Lauri Dalla Valle

{{short description|Finnish footballer (born 1991)}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2020}}

{{Infobox football biography

|name = Lauri Dalla Valle

|image = Dalle Valle alone.jpg{{!}}border

|image_size = 150

|caption = Dalla Valle while contracted to Liverpool

|fullname = Lauri Dalla Valle{{cite web|title=Premier League clubs submit squad lists|url=http://origin-www.premierleague.com/page/Headlines/0,,12306~2142220,00.html|publisher=Premier League|date=1 September 2010|accessdate=14 December 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141217101702/http://origin-www.premierleague.com/page/Headlines/0,,12306~2142220,00.html|archive-date=17 December 2014|url-status=dead}}

|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1991|9|14|df=y}}

|birth_place = Kontiolahti, Finland

|height = 1.80 m{{cite web |url=https://www.premierleague.com/players/4124/Lauri-Dalla-Valle/overview |title=Lauri Dalla Valle: Overview |publisher=Premier League |access-date=4 September 2022}}

|position = Striker

|youthyears1 = 2004–2005

|youthclubs1 = JIPPO

|youthyears2 = 2005

|youthclubs2 = Inter Milan

|youthyears3 = 2005–2007

|youthclubs3 = JIPPO

|years1 = 2007

|clubs1 = JIPPO

|caps1 = 8

|goals1 = 0

|years2 = 2008–2010

|clubs2 = Liverpool

|caps2 = 0

|goals2 = 0

|years3 = 2010–2013

|clubs3 = Fulham

|caps3 = 0

|goals3 = 0

|years4 = 2011

|clubs4 = → Bournemouth (loan)

|caps4 = 8

|goals4 = 2

|years5 = 2011–2012

|clubs5 = → Dundee United (loan)

|caps5 = 12

|goals5 = 3

|years6 = 2012

|clubs6 = → Exeter City (loan)

|caps6 = 5

|goals6 = 0

|years7 = 2012–2013

|clubs7 = → Crewe Alexandra (loan)

|caps7 = 10

|goals7 = 5

|years8 = 2013

|clubs8 = Molde

|caps8 = 4

|goals8 = 0

|years9 = 2013–2014

|clubs9 = Sint-Truiden

|caps9 = 21

|goals9 = 0

|years10 = 2014–2016

|clubs10 = Crewe Alexandra

|caps10 = 31

|goals10 = 6

|years11 = 2017

|clubs11 = Zemun

|caps11 = 3

|goals11 = 0

|totalcaps = 102

|totalgoals = 16

|nationalyears1 = 2006

|nationalteam1 = Finland U16

|nationalcaps1 = 2

|nationalgoals1 = 3

|nationalyears2 = 2007–2008

|nationalteam2 = Finland U17

|nationalcaps2 = 7

|nationalgoals2 = 4

|nationalyears3 = 2008–2009

|nationalteam3 = Finland U19

|nationalcaps3 = 8

|nationalgoals3 = 3

|nationalyears4 = 2011–2012

|nationalteam4 = Finland U21

|nationalcaps4 = 10

|nationalgoals4 = 3

}}

Lauri Dalla Valle (born 14 September 1991) is a Finnish former professional footballer who played as a striker.

After playing youth football for JIPPO and Inter Milan, Dalla Valle moved to England in 2008 to join Liverpool. After two seasons he joined Fulham, and while there spent spells with Bournemouth, Dundee United, Exeter City and Crewe Alexandra, leaving the club in 2013. After spells in Norway (with Molde) and Belgium (with Sint-Truiden), he returned to England in 2014 to rejoin Crewe Alexandra.

Dalla Valle is also a former youth international, representing Finland at every level up to and including under-21.

Early life

Dalla Valle was born in Kontiolahti, near the city of Joensuu, Finland on 14 September 1991, one of three children to Loreno, an Italian former police officer and mushroom company boss, and Marketta, who is Finnish.{{cite news|url=http://www.hs.fi/english/article/Son+of+former+drugs+officer+picks+Liverpool/1135232518899|title=Son of former drugs officer picks Liverpool|accessdate=21 February 2008|date=8 December 2007|newspaper=Helsingin Sanomat|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20091214010427/http://www.hs.fi/english/article/Son+of+former+drugs+officer+picks+Liverpool/1135232518899|archivedate=14 December 2009}}

