Juhani Ojala

Juhani Ojala

With Young Boys in 2012
Personal information
Date of birth (1989-06-19) 19 June 1989
Place of birth Vantaa, Finland[1]
Height 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in)
Playing position Centre back
Club information
Current team
 SJK
Youth career
VJS
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2008–2009 Klubi 04 14 (1)
2009–2011 HJK 41 (1)
2011–2013 Young Boys 23 (0)
2013–2016 Terek Grozny 24 (0)
2015 → HJK (loan) 4 (0)
2016– SJK 7 (0)
National team‡
Finland U-19 1 (0)
Finland U-20 3 (0)
Finland U-21 9 (0)
2011– Finland 17 (0)

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 1 September 2016.

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 19 June 2014

Juhani Ojala (Finnish pronunciation: [ˈjuhɑni ˈojɑlɑ]; (born 19 June 1989), is a Finnish professional football Centre back who represents SJK and Finland national team. Ojala was born in Vantaa, Finland where he played for the local youth team before moving to HJK´s organisation.

Club career

HJK Helsinki

During the 2009 season, Ojala represented mostly Klubi-04, HJK's reserve squad. In the beginning of the 2010 season, however, he was selected to HJK's first eleven, due to various injuries in the squad. His performances were outstanding, and he quickly established himself as one of the key players in HJK's victorious 2010 campaign, playing in all games. Ojala became one of the best and most talented players in the Veikkausliiga, and his performances provoked widespread international interest.[2] At the end of the 2010 Veikkausliiga season, he was officially selected as the defender of the year.[3]

Young Boys

On 9 April 2011 Ojala signed a contract extension with HJK, the new contract running until 2014.[4] But in July, HJK announced that Ojala would transfer to Swiss team BSC Young Boys on 13 August.[5]

He gained notoriety in England during Young Boys' 2012–13 UEFA Europa League group stage match against Liverpool at the Stade de Suisse. In an incredible match which ended 5–3 to the Reds, Ojala opened the scoring by embarrassingly putting the ball past Marco Wölfli, his own goalkeeper. He later made amends by scoring a header to bring Young Boys level at 2–2 just after half time.

Terek Grozny

After a year and a half in Switzerland on 12 February 2013 it was announced that Ojala would transfer to Russian Premier League team Terek Grozny.[6]

HJK Helsinki Loan

On 29 July 2015, Ojala rejoined HJK on loan for the remainder of the 2015 Veikkausliiga season.[7] He had a trial with Coventry City F.C. at the end of the season, but was not signed.

SJK

On 1 September 2016, Ojala signed with SJK.[8]

International career

In November 2010, after representing Finland on youth levels, Ojala was called up to the national team squad to face San Marino. He made his national team debut on 15 November 2011 in a friendly match against Denmark in Esbjerg when Mixu Paatelainen used him as a substitute.[9] He gained his first FIFA World Cup qualification appearance 12 October 2012 in Helsinki Olympic Stadium in a match against Georgia.[10] During autumn of 2012 he established himself as a regular in the national team.

Honours

Club

HJK Helsinki

Country

Finland national football team

Individual

Career statistics

Club

As of 25 February 2015[12]
Club statistics
Season Club League League Cup Continental Total
App Goals App Goals App Goals App Goals
2009 Klubi-04 Ykkönen 111 —111
2009 HJK Veikkausliiga 40 —40
2010 24011161412
2011 1714020231
2011–12 Young Boys Swiss Super League 11010—120
2012–13 12000101221
2012–13 Terek Grozny Russian Premier League 3000—30
2013–14 20010—210
2014–15 1010—20
Total Finland 56215181794
Switzerland 23010101341
Russia 24020—260
Career total 10321811821395

International

As of 25 February 2015
Finland national team
YearAppsGoals
201110
201250
201340
201440
Total140

References

  1. ↑ HJK Profile
  2. ↑ Isotalo Mikko, Judesoturi, Iltalehti Urheilu 27.7.2010, p. 6
  3. ↑ HJK:n Ojala ja Mäkelä pelipaikkojensa parhaat HS.fi, 21.10.2010
  4. ↑ HJK:n oma kasvattitoppari jatkosopimukseen (Finnish)
  5. ↑ Toppari Juhani Ojala siirtyy Sveitsiin (Finnish)
  6. ↑ "Juhani Ojala siirtyy Venäjän liigaan Terek Groznyin riveihin" (in Finnish). Helsingin Sanomat. 12 February 2013. Retrieved 27 February 2013.
  7. ↑ "JUHANI OJALA LOPPUKAUDEKSI KLUBIIN!". http://www.hjk.fi/ (in Finnish). HJK. 29 July 2015. Retrieved 29 July 2015. External link in |website= (help)
  8. ↑ "Maajoukkueen puolustaja Juhani Ojala SJK-paitaan". sjk2007.fi (in Finnish). SJK. 1 September 2016. Retrieved 1 September 2016.
  9. ↑ "Musta hetki koitui Suomen kohtaloksi" (in Finnish). YLE Urheilu. 15 November 2011. Retrieved 2 January 2015.
  10. ↑ "Eremenko junior ulos, Suomi puristi vajaalla tasapeliin" (in Finnish). YLE Urheilu. 12 October 2012. Retrieved 2 January 2015.
  11. ↑ "Pelipaikkojen parhaat 2010 nimetty" (in Finnish). Veikkausliiga. 7 November 2010. Retrieved 14 February 2015.
  12. ↑ "J. OJALA". Soccerway. Retrieved 26 March 2014.
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