Tuomas Juhani Haapala (born 20 April 1979) is a Finnish former footballer who ended his career after 2010.
Haapala has previously played for FC Lahti (2000–03) and MyPa (2004–05) in the Finnish Veikkausliiga. He won the Finnish Cup with MyPa in 2004, and captained the club to the Finnish championship in 2005. After an excellent 2005 season, Haapala was invited for a trial with Manchester City. After two weeks at the club, manager Stuart Pearce decided to offer him a contract to the end of the 2005–06 season. However, Haapala failed to break into the first team, and made only reserve team appearances. After his long try-out in Manchester he signed for Sandefjord Fotball. In August 2007 he joined HJK Helsinki. After three seasons with HJK, Haapala joined Tampere United for the season 2010, which was his last year as a professional football player.
Haapala played his first game for the Finnish national team on 12 October 2005 against Estonia.
Career statistics Tuomas Haapala stats, Finnish FATuomas Juhani Haapala stats, Norwegian FA + Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueCupLeague cupEuropeTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsLahti1998Ykkönen30–––30RiPS1999Ykkönen232–––232Lahti2000Veikkausliiga241–––2412001Veikkausliiga275–––2752002Veikkausliiga28310––2932003Veikkausliiga265–––265Total1051410000010614MYPA2004Veikkausliiga2411000202712005Veikkausliiga232000060292Total473100080563Manchester City2005–06Premier League0000000000Sandefjord2006Tippeligaen7010––802007Tippeligaen6010––60Total130200000150Sandefjord 220063. divisjon10–––1020073. divisjon20–––20Total3000000030HJK Helsinki2007Veikkausliiga900000201102008Veikkausliiga2300000–2302009Veikkausliiga60007000130Total380007020470Klubi 042009Ykkönen10–––10Tampere United2010Veikkausliiga211–––211Career total25419407010027519
Honours Finnish championship: 2005, 2009 Finnish Cup: 2004, 2008
References
External links Profile at HJK.fi
Guardian Football