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 dream

I dream that in sports and working life I would be able to give others something that would take them forward.

And I do dream that my nearest and dearest stay healthy and that my children will do well in the future. I don’t want to direct my children too much though. On the touchline and on the benches in various sporting events you see far too many parents telling their children what to do. I try not to go there.

As a heavy consumer of music, I daydream about getting to play in Sting’s top supporting band, jamming with the musical genius. Unfortunately dreaming is likely to be about as far as it gets, but let’s see, maybe in the next life.

A return to the University is a dream that’s growing on me. If the time allowed, I’d like to further my knowledge. Since I once got through the Master’s degree with relative ease, then the doctoral thesis wouldn’t be entirely out of the question. The title ‘doctor’ as such is of little importance to me not what I look for, but to generate new knowledge through research would be of broader significance. It would be a proving ground for myself, that I could take on an extensive project with a scientifically useful outcome. I’m a humanist and will remain one.