Juhani Elias Pikkarainen (born 30 July 1998) is a Finnish professional footballer who plays as a defender for Allsvenskan club Degerfors and the Finland national team.
Club career
Pikkarainen started playing in Turun Palloseura (TPS), before he signed with RB Salzburg youth academy in 2015.
Pikkarainen spent three years in Austria, before he returned to Finland and signed with newly promoted Veikkausliiga club Kokkolan Palloveikot (KPV) on 11 December 2018 until 2019, with an option to extend the deal until 2020.SOPIMUSUUTISIA: Topparilupaus Juhani Pikkarainen KPV:n , kpv.fi, 11 December 2018 KPV were relegated back, and he then returned to his former club TPS for the 2020 season, signing a deal until the end of 2021.JUHO LÄHDE PALAA TPS-PAITAAN – PIKKARAINEN JA SIIRTOLA OVAT NUOREMMAT PALUUMUUTTAJAT, fc.tps.fi, 27 November 2019
On 17 November 2021, he signed a contract with Vaasan Palloseura (VPS) for the 2022 season. On 9 September 2022, his contract with VPS was extended for the 2023 season.Prosper Ahiabu ja Juhani Pikkarainen jatkavat Vepsussa!, VPS, 9 September 2022 Pikkarainen helped VPS to finish 3rd in the league and qualify for the UEFA Conference League qualifiers. He was named in the league's Team of the Season in 2023.
On 6 November 2023, it was announced that Pikkarainen had signed with Veikkausliiga club Ilves on a two-year deal, starting in 2024.TERVETULOA ILVEKSEEN, JUHANI PIKKARAINEN!, ilvesedustus.fi He helped Ilves to finish as the runners-up in the league. Pikkarainen was named in the Veikkausliiga Team of the Season again in 2024.
On 5 January 2025, Pikkarainen signed with Allsvenskan club Degerfors IF until the end of 2027 for an undisclosed fee.Juhani Pikkarainen klar för Degerfors, degerforsif.se, 5 January 2024Juhani Pikkarainen siirtyy Degerfors IF:n riveihin – Ilves saa puolustajasta siirtokorvauksen, ilvesfootball.com, 5 January 2025 Per the reports in media, the fee was in the region of €200,000–300,000.Juhani Pikkarainen Ruotsiin, mutta eri seuraan kuin oletettiin – Ilves avaa siirtosaagaa, Aamulehti, 5 January 2024
International career Pikkarainen is a former youth international for Finland.
On 2 October 2024, Pikkarainen received his first call-up to the Finland senior national team by the head coach Markku Kanerva, for the 2024–25 UEFA Nations League B matches against Ireland and England.Huuhkajat nimetty lokakuun UEFA Nations League -otteluihin, Finnish FA, 2 October 2024 He made his debut on 17 November 2024 in a Nations League game against Greece at the Helsinki Olympic Stadium. He started the game and played 67 minutes, as Greece won 2–0.
Personal life His father Tommi Pikkarainen is a Finnish football manager and a former player.TPS 100 vuotta – Veikkausliigan erikoisuus – isä Tommi Pikkarainen valmentaa ja poika Juhani pelaa samassa joukkueessa, jalkipeli.net, 29 June 2020Isä ja poika vastakkain torstaina alkavassa liigakarsinnassa – KPV:n Juhani Pikkarainen ja TPS:n Tommi Pikkarainen eivät asiasta keskustele, Keskipohjanmaa, 24 October 2019
Career statistics Club
+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueCupLeague cupEuropeTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsLiefering2016–17Austrian 2. Liga0000––002017–18Austrian 2. Liga1000––10Total1000––––10Anif (loan)2016–17Austrian Regionalliga West23110––241Blau-Weiß Linz (loan)2017–18Austrian 2. Liga11000––110Wacker Innsbruck II2018–19Austrian 2. Liga1000––10KPV Akatemia2019Kolmonen30–––30KPV2019Veikkausliiga15070––220TPS2020Veikkausliiga10170––1712021Ykkönen24020––260Total34190––––431VPS2022Veikkausliiga2524120–3132023Veikkausliiga2702131–322Total5226251––635Ilves2024Veikkausliiga250105040350Degerfors2025Allsvenskan7100––71Career total1725242101402108
International
+ Appearances and goals by national team and yearNational teamYearAppsGoalsFinland202410Total10
Honours VPS Veikkausliiga: 2023 3rd place
Ilves Veikkausliiga runner-up: 2024Ilveksen päävalmentaja hopeasta: ”Voitettu mitali”, Yle, 19 October 2024
Individual Veikkausliiga Team of the Year: 2023,Toimittajat äänestivät: Tässä on Veikkausliigan tähdistöjoukkue, Iltalehti, 21 October 2023 2024Koplajoukkue 2024 nimetty - jalkapallotoimittajien valinnat vuoden parhaiksi palkitaan lauantaina, veikkausliiga.com, 19 October 2024 Veikkausliiga Defender of the Year: 2024
References
External links