Juho Mäkelä

Football player infobox
playername = Juho Mäkelä


fullname =
height = height|ft=6|in=3
nickname =
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1983|6|23
cityofbirth = Oulu
countryofbirth = Finland
currentclub = Hearts"
clubnumber = 15
position = Striker
youthyears = –2000
youthclubs = OLS Oulu
years = 2000–2003 2003–2006 2006– 2007 2008
clubs = Tervarit HJK Hearts → FC Thun "(loan)" → HJK "(loan)"
caps(goals) = 61 (44) 66 (33) 16 0(2) 14 0(3) 13 0(7)
nationalyears = 2004–
nationalteam = Finland
nationalcaps(goals) = 05 0(0)
pcupdate = August 5, 2008
ntupdate = December 1, 2006

Juho Mäkelä (born June 23 1983 in Oulu) is a Finnish footballer who represents Scottish Premier League club Hearts having returned from a loan with HJK Helsinki. He is a striker especially known for his pace.

Club career

Early career

Mäkelä started his career with OLS Oulu and Tervarit in his home-town, before moving to Veikkausliiga club HJK Helsinki for the 2003 season. He scored 33 goals in 66 appearances for the club in three seasons, and was the Veikkausliiga top scorer in 2005.

Hearts

Mäkelä signed for Hearts on a three-and-a-half-year deal during the January 2006 transfer window.On September 20 2006 he scored a hat-trick on his first start for Hearts in a Scottish League Cup tie against Second Division side Alloa in a 4-0 win. He scored with his head, and both his feet, scoring a "perfect" treble. [cite web|url=http://www.soccer365.com/EUROPEAN_NEWS/Scottish_News/page_111_127692.shtml|title=Makela wants treble to be a launchpad|accessdate=September 24|accessyear=2006|author=Soccer365]

On January 16 2007 it was reported that Mäkelä was training with German side Greuther Fürth pending a possible 6-month loan move, [cite web|url=http://sport.scotsman.com/topics.cfm?tid=24&id=81332007|title=Makela striking out|accessdate=16 January|accessyear=2007|author = Scotsman.com Sport] however it was subsequently announced that he would be spending the rest of the season with FC Thun. On 28th January 2008, Juho went on trial with Dutch side RKC Waalwijk who had been relegated at the end of the 2006/2007 season. On 24th April 2008, Makela returned to his former club HJK Helsinki on an initial three month loan deal.

On July 22 2008 it was confirmed by Hearts that Mäkelä had returned from his successful loan spell with HJK Helsinki, in which he scored 6 goals in 12 games, and would immediately join his team-mates for pre-season training in Germany. [ [http://www.heartsfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/HeartsNewsDetail/0,,10289~1348531,00.html Juho's back] "Heartsfc.co.uk" 22 July. Retrieved 24 July 2008] Mäkelä's first game back was against a German regional select side in which he played the second half. He scored the sixth goal of the game with a powerful volley from 8 yards in a 6-0 victory. [ [http://www.heartsfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/HeartsNewsDetail/0,,10289~1349023,00.html Rheingau XI 0-6 Hearts] " Heartsfc.co.uk 23 July. Retrieved 24 July 2008]

International career

Mäkelä made his debut for the Finnish national team on February 3 2004 against China. He is yet to become a regular for Finland.

Personal life

Mäkelä is currently dating Henna Ylilauri, who came second in the Miss Finland competition of 2004.

Honours

*Finnish Championship: 2003
*Finnish Cup: 2003

Notes

External links

*soccerbase|id=35788|name=Juho Makela
* [http://www.londonhearts.com/scores/players/makelajuho.html Profile] at londonhearts.com