# Kari Ukkonen

Kari Ukkonen (born 19 February 1961) is a Finnish former football manager and former football player. As a player, Ukkonen was fielded as defender as well as midfielder.

## Club career

Ukkonen started playing football in his hometown club Kuopion Palloseura (KuPS) in top-tier Mestaruussarja in 1979. In 1982, Ukkonen moved from Finland to Belgium, when he was bought by Cercle Brugge. Ukkonen made his Belgian début on 13 November, when Cercle defeated SV Waregem with 2–1. Ukkonen would go on to win the Belgian Cup with Cercle in 1985. Ukkonen would spend most of his career in Belgium, also playing for other First division teams as Lokeren, Anderlecht and Royal Antwerp. Ukkonen ended his playing career with French side LB Châteauroux.

## International career

Ukkonen represented Finland at the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow. Three years later, he earned his first cap for Finland in a 1–1 draw against Poland. The same year, Ukkonen was voted Finnish Footballer of the Year by sports journalists and the Football Association of Finland. He made 59 appearances for the Finland national team, scoring four goals.

## Coaching career

He stayed in football as manager. First he was coach of Finland's national youth team. He was head coach of Finland at the 2001 World Youth Championship in Argentina.
His next job was the manager of Turun Palloseura (TPS) in 2004–2006.

## Career statistics
### Club

    As of 16 May 2024.
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition :
| Club | Season | League | League | League | Domestic Cups | Domestic Cups | Europe | Europe | Total | Total |
| Club | Season | Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| KuPS | 1979 | Mestaruussarja | 12 | 0 | | | | | 12 | 0 |
| KuPS | 1980 | Mestaruussarja | 26 | 2 | | | 2 | 0 | 28 | 2 |
| KuPS | 1981 | Mestaruussarja | 25 | 7 | | | | | 25 | 7 |
| KuPS | 1982 | Mestaruussarja | 28 | 4 | | | | | 28 | 4 |
| KuPS | Total | Total | 91 | 13 | – | – | 2 | 0 | 93 | 13 |
| Cercle Brugge | 1982–83 | Belgian First Division | 21 | 2 | – | – | – | – | 21 | 2 |
| Cercle Brugge | 1983–84 | Belgian First Division | 30 | 1 | 1 | 0 | – | – | 31 | 1 |
| Cercle Brugge | 1984–85 | Belgian First Division | 25 | 3 | 7 | 2 | – | – | 32 | 5 |
| Cercle Brugge | 1985–86 | Belgian First Division | 31 | 10 | 13 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 46 | 11 |
| Cercle Brugge | Total | Total | 107 | 16 | 21 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 130 | 19 |
| Lokeren | 1986–87 | Belgian First Division | 32 | 8 | 2 | 1 | – | – | 34 | 9 |
| RSC Anderlecht | 1987–88 | Belgian First Division | 14 | 1 | 4 | 0 | – | – | 18 | 1 |
| RSC Anderlecht | 1988–89 | Belgian First Division | 15 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 21 | 0 |
| RSC Anderlecht | 1989–90 | Belgian First Division | 8 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 12 | 3 |
| RSC Anderlecht | 1990–91 | Belgian First Division | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| RSC Anderlecht | Total | Total | 39 | 3 | 9 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 53 | 4 |
| Royal Antwerp | 1991–92 | Belgian First Division | 27 | 0 | 5 | 0 | – | – | 32 | 0 |
| Royal Antwerp | 1992–93 | Belgian First Division | 11 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 13 | 1 |
| Royal Antwerp | Total | Total | 38 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 45 | 1 |
| Châteauroux | 1993–94 | Division 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | – | – | 1 | 1 |
| Châteauroux | 1994–95 | Division 2 | 37 | 1 | 7 | 1 | – | – | 44 | 2 |
| Châteauroux | 1995–96 | Division 2 | 15 | 0 | 1 | 0 | – | – | 16 | 0 |
| Châteauroux | Total | Total | 52 | 1 | 9 | 2 | – | – | 61 | 3 |
| Career total | Career total | Career total | 359 | 42 | 47 | 6 | 10 | 1 | 416 | 49 |
* ↑ Includes Suomen Cup, Belgian Cup, Belgian Super Cup, Belgian Ligabeker and Coupe de France
* ↑ Includes UEFA Cup
* 1 2 3 4 Includes UEFA Cup Winners' Cup

### International goals

    As of match played 9 October 1991. Finland score listed first, score column indicates score after each Ukkonen goal.
List of international goals scored by Kari Ukkonen :
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
| 1 | 17 April 1985 | Odra Opole Stadium, Opole, Poland | Poland | 1–2 | 1–2 | Friendly |
| 2 | 19 October 1988 | Vetch Field, Swansea, Wales | Wales | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1990 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 3 | 23 August 1989 | Väinölänniemen Stadium, Kuopio, Finland | Yugoslavia | 1–1 | 2–2 | Friendly |
| 4 | 9 October 1991 | Helsinki Olympic Stadium, Helsinki, Finland | Greece | 1–1 | 1–1 | UEFA Euro 1992 qualifying |

## Honours

* Belgian Cup:
** Winner (4): 1985, 1988, 1989, 1992
** Runner-up (1): 1986
* Belgian First Division:
** Winner (1): 1990–91
** Runner-up (2): 1988–89, 1989–90