In Conversation, Podcast Show Notes

[Podcast] In Conversation with… Juha Pirinen

In this episode, Keke and Mark W are joined by another Huuhkajat star, Juha Pirinen. A versatile left-sided player and former Finland international with 20 caps, two Veikkausliiga Championships and a Suomen Cup to his name.

‘Piri’ talks us through his early career playing in the Veikkausliiga, starting at his hometown club, Haka, and the influence of his father and uncle, who were both professional footballers. His domestic career took in MyPa, RoPS and HJK and included playing in European competitions.

His form at RoPS led to his call-up to the international team and Juha explains why he had to take his girlfriend with him to his first Huuhkajat training camp! He also shares his perspective from inside the squad during the disappointing Hans Backe era.

International moves to Tromsø (Norway), AS Trencin (Slovakia) and Volos FC (Greece) followed, fulfilling another childhood dream of playing overseas. Although, his international career ended, sadly, just before Euro 2020 and he shares his feelings about missing out on those finals.

Join Mark (@explorefinland),  Mark (@FCSuomi),  Keke (@kekemyllari), Rich (@EscapeToSuomi) and Ally (@Mano99) for regular episodes, where 5 old blokes sit and talk about football in Finland. In English.

The show is now recorded on Zoom & published on PodBean. Follow the Finnish Football Show on PodBean for announcements of future episodes and to join any future live shows.

The #FFS theme tune is “Loppuun asti” by Lemmenpyssyt. You can listen to the song on Spotify or on YouTube . Connect with Lemmenpyssyt on Facebook.

Keke’s Questions (Listen or watch the show to hear Juha’s answers)

Recent experiences in Greece

  • You have recently completed the Greek Super League Season, where your Volos FC side made it into the top six to compete in the Championship play offs. You featured in over half of this season’s games for Volos, how did you find your Greek football experience?

Early Years in Finland

  • You were born in Valkeakoski and played junior football at the classic Finnish club FC Haka. I believe your Uncle, Jukka was a professional footballer with Haka and Ilves back in the 70’s and 80’s, was there a big football influence in your family growing up?
  • After coming through the FC Haka juniors you made it to the first team but you hadn’t played too many games when a transfer to Tampere United came about. What was the force behind that transfer and was it hard to leave Haka after growing up there?
  • Through 2009 & 2010 you made your way into the Tampere United first team, making 11 appearances in your first season and 24 in your second. Did you feel that you were developing as a player around this time?
  • What was your perspective on the financial situation at TamU?
  • Because of thissituation at United by 2011 you found yourself back at Haka. Did it feel good to be heading back to your boyhood club?
  • You had three seasons back in the black and white of Haka, 2 of those in the Veikkausliiga before a move to MyPa where you got the chance to play in the Europa League. How was your first taste of European football?
  • By 2015 you were on the move again, this time making the trip up to Lapland to sign for RoPS. Your first season at RoPS saw you play 31 league games and chip in with 5 goals and 3 assists. Did you feel that you were becoming an established Veikkausliiga player around this time?
  • RoPS were a force to be reckoned with during your time there and you narrowly missed out on the 2015 championship by a just a point but your second place finish meant that you were again able to play in Europe as RoPS eased past Shamrock Rovers in the Europa League first qualifying round but eventually succumbing to Croatians NK Lokomotiva in the second qualifying round. Did you feel that perhaps that RoPS side could or should have gone further and were you enjoying your second taste of European club football?
  • After a total of 80 games for RoPS you made a move to Finland’s biggest club HJK Helsinki. Can you tell us how that move came about and was it an easy decision to sign for HJK? 
  • HJK were going through a bit of a rebuild after missing out on the Championship for 2 seasons. You became a stalwart of the HJK defence for the next 2 years playing the majority of games as left back and you were rewarded with 2 Veikkausliiga Championships and a Suomen Cup winners medal. How do you look back on this successful period at HJK?

