# Sauli Väisänen

Sauli Väisänen (born 5 June 1994) is a Finnish professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Veikkausliiga club Ilves. He began his senior club career playing for Honka, before signing with AIK at age 20 in 2014.
Väisänen made his international debut for Finland in October 2016, at the age of 22. He appeared in 5 out of 10 of Finland's UEFA Euro 2020 qualification matches and helped Finland national team for the first time reach European Football Championship tournament's group stage.

## Club career
### Honka

Väisänen made his first team debut during season 2013, in a match against KuPS. He was known as a crucial part of the Honka reserve team Pallohonka.

### AIK

In summer 2014 Väisänen joined AIK. He spent 4 seasons in the club. During season 2015 he was loaned to HIFK.

### SPAL and loan to Crotone

Väisänen made his Seria A debut on 20 August 2017 in a match against Lazio. He was loaned to Crotone for season 2018–19.

### Chievo

On 24 August 2019, Väisänen signed to Serie B club Chievo a deal. He made his debut in Chievo in a 1–1 home tie with Empoli on 30 August 2019.

### Cosenza

On 16 August 2021, he joined Cosenza. He made his debut on 22 August 2021 playing full 90 minutes in a match against Ascoli.

### Odense Boldklub

On 20 June 2023, Väisänen joined Danish Superliga club OB, signing a deal until June 2026.

#### Ascoli (loan)

On 18 January 2024, Väisänen returned to Italy when he was loaned out to Serie B side Ascoli.
On August 29, 2024, after his loan spell in Ascoli, OB confirmed that they had terminated Väisänen's contract by mutual agreement, despite the fact that he originally had a contract until June 2026.

### Ilves

In late December 2024, Väisänen returned to Finland and signed a two-year deal with Veikkausliiga club Ilves.

## International career
### Finland youth teams

Väisänen made his debut in international football on 5 March 2014 at the age 19 when he was called to represent Finland U21 in a match against San Marino U21. During years 2014-2016 Väisänen was a part of the Finnish national youth squad, which he also captained on occasion.

### Finland first team

Väisänen made his FIFA World Cup qualification match debut on 6 October 2016 on Laugardalsvöllur when Hans Backe chose him to the starting eleven for a match against Iceland.
Väisänen was called up for the UEFA Euro 2020 pre-tournament friendly match against Sweden on 29 May 2021. He was nominated to the Finland national team for the UEFA Euro 2020 tournament but had to withdraw due to an injury and was replaced by Niko Hämäläinen.

## Personal life

Väisänen's mother Anna-Liisa Tilus-Väisänen is a prominent television presenter for Yle TV1 and Miss World 1984 semi-finalist. His younger brother Leo Väisänen is also a footballer.

## Career statistics
### Club

    As of 11 March 2025
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition :
| Club | Season | League | League | League | Cup | Cup | League cup | League cup | Europe | Europe | Total | Total |
| Club | Season | Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Pallohonka | 2012 | Kakkonen | 15 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 15 | 1 |
| Pallohonka | 2013 | Kakkonen | 20 | 4 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 20 | 4 |
| Pallohonka | Total | Total | 35 | 5 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 35 | 5 |
| Honka | 2013 | Veikkausliiga | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 |
| Honka | 2014 | Veikkausliiga | 15 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 23 | 3 |
| Honka | Total | Total | 17 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 27 | 4 |
| AIK | 2014 | Allsvenskan | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| AIK | 2015 | Allsvenskan | 6 | 1 | 3 | 1 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 9 | 2 |
| AIK | 2016 | Allsvenskan | 22 | 1 | 5 | 1 | — | — | 2 | 0 | 29 | 2 |
| AIK | 2017 | Allsvenskan | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 4 | 0 | 16 | 0 |
| AIK | Total | Total | 46 | 2 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 60 | 4 |
| HIFK (loan) | 2015 | Veikkausliiga | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 6 | 1 |
| S.P.A.L. | 2017–18 | Serie A | 7 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 9 | 0 |
| S.P.A.L. | 2018–19 | Serie A | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 1 | 0 |
| S.P.A.L. | Total | Total | 7 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 10 | 0 |
| Crotone (loan) | 2018–19 | Serie B | 26 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 26 | 0 |
| Chievo | 2019–20 | Serie B | 16 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 16 | 1 |
| Chievo | 2020–21 | Serie B | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 5 | 0 |
| Chievo | Total | Total | 21 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 21 | 1 |
| Cosenza | 2021–22 | Serie B | 21 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 21 | 0 |
| Cosenza | 2022–23 | Serie B | 29 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 30 | 1 |
| Cosenza | Total | Total | 50 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 51 | 1 |
| OB | 2023–24 | Danish Superliga | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | — | – | – | 5 | 0 |
| Ascoli (loan) | 2023–24 | Serie B | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 14 | 0 |
| Ilves | 2025 | Veikkausliiga | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| Career total | Career total | Career total | 223 | 12 | 16 | 3 | 11 | 1 | 8 | 0 | 258 | 16 |
* ↑ Includes Suomen Cup, Svenska Cupen, Coppa Italia and Danish Cup
* 1 2 3 Appearance(s) in UEFA Europa League

### International

    As of match played 20 November 2022
| National team | Year | Competitive | Competitive | Friendly | Friendly | Total | Total |
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Finland | 2016 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| Finland | 2017 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| Finland | 2018 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| Finland | 2019 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| Finland | 2021 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Finland | 2022 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| Total | Total | 15 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 24 | 0 |
Notes
* ↑ Appearances in the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification.
* ↑ Appearances in the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification.
* ↑ Appearances in the 2018–19 UEFA Nations League.
* ↑ Appearances in the UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying.
* ↑ Appearances in the 2022–23 UEFA Nations League.