AC Oulu

Early years; 2002–2010 and the first promotions

AC Oulu was founded in 2002 as a joint initiative of four local clubs, Oulun Luistinseura (OLS), Oulun Palloseura (OPS), Oulun Työväen Palloilijat (OTP) and Tervarit, with the aim of bringing top level football back to Oulu. FC Oulu played in the Veikkausliiga in the early '90s as the most recent team from Oulu to play top-tier Finnish football. The club inherited the league license of Tervarit in the second-tier Ykkönen for the 2003 season. After four seasons in Ykkönen, AC Oulu reached the Finland's premier division Veikkausliiga in 2007. However, they were relegated back to the Ykkönen at the end of their first season in the top division. After two seasons in the second tier AC Oulu won promotion again to the Veikkausliiga at the end of the 2009 season after finishing top of the Ykkönen. Having finished 11th in 2010 season the club were initially going to continue in the Veikkausliiga for the 2011 season. However, they were denied a league licence for financial reasons and therefore dropped down to the Ykkönen.

"Eternal Ykkönen"; 2011–2020

Since the relegation for financial reasons in 2010, AC Oulu played in Ykkönen for ten years, where it was considered as a candidate to promote for a long time. During 2009–2014, the former Finland national team winger Mika Nurmela played for the club, and simultaneously worked as a sporting director in AC Oulu. Dritan Stafsula had returned to the club in 2011 and…

Finnish League Cup Runners-up (2): 2023, 2026 Ykkönen (second-tier) Champions (2): 2009, 2020 Runners-up (1): 2006