Elo Kuopio

Kuopion Elo (originally Männistön Elo) is a football club from Kuopio, Finland. In 2023, they compete in Kakkonen, the third tier of Finnish football. Elo is the oldest existing football club from Kuopio.

Kuopion Elo

Full name	Kuopion Elo
Founded	1919
Ground	Väre Areena
Capacity	4,778
Chairman	Jani Pursiainen
Manager	Pekka Niskanen
League	Kakkonen
Home colours Away colours

History

Kuopion Elo was founded as Männistön Elo by local working class youth in 1919. In the past, the club have also played other sports. From early on their home area have been Männistö and Itkonniemi districts north of Kuopio city center. At the beginning they played only against Kuopion Riento. They played their first match in 1919. In 1929 club possessions where ceased by court as a leftist organization and some members founded a new club called Männistön Urheilijat, some joined Kuopion Kisa-Veikot. In 1946, Männistön Urheilijat continued as Männistön Elo. They have played three seasons in Finnish top tier Mestaruussarja. In late 1980s club had financial difficulties and they eventually merged with other financially troubled club Koparit to form FC Kuopio. Elo continued football in 2012 season from sixth tier Vitonen.

Notable players

• Pat Corbett
• Paul Sugrue
• Olavi Rissanen
• Jouko Suomalainen
• Tero Taipale
• Ilja Venäläinen
• Valeri Chupin

Season to season

Season to Season

Season Level Division Section Administration Position Movements 1948 Tier 2 Suomensarja (Second Division) North Group Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 14th Relegated 1949 Tier 3 Suomensarjan karsinnat Cup format Finnish FA & TUL(Suomen Pallolitto & Työväen Urheiluliitto) 2nd round Qualifier for Suomensarja, qualified from TUL leagues 1950 Tier 3 Suomensarjan karsinnat East Group Finnish FA & TUL(Suomen Pallolitto & Työväen Urheiluliitto) 2nd Qualification for Suomensarja, qualified from TUL leagues, Promoted 1951 Tier 2 Suomensarja (Second Division) East Group Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 9th Relegated 1952 Tier 3 Suomensarjan karsinnat East Group Finnish FA & TUL(Suomen Pallolitto & Työväen Urheiluliitto) 8th Qualification for Suomensarja, qualified from TUL leagues 1953 Tier 3 Suomensarjan karsinnat East Group Finnish FA & TUL(Suomen Pallolitto & Työväen Urheiluliitto) 3rd Qualification for Suomensarja, qualified from TUL leagues 1954 Tier 3 Maakuntasarja (Third Division) East Group I Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 3rd 1955 Tier 3 Maakuntasarja (Third Division) East Group I Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 1st Promotion Playoff 1956 Tier 3 Maakuntasarja (Third Division) East Group I Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 2nd 1957 Tier 3 Maakuntasarja (Third Division) East Group II Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 4th 1958 Tier 3 Maakuntasarja (Third Division) Group 7 Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 1st Promoted 1959 Tier 2 Suomensarja (Second Division) North Group Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 8th 1960 Tier 2 Suomensarja (Second Division) East Group Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 10th Relegated 1961 Tier 3 Maakuntasarja (Third Division) Group 7 Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 1st Promoted 1962 Tier 2 Suomensarja (Second Division) North Group Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 10th Relegated 1963 Tier 3 Maakuntasarja (Third Division) Group 7 Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 2nd 1964 Tier 3 Maakuntasarja (Third Division) Group 7 Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 2nd 1965 Tier 3 Maakuntasarja (Third Division) Group 7 Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 1st Promoted 1966 Tier 2 Suomensarja (Second Division) North Group Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 8th 1967 Tier 2 Suomensarja (Second Division) North Group Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 2nd 1968 Tier 2 Suomensarja (Second Division) East Group Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 1st Promotion Group 1st – Promoted 1969 Tier 1 Mestaruussarja (Premier League) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 9th 1970 Tier 1 Mestaruussarja (Premier League) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 12th Relegated 1970 Tier 2 II Divisioona (Second Division) North Group Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 9th 1971 Tier 2 II Divisioona (Second Division) North Group Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 3rd 1972 Tier 2 II Divisioona (Second Division) North Group Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 6th 1973 Tier 3 II Divisioona (Second Division) North Group Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 5th 1974 Tier 3 II Divisioona (Second Division) North Group Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 6th 1975 Tier 3 II Divisioona (Second Division) North Group Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 4th 1976 Tier 3 II Divisioona (Second Division) North Group Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 9th 1977 Tier 3 II Divisioona (Second Division) North Group Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 10th Relegated 1978 Tier 4 III Divisioona (Third Division) Group 7 Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 2nd Promoted 1979 Tier 3 II Divisioona (Second Division) North Group Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 8th 1980 Tier 3 II Divisioona (Second Division) East Group Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 1st Promotion Playoff – Promoted 1981 Tier 2 I Divisioona (First Division) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 3rd Promotion Group 2nd – Promoted 1982 Tier 1 Mestaruussarja (Premier League) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 12th Relegation Group 7th – Relegated 1983 Tier 2 I Divisioona (First Division) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 8th Relegation Group 4th 1984 Tier 2 I Divisioona (First Division) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 2nd Promotion Playoff 1985 Tier 2 I Divisioona (First Division) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 9th 1986 Tier 2 I Divisioona (First Division) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 4th 1987 Tier 2 I Divisioona (First Division) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 4th 1988 Tier 2 I Divisioona (First Division) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 8th 1989 Tier 2 I Divisioona (First Division) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 7th 1990 Tier 2 I Divisioona (First Division) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 5th 1991 Tier 2 I Divisioona (First Division) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) Withdrew 1992–2011 No football team 2012 Tier 6 Vitonen (Fifth Division) Group D Eastern District (SPL Itä-Suomi) 3rd Promotion Group 6th 2013 Tier 6 Vitonen (Fifth Division) Group D Eastern District (SPL Itä-Suomi) 4th Promotion Group 4th 2014 Tier 6 Vitonen (Fifth Division) Group C Eastern District (SPL Itä-Suomi) 2nd Promotion Group 6th 2015 Tier 6 Vitonen (Fifth Division) Group B Eastern District (SPL Itä-Suomi) 1st Promotion Group 1st – Promoted 2016 Tier 5 Nelonen (Fourth Division) Eastern District (SPL Itä-Suomi) 2nd 2017 Tier 5 Nelonen (Fourth Division) Eastern District (SPL Itä-Suomi) 3rd 2018 Tier 5 Nelonen (Fourth Division) Eastern District (SPL Itä-Suomi) 4th 2019 Tier 5 Nelonen (Fourth Division) Eastern District (SPL Itä-Suomi) 2nd 2020 Tier 5 Nelonen (Fourth Division) Eastern District (SPL Itä-Suomi) 5th Promotion Group 5th 2021 Tier 5 Nelonen (Fourth Division) Eastern District (SPL Itä-Suomi) 2nd Promoted 3 seasons in Mestaruussarja 20 seasons in I Divisioona 16 seasons in II Divisioona 1 season in Kolmonen 6 seasons in Nelonen 4 seasons in Vitonen

References and sources

• Official Kuopion Elo Website
• Finnish Wikipedia