |style="background:#87CEFA;"|Finnish FA ''(Suomen Pallolitto)'' |style="background:#87CEFA;"| '''9th''' |style="background:#87CEFA;"| |- |style="background:#87CEFA;"|2021 |style="background:#87CEFA;"|Tier 2 |style="background:#87CEFA;"|'''Ykkönen''' ''(First Division)'' |style="background:#87CEFA;"| |style="background:#87CEFA;"|Finnish FA ''(Suomen Pallolitto)'' |style="background:#87CEFA;"| '''6th''' |style="background:#87CEFA;"| |- |style="background:#87CEFA;"|2022 |style="background:#87CEFA;"|Tier 2 |style="background:#87CEFA;"|'''Ykkönen''' ''(First Division)'' |style="background:#87CEFA;"| |style="background:#87CEFA;"|Finnish FA ''(Suomen Pallolitto)'' |style="background:#87CEFA;"| '''7th''' |style="background:#87CEFA;"| |- |style="background:#87CEFA;"|2023 |style="background:#87CEFA;"|Tier 2 |style="background:#87CEFA;"|'''Ykkönen''' ''(First Division)'' |style="background:#87CEFA;"| |style="background:#87CEFA;"|Finnish FA ''(Suomen Pallolitto)'' |style="background:#87CEFA;"| '''2nd''' |style="background:#87CEFA;"|Promotion play-offs – Promoted via supplemental process |- |style="background:#FFFF00;"|2024 |style="background:#FFFF00;"|Tier 1 |style="background:#FFFF00;"|'''Veikkausliiga''' ''(Premier League)'' |style="background:#FFFF00;"| |style="background:#FFFF00;"|Finnish FA ''(Suomen Pallolitto)'' |style="background:#FFFF00;"| '''8th''' |style="background:#FFFF00;"| |} *'''1''' season in ''Veikkausliiga'' *'''11''' seasons in ''Ykkönen'' *'''44''' seasons in ''Kakkonen'' *'''10''' seasons in ''Kolmonen'' *'''9''' seasons in ''Nelonen'' *'''2''' seasons in ''Vitonen'' <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.finlandfootball.net/ |title=Home |website=finlandfootball.net |access-date=6 August 2020 |archive-date=2 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220702093913/http://www.finlandfootball.net/ |url-status=live }}</ref> <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesf/fin2hist.html|title=Finland - List of League Second Level Tables|work=RSSSF|access-date=3 August 2018|archive-date=24 September 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220924214238/https://www.rsssf.org/tablesf/fin2hist.html|url-status=live}}</ref> {{cob}}
==Club structure== Gnistan run a number of teams including 4 men's teams, 3 veteran's teams, 2 ladies teams, 11 boys team and 6 girls teams. The club also runs a Football School for youngsters.
==2025 season== '''IF Gnistan''' are competing in Veikkausliiga, highest level of the Finnish football league system.
'''Gnistan/Ogeli''' are participating in Group B of the Kolmonen (Third Division) administered by the Helsinki SPL. This is the current fifth tier in Finland.
'''Gnistan/3''' are participating in the Southern Group of the Vitonen (Fifth Division) administered by the Helsinki SPL. This is the current seventh tier in Finland
Gnistan's women's top representative team competes in the third-tier Naisten Kakkonen.
Gnistan's women's reserve team Gnistan/2 is competing in Naisten Nelonen, which is the fifth-tier in Finnish women's football.
