Mika Nurmela (born 26 December 1971) is a Finnish football coach and former professional footballer, who played as a midfielder or winger. He is currently the sporting director of AC Oulu.
After his playing career, he also worked as the sporting director of his hometown club AC Oulu, when they played in Ykkönen in 2010s. During 2015–2024, Nurmela was an assistant coach of the Finland national team.
Club career While playing for Heerenveen in Eredivisie during the 1999–2000 season, Nurmela was awarded for the joint-most assists of the season with 12 contributions.Oliver Antman huimassa vireessä – Mika Nurmela kertoo, miksi jälki on tähtiinkin verrattuna poikkeuksellsta, Yle, 14 March 2025
Nurmela ended his professional playing career in 2014, at the age of 43.
International Nurmela was capped 71 times for the Finland national team, scoring four goals. He ended his international career in January 2008.
Personal life His son Anselmi Nurmela is also a professional footballer who plays for OLS.
Career statistics Club
+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueCupEuropeTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsOLS Oulu1988Kakkonen153––1531989Kakkonen211––211Total3640000364Rauman Pallo1990Kakkonen216––216Haka1991Veikkausliiga335––3351992Veikkausliiga323––323Total6580000658Malmö FF1993Allsvenskan163–101731994Allsvenskan50––501995Allsvenskan100–00100Total3130010323TPS (loan)1994Veikkausliiga62––62Emmen1995–96Eerste Divisie25500–2551996–97Eerste Divisie34400–3441997–98Eerste Divisie31710–3271998–99Eerste Divisie38342–425Total12819520013321Heerenveen1999–00Eredivisie34820404082000–01Eredivisie33510604052001–02Eredivisie34421414062002–03Eredivisie3292020369Total1332671161156281. FC Kaiserslautern2003–04Bundesliga21000202302004–05Bundesliga7010–80Total2801020310OLS Oulu2005Ykkönen20––20HJK Helsinki2005Veikkausliiga72––72Heracles Almelo2005–06Eredivisie24200–242AC Oulu2006Ykkönen40––40HJK Helsinki2006Veikkausliiga152–201722007Veikkausliiga252–30282Total4040050454RoPS2008Veikkausliiga251––251AC Oulu2009Ykkönen264––2642010Veikkausliiga256––2562011Ykkönen24520–2652012Ykkönen25320–2732013Ykkönen26310–2732014Ykkönen27420–294Total15325700016025Career total603102203241647106
International goals Scores and results list Finland's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Nurmela goal.
+ List of international goals scored by Mika NurmelaFootball PLAYER: Mika NurmelaNo.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition1 6 September 2003 Shafa Stadium, Baku, Azerbaijan 2–1 Euro 2004 qualifying2 19 November 2003 Estadio Alejandro Morera Soto, Alajuela, Costa Rica 1–2 Friendly 3 18 March 2005 Prince Mohamed bin Fahd Stadium, Dammam, Saudi Arabia 4–1 Friendly4 15 November 2006 Finnair Stadium, Helsinki, Finland 1–0 Euro 2008 qualifying
Honours Finnish Cup: 1994, 2006
References