Football Season Guide

Vaasan Palloseura

In


Rasmus Leislahti (gk) KTP; Pedro Justiniano (def) Radoniak; Martti Haukioja (def) SJK Seinajoki; Alfie Cicale (def) free agent; Juho Hyvärinen (def) Inter Turku; Antonio Almen (mid) Vaasa – end of loan; Peter Eletu (mid) free agent; Teemu Hytönen (att) Narpes Kraft – end of loan; Gleofilo Vlijter (att) free agent; Mads Borchers (att) Varbergs;

Out


Peter Michael (k) (att) Cluj; Cristian Valencia (r) (def) Llanores; Tyler Reid (r) (def) Sheriff; Jonathan Viscosi (sp) (gk) Valour; Juhani Pikkarainen (sp) (def) Ilves; Baba Mensah (sp) (def) TPS; Sebastian Strandvall (sp) (mid) end of career; Sávio Roberto (sp) (mid) Esteghlal; Steven Morrissey (sp) (att) Vaasla; Harry Sawyer (sp) (att) South Melbourne; Antti Latva-Kivistö (gk) released; Gabriel Sillanpää (def) released; Justus Lehto (mid) Jazz; Arttu Nuutinen (mid) Vaasa;

VPS had a great run in 2023 and eventually they deservedly finished in third place and won the bronze. It was a slow start, 1 win in the first 11 rounds, but then striker Michael caught fire. The Nigerian set a new Veikkausliiga record with his goals in 11 consecutive matches. This saw VPS win all of their 11 matches from the seocnd half of the regular season. The good form continued in the play-offs too and VPS moved above SJK to win the bronze and qualify for Europe. Naturally, after such a season striker Michael was a hot commodity and he is no longer in the squad. Defenders Valencia and Reid are the two other regulars that left, with all other departures not so important. VPS addressed well on the transfer market the holes left in defence and attack. Two new centre-backs and two new full-backs make the back line deeper if anything. Up front obviously somebody will have to be scoring now Michael is gone. Vlijter is a very exciting new signing and the Surinamese striker can prove to be very efficient in this league. Borchers is also a good new arrival in attack. VPS’s coach Nuorela starts his fourth season in charge and he has clear system in his head for the team. Based on the second half of last season VPS could be challenging for top places again this season if they can replace Michael’s 17 league goals with 2-3 of the new forwards scoring the same amount between them.

Target


Have the potential to be a pleasant surprise. Hoping for a top 3 finish. Can achieve it as long as the new strikers show consistency.