==Current squad== {{updated|29 March, 2026}} <ref>{{cite web|title=IF Gnistan squad|url=https://tulospalvelu.palloliitto.fi/team/60534/players|publisher=Football Association of Finland|access-date=31 March 2023|language=fi|archive-date=31 March 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230331195158/https://tulospalvelu.palloliitto.fi/team/60534/players|url-status=live}}</ref>
{{fs start}} {{Fs player|no= 1|nat= BEL |pos=GK|name=Álex Craninx}} {{Fs player|no= 2|nat= FIN |pos=DF|name=Benjamin Dahlström}} {{Fs player|no= 4|nat= BRA |pos=DF|name=Marcelo Costa}} {{Fs player|no= 5|nat= FIN |pos=DF|name=Lucas von Hellens}} {{Fs player|no= 7|nat= FIN |pos=FW|name=Artur Atarah}} {{Fs player|no=10|nat= FIN |pos=FW|name=Joakim Latonen}} {{Fs player|no=11|nat= VEN |pos=FW|name=Danny Pérez}} {{Fs player|no=12|nat= GHA |pos=MF|name=Edmund Arko-Mensah}} {{Fs player|no=13|nat= FIN |pos=GK|name=Oskar Lyberopoulos}} {{Fs player|no=14|nat= FIN |pos=MF|name=Sergei Eremenko}} {{Fs player|no=15|nat= FIN |pos=MF|name=Gabriel Europaeus}} {{Fs player|no=17|nat= NGR |pos=FW|name=Adeleke Akinyemi}} {{Fs player|no=19|nat= FIN |pos=MF|name=Vertti Hänninen}} {{Fs player|no=20|nat= NOR |pos=DF|name=Max Bjurström|other=on loan from Helsingborgs}} {{fs mid}} {{Fs player|no=21|nat= FIN |pos=MF|name=Elmeri Lappalainen}} {{Fs player|no=23|nat= FIN |pos=FW|name=Saku Ylätupa}} {{Fs player|no=24|nat= BFA |pos=DF|name=Rachide Gnanou}} {{Fs player|no=25|nat= BRA |pos=GK|name=Ramilson Almeida}} {{Fs player|no=26|nat= FIN |pos=MF|name=Roman Eremenko}} {{Fs player|no=27|nat= FIN |pos=MF|name=Otto Hannula}} {{Fs player|no=31|nat= FIN |pos=MF|name=Adam Jouhi}} {{Fs player|no=33|nat= FIN |pos=DF|name=Samuel Heikari}} {{Fs player|no=34|nat= FIN |pos=DF|name=Miguel Yinkfu Chuye}} {{Fs player|no=40|nat= FIN |pos=DF|name=Juhani Ojala}} {{Fs player|no=44|nat= RUS |pos=MF|name=Yevgeni Bashkirov}} {{Fs player|no=45|nat= FIN |pos=FW|name=Kosmo Launiala}} {{Fs player|no=50|nat= FIN |pos=MF|name=Jeff Selenge}} {{Fs player|no=67|nat= ENG |pos=DF|name=Ayo Obileye}} {{fs end}}
===Out on loan=== {{Fs start}} {{Fs player|no=|nat= FIN |pos=MF|name=Elmer Vauhkonen|other=at TPS until 31 December 2025}} {{Fs end}}
==Management and boardroom== ===Management=== ''As of 15 February 2024''<ref>[https://gnistan.fi/2024/01/gnistanin-miesten-edustusjoukkueen-valmennustiimi-kaudelle-2024/ GNISTANIN MIESTEN EDUSTUSJOUKKUEEN VALMENNUSTIIMI KAUDELLE 2024] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240124201652/https://gnistan.fi/2024/01/gnistanin-miesten-edustusjoukkueen-valmennustiimi-kaudelle-2024/ |date=24 January 2024 }}, gnistan.fi, 24 January 2024</ref> {| |- |valign="top"| {| class="wikitable" |- !Name !Role |- |{{Flag icon|FIN}} Jussi Leppälahti |Head Coach |- |{{Flag icon|FIN}} Mikke Salonen |Assistant Coach |- |{{Flag icon|FIN}} Marko Frantsi |Goalkeeping Coach |- |{{Flag icon|FIN}} Patrick Cousins |Team Manager |- |{{Flag icon|FIN}} Ari Ahonen |Kit Manager |- |{{Flag icon|FIN}} Joni Välilä |Physiotherapist |} |}
===Boardroom=== ''As of 28 August 2024''<ref>[https://gnistan.fi/hallitus/ Hallitus] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230607052320/https://gnistan.fi/hallitus/ |date=7 June 2023 }}, gnistan.fi</ref> {| |- |valign="top"| {| class="wikitable" |- !Name !Role |- |{{Flag icon|FIN}} Risto Murto |Chairman |- |{{Flag icon|FIN}} Patrik Ekström |Vice Chairman |- |{{Flag icon|FIN}} Ilkka Vanala |CEO |- |{{Flag icon|FIN}} Jarkko Jokiranta |Sporting Director |- |} |}
==References== {{Reflist}}
==Sources== *[https://web.archive.org/web/20100612062643/http://suomencup.net/index.php?title=IF_Gnistan Suomen Cup]
==External links== * {{official website|http://www.gnistan.fi/}} * {{facebook|10150115988090716}}
{{Gnistan squad}} {{Veikkausliiga}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gnistan}} Category:Football clubs in Helsinki Category:1924 establishments in Finland Category:Association football clubs established in 1924 Category:Football clubs in Finland