Otso Virtanen (born 3 April 1994) is a Finnish footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Ilves.
Club career Virtanen started his professional career in 2011 at TPS, appearing primarily for their reserve team ÅIFK. Before the 2013 season, he moved to IFK Mariehamn and appeared in 22 matches. In 2014, he served primarily as the backup for Swedish goalkeeper Simon Nurme.
Virtanen signed a three-and-a-half-year contract with Scottish club Hibernian on 24 January 2016. Virtanen was an unused substitute as Hibs lost the 2015–16 Scottish League Cup final to Ross County. He made his first appearance for Hibs in a 2015–16 Scottish Cup tie against Inverness, coming on as a substitute after regular goalkeeper Mark Oxley lost a contact lens. Oxley was shown a yellow card by the referee during this incident, which caused him to be suspended for the Scottish Cup semi-final. Hibs manager Alan Stubbs then signed Conrad Logan as an alternative goalkeeper, and chose to play Logan in the semi-final ahead of Virtanen.
Virtanen made one starting appearance for Hibs, playing in a 2016–17 UEFA Europa League qualifying first leg match against Brondby. He was at fault for the Brondby goal in that match and was replaced for the second leg by Ross Laidlaw. Virtanen left Hibs in January 2017 and signed for Finnish club KuPS.
On 22 May 2024, Virtanen signed a contract extension with Ilves, on a deal until the end of 2026.Ilves-kapteeni Otso Virtaselle kaksivuotinen jatkosopimus, ilvesfootball.com, 22 May 2024 He had gained a team captaincy in his first season with the club in 2023.
International career In May 2014, Virtanen was selected for the Finland national under-21 team for the match against Moldova.
Career statistics Otso Virtanen stats, Football Association of Finland + Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueCupLeague cupContinentalTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsÅIFK2011Kakkonen20–––202012Kakkonen180–––180Total200––––––200TPS2011Veikkausliiga100000–102012Veikkausliiga000000–00Total100000––10IFK Mariehamn2013Veikkausliiga2202060–3002014Veikkausliiga1703040–2402015Veikkausliiga2601020–290Total65060120––830Hibernian2015–16Scottish Championship001000–102016–17Scottish Championship0000001010Total0010001020KuPS2017Veikkausliiga33060––3902018Veikkausliiga25040–203102019Veikkausliiga25040–403302020Veikkausliiga22060–403202021Veikkausliiga5050–001002022Veikkausliiga5040000090Total1150290001001540KuPS II2022Kakkonen20–––20Ilves2023Veikkausliiga2506050–3602024Veikkausliiga2401060303402025Veikkausliiga0000500050Total4907016030750Career total25204302801403370
Honours Hibernian Scottish Cup: 2015–16 Scottish League Cup runners-up: 2015–16
Kuopion Palloseura Veikkausliiga: 2019 Suomen Cup: 2021, 2022
Ilves Veikkausliiga runner-up: 2024Ilveksen päävalmentaja hopeasta: ”Voitettu mitali”, Yle, 19 October 2024 Suomen Cup: 2023
IFK Mariehamn Suomen Cup: 2015
References
External links Otso Virtanen at IFK Mariehamn