Full name | Turun Palloseura |
---|---|
Nickname(s) | Tepsi |
Founded | 1922 |
Ground | Paavo Nurmi Stadium |
Capacity | 13,000 |
Chairman | Niklas Österlund |
Manager | Mika Laurikainen |
League | Ykkönen |
2015 | 3rd |
Turun Palloseura, TPS for short and nicknamed Tepsi is a Finnish football club based in Turku. The club was founded in 1922. TPS currently play in the Ykkönen, the second level of Finnish Football, after relegation from Veikkausliiga, the highest level of Finnish football after the 2014 season. They play their home games at the Paavo Nurmi Stadium.
FC TPS Turku has won the Finnish Championship 8 times since 1922. The latest was in 1975, but even though it’s been a while, TPS has done well in recent years too, placing 3rd in 1996, 2007, 2009 and 2010. TPS won the Finnish Cup in 1991, 1994 and 2010 and played in the Finnish Cup final in 1996, 1997 and 2005. FC TPS Turku is also known for its excellent junior work. Several TPS players have made it to the international fields, for example Peter Enckelman who plays for St. Johnstone and Jonatan Johansson who quit his career after 2010 season. Other famous TPS players are defender Niklas Moisander (UC Sampdoria) and striker Jani Virtanen, formerly Udinese, currently JJK.
In the early stages of the UEFA Cup of the season 1987–1988, TPS beat Internazionale at the San Siro stadium in Milan, thanks to a goal by Mika Aaltonen, who was later signed by Inter. They lost the return leg with 0–2, but this is widely regarded as the highest point by the club in international football.
After season 2000 TPS lost its place in Finland's Premier League and played for two seasons in the Ykkönen (eng first) in the Finnish first division. They aimed to get back up to the Premier League with determination and it took them two seasons to complete the mission. Since season 2003 TPS has again played in the Finland’s Premier League, Veikkausliiga. TPS managed to get in the final of the Finnish Cup in 2005, but lost to Haka 4–1 in Finnair Stadium