Aki Hyryläinen

Aki-Mikael Hyryläinen
Born April 17, 1968, Helsinki

Master of Arts (Finnish and Nordic History), University of Helsinki

Vice President, Mercuri Urval, 2012-
Senior Consultant, Mercuri Urval, 2006–2012

Professional Footballer, HJK (FIN), Eendracht Aalst (BEL), FC Köbenhavn (DK) and FC Jokerit (FIN), 1988–2001

Football Coach: Kirkkonummen Salamat FCK, 2002–2004 (First team), HJK A-cubs, 2005–2007, HJK league team, autumn 2007. Helsingin poikien piirijoukkue (‘Helsinki boys’ area team’), 2006–2007 and 2011.

Board Member, HJK Ry, 2001-, Vice-chair, 2003–2013
Board Member, HJK Oy, 2009-
Executive Board Member, Santahamina Lower Secondary School, 2013-

Special Achievements
Finnish Champions, HJK, 1990 and 1992
Finnish Cup Winner, HJK, 1993 and 1996, and FC Jokerit, 1999
League Cup Champions, HJK, 1994 and 1996
Finnish Championships, Silver Medal, FC Jokerit, 2000
Finnish Championships, Bronze Medal, HJK, 1993, 1994 and 1995
Danish Cup Winner, FC Köbenhavn, 1997
Twenty-five caps for the Finnish national football team, 1992–1997
Helsinki Football Club: Hall of Fame players’ choice, 2005
Coach: twice A-cubs Finnish Championships (2005 and 2006) and one silver, HJK, 2007
Youth Coach of the Year, Suomen Jalkapallovalmentajat ry, 2006
Youth Coach of the Year, Suomen Palloliitto, Helsinki district, 2006

Written by Riitta-Ilona Hurmerinta
Translated by John Calton

My best memories of the University of Helsinki

The way my studies dragged out because of the football career was a heavy weight to bear, but I did get encouragement from the history department. I still remember Panu Pulma’s advice: “Professional football is age-related. Be a sportsman now for heaven’s sake, while you’re winning. You’ll find time to graduate later on.”

Another memory has to do with my Master’s thesis. It was supervised by Pulma and Professor Markku Kuisma. And surprise, surprise - the topic area chosen was sports. My thesis traced the connections between sports and Finnish foreign policy in the 1970s. I examined the impact of the politics of apartheid on Finnish sportsmen and women’s access to international competitions. I remember how much I got into the subject. I’ve toyed with the idea of developing the research into a doctoral thesis, by continuing the study into the eighties, when foreign policy with respect to apartheid also underwent change in the sports arena.