Jukka Raitala
Encyclopedia
Jukka Raitala is a Finnish
footballer, who is currently playing for CA Osasuna
in the Spanish
La Liga
on loan from German club 1899 Hoffenheim.
He usually plays as a left back in both his club side and the national team but can also operate as a right back or a central defender
.
.
and HJK has made him a transfer target in Finland. For a long time Raitala refused to sign a new contract with HJK, but when the club left him out of the playing squad he chose to sign a new deal that kept him in Helsinki until the end of the 2011 season.
In 2008 SpVgg Greuther Fürth
scouted him in Helsinki. In October 2008, Finnish sports magazine IS Veikkaaja told that AEK Athens, AFC Ajax and TSG 1899 Hoffenheim are also scouting him. In Greek Day News, Raitala stated that he is interested in a move to AEK and that he is friends with AEK's Perparim Hetemaj
.
In November, West Bromwich Albion invited him for a test period after preparative negotiations with HJK. Raitala never did the trip and stated he does not want to risk playing time by moving. He wants a guarantee for his place in the 2009 Under-21 Euros
team.
In January 2009, Newcastle United invited him for a week long trial with their first team. It was also reported in Finnish IS Veikkaaja that Udinese Calcio
and Middlesbrough F.C.
are watching his progress.
In April 2009, Express.de wrote that Raitala is 1. FC Köln
's top candidate to replace Pierre Womé
as their left-back. On April 23, Express.de said that Raitala is going to meet Köln and he has an exit clause in his new contract with HJK. This was later denied by the Finnish club.
On 21 April 2009, Raitala signed a new three-year deal with HJK.
In May 2009, Ajax Amsterdam
, PSV Eindhoven, Bayer Leverkusen
, AZ Alkmaar and Bordeaux
joined the race to sign Raitala.
On 31 August 2010, he was loaned to 2. Bundesliga side
SC Paderborn 07
for one season, where he made 29 league appearances in total.
in Spanish La Liga
, with the Spaniards having a option to buy him for €
1.25 million at the end of the season. On 28 August 2011, Raitala made his La Liga debut for Osasuna playing as a left defender against Atletico Madrid.
in a friendly match against Japan
and is currently a regular player.
He was also a regular in the Finnish under-21 team that qualified for the UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship final tournament
in 2009.
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Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
footballer, who is currently playing for CA Osasuna
CA Osasuna
Club Atlético Osasuna, known as Osasuna, is a Spanish football team based in Iruñea-Pamplona, in the autonomous community of Navarre.Founded in 1920, it currently plays in the Spanish first division, holding home games at the 19,553-capacity Estadio Reyno de Navarra...
in the Spanish
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
La Liga
La Liga
The Primera División of the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional , commonly known as La Liga or, for sponsorship reasons, Liga BBVA since 2008, is the top professional association football division of the Spanish football league system...
on loan from German club 1899 Hoffenheim.
He usually plays as a left back in both his club side and the national team but can also operate as a right back or a central defender
Defender (association football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
.
Early career
Raitala joined the Keravan Pallo-75 junior team at the age of seven. He played there for ten years before he moved to HJK in 2005. Only after one year in the youth team he was promoted to HJK's reserve team Klubi 04Klubi-04
Klubi 04 is the reserve team of Helsingin Jalkapalloklubi for whom a number of the players are also registered.-History:It was founded in 2004 when HJK bought FC Jokerit. Initially Klubi 04 played Kakkonen. Klubi 04 rose to Ykkönen in 2006 when it beat FC Inter's reserve team VG-62...
.
HJK
In 2007, he made his first appearance for the senior side at the age of eighteen and was since then a regular in the starting eleven. His success with the Finland national under-21 football teamFinland national under-21 football team
The Finnish national under-21 football team is the national under-21 football team of Finland. The team qualified for the UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship final tournament in 2009.-UEFA U-21 Championship Record:...
and HJK has made him a transfer target in Finland. For a long time Raitala refused to sign a new contract with HJK, but when the club left him out of the playing squad he chose to sign a new deal that kept him in Helsinki until the end of the 2011 season.
In 2008 SpVgg Greuther Fürth
SpVgg Greuther Fürth
SpVgg Greuther Fürth is a German association football club based in Fürth, Bavaria. The club was formed when the senior football side of newcomer Turn- und Sportverein Vestenbergsgreuth joined traditional club Spielvereinigung Fürth on 1 July 1996...
scouted him in Helsinki. In October 2008, Finnish sports magazine IS Veikkaaja told that AEK Athens, AFC Ajax and TSG 1899 Hoffenheim are also scouting him. In Greek Day News, Raitala stated that he is interested in a move to AEK and that he is friends with AEK's Perparim Hetemaj
Perparim Hetemaj
Përparim Hetemaj is a Finnish footballer of Albanian descent playing for A.C. ChievoVerona, in the Italian Serie A. He is the elder brother of Mehmet Hetemaj.-HJK Helsinki:...
.
