Vasa IFK (VIFK) is a Finnish football club, located in Vaasa. It was founded in 1900. The club changed its name in 1988 after a merger with another club, BK-48, and was called BK-IFK during the late 1900s. The name was changed back to VIFK in year 2000.
Their men’s representative team moved up to Ykkönen at end of season 2005 which is the second-highest level in Finland. The visit lasted three years and the team was relegated to Kakkonen after finishing 12th place in the 2008 season.
The Vaasa IFK women’s team was promoted to the highest national level, the Briotech National League, in 2025 under the leadership of head coach Tom Kärkkäinen.
The club has a great history, but has yet to achieve the same kind of success as in the mid-20th century. Vasa IFK have won the Finnish championship three times, in 1944, 1946 and 1953. They were runners-up in 1945 and 1951 and finished third in 1950 and 1955. In 1947 and 1948, Vasa IFK also won the league hosted by the FA. In that time there were two separate leagues due to political circumstances. The other league was hosted by the organisation for the labour clubs, TUL.
In 1949 and in 1964 VIFK was the runner-up for the Finnish championship in bandy.
Current squad
Achievements Finnish Premier League: Winners (3): 1944, 1946, 1953 Runners-up (2): 1951, 1952
Season to season
SeasonLevelDivisionSectionAdministrationPositionMovements1930Tier 2B-Sarja (Second Division)Cup format Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) quarter finals1931Tier 2B-Sarja (Second Division) Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 4th1932Tier 2B-Sarja (Second Division) Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 3rd1933Tier 2B-Sarja (Second Division) Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 3rd1934Tier 2B-Sarja (Second Division)Western Group Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 2ndPromotion Group 2nd- Promoted1935Tier 1A-Sarja (Premier League) Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 7th Relegated1936Tier 2Itä-Länsi-Sarja (Second Division)West League Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 1stPromotion Group 1st - Promoted1937Tier 1Mestaruussarja (Premier League) Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 7th Relegation Playoff - Relegated1938Tier 2Itä-Länsi-Sarja (Second Division)West League, Northern Group Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 2nd1939Tier 2Itä-Länsi-Sarja (Second Division)West League, Group 4 Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 2nd1940Tier 1Cup-CompetitionCup format Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) Quarter-Finals 1940-41Tier 2B-Sarja (Second Division) Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 1stPromoted1943-44Tier 1SPL Mestaruussarja (Premier League) Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 1st Championship rematch - Champions1945Tier 1SPL Mestaruussarja (Premier League)Group B Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 1st SPL Championship final1945-46Tier 1SPL Mestaruussarja (Premier League) Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 1st Finnish championship Playoff vs TUL Champions - Champions1946-47Tier 1SPL Mestaruussarja (Premier League) Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 1st Championship rematch - SPL Champions, Finnish championship Group 4th1947-48Tier 1SPL Mestaruussarja (Premier League) Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 1st Champions1948Tier 1 Mestaruussarja (Premier League) Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 5th 1949Tier 1 Mestaruussarja (Premier League) Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 4th 1950Tier 1 Mestaruussarja (Premier League) Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 3rd 1951Tier 1 Mestaruussarja (Premier League) Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 2nd 1952Tier 1 Mestaruussarja (Premier League) Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 2nd 1953Tier 1 Mestaruussarja (Premier League) Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 1stChampionship rematch - Champions1954Tier 1 Mestaruussarja (Premier League) Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 4th 1955Tier 1 Mestaruussarja (Premier League) Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 3rd 1956Tier 1 Mestaruussarja (Premier League) Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 9th Relegated1957Tier 2Suomensarja (Second Division)West Group Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 1stPromoted1958Tier 1 Mestaruussarja (Premier League) Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 6th 1959Tier 1 Mestaruussarja (Premier League) Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 7th 1960Tier 1 Mestaruussarja (Premier League) Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 8th 1961Tier 1 Mestaruussarja (Premier League) Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 10th Relegated1962Tier 2Suomensarja (Second Division)North Group Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 1stPromoted1963Tier 1 Mestaruussarja (Premier League) Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 12th Relegated1964Tier 2Suomensarja (Second Division)North Group Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 3rd1965Tier 2Suomensarja (Second Division)North Group Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 10thRelegation Playoff - Relegated1966Tier 3Maakuntasarja (Third Division)Group 8Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto)3rd1967Tier 3Maakuntasarja (Third Division)Group 9Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto)2nd1968Tier 3Maakuntasarja (Third Division)Group 7Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto)1stPromoted1969Tier 2Suomensarja (Second Division)West Group Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 3rd1970Tier 2II Divisioona (Second Division)North Group Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 8th1971Tier 2II Divisioona (Second Division)West Group Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 