Ekenäs Idrottsförening (abbreviated EIF or Ekenäs IF) is a sports club from Ekenäs, Raseborg in Finland. EIF was formed in 1905 and they are one of the oldest clubs in the south-west of Finland. The men's football first team currently plays in the Ykkösliiga, after the relegation from the Veikkausliiga in 2024. Their home ground is at the Ekenäs Sparbank Arena, formerly known as "Ekenäs Centrumplan" in Ekenäs. The Chairman of EIF is Peter Haglund.
The club currently has sections covering football, handball, floorball and disc golf. EIF's athletics section set up Karis IK and from 1 January 2009, simultaneously with a municipal merger, transferred its activities to the new IF Raseborg club. Ekenäs is one of the few towns in Swedish-speaking area to have had a team in the top division.
History Ekenäs Idrottsförening has a long football history which reached its pinnacle with one season in the highest division, the Mestaruussarja (Championship), back in 1933. They have also had 8 seasons in the Suomisarjaa (Finland League) which at that time was the second tier of Finnish football in 1938–39 and 1946/47–51.
EIF have had five periods covering 26 seasons in the Kakkonen (Second Division), the third tier of Finnish football from 1975 to 1976, 1981–88, 1991–92, 1994–98 and 2002 to the current day.
EIF has a thriving junior section with a large number of teams.
A new highest ever attendance for an EIF match was made in 2013 when 2,014 people attended the home game with FC Jazz. The old record was from 1975 when 1,625 people attended the home game with HAIK.
EIF made history in March 2018 by qualifying for the Semi-final of the Finnish Cup for the first time, beating FC Haka 2–1 at home.
Season to season
SeasonLevelDivisionSectionAdministrationPositionMovements1930Tier 2B-Sarja (Second Division) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) Quarterfinal Cup-format1931 1932Tier 2B-Sarja (Second Division) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 2ndPromoted1933Tier 1 A-Sarja (Division One) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 8th Relegated1934 1935 1936 1937 1938Tier 2Itä-Länsi-sarja (Second Division)West League, Southern Group Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 6th1939Tier 2Itä-Länsi-sarja (Second Division)West League, Group 2 Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 5th1940-41Tier 3C-Sarja (Third Division)Group 1 Helsinki & TurkuFinnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 3rd1941-45Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) Wartime series unknown1945-46Tier 3Maakuntasarja (Third Division)West Uusimaa GroupFinnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 1stPromotion Playoff - Promoted1946-47Tier 2Suomensarja (Second Division)South Group Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 6th1947-48Tier 2Suomensarja (Second Division)South Group Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 5th1948Tier 2Suomensarja (Second Division)South Group Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 4th1949Tier 2Suomensarja (Second Division)West Group Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 7th1950Tier 2Suomensarja (Second Division)West Group Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 8th1951Tier 2Suomensarja (Second Division)West Group Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 9thRelegated1952Tier 3Maakuntasarja (Third Division)West Group AFinnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 5th1953Tier 3Maakuntasarja (Third Division)West Group AFinnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 1stPromotion Group West 8th1954Tier 3Maakuntasarja (Third Division)West Group IIIFinnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 4th1955Tier 3Maakuntasarja (Third Division)South Group IFinnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 5th1956Tier 3Maakuntasarja (Third Division)South Group IFinnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 7thRelegated1957Tier 4Aluesarja (Fourth Division)Group 2 Helsinki & West UusimaaFinnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto)1stPromoted1958Tier 3Maakuntasarja (Third Division)Group 3 TurkuFinnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 8th1959Tier 3Maakuntasarja (Third Division)Group 1 Helsinki & UusimaaFinnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 6th1960Tier 3Maakuntasarja (Third Division)Group 1 Helsinki & UusimaaFinnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 5th1961Tier 3Maakuntasarja (Third Division)Group 3 Häme & TampereWithdrew1962Tier 4Aluesarja (Fourth Division)Group 3 West UusimaaFinnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto)4th1963Tier 4Aluesarja (Fourth Division)Group 3 West UusimaaFinnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto)1stPromoted1964Tier 3Maakuntasarja (Third Division)Group 2 Häme & UusimaaFinnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 8thRelegated1965Tier 4Aluesarja (Fourth Division)Group 3 West UusimaaFinnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto)1stPromoted1966Tier 3Maakuntasarja (Third Division)Group 3 Häme & UusimaaFinnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 8thRelegated1967Tier 4Aluesarja (Fourth Division)Group 3 West UusimaaFinnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto)2nd1968Tier 4Aluesarja (Fourth Division)Group 3 West UusimaaFinnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto)1stPromoted1969Tier 3Maakuntasarja (Third Division)Group 2 Häme & UusimaaFinnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 3rd1970Tier 3III Divisioona (Second Division)Group 2 Turku & UusimaaFinnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 3rd1971Tier 3III Divisioona (Second Division)Group 1 Helsinki & UusimaaFinnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 4th1972Tier 3III Divisioona (Second Division)Group 1 Helsinki & UusimaaFinnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 3rd1973Tier 4III Divisioona (Third Division)Group 2Helsinki & Uusimaa (SPL Helsinki)3rd1974Tier 4III Divisioona (Third Division)Group 2Helsinki & Uusimaa (SPL