In November, West Bromwich Albion invited him for a test period after preparative negotiations with HJK. Raitala never did the trip and stated he does not want to risk playing time by moving. He wants a guarantee for his place in the 2009 Under-21 Euros
2009 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship
The 2009 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship began on 15 June 2009, and was the 17th UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship. This was the first tournament after the competition reverted to a two-year format, following the single-year 2006-07 competition, which allowed the change to...
team.
In January 2009, Newcastle United invited him for a week long trial with their first team. It was also reported in Finnish IS Veikkaaja that Udinese Calcio
Udinese Calcio
Udinese Calcio is an Italian football club based in Udine, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, and currently plays in the Serie A. Founded in 1896, Udinese is the second oldest club in the Serie A, after Genoa....
and Middlesbrough F.C.
Middlesbrough F.C.
Middlesbrough Football Club , also known as Boro, are an English football club based in Middlesbrough, who play in the Football League Championship. Formed in 1876, they have played at the Riverside Stadium since August 1995, their third ground since turning professional in 1889...
are watching his progress.
In April 2009, Express.de wrote that Raitala is 1. FC Köln
1. FC Köln
1. FC Köln is a German association football club based in Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia. It was formed in 1948 as a merger of the clubs Kölner Ballspiel-Club 1901 and SpVgg Sülz 07....
's top candidate to replace Pierre Womé
Pierre Wome
Pierre Nlend Womé is a Cameroonian football defender who is currently a free agent after being released from 1. FC Köln in 2010...
as their left-back. On April 23, Express.de said that Raitala is going to meet Köln and he has an exit clause in his new contract with HJK. This was later denied by the Finnish club.
On 21 April 2009, Raitala signed a new three-year deal with HJK.
In May 2009, Ajax Amsterdam
Ajax Amsterdam
Amsterdamsche Football Club Ajax , also referred to as AFC Ajax, Ajax Amsterdam or simply Ajax , is a professional football club from Amsterdam, Netherlands...
, PSV Eindhoven, Bayer Leverkusen
Bayer Leverkusen
Bayer 04 Leverkusen is a German football club based in Leverkusen, North Rhine-Westphalia. It is the most well-known department of TSV Bayer 04 Leverkusen, a sports club whose members also participate in athletics, gymnastics, basketball and other sports.-Origins and early years:On 27 November...
, AZ Alkmaar and Bordeaux
Bordeaux
Bordeaux is a port city on the Garonne River in the Gironde department in southwestern France.The Bordeaux-Arcachon-Libourne metropolitan area, has a population of 1,010,000 and constitutes the sixth-largest urban area in France. It is the capital of the Aquitaine region, as well as the prefecture...
joined the race to sign Raitala.
1899 Hoffenheim
On August 31, HJK announced that Raitala had joined Hoffenheim on a season-long loan deal, with an option to buy him after the loan. On 15 March 2010, Raitala made his Bundesliga debut for Hoffenheim playing as a right defender against Werder Bremen. On 1 April 2010, TSG 1899 Hoffenheim signed him for four years.On 31 August 2010, he was loaned to 2. Bundesliga side
2. Fußball-Bundesliga
- Changes in division set-up :* Number of clubs: currently 18. From 1974 to 1981 there were two conferences, each of 20 teams. In 1981–91 it had 20...
SC Paderborn 07
SC Paderborn 07
SC Paderborn 07 is a German association football club based in Paderborn, North Rhine-Westphalia, currently playing in the 2. Bundesliga.-History:...
for one season, where he made 29 league appearances in total.
Osasuna
On 28 July 2011 he was loaned again, this time to OsasunaCA Osasuna
Club Atlético Osasuna, known as Osasuna, is a Spanish football team based in Iruñea-Pamplona, in the autonomous community of Navarre.Founded in 1920, it currently plays in the Spanish first division, holding home games at the 19,553-capacity Estadio Reyno de Navarra...
in Spanish La Liga
La Liga
The Primera División of the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional , commonly known as La Liga or, for sponsorship reasons, Liga BBVA since 2008, is the top professional association football division of the Spanish football league system...
, with the Spaniards having a option to buy him for €
Euro
The euro is the official currency of the eurozone: 17 of the 27 member states of the European Union. It is also the currency used by the Institutions of the European Union. The eurozone consists of Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg,...
1.25 million at the end of the season. On 28 August 2011, Raitala made his La Liga debut for Osasuna playing as a left defender against Atletico Madrid.
International career
On 4 February 2009, Raitala made his debut in the Finnish national teamFinland national football team
The Finland national football team represents Finland in international football competitions and is controlled by the Football Association of Finland....
in a friendly match against Japan
Japan national football team
The Japan national football team represents Japan in association football and is operated by the Japan Football Association, the governing body for association football in Japan...
and is currently a regular player.
He was also a regular in the Finnish under-21 team that qualified for the UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship final tournament
2009 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship
The 2009 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship began on 15 June 2009, and was the 17th UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship. This was the first tournament after the competition reverted to a two-year format, following the single-year 2006-07 competition, which allowed the change to...
in 2009.
International
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|2011||8||0
|-
!Total||10||0
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