Simo Valakari

Playing career

Club

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.

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

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

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

SJK

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, but eventually signed an upgraded contract extension with SJK on 10 February 2016. Valakari was dismissed on 17 February 2017, due to disagreement with the club's chairman Raimo Sarajärvi.

Tromsø

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.

KuPS

In November 2020, Valakari was appointed as the head coach of Kuopion Palloseura (KuPS). Under Valakari, KuPS won two consecutive Finnish Cup titles in 2021 and 2022, 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.

His contract with KuPS was terminated by mutual consent on 13 January 2023.

Auda

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. Valakari was named The Virslīga Coach of the Month in September 2023. 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.

Riga FC

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. On the next day, the club confirmed that they had appointed Valakari as the new head coach. On 2 March 2024, Valakari and Riga FC won the 2024 Latvian Supercup, beating RFS in the final on penalties. 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. 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.

St Johnstone

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, 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, but on 26 October, he managed St Johnstone as they beat Dundee 2–1 away at Dens Park. In April 2025, Valakari led the team to reach the semi-finals of the 2024–25 Scottish Cup. St Johnstone were relegated from the Scottish Premiership at the end of the 2024-25 season. Valakari stayed with the club and led them to start the 2025–26 Scottish Championship season with record-tying seven wins and one draw. He was named the Scottish Championship Manager of the Month consecutively for August and September 2025.

Personal life

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.

Valakari meditates in his everyday life.

Career statistics

Club

!colspan="2"|League cup !colspan="2"|Total |- !Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals |- |KäPa |1990 |Kolmonen |16||2||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||16||2 |- |1991 |Ykkönen |||||||||colspan="2"|—|||| |- |1992 |Kakkonen |||||||||colspan="2"|—|||| |- |1993 |Ykkönen |||||||||colspan="2"|—|||| |- |1994 |Ykkönen |||||||||colspan="2"|—|||| |- !colspan="2"|Total !59!!7!!!!!!colspan="2"|—!!59!!7 |- |1995 |Veikkausliiga |22||3||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||22||3 |- |1996 |Veikkausliiga |26||2||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||26||2 |- !colspan="2"|Total !48!!5!!0!!0!!0!!0!!48!!5 |- |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 |- !colspan="2"|Total !103!!0!!8!!0!!5!!0!!116!!0 |- |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 |- !colspan="2"|Total !46!!3!!0!!0!!5!!0!!51!!3 |- |2004 |MLS |26||1||3||0||colspan="2"|—||29||1 |- |2005 |MLS |30||0||3||0||colspan="2"|—||33||0 |- |2006 |MLS |33||0||2||0||colspan="2"|—||35||0 |- !colspan="2"|Total !89!!1!!8!!0!!colspan="2"|—!!97!!1 |- |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 |- !colspan="2"|Total !38!!1!!0!!0!!3!!0!!41!!1 |- !colspan="3"|Career total !399!!19!!16!!0!!13!!0!!429!!19 |}

International

Managerial

|1 September 2012

Honours

As a manager

SJK

• Veikkausliiga: 2015
• Finnish Cup: 2016
• Finnish League Cup: 2014

KuPS

• Finnish Cup: 2021, 2022

Riga FC

• Latvian Supercup: 2024

Individual

• Finnish Football Manager of the Year: 2015
• Veikkausliiga Manager of the Month: June 2014, October 2015
• Veikkausliiga Manager of the Year: 2015
• Virslīga Manager of the Month: September 2023
• Scottish Championship Manager of the Month: August 2025, September 2025

