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. 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 competitionClubSeasonLeagueDomestic CupsEuropeTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsKuPS1979Mestaruussarja1201201980Mestaruussarja262202821981Mestaruussarja2572571982Mestaruussarja284284Total9113––209313Cercle Brugge1982–83Belgian First Division212––2121983–84Belgian First Division30110–3111984–85Belgian First Division25372–3251985–86Belgian First Division3110131204611Total107162132013019Lokeren1986–87Belgian First Division32821–349RSC Anderlecht1987–88Belgian First Division14140–1811988–89Belgian First Division15030302101989–90Belgian First Division8220211231990–91Belgian First Division20000020Total3939051534Royal Antwerp1991–92Belgian First Division27050–3201992–93Belgian First Division1111010131Total3816010451Châteauroux1993–94Division 20011–111994–95Division 237171–4421995–96Division 215010–160Total52192––613Career total3594247610141649
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 UkkonenNo.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition117 April 1985Odra Opole Stadium, Opole, Poland1–21–2Friendly219 October 1988Vetch Field, Swansea, Wales2–22–21990 FIFA World Cup qualification323 August 1989Väinölänniemen Stadium, Kuopio, Finland1–12–2Friendly49 October 1991Helsinki Olympic Stadium, Helsinki, Finland1–11–1UEFA Euro 1992 qualifying
Honours Belgian Cup: Winner (4): 1985, 1988, 1989, 1992 Runner-up (1): 1986 Belgian First Division: Winner (1): 1990–91 Runner-up (2): 1988–89, 1989–90
References
Cerclemuseum.be Kari Ukkonen player profile