Becoming a Huuhkaja

  • Your good form at RoPS saw you rewarded with a call up to the Finland National team. You had been involved in some U19 squads I believe but how did it feel to get the call from Hans Backe to join up with the A National team?
  • Your debut was as a second half substitute in one of the desert friendly games against Sweden. The result that day went against us but how was it to make your Huuhkajat debut?
  • The Backe era was not the most enjoyable to watch, what was your view from the inside?
  • You had to wait a year for your next involvement but after featuring in 2 more friendlies by the time the world cup qualifying campaign came around you were a fully fledged squad member. Did you feel comfortable making the transition from Veikkausliiga to International football?
  • Hans Backe had departed and Rive Kanerva had come in as the Finland Manager. Rive had included you in almost all of his squads and you were picking up more and more game time. By the time the Euro 2020 qualifiers came around we could see that Finland had made progress under Rive, could you personally feel that Huuhkajat were heading in the right direction?
  • You played the first 2 games of the Euro 2020 qualifying campaign and were on the bench for the following 6 fixtures. By the time the home game against Liechtenstein came around we had one foot in the Euros and you were trusted with the left back position. How were you feeling as you lined up at the Bolt Arena that evening?
  • You put in a solid 90 minutes at left back and goals from Tuominen and Pukki saw us win 3-0. Then came the moment that we had all been waiting for. The referee blew his whistle for full time and we knew that we had made our first ever major tournament. The outpouring of emotion was immense and one of the overriding images of the moment was yourself and Paulus Arajuuri falling to your knees. Then Juha, I am sorry but I have to mention it, there is a clip where thousands of Finland fans are streaming onto the pitch and it looks like for a split second you are trying to single handedly hold them back… were you worried about UEFA cancelling the result or what was it?
  • Once you had realised that there was no holding us back the celebrations started. How were your own emotions that evening once you had realised what you and the squad had achieved?
  • From those unbelievable highs and that lighted hearted moment we have to move on to talk about something a little harder.
  • Obviously we had the whole Covid situation and the delay to the tournament but when the time came for Rive to announce his Euro 2020 squad many of us were shocked and surprised to see that you were not selected.
  • Can I ask Juha, had Rive been in contact with you to explain the situation and how did you manage your own emotions of disappointment or anger while still feeling happy for the boys who were going to Copenhagen and Pietari?
  • This may sound like a silly question but as you watched the games did you feel that you could have contributed?
  • Have you had any contact with Rive recently and are you still available for selection for the National Team?
  • Whatever happens Juha, you have been involved in around 40 squads earning 20 caps and that is an achievement that some can only dream of so congratulations.

Playing Overseas for Tromsø, AS Trencin and Volos FC

  • After those successful years in Helsinki you joined the mini Finnish revolution that was happening at Tromso when you signed for Manager Simo Valakari. Was the decision to move to Norway a lot to do with Simo or was playing abroad something that you always wanted to experience in your career?
  • You stayed at Tromso for the 2019 season and then you were on the move again, this time signing for Slovak Fortuna Liga side AS Trencin. Was it easy to move from the Nordic region to a new country and culture? What were the biggest cultural differences?
  • You played 62 times for Trencin and scored 2 goals, from your social media posts you seemed to enjoy your time there. Do you look back on your time in Slovakia fondly?
  • You have spent the most recent season at Greek Super League side Volos FC. You were there together with fellow Finn Nikolai Alho and you have played around 26 games in your time there. The season was a successful one with Volos finishing 6th in the league and qualifying for the Championship Play Offs. Have you enjoyed your time in Greece and how do you reflect on your own performances and that of the team?
  • We have seen some big names come back to Finland recently, Jukka Raitala and Joona Toivio at HJK and Paulus Arajuuri is now in Ykkonen with HIFK, will you be staying in Greece or is there something else coming next for you?

Find Juha Pirinen online

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