References

References

1. {{Hugman. 20075
2. Carrick, Buzz. [https://web.archive.org/web/20120206022611/http://3rddegree.matchnight.com/thirdindex.cfm?page=article&show=20192 "FCD to Cut Ties with Simo Valakari"], ''3rd Degree'', 15 December 2006, Retrieved 15 December 2006.
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5. [https://www.is.fi/veikkausliiga/art-2000005092066.html SJK antoi yllätyspotkut menestysluotsi Simo Valakarille], [[Ilta-Sanomat]], 17 February 2017
6. [https://sjk.fi/uutiset/simo-valakarille-pitka-jatkosopimus/ Simo Valakarille pitkä jatkosopimus], sjk.fi, 10 February 2016
7. [https://sjk.fi/uutiset/simo-valakari-on-vapautettu-sjkn-paavalmentajavastuusta/ Simo Valakari on vapautettu SJK:n päävalmentajavastuusta], sjk.fi, 17 February 2017
8. [https://yle.fi/a/3-9534086 Simon, Raipen ja Sikun kolmiodraama – tarina siitä, kuinka seinäjokinen järkiavioliitto tuli päätökseensä], [[Yle]], 2 April 2017
9. [https://www.hs.fi/urheilu/art-2000006480593.html Potkut saanut Simo Valakari myöntää, että sukset menivät ristiin norjalaisen seurajohdon kanssa: ”Nyt lähden hiihtämään vuorelle”], [[Helsingin Sanomat]], 20 April 2020
10. [https://www.iltalehti.fi/jalkapallo/a/5e20cd65-be65-4f8e-9ef6-235dad72034d Yllätyspäätös: Simo Valakari sai lähteä norjalaisseurasta – taustalla erimielisyydet seurajohdon kanssa], [[Iltalehti]], 19 April 2020
11. "Simo Valakari on KuPS:n uusi päävalmentaja". kups.fi.
12. [https://yle.fi/a/3-11630708 Simo Valakari nousee KuPSin päävalmentajaksi], Hirvonen Hinni, [[Yle]], 4 November 2020
13. [https://www.savonsanomat.fi/urheilu/6337858 Savon kallein valmentaja: KuPSin cupin mestaruuteen luotsannut Simo Valakari keräsi yli 130 000 euron ansiotulot], [[Savon Sanomat]], 8 November 2023
14. [https://www.mtvuutiset.fi/artikkeli/simo-valakarin-unelmapesti-avautui-kups-luotsi-myontaa-mtv-urheilulle-totta-kai-kiinnostaa/8479492#gs.g08yd0 Simo Valakarin unelmapesti avautui – KuPS-luotsi myöntää MTV Urheilulle: "Totta kai kiinnostaa"], mtvuutiset.fi, [[MTV Oy]], 30 July 2022
15. [https://kups.fi/simo-valakarin-paavalmentajasopimus-on-purettu/ Simo Valakarin päävalmentajasopimus on purettu], 13 January 2023, kups.fi
16. [https://yle.fi/a/74-20012867 KuPSin tiedotteessa kovaa tekstiä Simo Valakarista – seuran hallituksen jäsen kommentoi kohulähdön taustoja: ”Tämä oli viimeinen pisara”], [[Yle]], 13 January 2023
17. [https://www.iltalehti.fi/jalkapallo/a/93967957-f551-4daa-9ae3-3a48c8c57779 Simo Valakarin uusi työpaikka varmistui - jättää Suomen taakseen], [[Iltalehti]], 16 January 2021
18. [https://yle.fi/a/74-20012892 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. [https://optibetvirsliga.com/septembra-labakie-r-ramiress-un-s-valakari/ Septembra labākie – R.Ramiress un S.Valakari], 18 October 2023, [[Latvian Higher League. Virslīga]]
20. [https://optibetvirsliga.com/team/fk-auda/#stats FK Auda Detalizēta statistika], optibetvirsliga.com
21. [https://www.mtvuutiset.fi/artikkeli/mtv-urheilun-tiedot-simo-valakari-suurseuran-perasimeen/8838462#gs.23tio4 MTV Urheilun tiedot: Simo Valakari suurseuran peräsimeen], mtvuutiset.fi / [[MTV Oy]], Eetu Ikola, 13 December 2023
22. [https://rigafc.lv/en/simo-valakari-becomes-the-new-riga-football-club-head-coach/ SIMO VALAKARI BECOMES THE NEW “RIGA FOOTBALL CLUB” HEAD COACH], rigafc.lv/en, 14 December 2023
