Sami Ristilä (born 15 August 1974) is a Finnish football manager and former player.
Playing career Ristilä was born in Valkeakoski. Before he joined Drogheda Ristilä played for MyPa, SC Neukirchen, FC Zwolle and FC Haka. He played an important role in the Drogheda midfield and sometimes played up front. He has represented the Finland national side on two occasions. He played three seasons with Zwolle in the Dutch Eerste divisie. In December 2008 he returned to FC Haka and signed a contract to 30 December 2011.
He has played 247 games in the Veikkausliiga.
Manager career The longest spell of his career as a manager was 2013–2016 with Finnish club KTP. After 2015 season KTP got relegated from Veikkausliiga. Poor results continued the next year and Ristilä was replaced by his assistant coach in middle of the season on 30 June 2016.
On 31 August 2016, he joined the coaching staff of Shamrock Rovers under head coach Stephen Bradley, who he formerly played together with at Drogheda United. Sami would work with the development of the Shamrock Rovers Academy on a deal until the end of 2016.
In 2017, he returned to Finland and at the end of the year, he was appointed assistant coach to Toni Korkeakunnas at FC Lahti for the 2018 season with an option for one further year.Sami Ristilä FC Lahden valmennustiimiin, fclahti.fi, 18 October 2017 He was also going to be responsible for the youth development from the U19s to the first team. On 8 October 2018, he was appointed head coach of Lahti, signing a deal until the end of 2020 with an option for one further year.Sami Ristilä FC Lahden uudeksi päävalmentajaksi, yle.fi, 8 October 2018 The club announced in October 2019, that Ristilä would leave his position at the end of the year.Päävalmentaja Sami Ristilä ei jatka FC Lahdessa, fclahti.fi, 10 October 2019
Career statistics World Football + Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueCupLeague cupEuropeTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsHaka1991Veikkausliiga31–––311992Veikkausliiga141–––1411993Veikkausliiga100–––1001994Veikkausliiga249–––2491995Veikkausliiga232–––232Total74130000007413Neukirchen1995–96Regionalliga Süd153–––153Haka1996Veikkausliiga13100–42173Zwolle1996–97Eerste Divisie26821––2891997–98Eerste Divisie28411––2951998–99Eerste Divisie29520––315Total83175200008819Jokerit1999Veikkausliiga13210–301722000Veikkausliiga32700–20347Total459100050519MYPA2001Veikkausliiga29600–20316Haka2002Veikkausliiga21511–212472003Veikkausliiga231000–1124112004Veikkausliiga261000–423012Total70251100747830Drogheda United2005LOI Premier Division25340––2932006LOI Premier Division1510020201912007LOI Premier Division1231000301632008LOI Premier Division121002010151Total648504060798Haka2009Veikkausliiga1620041–203Career total409841238122645194
Honours Haka Veikkausliiga (1): 2004
Drogheda United FAI Cup (1): 2005 Setanta Sports Cup (2): 2006, 2007 League of Ireland (1): 2007
Individual Veikkausliiga Coach of the Month: October 2010KuPSin Dudu Veikkausliigan lokakuun pelaaja August 2011,Sampsa Timoskasta Veikkausliigan elokuun pelaaja
References
Guardian Football
External links https://www.independent.ie/regionals/droghedaindependent/sport/soccer/sami-wants-to-do-the-haka-with-drogheda-27102318.html