''Ykkönen'' ( Finnish for 'Number One'; , previously I divisioona) is the third highest level of the Finnish football league system (after the

Veikkausliiga Veikkausliiga () is a professional association football league in Finland and the highest level of the Finnish football league system. The league comprises the top 12 clubs of the country. Its main sponsor is the Finnish national betting agenc ...

and

Ykkösliiga ''Ykkösliiga'' (English language, English: ''"League One"''; ) is the second highest level of the Finnish football league system (after the Veikkausliiga), managed by the Football Association of Finland. The teams in Ykkösliiga also play a pre-s ...

), managed by the Football Association of Finland. Until the end of 2023, ''Ykkönen'' was the second-highest level in Finland, but after the creation of new second-tier

, it was dropped down one level in the league pyramid.

History

The first league format competition in the second level of Finnish football was called , which was founded in 1936. Before the inauguration of the , from 1930 to 1935, there had been special qualification matches for the right to play in the '' Mestaruussarja''. In the autumn of 1969, the Finnish football underwent a league system reform, and the was renamed ''II divisioona'', or 2nd Division, with regional sections. In 1973, this level of football in Finland became nationwide, and the new name was (First Division). The name has been used since 1995. The new nation-wide third-tier ''Ykkönen'' will start running in 2024, as the first ever nation-wide third-tier league in Finland.

Competition

Like the ''

and

'', Ykkönen is played mainly during the summer. It comprises 12 clubs, all of whom play 27 matches. After 22 games the division is divided to teams who finished 1-6 and 7-12. These teams play against each other once. The winner of the ''Ykkönen'' qualifies directly for promotion to ''

''. The teams that finish second, third, and fourth play a one legged playoff, with the second placed team playing against the winner of the match between the third and fourth placed team. The winner of the matches enters a two-legged playoff against the second to last team in the Veikkausliiga for promotion. The bottom 2 clubs are directly relegated to ''

Kakkonen Kakkonen or II divisioona is the fourth level in the league system of Finnish football and comprises 36 Finnish football teams. Until the end of 2023, ''Kakkonen'' was the third-highest level in Finland, but after the creation of new second-t ...

''.

Clubs

The clubs in the ''Ykkönen'' for the 2025 season are:

Champions and top scorers of second-tier Ykkönen, 1973–2023

Champions and top scorers of third-tier Ykkönen, 2024–

References

External links

League information
at the Football Association of Finland
List of League Second Level tables since 1930
- Finnish football league tables, records & statistics database.
Football scores for Finnish Football LeaguesYkkönen
standings, results & fixtures {{DEFAULTSORT:Ykkonen 2 Fin 1973 establishments in Finland Recurring sporting events established in 1973 Professional sports leagues in Finland