Jukka Raitala

Jukka Raitala
Raitala with the Columbus Crew in 2017
Personal information
Full name Jukka Raitala
Date of birth (1988-09-15) 15 September 1988 (age 36)
Place of birth Kerava, Finland
Height 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Position(s) Defender
Team information
Current team
Gnistan
Number 22
Youth career
1995–2005 Keravan Pallo-75
2005–2006 HJK
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2006 Klubi-04 22 (0)
2007–2009 HJK 66 (0)
2009–2010TSG 1899 Hoffenheim (loan) 2 (0)
2010 TSG 1899 Hoffenheim II 2 (0)
2010–2012 TSG 1899 Hoffenheim 0 (0)
2010–2011SC Paderborn 07 (loan) 29 (0)
2011–2012Osasuna (loan) 17 (0)
2012–2015 SC Heerenveen 26 (1)
2015 FC Vestsjælland 15 (0)
2015–2016 Aalborg BK 5 (0)
2016 Sogndal 28 (1)
2017 Columbus Crew 28 (0)
2018–2020 Montreal Impact 69 (1)
2021 Minnesota United 9 (0)
2022–2023 HJK 43 (0)
2024– Gnistan 23 (0)
International career
Finland U17 2 (0)
2005–2006 Finland U19 3 (0)
2007–2010 Finland U21 19 (0)
2009–2022 Finland 61 (0)
Medal record
Finland national football team
Runner-up Baltic Cup 2012
Third place Baltic Cup 2014
HJK Helsinki
Winner Finnish Cup 2008
Runner-up Finnish League Cup 2009
Winner Veikkausliiga 2009
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 15 May 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 09:24, 22 June 2021 (UTC)

Jukka Raitala (born 15 September 1988) is a Finnish professional footballer who plays for Veikkausliiga club IF Gnistan. He usually plays as a left back in both his club side and the Finland football team but can also operate as a right back or a central defender. Raitala was born in Kerava, Finland, where he played for the local youth team before moving to HJK's youth organization.