23. [https://rigafc.lv/en/latvian-supercup-winners/ LATVIAN SUPERCUP WINNERS], rigafc.lv/en, 5 March 2024
24. [https://x.com/LV_footballnews/status/1835028231595884636 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. [https://rigafc.lv/en/thank-you-simo/ THANK YOU, SIMO!], rigafc.lv, 1 October 2024
26. [https://www.perthstjohnstonefc.co.uk/news/article/simo-valakari-appointed-as-our-new-head-coach Simo Valakari appointed as our new head coach], perthstjohnstonefc.co.uk, 1 October 2024
27. [https://www.mtvuutiset.fi/artikkeli/vahvistus-simo-valakari-uuteen-valmennuspestiin/9018606#gs.g0xp1p Vahvistus: Simo Valakari uuteen valmennuspestiin], mtvuutiset.fi, [[MTV Oy]], 1 October 2024
28. [https://yle.fi/a/74-20119301 Työlupaa Skotlannissa yhä odottava Simo Valakari hankki entisen Leeds-puolustajan], [[Yle]], 21 October 2024
29. [https://www.suomifutis.com/2024/10/simo-valakari-paasi-viimein-penkin-paahan-skotlannissa-tuloksena-heti-voitto/ Simo Valakari pääsi viimein penkin päähän Skotlannissa – tuloksena heti voitto], suomifutis.com, 26 October 2024
30. [https://www.mtvuutiset.fi/artikkeli/simo-valakarille-murskatappio-vastustajan-suomalaismolari-selvisi-helpolla/9141226 Simo Valakarille murskatappio – vastustajan suomalaismolari selvisi helpolla], mtvuutiset.fi, [[MTV Oy]], 20 April 2024
31. [https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c706kr60e6yo St Johnstone relegated]
32. [https://spfl.co.uk/news/spfl-weekend-in-numbers-50814 SPFL WEEKEND IN NUMBERS], SPFL, 29 September 2025
33. [https://news.stv.tv/sport/football/st-johnstone-boss-simo-valakari-named-championship-manager-of-the-month-for-september St Johnstone boss Simo Valakari named Championship Manager of the Month], stv.tv, 8 October 2025
34. [https://www.suomifutis.com/2025/10/simo-valakari-valittiin-jalleen-kuukauden-valmentajaksi-skotlannissa/ Simo Valakari valittiin jälleen kuukauden valmentajaksi Skotlannissa], suomifutis.com, 9 October 2025
35. Kuparinen, Heikki. (November 12, 2020). "Marcus Forss ja Onni Valakari nousivat sukujensa parhaiksi maalintekijöiksi A-maajoukkueessa heti debyyteissään".
36. [https://kapylanpalloedustus.fi/uutiset/2023/toivo-valakari-kapylan-palloon Toivo Valakari sopimukseen Käpylän Pallon kanssa!], kapylanpalloedustus.fi, 28 February 2023
37. [https://www.iltalehti.fi/veikkausliiga/a/2033364b-f92e-4269-b3c1-36837cf7cc55 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. [https://tulospalvelu.palloliitto.fi/person/390685/player/seasons Simo Valakari] stats at [[Football Association of Finland. Finnish Fa]]
39. [https://www.worldfootball.net/person/pe26534/simo-valakari/club-matches/ Simo Valakari], WorldFootball
40. [https://www.motherwellnet.com/database/player-archive/v/simo-valakari/ Simo Valakari], motherwellnet.com
41. (11 November 2023). "Simo Valakari Manager profile".
42. [https://nr.soccerway.com/matches/2024/03/02/latvia/super-cup/daugava-90/carambadinamo-rga/4325495/ RIGAS FS VS. RIGA 1 - 1], soccerway
43. "KuPSin Admir Catovic Veikkausliigan kesäkuun pelaaja".
44. "Aleksandr Kokko Kuukauden pelaaja lokakuussa".
45. Kai. (2015-10-30). "Tässä ovat Captain's Ball -futisgaalan kaikki palkitut tahot".