Simo Valakari

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Simo Valakari
File:Simo Valakari 1.jpg
Valakari as the head coach of SJK in 2015.
Personal information
Full name Simo Johannes Valakari[1]
Date of birth (1973-04-28) 28 April 1973 (age 53)
Place of birth Helsinki, Finland
Height 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Position Midfielder
Team information
Current team
 St Johnstone (manager)
Youth career
KäPa
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1990 KäPa 16 (2)
1991–1994 Kontu 59 (7)
1995–1996 FinnPa 48 (5)
1996–2000 Motherwell 103 (0)
2000–2004 Derby County 46 (3)
2004–2006 FC Dallas[a] 89 (1)
2007–2009 TPS 38 (1)
Total 399 (19)
International career
1996–2003 Finland 32 (0)
Managerial career
2010 ÅIFK
2012–2016 SJK
2017–2020 Tromsø
2021–2023 KuPS
2023 Auda
2023–2024 Riga FC
2024– St Johnstone
* Club domestic league appearances and goals

Simo Johannes Valakari (born 28 April 1973) is a Finnish football manager and a former international football player. He is currently the manager of Scottish Championship side St Johnstone.

Playing career

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Club

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Valakari played in the youth sector of Käpylän Pallo (KäPa) in Käpylä, Helsinki, and began his senior career with KäPa first team in 1990 in the fourth-tier Kolmonen. He played also for Kontula-based club KontU in the Finnish second-tier Ykkönen and third-tier Kakkonen, before first moving to Veikkausliiga club FinnPa in 1995 and then to Scottish Premier League club Motherwell in 1996. After four seasons in Scotland, he was off to Derby County in the Premier League.

Valakari failed to become a first team regular at Pride Park Stadium and decided to join Dallas Burn for the 2004 MLS season and finished the year with a goal and four assists. Following the 2006 season, his contract was not renewed with the team, known by that time as FC Dallas.[2]

Valakari decided to return to Finland for the 2007 Veikkausliiga season, where he signed for TPS, managed by Mixu Paatelainen. He retired from playing in 2009 after several injuries.

International

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Valakari was a regular with the Finnish national team during his stay in Europe. He made a total of 32 caps for his country.

Managerial career

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Valakari was named manager of Åbo IFK (ÅIFK) in January 2010 and subsequently ended his playing career.[3] He, however returned "home" as he announced his return to Käpylän Pallo as a youth coach after the 2010 season.[4]

SJK

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In 2012, Valakari joined Seinäjoen Jalkapallokerho (SJK) as the head coach. In 2013, he managed the team to gain promotion to the Veikkausliiga and they went on to win the Finnish championship in 2015. The team also won the Finnish League Cup in 2014 and the Finnish Cup in 2016. In the early 2016, he had been linked with Motherwell,[5] but eventually signed an upgraded contract extension with SJK on 10 February 2016.[6] Valakari was dismissed on 17 February 2017, due to disagreement with the club's chairman Raimo Sarajärvi.[7][8]

Tromsø

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He was appointed head coach of Norwegian Eliteserien side Tromsø in June 2017. In 2018, his contract was extended until 2022, but he was fired in April 2020, after the club had suffered a relegation at the end of the 2019 season.[9][10]

KuPS

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In November 2020, Valakari was appointed as the head coach of Kuopion Palloseura (KuPS).[11][12] Under Valakari, KuPS won two consecutive Finnish Cup titles in 2021 and 2022,[13] and finished as the Veikkausliiga runner-up twice, falling just a one point short to HJK on both occasions. Valakari also led KuPS to the UEFA Europa Conference League qualifiers on two occasions. In 2021–22, the club reached to the (fourth) play-off round, but was knocked out by Union Berlin. Next year they reached to the 3rd round, where they eventually fell short to Young Boys. In the summer 2022, Valakari was rumoured for a head coach position of Motherwell, but eventually was not chosen.[14]

His contract with KuPS was terminated by mutual consent on 13 January 2023.[15][16]

Auda

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Shortly after his contract termination with KuPS, it was announced that Valakari was named the head coach of Auda in Latvia for the 2023 season.[17][18] Valakari was named The Virslīga Coach of the Month in September 2023.[19] At the end of the season, Auda finished third in the league and won their first medal in the premier division, and also qualified for the UEFA Conference League qualifiers again.[20]

Riga FC

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On 13 December 2023, it was reported in Finnish media that Valakari is about to be named the new head coach of a fellow Latvian side Riga FC.[21] On the next day, the club confirmed that they had appointed Valakari as the new head coach.[22] On 2 March 2024, Valakari and Riga FC won the 2024 Latvian Supercup, beating RFS in the final on penalties.[23] On 14 September, in a press conference after the match against Auda, Valakari hinted that he was not the one who had selected the starting line-up for the match.[24] He left the club on 30 September, after Riga and St Johnstone had agreed on a fee for his contract. Prior to his departure, Riga FC were comfortably sitting in second place in the league table.[25]