6th1972Tier 2II Divisioona (Second Division)North Group Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 8th1973Tier 3II divisioona (Second Division)North GroupFinnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto)11thRelegated1974Tier 4III Divisioona (Third Division)Group 8 Vaasa District (SPL Vaasa)6th1975Tier 4III Divisioona (Third Division)Group 8 Vaasa District (SPL Vaasa)2nd1976Tier 4III Divisioona (Third Division)Group 8 Vaasa District (SPL Vaasa)10thRelegated1977Tier 5IV Divisioona (Fourth Division)Group 14 - VaasaVaasa District (SPL Vaasa)1stPromoted1978Tier 4III Divisioona (Third Division)Group 8 Vaasa District (SPL Vaasa)1stPromoted1979Tier 3II divisioona (Second Division)North GroupFinnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto)2ndPromotion Playoff - Promoted1980Tier 2I Divisioona (First Division) Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 9thRelegation Group 2nd1981Tier 2I Divisioona (First Division) Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 10thRelegation Group 7th – Relegated1982Tier 3II divisioona (Second Division)North GroupFinnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto)11thRelegated1983Tier 4III Divisioona (Third Division)Group 8 Vaasa District (SPL Vaasa)2ndPromotion Playoff1984Tier 4III Divisioona (Third Division)Group 8 Vaasa District (SPL Vaasa)3rd1985Tier 4III Divisioona (Third Division)Group 8 Vaasa District (SPL Vaasa)2ndRematch for promotion1986Tier 4III Divisioona (Third Division)Group 8 Vaasa District (SPL Vaasa)3rd1987Tier 4III Divisioona (Third Division)Group 8 Vaasa District (SPL Vaasa)1stPromoted1988Tier 3II divisioona (Second Division)North GroupFinnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto)10thRelegated, merger with ABK-48 to stay in II divisioona1989Tier 3II divisioona (Second Division)North GroupFinnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto)7thBK-IFK1990Tier 3II Divisioona (Second Division)North GroupFinnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto)9thBK-IFK1991Tier 3II divisioona (Second Division)North GroupFinnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto)4thBK-IFK1992Tier 3II divisioona (Second Division)North GroupFinnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto)2ndBK-IFK1993Tier 3II divisioona (Second Division)North GroupFinnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto)2ndBK-IFK – Promoted1994Tier 2 Ykkönen (First Division) Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 11thBK-IFK – Relegated1995Tier 3Kakkonen (Second Division)West GroupFinnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto)3rdBK-IFK1996Tier 3Kakkonen (Second Division)North GroupFinnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto)4thBK-IFK1997Tier 3Kakkonen (Second Division)West GroupFinnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto)4thBK-IFK1998Tier 3Kakkonen (Second Division)West GroupFinnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto)6thBK-IFK1999Tier 3Kakkonen (Second Division)North GroupFinnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto)6thBK-IFK2000Tier 3Kakkonen (Second Division)North GroupFinnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto)10thBK-IFK – Relegated2001Tier 4Kolmonen (Third Division)VaasaVaasa District (SPL Vaasa)2ndPromoted2002Tier 3Kakkonen (Second Division)North GroupFinnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto)8th2003Tier 3Kakkonen (Second Division)North GroupFinnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto)3rd2004Tier 3Kakkonen (Second Division)North GroupFinnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto)6th2005Tier 3Kakkonen (Second Division)North GroupFinnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto)1stPromoted2006Tier 2 Ykkönen (First Division) Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 8th2007Tier 2 Ykkönen (First Division) Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 6th2008Tier 2 Ykkönen (First Division) Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 12thRelegated2009Tier 3Kakkonen (Second Division)Group CFinnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto)4th2010Tier 3Kakkonen (Second Division)Group CFinnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto)6th2011Tier 3Kakkonen (Second Division)Group CFinnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto)5th2012Tier 3Kakkonen (Second Division)West GroupFinnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto)4th2013Tier 3Kakkonen (Second Division)North GroupFinnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto)3rd2014Tier 3Kakkonen (Second Division)West GroupFinnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto)1st Promoted2015Tier 2 Ykkönen (First Division) Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 10thRelegated2016Tier 3Kakkonen (Second Division)Group CFinnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto)9th2017Tier 3Kakkonen (Second Division)Group CFinnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto)3rd2018Tier 3Kakkonen (Second Division)Group CFinnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto)10thRelegated - Retained position in kakkonen 2019Tier 3Kakkonen (Second Division)Group CFinnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto)8th2020Tier 3Kakkonen (Second Division)Group CFinnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto)10th2021Tier 3Kakkonen (Second Division)Group CFinnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto)9th2022Tier 3Kakkonen (Second Division)Group CFinnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto)2nd2023Tier 3Kakkonen (Second Division)Group CFinnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto)5thQualifiers for Ykkönen - Qualified2024Tier 3Ykkönen (First Division)Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto)11thRelegated2025Tier 4Kakkonen (Second Division)Group CFinnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 21 seasons in Veikkausliiga 24 seasons in Ykkönen 37 seasons in Kakkonen 11 season in Kolmonen 1 seasons in Nelonen
References
External links