# Vesa Vasara

Vesa-Pekka Vasara (born 16 August 1976) is a Finnish professional football manager for Veikkausliiga club Inter Turku, and a former player who played for the Veikkausliiga sides HJK Helsinki, FC Jokerit, FF Jaro, and FC Honka, as well as for Kalmar FF in Sweden. He was also capped 12 times for the Finland national team, scoring twice.

## Playing career

Vasara started his career with Malmin Palloseura (MPS) in Malmi, North Helsinki, before joining Vantaan Pallo in 1994.
On 26 August 1998, Vasara scored a goal for HJK Helsinki against Metz, in the 2nd leg of the UEFA Champions League play-off round, helping his team to get a 1–1 away draw (2–1 on aggregate) and qualify to the group stage of the UEFA Champions League, as the first-ever Finnish club. Vasara ultimately spent six seasons with HJK.
Later he played for Kalmar FF in Swedish Allsvenskan, and for Jokerit, Jaro and Honka in Veikkausliiga.

## Managerial career

Vasara was selected as the Veikkausliiga Manager of the Month for June 2018 while managing Veikkausliiga side Honka. Vasara worked as a manager of Honka for seven seasons, until Honka was declared for bankruptcy at the end of the 2023, and he was released.
Vasara was subsequently named the manager of a fellow Veikkausliiga side Inter Turku, signing a two-year deal with the club, starting in 2024.

## Personal life

His brother Jussi Vasara is also a former professional footballer.

## Career statistics
### Club

    As of 1 September 2024.
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition :
| Club | Season | League | League | League | Europe | Europe | Total | Total |
| Club | Season | Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| MPS | 1992 | Kolmonen | | | | | | |
| MPS | 1993 | Kakkonen | | | | | | |
| MPS | Total | Total | 30 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 30 | 5 |
| Vantaan Pallo | 1994 | Kakkonen | 7 | 5 | – | – | 7 | 5 |
| HJK | 1995 | Veikkausliiga | 24 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 28 | 2 |
| HJK | 1996 | Veikkausliiga | 23 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 26 | 2 |
| HJK | 1997 | Veikkausliiga | 25 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 27 | 5 |
| HJK | 1998 | Veikkausliiga | 23 | 2 | 6 | 1 | 29 | 3 |
| HJK | 1999 | Veikkausliiga | 25 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 29 | 6 |
| HJK | 2000 | Veikkausliiga | 16 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 17 | 1 |
| HJK | Total | Total | 136 | 17 | 20 | 2 | 156 | 19 |
| Jokerit | 2001 | Veikkausliiga | 29 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 31 | 0 |
| Kalmar FF | 2002 | Allsvenskan | 15 | 0 | – | – | 15 | 0 |
| Kalmar FF | 2003 | Allsvenskan | 17 | 2 | – | – | 17 | 2 |
| Kalmar FF | Total | Total | 32 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 32 | 2 |
| Jaro | 2004 | Veikkausliiga | 24 | 4 | – | – | 24 | 4 |
| Honka | 2005 | Ykkönen | 22 | 2 | – | – | 22 | 2 |
| Honka | 2006 | Veikkausliiga | 23 | 5 | – | – | 23 | 5 |
| Honka | 2007 | Veikkausliiga | 14 | 1 | – | – | 14 | 1 |
| Honka | Total | Total | 59 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 59 | 8 |
| Career total | Career total | Career total | 315 | 35 | 22 | 2 | 337 | 37 |
* ↑ Appearances in UEFA Intertoto Cup
* 1 2 3 4 Appearances in UEFA Cup
* ↑ Appearances in UEFA Cup Winners' Cup
* ↑ Appearances in UEFA Champions League

### International

    As of match played 17 April 2002
Finland :
| Year | Apps | Goals |
| 1999 | 1 | 0 |
| 2000 | 6 | 2 |
| 2001 | 4 | 0 |
| 2002 | 1 | 0 |
| Total | 12 | 2 |

### International goals

    As of match played 4 February 2000. Finland score listed first, score column indicates score after each Vasara goal.
List of international goals scored by Vesa Vasara :
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
| 1 | 4 February 2000 | La Manga Stadium, La Manga, Spain | Denmark | 1–0 | 2–1 | 2000–01 Nordic Football Championship |
| 2 | 4 February 2000 | La Manga Stadium, La Manga, Spain | Denmark | 2–1 | 2–1 | 2000–01 Nordic Football Championship |

### Managerial

    As of 10 January 2025
| Team | Nat | From | To | Record | Record | Record | Record | Record |
| Team | Nat | From | To | P | W | D | L | W% |
| Honka | | 1 January 2017 | 31 December 2023 | 257 | 124 | 66 | 67 | 048.25 |
| Inter Turku | | 1 January 2024 | present | 41 | 22 | 5 | 14 | 053.66 |
| Total | Total | Total | Total | 444 | 215 | 97 | 132 | 048.42 |

## Honours
### As a player

HJK
* Veikkausliiga: 1997
* Finnish Cup: 2000

### As a manager

Honka
* Finnish Cup runner-up: 2023
* Finnish League Cup: 2022
* Ykkönen runner-up: 2017
Inter Turku
* Finnish Cup runner-up: 2024
* Finnish League Cup: 2024