Juhani Ojala (; born 19 June 1989) is a Finnish professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Veikkausliiga club Gnistan.Tervetuloa Ogeliin Jude!Tervetuloa Juhani Ojala esporthonka.com, 21 July 2023 Ojala was born in Vantaa, Finland where he played for the local youth team before moving to HJK's organisation.
Ojala made his international debut for Finland in November 2011, at the age of 22.
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.Isotalo Mikko, Judesoturi, Iltalehti Urheilu 27 July 2010, p. 6 At the end of the 2010 Veikkausliiga season, he was officially selected as the defender of the year.HJK:n Ojala ja Mäkelä pelipaikkojensa parhaat HS.fi, 21 October 2010
Young Boys On 9 April 2011 Ojala signed a contract extension with HJK, the new contract running until 2014.HJK:n oma kasvattitoppari jatkosopimukseen But in July, HJK announced that Ojala would transfer to Swiss team BSC Young Boys on 13 August, for a transfer fee of €600,000.Toppari Juhani Ojala siirtyy Sveitsiin
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 eventful match, which ended 5–3 to the Reds, Ojala opened the score with an own goal, 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, for a fee of €500,000.
Loan to HJK Helsinki On 29 July 2015, Ojala rejoined HJK on loan for the remainder of the 2015 Veikkausliiga season. He had a trial with Coventry City at the end of the season, but was not signed.
SJK On 1 September 2016, Ojala signed with SJK. He made his debut for SJK on 9 September 2016 playing full 90 minutes in a match against Inter Turku.
Vejle On 26 August 2019, Danish 1st Division club Vejle Boldklub confirmed, that they had signed Ojala.Vejle Boldklub køber Juhani Ojala , vejle-boldklub.dk, 26 August 2019 He reached promotion to the Danish Superliga during his first season at the club, and personally finished with 22 appearances in which he scored two goals.
On 14 September 2020, his debut in the Superliga, he scored in a 4–2 loss to rivals AGF.
Motherwell On 29 July 2021, Motherwell announced the signing of Ojala on a two-year contract. Ojala left Motherwell by mutual consent on 1 September 2022, having played 24 times for the club.
Doxa Katokopias On 11 January 2023, Doxa Katokopias announced the signing of Ojala.
Return to Finland After a short stint with Honka in 2023, Ojala signed with newly promoted Veikkausliiga club IF Gnistan ahead of the 2024 Veikkausliiga season. On 27 June 2025, Ojala made his 100th appearance in the league and scored his first goal for Gnistan, in a 2–2 home draw against Inter Turku, with a long ball from the halfway line over the Inter goalkeeper Eetu Huuhtanen.Maali puolesta kentästä! HJK:lle karu tulos, Iltalehti, 27 June 2025
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. He made his first goal for Finland on 9 January 2017 in a friendly match in Tahnoun bin Mohammed Stadium, Al Ain against Morocco.
Ojala was called up for the UEFA Euro 2020 pre-tournament friendly match against Sweden on 29 May 2021.
Career statistics Club
+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueNational cupLeague cupContinentalTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsKlubi 042009Ykkönen111———111HJK2009Veikkausliiga40 —402010Veikkausliiga2404170614122011Veikkausliiga171202020231Total451619081683Young Boys2011–12Swiss Super League11010——1202012–13Swiss Super League12000—101221Total2301000101341Terek Grozny2012–13Russian Premier League3000——302013–14Russian Premier League20010——2102014–15Russian Premier League1010——202015–16Russian Premier League0000——00Total240200000260HJK (loan)2015Veikkausliiga4000002060SJK2016Veikkausliiga90210000111BK Häcken2017Allsvenskan23310——2402018Allsvenskan6040—001002019Allsvenskan3110—1050Total324600010394Vejle2019–20Danish 1st Division22200——2222020–21Danish Superliga23110——241Total453100000463Motherwell2021–22Scottish Premiership2112010—241Doxa Katokopias2022–23Cypriot First Division10020——50Honka2023Veikkausliiga4000000040Honka II2023Kakkonen10———10Gnistan2024Veikkausliiga2500050—3002025Veikkausliiga1211050–181Total3711010000481Career total2671123219021229915
International
+ Appearances and goals by national team, year and competitionTeamYearCompetitiveFriendlyTotalAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsFinland201100101020121Appearance in the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification.0404020131Appearance in the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification.02030201400404020151Appearances in the UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying.0001020161Appearance in the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification.0101020173Appearances in the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification.031612018001010201900202020202Appearances in the 2020–21 UEFA Nations League.020402021002020Total90221311 Notes
International goals Scores and results list Finland's goal tally first.
No Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition 1. 9 January 2017 Tahnoun bin Mohamed Stadium, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates 1–0 1–0 Friendly
Honours HJK Veikkausliiga: 2009, 2010
Vejle Danish 1st Division: 2020
Finland 2012 Baltic Cup Runner-up 2014 Baltic Cup Bronze
Individual Veikkausliiga defender of the year: 2010
References
External links
Motherwell FC official profile Juhani Ojala – SPL competition record