St Johnstone

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On 1 October 2024, Valakari returned to Scotland when he was named the new manager of the Scottish Premiership club St Johnstone on a three-year deal,[26][27] becoming the first foreign manager in the club's 140-year-history. Due to work visa issues, the first two matches he couldn't officially access the bench,[28] but on 26 October, he managed St Johnstone as they beat Dundee 2–1 away at Dens Park.[29] In April 2025, Valakari led the team to reach the semi-finals of the 2024–25 Scottish Cup.[30] St Johnstone were relegated from the Scottish Premiership at the end of the 2024-25 season.[31] Valakari stayed with the club and led them to start the 2025–26 Scottish Championship season with record-tying seven wins and one draw.[32] He was named the Scottish Championship Manager of the Month consecutively for August and September 2025.[33][34]

Personal life

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Valakari's three sons are also footballers. His oldest son Paavo is a former player and current coach, Onni is playing professionally for San Diego FC, and the youngest one Toivo plays for Käpylän Pallo in Helsinki, Finland.[35][36]

Valakari meditates in his everyday life.[37]

Career statistics

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Club

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As of 31 December 2020[38][39][40]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup[b] League cup[c] Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
KäPa 1990 Kolmonen 16 2 — — 16 2
Kontu 1991 Ykkönen —
1992 Kakkonen —
1993 Ykkönen —
1994 Ykkönen —
Total 59 7 — 59 7
FinnPa 1995 Veikkausliiga 22 3 — — 22 3
1996 Veikkausliiga 26 2 — — 26 2
Total 48 5 0 0 0 0 48 5
Motherwell 1996–97 Scottish Premier Division 11 0 11 0
1997–98 Scottish Premier Division 27 0 2 0 2 0 31 0
1998–99 Scottish Premier League 35 0 3 0 1 0 39 0
1999–2000 Scottish Premier League 30 0 3 0 2 0 35 0
Total 103 0 8 0 5 0 116 0
Derby County 2000–01 Premier League 11 1 0 0 3 0 14 1
2001–02 Premier League 9 0 0 0 1 0 10 0
2002–03 First Division 6 2 0 0 0 0 6 2
2003–04 First Division 20 0 0 0 1 0 21 0
Total 46 3 0 0 5 0 51 3
FC Dallas[a] 2004 MLS 26 1 3 0 — 29 1
2005 MLS 30 0 3 0 — 33 0
2006 MLS 33 0 2 0 — 35 0
Total 89 1 8 0 — 97 1
TPS 2007 Veikkausliiga 25 0 0 0 0 0 25 0
2008 Veikkausliiga 6 1 0 0 0 0 6 1
2009 Veikkausliiga 7 0 0 0 3 0 10 0
Total 38 1 0 0 3 0 41 1
Career total 399 19 16 0 13 0 429 19
  1. ^ a b "Dallas Burn" before name change to FC Dallas in 2005
  2. ^ Includes Scottish Cup, FA Cup, U.S. Open Cup
  3. ^ Includes Scottish League Cup, Football League Cup, Finnish League Cup

International

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Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
Finland 1996 1 0
1997 3 0
1998 5 0
1999 5 0
2000 5 0
2001 0 0
2002 4 0
2003 9 0
Total 32 0

Managerial

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As of match played 16 December 2025[41]
Team Nat From To Record
P W D L GF GA GD W%
SJK Seinäjoki Finland 1 September 2012 17 February 2016 165 92 32 41 275 153 +122 055.76
Tromsø Norway 27 July 2017 20 April 2020 81 31 11 39 126 136 −10 038.27
KuPS Finland 1 January 2021 13 January 2023 83 52 18 13 153 80 +73 062.65
Auda Latvia 16 January 2023 14 December 2023 40 17 11 12 50 49 +1 042.50
Riga FC Latvia 14 December 2023 30 September 2024 36 25 6 5 86 26 +60 069.44
St Johnstone Scotland 1 October 2024 Present 60 27 9 24 87 78 +9 045.00
Total 466 244 87 135 776 524 +252 052.36