Club career

=Early career=

Dalla Valle began his career in Finland with JIPPO, and his talent saw him join Internazionale's youth team in 2005. However, Dalla Valle, struggling with the language, soon became homesick and returned to Finland after a few months.{{cite web|url=http://footballinfinland.wordpress.com/2007/12/12/lauri-dalla-valle-again/ |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20080103002235/http://footballinfinland.wordpress.com/2007/12/12/lauri-dalla-valle-again/ |archivedate= 3 January 2008 |title=Lauri Dalla Valle, again |publisher=Football In Finland |date=12 December 2007 |accessdate=14 December 2013 |url-status=dead }}{{Cite web|url=http://www.myanfield.net/2007/11/lauri-dalla-valle-has-signed-for.html|title=Lauri Dalla Valle has signed for Liverpool|accessdate=21 February 2008|date=8 November 2007|author=Paul Heron|publisher=My Anfield}} He started the 2007 season with JIPPO in the Finnish First Division, but was seriously injured in the fourth round of the Finnish Cup in May 2007, and was out for several months.{{Cite web|url=http://www.miestenykkonen.fi/taustasivut/artikkeliarkisto/?num=12209|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120218223531/http://www.miestenykkonen.fi/taustasivut/artikkeliarkisto/?num=12209|archivedate=18 February 2012|title=Lauri Dalla Valle joutuu kentän laidalle|publisher=Miesten Ykkönen|date=30 May 2007|accessdate=14 December 2013|language=fi}} He scored his only senior goal of the 2007 season in that match before being injured.{{Cite web|url=http://www.miestenykkonen.fi/taustasivut/artikkeliarkisto/?num=12137|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120218223535/http://www.miestenykkonen.fi/taustasivut/artikkeliarkisto/?num=12137|archivedate=18 February 2012|title=Jippo jatkoon Suomen Cupissa|publisher=Miesten Ykkönen|date=23 May 2007|accessdate=14 December 2013|language=fi}} In the end he only played in 8 matches in Finnish Division I (Miesten Ykkönen) in the 2007 season.{{Cite web|url=http://www.miestenykkonen.fi/taustasivut/artikkeliarkisto/?num=13674|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120211141357/http://www.miestenykkonen.fi/taustasivut/artikkeliarkisto/?num=13674|archivedate=11 February 2012|title=Dalla Valle siirtyy Liverpooliin|publisher=Miesten Ykkönen|date=8 November 2007|accessdate=14 December 2013|language=fi}} He was a transfer target for Chelsea in October 2007.{{Cite web|url=http://www.karjalainen.fi/Karjalainen/Urheilu/chelsea_tarjosi__miljoona_puntaa_3669499.html|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20111007115649/http://www.karjalainen.fi/Karjalainen/Urheilu/chelsea_tarjosi__miljoona_puntaa_3669499.html|archivedate=7 October 2011|title=Chelsea tarjosi miljoona puntaa|first=Kari|last=Haavisto|publisher=Karjalainen|date=30 May 2007|accessdate=14 December 2013|language=fi}}

=Liverpool=

In early November 2007 he trialled with Liverpool,{{cite news|url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/article2806611.ece|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080724153924/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/article2806611.ece|url-status=dead|archive-date=24 July 2008|title=Liverpool set to lure John Cofie|accessdate=21 February 2008|date=5 November 2007|author=Oliver Kay|newspaper=The Times|location=London}} for the second time (the original time being in November 2006){{Cite web|url=http://plaza.fi/stadion/jalkapallo/hyypia-niemi-akseli/hyypia-dalla-valle-nimi-mieleen |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20120524112233/http://plaza.fi/stadion/jalkapallo/hyypia-niemi-akseli/hyypia-dalla-valle-nimi-mieleen |archivedate=24 May 2012 |title=Hyypiä: Dalla Valle – nimi mieleen |author=Sami Hyypiä |publisher=Plaza.fi |date=28 November 2006 |accessdate=14 December 2013 |language=fi |url-status=dead }} and he signed a three-and-a-half-year contract with the club a few days later,{{Cite web|url=http://www.iltasanomat.fi/urheilu/uutinen.asp?id=1452617|title=Lauri Dalla Valle, 16, sopimukseen Liverpoolin kanssa|accessdate=21 February 2008|date=8 November 2007|author=Mikko Knuuttila|publisher=Ilta-Sanomat|language=fi}}{{dead link|date=January 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}{{Cite web|url=http://futisforum2.org/index.php?PHPSESSID=scaqk7aq0go0sj0flkneo62t24&topic=26580.msg1375674#msg1375674|title=Reproduction of Ilta-Sanomat article on messageboard|publisher=Futis Forum 2|date=8 November 2007|accessdate=14 December 2013|language=fi}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.mtv.fi/sport/futis/uutiset.shtml/arkistot/futis/2007/11/579164|title=Liverpool hankki suomalaisjuniori Dalla Vallen|accessdate=14 December 2013|date=8 November 2007|publisher=MTV3|language=fi}} arriving at the club in January 2008. He was part of the Liverpool team that reached the final of the FA Youth Cup in 2009 scoring 8 goals, including 4 against Birmingham in the two-legged semi-final.{{Cite web|url=http://www.liverpoolfc.com/news/latest-news/dalla-valle-double-clinches-final-berth|title=DALLA VALLE DOUBLE CLINCHES FINAL BERTH|accessdate=14 December 2013|author=Paul Hassall|publisher=Liverpool F.C. official website|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131214135329/http://www.liverpoolfc.com/news/latest-news/dalla-valle-double-clinches-final-berth|archivedate=14 December 2013}} He was promoted to the Liverpool Reserves squad in June 2009 and started the 2009–10 season as a senior member of the reserves at Melwood.{{Cite web|url=http://www.liverpoolfc.com/news/latest-news/cup-stars-promoted-to-melwood|title=CUP STARS PROMOTED TO MELWOOD|accessdate=14 December 2013|author=Jimmy Rice|publisher=Liverpool F.C. official website|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131214135331/http://www.liverpoolfc.com/news/latest-news/cup-stars-promoted-to-melwood|archivedate=14 December 2013}}

