Pertti Johannes Alaja (18 February 1952 – 18 August 2017) was a Finnish football executive and a former footballer who played as a goalkeeper.
Alaja served as the Secretary General of the Football Association of Finland during 1991–2000 and the vice-president during 2004–2006. He was also the tournament director of the FIFA World Cup 2010.
Alaja was elected the 15th president of the Finnish FA on 14 October 2012, replacing Sauli Niinistö who was elected President of Finland,Alajasta Palloliiton 15. puheenjohtaja and served in the position until his death in 2017.
Alaja died on 18 August 2017. He was previously diagnosed with cancer.Jalkapallovaikuttaja Pertti Alaja on kuollut, Yle, 18 August 2017
In November 2017, Alaja was posthumously awarded the Captain's Ball, the most prestigious personal award by the Football Association of Finland. He was also named in the Finnish Football Hall of Fame.
Alaja had also previously played handball at the highest domestic level.Pertti Alajalle Palloliiton ja liigan Captain's Ball -palkinto, Keskisuomalainen, 3 November 2017
His late brother was also a professional footballer and handball player, and later worked in various positions in sports management.Kommentti: Äkillisesti kuollut Erkki Alaja oli urheilumarkkinoinnin tuhattaituri, Ilta-Sanomat, Juha Kanerva, 21 July 2023
Honours HJK Mestaruussarja: 1973 Individual Football Association of Finland: The Captain's Ball 2017Captain's Ball, palloliitto.fi Hall of Fame of Finnish football
References