FC Inter

Contacts
Team
Coaching and Staff

Founded: 1990
Club's official name: Football Club International Turku
Abbreviation: FC Inter
International abbreviation: Inter Turku
Colours: Blue, black and red
Home kit: Blue & black stripes
Away kit: Red
Club's nickname:"Sinimustat" (the blues & blacks)
Reserve team: FC Sinimustat
Series: Veikkausliiga (Finnish Premier League)
Seasons in the Finnish Premier League: 12 including season 2008
Best position: 4th place (2004)
European success: Intertoto cup 2004 2nd round
Best goalscorer: Tero Forss 74 goals (1993-2001)
Most games in Inter all time: Petri Lehtonen 227 games (1993-2002)
Stadium: Veritas Stadium
Capacity: 9000 (6428 seats)
Record attendance: 8200 (Inter-TPS 1996)
Biggest supporter group: Ultraboyz (www.ultraboyz.net)

FC Inter Turku, by official name Football Club International Turku, was founded as a junior club in 1990. The club was founded by Stefan Håkans, managing director and main owner of one of the leading towage and salvage companies in Northern Europe (Alfons Håkans Ltd.) The company is the main sponsor of the club.

In 1992 FC Inter acquired a 3rd division men's team and started the climb to the top. In 1993 the team acquired a 2nd division men's team and it took only a year to achieve a promotion to 1st division. After two years in the 1st division the dream came true and Inter was promoted to the Finnish Premier League after a succesfull season.

The first season (1996) in the League was a real success when the team played first ten matches without defeats. Everyone was talking about the Inter "phenomena". The season, however, ended in the sixth position.

Meanwhile the club expanded and had junior teams in all categories. In the beginning of the 2008 season Inter had 12 junior teams and Inter Academy for the most talented players.

The second year in the League was a major setback and the team was relegated to first division. Fortunately the stay in the 1st division lasted only one year.

In the season of 1999 the club was back in the League again, now with an improved team and more experience. The result was 5th place after a good season. The expectations for the millennium season 2000 were big, with new Argentinian players in the team. After a dissapointing season the team finished in the 7th place.

During the first years of the 21st century the club developed quickly into one of the top teams in Finland both in junior and senior level, training talented players for the national team.

The biggest achievement in European cup competitions for the club so far is reaching the second round of UEFA Intertoto cup in 2005, which was made possible by finishing 4th in the league a year before.

As a junior club FC Inter has reached the level of being one of the leading clubs in the country. U-19 and U-17 (A- and B-juniors) are competing in the series of the national championships with good success. In 2004 A-juniors won bronze and in 2006 B-juniors were third in their series. In 2007 the A-juniors won the Finnish championship. There is also a high-class team in younger ages aiming for the first team in the future.

Consecuently the club has players in each age category in the Finnish national teams.

The reserve team FC Sinimustat was founded in the fall of 2007, and will take the place of VG-62 in the season of 2008.

Now, already for three seasons, FC Inter has built the League team based on the clubs own product, the players, and this stretegy will continue in the future as well.

Last season Inter Turku finished 9th in the league, which was a huge dissappointment for the club that has been aiming to medals for the last few seasons. For season 2008 Inter's target will be to develop the club to a higher level in every aspect. The team will be aiming for top 5 by the guidance of their Dutch coach Job Dragtsma.

In the individual level Inter's strategy is to develop players to European clubs and teach the players to play aggressive football.

International contacts:

The club president: Stefan Håkans

The Office of Inter Turku
Hippoksentie 21
20720 Turku
tel.+358 2 2792700
fax.+358 2 2792710
fcinter.turku@alfonshakans.fi

First team staff:

Head coach: Job Dragstma
Goalkeeper coach: Jani Meriläinen
Team leader: Jani Meriläinen
Physiotherapists: Mika Pihlman and Maria Jansson
Kitman: Arto Wallenius
Doctor: Juha Ranne