Helsinki)1stPromoted1975Tier 3II Divisioona (Second Division)West GroupFinnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 3rd1976Tier 3II Divisioona (Second Division)West GroupFinnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 11thRelegated1977Tier 4III Divisioona (Third Division)Group 2Helsinki & Uusimaa (SPL Helsinki)4th1978Tier 4III Divisioona (Third Division)Group 2Helsinki & Uusimaa (SPL Helsinki)2ndPromotion Playoff1979Tier 4III Divisioona (Third Division)Group 2Helsinki & Uusimaa (SPL Helsinki)2ndPromotion Playoff1980Tier 4III Divisioona (Third Division)Group 2Helsinki & Uusimaa (SPL Helsinki)1stPromotion Playoff - Promoted1981Tier 3II Divisioona (Second Division)West GroupFinnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 2ndPromotion Playoff1982Tier 3II Divisioona (Second Division)West GroupFinnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 4th1983Tier 3II Divisioona (Second Division)West GroupFinnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 6th1984Tier 3II Divisioona (Second Division)West GroupFinnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 3rd1985Tier 3II Divisioona (Second Division)West GroupFinnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 5th1986Tier 3II Divisioona (Second Division)West GroupFinnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 4th1987Tier 3II Divisioona (Second Division)West GroupFinnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 3rd1988Tier 3II Divisioona (Second Division)West GroupFinnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 10thRelegated1989Tier 4III Divisioona (Third Division)Group 2Helsinki & Uusimaa (SPL Helsinki)5th1990Tier 4III Divisioona (Third Division)Group 2Helsinki & Uusimaa (SPL Helsinki)1stPromoted1991Tier 3II Divisioona (Second Division)West GroupFinnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 8th1992Tier 3II Divisioona (Second Division)West GroupFinnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 10thRelegated1993Tier 4Kolmonen (Third Division)Group 2Helsinki & Uusimaa (SPL Helsinki)1stPromoted1994Tier 3Kakkonen (Second Division)West GroupFinnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 5th1995Tier 3Kakkonen (Second Division)South GroupFinnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 5th1996Tier 3Kakkonen (Second Division)South GroupFinnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 9th1997Tier 3Kakkonen (Second Division)South GroupFinnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 2ndPromotion Group South 2nd1998Tier 3Kakkonen (Second Division)South GroupFinnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 12thRelegated1999Tier 4Kolmonen (Third Division)Group 1Helsinki & Uusimaa (SPL Helsinki)8th2000Tier 4Kolmonen (Third Division)Section 1Helsinki & Uusimaa (SPL Helsinki)5th2001Tier 4Kolmonen (Third Division)Section 1Helsinki & Uusimaa (SPL Uusimaa)1st Promoted2002Tier 3Kakkonen (Second Division)South GroupFinnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 7th2003Tier 3Kakkonen (Second Division)West GroupFinnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 3rd2004Tier 3Kakkonen (Second Division)West GroupFinnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 5th2005Tier 3Kakkonen (Second Division)South GroupFinnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 7th2006Tier 3Kakkonen (Second Division)Group BFinnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 8th2007Tier 3Kakkonen (Second Division)Group BFinnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 7th2008Tier 3Kakkonen (Second Division)Group BFinnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 10th2009Tier 3Kakkonen (Second Division)Group BFinnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 8th2010Tier 3Kakkonen (Second Division)Group BFinnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto)12thRelegated2011Tier 4Kolmonen (Third Division)Section 1Helsinki & Uusimaa (SPL Helsinki)1st Promoted2012Tier 3Kakkonen (Second Division)South GroupFinnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 4th2013Tier 3Kakkonen (Second Division)South GroupFinnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 1st Play-offs2014Tier 3Kakkonen (Second Division)South GroupFinnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 1st Play-offs – Promoted2015Tier 2 Ykkönen (First Division) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 8th2016Tier 2 Ykkönen (First Division) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 8th2017Tier 2 Ykkönen (First Division) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 7th2018Tier 2 Ykkönen (First Division) Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto)3rd2019Tier 2 Ykkönen (First Division) Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto)6th2020Tier 2 Ykkönen (First Division) Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto)4th2021Tier 2 Ykkönen (First Division) Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto)5th2022Tier 2 Ykkönen (First Division) Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto)4th Play-offs2023Tier 2 Ykkönen (First Division) Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto)1st Promoted2024Tier 1 Veikkausliiga Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto)12thRelegated2025Tier 2 Ykkösliiga (League One) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)
2 seasons in Veikkausliiga 20 seasons in Ykkönen 46 seasons in Kakkonen 19 season in Kolmonen
Club structure EIF currently has 2 men's team, 1 ladies teams, 12 boys teams and 4 girls team.
Other facts EIF Akademi are participating in Section 1 (Lohko 1) of the Kolmonen (Third Division) administered by the Uusimaa SPL. In 2009 the team finished in top position in their Nelonen (Fourth Division) section and were promoted to the Kolmonen.
EIF Ladies Team are competing in the Kolmonen (Third Division) administered by the Football Association of Finland (Suomen Palloliitto) . In 2017 the team finished in top position in their Nelonen (Fourth Division) section and were promoted to the Kolmonen.
Current squad First team
Out on loan
References
External links
EIF Football website