Walter Viitala (born 9 January 1992) is a Finnish former professional footballer who last played as goalkeeper for Inter Turku.
Club career After winning the Finnish championship title with IFK Mariehamn, on 15 December 2016, Viitala signed a 2.5-year contract with Viborg FF on a free transfer. He made his debut in a 1–0 victory against AaB on 8 April 2017.
On 11 August 2018 Viitala signed for Swedish champions Malmö FF. He signed a short-term contract for the rest of the year to replace injured back-up goalkeeper Fredrik Andersson. He made his first appearance for Malmö FF on 23 September 2018, when he replaced an injured Johan Dahlin at halftime in a 4–0 victory over Kalmar FF. He made his first start a week later in a 0–0 draw against GIF Sundsvall.
On 2 December 2021, he joined Inter Turku on a two-year contract. He retired after the 2023 season.
International career Viitala is a former youth international for Finland, and represented his country from under-16 to under-21 level.
In November 2016, Viitala received his first call-up to the senior Finland squad for the match against Ukraine. He made a debut on 9 January 2017 in a 1–0 win against Morocco in Al Ain.
Coaching career After retiring as a player, on 24 October 2023, it was announced that Viitala starts as a goalkeeping coach in his former youth club PPJ.PPJ PANOSTAA MAALIVAHTI TOIMINTAAN, ppj.fi, 24 October 2023
Career statistics Club .Walter Viitala stats, Finnish FA + Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueCupLeague cupEuropeOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsHonka2011Veikkausliiga000020——202012Veikkausliiga1000020——1202013Veikkausliiga270102020—3002014Veikkausliiga150003010—180Total52010903000650HIFK (loan)2011Ykkönen1700000——170Pallohonka2012Kakkonen200000——20IFK Mariehamn2015Veikkausliiga803020——1302016Veikkausliiga330103020—390Total41040502000520Viborg FF2016–17Danish Superliga5000——6Appearances in the Danish Superliga relegation play-offs01102017–18Danish 1st Division13000———1302018–19Danish 1st Division2000———20Total20000000060260Malmö FF2018Allsvenskan2000—00—20Sandefjord20191. divisjon13000———130Sandefjord 220194. divisjon10————10SJK2020Veikkausliiga8000———802021Veikkausliiga0030———30Total8030000000110SJK Akatemia2021Kakkonen10————10Inter Turku2022Veikkausliiga200001000—2102023Veikkausliiga000000——00Total20000100000210Career total17708015050602110
International
FinlandYearAppsGoals201720201800201910Total30
Honours IFK Mariehamn Veikkausliiga (1): 2016 Finnish Cup: 2015
Individual Veikkausliiga Player of the Month: April 2016Walter Viitala huhtikuun kuuka Veikkausliiga Goalkeeper of the Year: 2016 Veikkausliiga Team of the Year: 2016
References
External links