Honours

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As a manager

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SJK

KuPS

Riga FC

Individual

References

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  1. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  2. ^ Carrick, Buzz. "FCD to Cut Ties with Simo Valakari", 3rd Degree, 15 December 2006, Retrieved 15 December 2006.
  3. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  4. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  5. ^ SJK antoi yllätyspotkut menestysluotsi Simo Valakarille, Ilta-Sanomat, 17 February 2017
  6. ^ Simo Valakarille pitkä jatkosopimus, sjk.fi, 10 February 2016
  7. ^ Simo Valakari on vapautettu SJK:n päävalmentajavastuusta, sjk.fi, 17 February 2017
  8. ^ Simon, Raipen ja Sikun kolmiodraama – tarina siitä, kuinka seinäjokinen järkiavioliitto tuli päätökseensä, Yle, 2 April 2017
  9. ^ Potkut saanut Simo Valakari myöntää, että sukset menivät ristiin norjalaisen seurajohdon kanssa: ”Nyt lähden hiihtämään vuorelle”, Helsingin Sanomat, 20 April 2020
  10. ^ Yllätyspäätös: Simo Valakari sai lähteä norjalaisseurasta – taustalla erimielisyydet seurajohdon kanssa, Iltalehti, 19 April 2020
  11. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  12. ^ Simo Valakari nousee KuPSin päävalmentajaksi, Hirvonen Hinni, Yle, 4 November 2020
  13. ^ Savon kallein valmentaja: KuPSin cupin mestaruuteen luotsannut Simo Valakari keräsi yli 130 000 euron ansiotulot, Savon Sanomat, 8 November 2023
  14. ^ Simo Valakarin unelmapesti avautui – KuPS-luotsi myöntää MTV Urheilulle: "Totta kai kiinnostaa", mtvuutiset.fi, MTV Oy, 30 July 2022
  15. ^ Simo Valakarin päävalmentajasopimus on purettu, 13 January 2023, kups.fi
  16. ^ KuPSin tiedotteessa kovaa tekstiä Simo Valakarista – seuran hallituksen jäsen kommentoi kohulähdön taustoja: ”Tämä oli viimeinen pisara”, Yle, 13 January 2023
  17. ^ Simo Valakarin uusi työpaikka varmistui - jättää Suomen taakseen, Iltalehti, 16 January 2021
  18. ^ Analyysi: Simo Valakari on menossa seuraan, jolla on yllättävä yhteys hänen poikaansa - taustalla Latvian mustalle listalle päätyneet oligarkit, Saatsi Samu, Yle, 15 January 2021
  19. ^ a b Septembra labākie – R.Ramiress un S.Valakari, 18 October 2023, Virslīga
  20. ^ FK Auda Detalizēta statistika, optibetvirsliga.com
  21. ^ MTV Urheilun tiedot: Simo Valakari suurseuran peräsimeen, mtvuutiset.fi / MTV Oy, Eetu Ikola, 13 December 2023
  22. ^ SIMO VALAKARI BECOMES THE NEW “RIGA FOOTBALL CLUB” HEAD COACH, rigafc.lv/en, 14 December 2023
  23. ^ LATVIAN SUPERCUP WINNERS, rigafc.lv/en, 5 March 2024
  24. ^ Riga FC manager Simo Valakari is visibly upset after the game against FK Auda and pretty much hinting that he is not the one who selects the starting lineup., Latvian footy in English, x.com, 14 September 2024
  25. ^ THANK YOU, SIMO!, rigafc.lv, 1 October 2024
  26. ^ Simo Valakari appointed as our new head coach, perthstjohnstonefc.co.uk, 1 October 2024
  27. ^ Vahvistus: Simo Valakari uuteen valmennuspestiin, mtvuutiset.fi, MTV Oy, 1 October 2024
  28. ^ Työlupaa Skotlannissa yhä odottava Simo Valakari hankki entisen Leeds-puolustajan, Yle, 21 October 2024
  29. ^ Simo Valakari pääsi viimein penkin päähän Skotlannissa – tuloksena heti voitto, suomifutis.com, 26 October 2024
  30. ^ Simo Valakarille murskatappio – vastustajan suomalaismolari selvisi helpolla, mtvuutiset.fi, MTV Oy, 20 April 2024
  31. ^ St Johnstone relegated
  32. ^ SPFL WEEKEND IN NUMBERS, SPFL, 29 September 2025
  33. ^ a b St Johnstone boss Simo Valakari named Championship Manager of the Month, stv.tv, 8 October 2025
  34. ^ Simo Valakari valittiin jälleen kuukauden valmentajaksi Skotlannissa, suomifutis.com, 9 October 2025
  35. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  36. ^ Toivo Valakari sopimukseen Käpylän Pallon kanssa!, kapylanpalloedustus.fi, 28 February 2023
  37. ^ Kun vastassa on 60 miljoonan nippu, perussuoritus ei riitä – meditoiva Simo Valakari on rock’n’rollia: ”Pitää oppia ylittämään rajansa”, Iltalehti, 25 August 2022
  38. ^ Simo Valakari stats at Finnish Fa
  39. ^ Simo Valakari, WorldFootball
  40. ^ Simo Valakari, motherwellnet.com
  41. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  42. ^ RIGAS FS VS. RIGA 1 - 1, soccerway
  43. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  44. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  45. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
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  • Simo Valakari at National-Football-Teams.comLua error in Module:WikidataCheck at line 29: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).
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