IFK Mariehamn were dubbed ‘the Finnish Leicester’ when they sensationally won their first and only Veikkausliiga title in 2016, only seven years after turning fully professional as a club.
But a decade later, the team from the Åland Islands – a predominantly Swedish-speaking archipelago in the Baltic Sea – have been relegated, ending a 22-year top-flight stay.
So how did this cluster of scenic islands and their 30,000 residents fall under Finnish jurisdiction? What were the factors behind the sensational rise and fall of IFK Mariehamn? And which other island clubs have become national champions in European football history?
Plus, the island clubs that you didn’t know were island clubs. Lee puts Paul to the test by quizzing his niche European football geography knowledge.
Join us here on for our Monday bonus podcast, where we tell a special selection of stories that we have kept behind especially for our subscribers. You can also join our growing Discord community and chat with the hosts and your fellow listeners.
Chapters:
00:00 – Intro
00:30 – An overview of the Åland Islands
03:42 – The rise of IFK Mariehamn
06:28 – The secrets to the success
12:25 – The fall and future of the club
15:42 – Island club champions in Europe
19:41 – Geography quiz – Island club or not?
