Eetu Saarela
{{Short description|Finnish footballer (born 2006)}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Eetu Saarela
| image =
| fullname =
| height = 1.87m[https://www.kaleva.fi/viela-15-kuukautta-sitten-eetu-saarela-pelasi-b-po/6199486 Vielä 15 kuukautta sitten Eetu Saarela pelasi B-poikien Ykköstä – Nyt 17-vuotias juniori oli AC Oulun avauskokoonpanon topparina liigacupissa], Kaleva, 27 January 2024
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|2006|4|24}}
| birth_place = Oulu, Finland
| position = Centre back
| currentclub = OLS
| clubnumber =
| youthyears1 = {{0|0000}}–2023
| youthclubs1 = OLS
| years1 = 2024–
| clubs1 = OLS
| caps1 = 23
| goals1 = 1
| years2 = 2024–
| clubs2 = AC Oulu
| caps2 = 1
| goals2 = 0
| nationalyears1 = 2024
| nationalteam1 = Finland U18
| nationalcaps1 = 3
| nationalgoals1 = 0
| nationalyears2 = 2024–
| nationalteam2 = Finland U19
| nationalcaps2 = 1
| nationalgoals2 = 0
| club-update = 19 October 2024
| nationalteam-update = 12 October 2024
}}
Eetu Saarela (born 24 April 2006) is a Finnish professional footballer playing as a centre back for Veikkausliiga club AC Oulu.
Early life
Career
Saarela played in the youth sector of Oulun Luistinseura (OLS),[https://ols.fi/ajankohtaista/jalkapallo/ols-pelaajia-mukana-minialueturnauksessa-ja-huuhkajaturnauksessa/ OLS PELAAJIA MUKANA MINIALUETURNAUKSESSA JA HUUHKAJATURNAUKSESSA!], ols.fi and was part of OLS U17 squad finishing 2nd in the youth league in 2023, and thus winning the silver medal. He scored the decisive equalizing goal in the extra-time against HJK U17 on 30 September 2023, which secured the 2nd spot for his team.
Saarela signed his first professional contract with AC Oulu organisation on 13 December 2023.[https://acoulu.fi/uutiset/eetu-saarela-sopimukseen-ac-oulun-kanssa EETU SAARELA SOPIMUKSEEN AC OULUN KANSSA], acoulu.fi, 13 December 2023
On 27 January 2024, Saarela made his senior debut with AC Oulu first team, in a Finnish League Cup draw against FC Haka.
On 14 August 2024, his contract was extended on a two-year deal with a one-year option.[https://acoulu.fi/uutiset/ac-oulu-sopimukseen-eetu-saarelan-kanssa AC OULU SOPIMUKSEEN EETU SAARELAN KANSSA], acoulu.fi, 14 August 2024
International career
Saarela made his international debut for Finland U18 national team on 24 March 2024, in a 2–2 friendly draw against Croatia.[https://www.palloliitto.fi/ajankohtaista/u18-pojat-nousi-tasatulokseen-kroatian-vieraana U18-pojat nousi tasatulokseen Kroatian vieraana], Finnish FA, 24 March 2024
Career statistics
{{updated|26 February 2025}}[https://tulospalvelu.palloliitto.fi/person/586460/player/seasons Tulospalvelu Palloliitto, E.Saarela], Finnish FA/ Palloliitto
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition | ||||||||||
| rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|Cup{{efn|Includes Suomen Cup}} !colspan="2"|League cup{{efn|Includes Finnish League Cup}} !colspan="2"|Europe !colspan="2"|Total | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| rowspan="1"|OLS
|2024 |rowspan="1"|Ykkönen |23 | 1 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 23 | 1 | |||
| rowspan=3|AC Oulu
|2024 |1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 5 | 1 | ||
| 2025
|Veikkausliiga |0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | colspan=2|– | 1 | 0 | ||
| colspan=2|Total
!1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 2 | |
| colspan="3"|Career total
!24 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 29 | 2 |
{{notelist}}
Honours
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Soccerway|949362}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Saarela, Eetu}}
Category:Finnish men's footballers
Category:21st-century Finnish sportsmen
Category:Men's association football defenders