Football Season Guide

Mariehamn flirted with danger all of last season. The Islanders scored only 20 goals during the regular season (22 rounds) and finished in the bottom 3 after securing just 5 wins. Changed managers late in the regular season too. Inexperienced Englishman Gary Williams took charge only in August. Still, he delivered 2 play-off wins, lost the other 3 games of the post-season. This proved just about enough for Mariehamn to finish 2 points above the bottom 2. Williams was given the job permanently this winter. The main improvement under him was in attack. Scored 13 goals in the opening 19 rounds and 14 more in the 8 games under Williams. Determined to improve even more the attack Williams brought in two English forwards to the club this winter. Admiral Muskwe should be the main starter up front, while Korede Adedoyin brings speed and explosiveness on the flank. The players that started regularly in 2024 and left didn’t impress much. The strengthening of the team has been tricky so far. Not many quality new signings have been made. That said the main core at the back and in midfield stayed put, while the front line was boosted. The bright youngster Michael Fonsell was used as a centre-back by Williams at the back end of last season. He did very well and this will likely be his main starting role in 2025. Experienced trio Noah Nurmi, Hugo Cardoso and Jayden Reid spent most of 2024 injured. If they recover well and stay fit they will be like new signings. They were tipped to play key roles last year, so having them on the pitch now could mean a lot to Mariehamn’s efficiency.