On 29 July 2010, he made his first and only appearance for Liverpool, coming on as a substitute for Alberto Aquilani in the 83rd minute of the 2010–11 UEFA Europa League Third qualifying round tie against FK Rabotnički.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/8856381.stm|title=Rabotnicki Skopje 0 – 2 Liverpool|date=29 July 2010|accessdate=29 July 2010|work=BBC Sport}}

=Fulham=

On 31 August 2010, both Dalla Valle and fellow youngster Alex Kačaniklić signed for Fulham, as part of the deal that took left-back Paul Konchesky to Liverpool.{{Cite web|url=http://www.fulhamfc.com/Club/News/NewsArticles/2010/August/KoncheskyTransfer.aspx |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20100902205228/http://www.fulhamfc.com/Club/News/NewsArticles/2010/August/KoncheskyTransfer.aspx |archivedate= 2 September 2010 |title=Konchesky Departs |publisher=Fulham F.C. official website |date=31 August 2010 |accessdate=14 December 2013 |url-status=dead }}

On 4 March 2011, Dalla Valle joined Bournemouth on a one-month loan.{{cite web|url=http://www.afcb.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10324~2307906,00.html |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20120524112234/http://www.afcb.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10324~2307906,00.html |archivedate=24 May 2012 |title=Cherries Sign Dalla Valle |publisher=A.F.C. Bournemouth official website |date=4 March 2011 |accessdate=14 December 2013 |url-status=dead }}

On 5 March 2011, Dalla Valle scored on his league debut for Bournemouth in a 3–0 home win over Oldham Athletic.{{cite web|url=http://espnfc.com/uk/en/report/294158/report.html|title=Dalle Valle's debut delight|accessdate=14 December 2013|date=5 March 2011|publisher=ESPN Soccernet}}

He scored his second goal for Bournemouth in a 1–3 defeat against Southampton on 12 March 2011.{{cite news | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_2/9418926.stm | title = Bournemouth 1–3 Southampton | accessdate = 12 March 2011 | work=BBC News | date=12 March 2011}}

Dalla Valle made his Fulham debut as a substitute for the Europa League match against NSÍ Runavík on 30 June 2011,{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/13959909|title=Fulham 3–0 Nes Soknar Itrottarfelag|accessdate=14 December 2013|date=23 June 2011|work=BBC Sport}} before joining Scottish Premier League side Dundee United two months later on loan until mid-January.{{cite web|url=http://www.dundeeunitedfc.co.uk/index.asp?tm=2&nid=3982&cd=2011|title=United Complete Loan Signing of Dalla Valle|accessdate=24 August 2011|date=24 August 2011|publisher=Dundee United FC}}{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/14649332|title=Fulham striker Lauri Dalla Valle joins Dundee United on loan|work=BBC Sport|publisher=BBC|date=24 August 2011 |accessdate=14 December 2013 }}

Dalla Valle joined Exeter City on a one-month loan deal on 19 March 2012.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/17433916|title=Exeter City sign Fulham's Lauri Dalla Valle on loan|date=19 March 2012|accessdate=19 March 2012|work=BBC Sport}} He returned to Fulham on 19 April 2012 after his loan expired.

