Pyry Kärkkäinen is a Finnish

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 currently plays for AC Oulu

AC Oulu

AC Oulu is a Finnish football club, based in Oulu. The club's coach is Juha Malinen, and it plays its home matches at Raatin Stadion.-History :...

 in the Finnish Veikkausliiga

Veikkausliiga

Veikkausliiga is the premier division of Finnish football, comprising the top 12 clubs of the country. Veikkausliiga is currently ranked as the 28th best league in Europe. Its main sponsor is the Finnish national betting agency Veikkaus, hence the league's name...

.

Club career

Kärkkäinen started his career with Kiuruveden Palloilijat where he played, until joining PK-37 for the season 2003. In 2003, he went on trial at Molde FK. For the season 2004, he moved to Kuopio

Kuopio

Kuopio is a city and a municipality located in the region of Northern Savonia, Finland. A population of makes it the ninth biggest city in the country. The city has a total area of , of which is water and half forest...

 and KuPS

KuPS

Kuopion Palloseura is a Finnish football club, based in the 8th most populated city of Finland, Kuopio. KuPS plays in Finland's Premier League, Veikkausliiga. The team plays its home matches at Kuopion keskuskenttä...

. He signed for three years. KuPS was relegated in 2006 and Kärkkäinen left the club and signed with FC Lahti

FC Lahti

FC Lahti is a Finnish football club, based in the town of Lahti. It currently plays in the Finnish First Division after placing last in Finnish Premier League during season 2010...

. At that time he was already a regular in the Finnish under-19 national team. FC Honka

FC Honka

FC Honka is a Finnish football club, based in Tapiola, Espoo. It was promoted into the Finnish premier division , for the first time in its history, at the end of the 2005 season. The club's manager is Mika Lehkosuo, and it plays its home matches at Tapiolan urheilupuisto...

 had Kärkkäinen at trial in 2006, but chose not to offer a contract and FC Lahti's coach Antti Muurinen

Antti Muurinen

Antti Muurinen is a Finnish football coach. He is currently the head coach of HJK Helsinki in Finland's Veikkausliiga.Muurinen is probably best known as the head coach of the Finnish national team...

 signed him for the first time.

HJK

In November 2008, Kärkkäinen signed a two-year contract with the capital city club HJK. Also in this time Muurinen

Antti Muurinen

Antti Muurinen is a Finnish football coach. He is currently the head coach of HJK Helsinki in Finland's Veikkausliiga.Muurinen is probably best known as the head coach of the Finnish national team...

 wanted to have the talented centre-back. He made his first appearance for HJK in the 5-1 home win against his old club KuPS

KuPS

Kuopion Palloseura is a Finnish football club, based in the 8th most populated city of Finland, Kuopio. KuPS plays in Finland's Premier League, Veikkausliiga. The team plays its home matches at Kuopion keskuskenttä...

 on 18 April 2009. He also scored his first goal for HJK in the same match.

International career

He was a part of the Finnish under-21 team, that qualified for the UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship

UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship

The European Under-21 Football Championship is a football competition organised by the sport's European governing body, UEFA. It is held every two years. The competition has existed in its current form since 1978. It was preceded by the Under 23 Challenge Cup which ran from 1967 to 1970...

 final tournament in 2009. He has also played for U17's and U19's.

Career honours

KuPS

KuPS

Kuopion Palloseura is a Finnish football club, based in the 8th most populated city of Finland, Kuopio. KuPS plays in Finland's Premier League, Veikkausliiga. The team plays its home matches at Kuopion keskuskenttä...

• • 2006 Finnish League Cup
    Finnish League Cup
    The Finnish League Cup is a knock-out football competition contested annually during pre-season in winter by teams from Veikkausliiga.-Finnish League Cup finals:...
    
    

FC Lahti

FC Lahti

FC Lahti is a Finnish football club, based in the town of Lahti. It currently plays in the Finnish First Division after placing last in Finnish Premier League during season 2010...

• • 2007 Finnish League Cup
    Finnish League Cup
    The Finnish League Cup is a knock-out football competition contested annually during pre-season in winter by teams from Veikkausliiga.-Finnish League Cup finals:...
    
    

External links

• Profile at HJK.fi
• Stats at Veikkausliiga.com