# Niklas Tarvajärvi

Niklas Henrikki Tarvajärvi (born 13 March 1983) is a retired Finnish professional footballer who played as a striker. He is currently working as the head coach of Heerenveen women's team.

## Career
### Jokerit

Tarvajärvi started his career at FC Jokerit in Finland's Veikkausliiga. During the seasons 2001–2004 he represented the team in 39 matches and scored 11 goals.

### MyPa

After FC Jokerit was sold to rivals HJK Helsinki in March 2004 and renamed to Klubi-04 Tarvajarvi transferred to MyPa. In the next two seasons he made 37 appearances and 3 goals.

### Heerenveen

In the summer of 2005 he moved to Heerenveen. Between 2005 and 2009 he gained 30 appearances in the team and scored four goals. He also spent time on loan in De Graafschap and Vitesse Arnhem.

### Neuchâtel Xamax

After almost four years in the Netherlands, Tarvajarvi joined Neuchâtel Xamax in February 2009 for a transfer fee of €500,000.

### Karlsruher SC

He then signed on 21 July 2009 a two-year contract with Karlsruher SC.

### Go Ahead Eagles

After his contract in Karlsruher SC ended he transferred to Dutch Eerste Divisie side Go Ahead Eagles.

### RoPS

In April 2013 it was reported that Tarvajärvi had signed a contract with Veikkausliiga team RoPS. He decided to leave the team after only 10 appearances.

## International career

Tarvajärvi debuted in the Finland national team on 12 March 2005, coming on as a substitute against Kuwait in a friendly match.

## Coaching career

Since his retirement, he has worked as a youth coach for SC Heerenveen, and as a head coach for VV Heerenveen.
On 24 May 2024, Tarvajärvi was named the head coach of SC Heerenveen (women).

## Personal life

His grandfather was a TV and radiojournalist Niilo Tarvajärvi.
His son Niilo Tarvajärvi is also a footballer, playing for Ajax U16 youth academy team.

## Career statistics
### Club

    As of 31 December 2020
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition :
| Club | Season | League | League | League | National cup | National cup | Other | Other | Continental | Continental | Total | Total |
| Club | Season | Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Jokerit | 2001 | Veikkausliiga | | | | | — | — | — | — | | |
| Jokerit | 2002 | Ykkönen | | | | | — | — | — | — | | |
| Jokerit | 2003 | Veikkausliiga | 25 | 7 | | | — | — | — | — | 25 | 7 |
| Jokerit | Total | Total | 39 | 11 | | | — | — | — | — | 39 | 11 |
| MyPa | 2004 | Veikkausliiga | 24 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 27 | 3 |
| MyPa | 2005 | Veikkausliiga | 13 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 17 | 1 |
| MyPa | Total | Total | 37 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 44 | 4 |
| Heerenveen | 2005–06 | Eredivisie | 17 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 19 | 3 |
| Heerenveen | 2006–07 | Eredivisie | 13 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 16 | 1 |
| Heerenveen | Total | Total | 30 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 35 | 4 |
| De Graafschap (loan) | 2007–08 | Eredivisie | 28 | 4 | — | — | 3 | 4 | — | — | 31 | 8 |
| Vitesse (loan) | 2008–09 | Eredivisie | 11 | 2 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 12 | 2 |
| Neuchâtel Xamax | 2008–09 | Swiss Super League | 8 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 8 | 1 |
| Karlsruher SC II | 2009–10 | Regionalliga Süd | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 0 |
| Karlsruher SC | 2009–10 | 2. Bundesliga | 19 | 2 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 21 | 2 |
| Karlsruher SC | 2010–11 | 2. Bundesliga | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 0 |
| Karlsruher SC | Total | Total | 20 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 2 |
| TPS (loan) | 2011 | Veikkausliiga | 8 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 8 | 2 |
| Go Ahead Eagles | 2011–12 | Eerste Divisie | 11 | 3 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 12 | 3 |
| RoPS | 2013 | Veikkausliiga | 10 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 10 | 1 |
| Career total | Career total | Career total | 214 | 34 | 6 | 0 | 5 | 4 | 8 | 1 | 233 | 39 |
* ↑ Includes Suomen Cup, KNVB Beker and DFB-Pokal
* ↑ Includes UEFA Intertoto Cup
* 1 2 Includes UEFA Cup

### International

    As of 17 June 2013
Finland national team :
| Year | Apps | Goals |
| 2005 | 2 | 0 |
| 2006 | 0 | 0 |
| 2007 | 0 | 0 |
| 2008 | 1 | 0 |
| 2009 | 1 | 0 |
| Total | 4 | 0 |

## Honours
### Club
#### MyPa

* Veikkausliiga: 2005
* Finnish Cup: 2004