On 5 November 2012, Lauri joined Crewe Alexandra on loan until 8 December 2012.{{cite web |url=http://www.crewealex.net/news/article/alex-complete-dalla-valle-deal-468337.aspx |title=Alex Complete Dalla Valle Deal |publisher=Crewe Alexandra FC Official Site |accessdate=5 November 2012}} He scored on his debut the next day as Crewe won at Doncaster Rovers,{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/20134451|title=Doncaster 0 – 2 Crewe|work=BBC Sport|publisher=BBC|date=6 November 2012 |accessdate=6 November 2012 }} and then scored on his home debut in a 3–2 win over Colchester United.{{cite web|title=Crewe 3 – 2 Colchester|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/20190073|work=BBC Sport|publisher=BBC|accessdate=12 November 2012}}

On 24 November, he scored both goals in a 2–0 win against Crawley Town.[https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/20374618 "Crewe 2–0 Crawley"] BBC Sport. 24 November 2012. Retrieved 24 November 2012.

=Molde=

Fulham confirmed that Dalla Valle had left the club on a permanent basis on 25 February 2013 to join Norwegian team Molde managed by ex–Manchester United player Ole Gunnar Solskjær.{{cite web|url=http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2013/february/25/dalla-valle-makes-molde-move|title=Dalla Valle Makes Molde Move|publisher=Fulham FC|accessdate=25 February 2013}} Dalla Valle played four matches without scoring a goal for Molde, until he left the club after half a year in July 2013.{{cite news |url=http://svenska.yle.fi/artikel/2013/07/05/dalla-valle-fran-norge-till-belgien |language=Swedish |title=Dalla Valle från Norge till Belgien |publisher=YLE |date=5 July 2013 |accessdate=15 July 2013}}

=Sint-Truiden=

On 5 July 2013, Dalla Valle joined Belgian Second Division side Sint-Truiden on a three-year contract.{{cite web|url=http://www.stvv.com/nl/nieuws/hotnews/d/detail/lauri-is-een-kanarie|title=Lauri is een kanarie!|publisher=Sint-Truidense VV|accessdate=7 July 2013}} He was released on 13 June 2014 after a single season.{{cite web|url=http://www.stvv.com/nl/nieuws/hotnews/d/detail/contract-lauri-dalla-valle-ontbonden|title=Contract Lauri Dalla Valle ontbonden|publisher=Sint-Truidense VV|accessdate=13 June 2014}} He then went on trial with Vicenza in July.{{cite news |url=http://www.vicenzatoday.it/sport/vicenza-asiago-team-amichevole-31-luglio-2014-dalla-valle.html |publisher=Vicenza Today.it |language=Italian |accessdate=12 September 2014 |date=31 July 2014 |title=Contro l'Asiago Team è un pallido Vicenza, la squadra "B" non va oltre il pari }}

=Crewe=

He re-joined Crewe in December 2014, signing a contract until June 2016.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/30307731|title=Lauri Dalla Valle: Crewe Alexandra re-sign Finnish striker|date=4 December 2014|accessdate=4 December 2014|work=BBC Sport}} Dalle Valle was released by Crewe at the end of the 2015–16 season.{{cite web|url=http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11736/10276742/relegated-crewe-release-11-players|title=Relegated Crewe release 11 players|date=10 May 2016|accessdate=6 August 2016|publisher=Sky Sports}}

=Zemun=

In August 2017 he joined newly promoted Serbian SuperLiga side FK Zemun.{{cite web|url=http://www.zurnal.rs/fudbal/velika-petorka/52177/bivsi-clan-liverpula-pojacao-zemun|title=Bivši član Liverpula pojačao Zemun|trans-title=Former Liverpool player joins Zemun|date=17 August 2017|accessdate=17 August 2017|publisher=Sportski žurnal|language=Serbian}} He made his debut in the 2017–18 Serbian SuperLiga on 26 August 2017, in the 7th round in a home game against OFK Bačka in a home draw 1–1. He debuted as an 82nd-minute substitute of Lithuanian striker Justas Lasickas.{{cite web|url=http://www.superliga.rs/sezone/2017-18/match/427|title=Izveštaj sa utakmice Zemun – OFK Bačka|trans-title=Match report Zemun – OFK Bačka|date=26 August 2017|accessdate=26 August 2017|publisher=Serbian SuperLiga official website|language=Serbian}} He was released on 1 November 2017.[http://www.fss.rs/documents/fudbal/2017/fudbal_44_2017.pdf Фудбал 44/17] at Football Association of Serbia, 1 November 2017 {{in lang|sr}}

