Kari Ukkonen
FullnameKari Ukkonen
Birth date19 February 1961 (age 65)
Birth placeKuopio, Finland
Height1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)
PositionDefender
Years 11979–1982
Years 21982–1986
Years 31986–1987
Years 41987–1991
Years 51991–1993
Years 61993–1996
Clubs 1KuPS
Clubs 2Cercle Brugge
Clubs 3Lokeren
Clubs 4Anderlecht
Clubs 5Royal Antwerp
Clubs 6Châteauroux
Caps 191
Caps 2107
Caps 332
Caps 438
Caps 539
Caps 652
Goals 113
Goals 216
Goals 38
Goals 43
Goals 51
Goals 61
Nationalyears 11983–1996
Nationalteam 1Finland
Nationalcaps 159
Nationalgoals 14
Manageryears 22004–2006
Managerclubs 1Finland (youth coach)
Managerclubs 2TPS

Kari Ukkonen (born 19 February 1961) is a Finnish former football manager and former football player. As a player, Ukkonen was fielded as defender as well as midfielder.

He was inducted to the Finnish Football Hall of Fame in 2022.

Club career

Ukkonen started playing football in his hometown club Kuopion Palloseura (KuPS) in top-tier Mestaruussarja in 1979. In 1982, Ukkonen moved from Finland to Belgium, when he was bought by Cercle Brugge. Ukkonen made his Belgian début on 13 November, when Cercle defeated SV Waregem with 2–1. Ukkonen would go on to win the Belgian Cup with Cercle in 1985. Ukkonen would spend most of his career in Belgium, also playing for other First division teams as Lokeren, Anderlecht and Royal Antwerp.[1] Ukkonen ended his playing career with French side LB Châteauroux.

International career

Ukkonen represented Finland at the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow. Three years later, he earned his first cap for Finland in a 1–1 draw against Poland. The same year, Ukkonen was voted Finnish Footballer of the Year by sports journalists and the Football Association of Finland. He made 59 appearances for the Finland national team, scoring four goals.

Coaching career

He stayed in football as manager. First he was coach of Finland's national youth team. He was head coach of Finland at the 2001 World Youth Championship in Argentina.

His next job was the manager of Turun Palloseura (TPS) in 2004–2006.

Career statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueDomestic Cups[a]EuropeTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
KuPS1979Mestaruussarja120120
1980Mestaruussarja2622[b]0282
1981Mestaruussarja257257
1982Mestaruussarja284284
Total9113––209313
Cercle Brugge1982–83Belgian First Division212––212
1983–84Belgian First Division30110–311
1984–85Belgian First Division25372–325
1985–86Belgian First Division31101312[c]04611
Total107162132013019
Lokeren1986–87Belgian First Division32821–349
RSC Anderlecht1987–88Belgian First Division14140–181
1988–89Belgian First Division150303[c]0210
1989–90Belgian First Division82202[c]1123
1990–91Belgian First Division20000020
Total3939051534
Royal Antwerp1991–92Belgian First Division27050–320
1992–93Belgian First Division111101[c]0131
Total3816010451
Châteauroux1993–94Division 20011–11
1994–95Division 237171–442
1995–96Division 215010–160
Total52192––613
Career total3594247610141649
  1. ^ Includes Suomen Cup, Belgian Cup, Belgian Super Cup, Belgian Ligabeker and Coupe de France
  2. ^ Includes UEFA Cup
  3. ^ Includes UEFA Cup Winners' Cup

International goals

As of match played 9 October 1991. Finland score listed first, score column indicates score after each Ukkonen goal.
List of international goals scored by Kari Ukkonen
No.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
117 April 1985Odra Opole Stadium, Opole, PolandPoland1–21–2Friendly
219 October 1988Vetch Field, Swansea, WalesWales2–22–21990 FIFA World Cup qualification
323 August 1989Väinölänniemen Stadium, Kuopio, FinlandYugoslavia1–12–2Friendly
49 October 1991Helsinki Olympic Stadium, Helsinki, FinlandGreece1–11–1UEFA Euro 1992 qualifying

Honours

References

  1. ^ Kasila, Markku & Vuorinen, Juha. Pelimiehet. Suomen Urheilumuseosäätiö. p. 354. ISBN 978-952-99075-9-5.