Juhani Ojala


Juhani Ojala , is a Finnish professional football Centre back who plays for Vejle Boldklub and the 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. At the end of the 2010 Veikkausliiga season, he was officially selected as the defender of the year.

Young Boys

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

HJK Helsinki Loan

On 29 July 2015, Ojala rejoined HJK on loan for the remainder of the 2015 Veikkausliiga season. 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.

Vejle BK

On 26 August 2019 Danish 1st Division club Vejle Boldklub confirmed, that they had signed Ojala.

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. He gained his first FIFA World Cup qualification appearance 12 October 2012 in Helsinki Olympic Stadium in a match against Georgia. During autumn of 2012 he established himself as a regular in the national team.

Honours

Club

;HJK Helsinki

Club

International

International goals

NoDateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1.9 January 2017Tahnoun bin Mohamed Stadium, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates1–01–0Friendly