International career

Dalla Valle's father is Italian, and consequently he is eligible to represent Italy at international level, but some have said that it is unlikely that he will opt for Italy, and Dalla Valle has represented the Finnish under-17 side in qualifying for the 2006 UEFA European Under-17 Football Championship.{{Cite web|url=http://www.uefa.com/competitions/under17/fixturesresults/round=15028/match=300593/index.html |title=Match report: Russia 1–1 Finland |accessdate=21 February 2008 |publisher=UEFA |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080204013638/http://www.uefa.com/competitions/under17/fixturesresults/round%3D15028/match%3D300593/index.html |archivedate= 4 February 2008 |url-status=dead }} Dalla Valle, however, has since refused to play for the Finnish under-21 side team in the 2011 European Championship qualification. U21 manager Markku Kanerva and the A national team coach Stuart Baxter criticised the decision.{{cite news|url=http://www.hs.fi/urheilu/artikkeli/Lauri+Dalla+Valle+kielt%C3%A4ytyi+nuorten+maajoukkuekutsusta/1135248827177|title=Lauri Dalla Valle kieltäytyi nuorten maajoukkuekutsusta|newspaper=Helsingin Sanomat|date=26 August 2009|accessdate=12 September 2009|language=fi|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090828014151/http://www.hs.fi/urheilu/artikkeli/Lauri+Dalla+Valle+kielt%C3%A4ytyi+nuorten+maajoukkuekutsusta/1135248827177|archivedate=28 August 2009}} Stuart Baxter was supposed to invite Dalla Valle to Finland national football team training camp in January 2009, but Liverpool forbid him to join based on club obligations.{{cite news|url=http://www.iltasanomat.fi/urheilu/uutinen.asp?id=1637941 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090129064813/http://www.iltasanomat.fi/urheilu/uutinen.asp?id=1637941 |url-status=dead |archive-date=29 January 2009 |title=Teemu Pukki maajoukkueeseen - mihin jäi Dalla Valle? |date= 26 January 2009 |accessdate=25 January 2015|publisher=Iltasanomat|language=Finnish}}

Style of play

Dalla Valle was likened to a young Fernando Torres due to his speed, workrate and finishing ability.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2009/apr/21/liverpool-steve-claridge-scouting-report|title=Scouting Report: Lauri Dalla Valle, Liverpool|author=Steve Claridge|newspaper=The Guardian|date=21 April 2009|accessdate=1 September 2009|location=London}}

Personal life

In June 2018, it was confirmed that Dalla Valle had retired from football to focus on his photography and consultancy company in Italy.{{cite news|url=https://www.karjalainen.fi/urheilu/item/184714-jalkapalloilija-lauri-dalla-vallen-peliura-ohi-keskittyy-yritykseensa |title=Jalkapalloilija Lauri Dalla Vallen peliura ohi – keskittyy yritykseensä |trans-title= Soccer player Lauri Dalla Valle's game over - concentrates on his business|date= 5 June 2018 |accessdate=5 June 2018|publisher=Karjalainen|language=Finnish}}

Career statistics

:Sources:{{soccerbase|55424}}{{soccerway|lauri-dalla-valle/138487}}

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
rowspan="2"|Club

!rowspan="2"|Season

!colspan="3"|League

!colspan="2"|National Cup

!colspan="2"|League Cup

!colspan="2"|Other

!colspan="2"|Total

DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
JIPPO

|2007

|Ykkönen

|8

011colspan="2"|—0091
rowspan="4"|Liverpool

|2008–09

|Premier League

|0

000000000
2009–10

|Premier League

|0

000000000
2010–11

|Premier League

|0

000001010
colspan="2"|Total

!0

000001010
rowspan="3"|Fulham

|2010–11

|Premier League

|0

000000000
2011–12

|Premier League

|0

000002020
colspan="2"|Total

!0

000002020
Bournemouth (loan)

|2010–11

|League One

|8

200000082
Dundee United (loan)

|2011–12

|Scottish Premier League

|12

3102000153
Exeter City (loan)

|2011–12

|League One

|5

000000050
Crewe Alexandra (loan)

|2012–13

|League One

|10

5100010125
Molde

|2013

|Tippeligaen

|4

020colspan="2"|—0060
Sint-Truiden

|2013–14

|Belgian Second Division

|21

020colspan="2"|—00230
rowspan="3"|Crewe Alexandra

|2014–15

|League One

|17

4000000174
2015–16

|League One

|14

2101010172
colspan="2"|Total

!31

6101010346
Zemun

|2017–18

|Serbian SuperLiga

|3

010colspan="2"|—0040
colspan="3"|Career total

!102

1691305011817

References

{{reflist}}