HJK do it the hard way

By Mikael Erävuori

At the midway point of the 2003 Veikkausliiga season, few would have tipped HJK Helsinki to win their 21st Finnish title. Ten points adrift of FC Haka in August, HJK's English coach Keith Armstrong looked to have little chance of stealing the crown.

Golden touch
However, it is not without good reason that the former Newcastle United FC trainee is known as the coach with the golden touch in Finland, and his new-look side powered past Haka in a terrific run of eight wins and two draws in ten games. Tellingly, they scored 23 goals and conceded just one.

Good defending
"We found our game in August," said HJK's Finnish international full-back Ville Nylund. "The whole team defended superbly and we were able to create enough chances to score the necessary goals. The defence played well, but credit has to be given to the whole team for good defensive play."

Self-belief
Speaking to uefa.com, Armstrong himself said: "We won because we believed in ourselves throughout the season, even when no else believed. We played well throughout the season and especially in the autumn. New players adapted to our playing style well and in the latter stages of the season we played very well as a team."

Brilliant run
Armstrong's coaching career has been extraordinarily successful. Starting as a coach in 1993, he won Haka promotion to the Veikkausliiga and the Finnish Cup in 1997, before Finnish title successes in 1998, 1999 and 2000. A fourth-placed finish in 2001 prompted his move to HJK and two more back-to-back titles.

Difficult start
However, 2003's success was to prove one of his proudest moments, as HJK came to terms with some major departures in the closed season. Team captain Tero Penttilä retired at the end of 2002 and experienced midfield player Mika Lehkosuo also hung up his boots after persistent injury problems.

Key departures
Finnish international midfield player Jari Ilola also left the club to join Danish side IF Elfsborg, young winger Hannu Haarala departed for the Netherlands and SC Heerenveen while international full-back Markus Heikkinen joined Portsmouth FC in England - though he has since joined Aberdeen FC in Scotland.

'Important leaders'
"We lost a couple of very important leaders after the 2002 season, but new leaders were found soon and they gave an excellent example for younger players," said Armstrong.
 
Key lieutenants
Captain Nylund was one of Armstrong's key lieutenants on the field along with anchor man Rami Hakanpää. "Special thanks to Rami," said Armstrong. "He played a superb season and was very reliable. Also Ville played perhaps his best-ever season. Honestly though, none of the players were a disappointment this season."

Young prospects
Youth was also a key factor. Playmaker Alexei Eremenko Jr. has already been shipped off to Birmingham City FC on trial, giving credence to his reputation as Finland's most exciting young talent, while young striker Juho Mäkelä, playing his first Veikausliiga season, thrived alongside Mika Kottila, scoring 12 goals.

Back to training
There were celebrations at the weekend, but HJK are already back in training with a view to winning Saturday's Finnish Cup final against AC Allianssi. There have only been three previous doubles in Finnish history - Haka achieved the feat in 1960 and 1977, while HJK followed suit in 1991.
 
Double dream
"Of course we aim for the double," said the 31-year-old Nylund. "We just have to forget the championship now and concentrate totally on the cup. It's not every season you have a chance to win the double and at my age, this might be my last chance."