Samu Alanko

Samu Jesperi Alanko (born 16 May 1998) is a Finnish footballer who plays as a winger or attacker for Norwegian club Jerv.^[1]

Samu Alanko^[1]

Personal information
Full name	Samu Jesperi Alanko
Date of birth	(1998-05-16) 16 May 1998 (age 27)
Place of birth	Finland
Height	1.84 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s)	Winger, Attacker
Team information
Current team	Jerv
Number	77
Youth career
	VPS
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2015–2016	VPS	2	(0)
2015	→ Kiisto (loan)	9	(0)
2016	→ Jaro (loan)	9	(7)
2017	First Vienna	9	(2)
2017–2018	Austria II	19	(2)
2018–2020	VPS	43	(8)
2021–2022	AC Oulu	29	(2)
2022–2024	VPS	61	(6)
2025–	Jerv	13	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 25 July 2025

Career

Alanko started his career with Finnish top flight side VPS, where he made 9 appearances and scored 1 goal.^[2] On 11 February 2015, Alanko debuted for VPS during a 0–1 loss to SJK.^[2] On 20 February 2016, he scored his first goal for VPS during a 2–0 win over Kemi City FC.^[2]

In 2015, Alanko is sent on loan to Kiisto in the Finnish third division.

In 2016, he was sent on loan to Finnish second division club Jaro.

In 2018, he returned to VPS in the Finnish top flight after playing for Austrian third division team Austria II.^[3]

On 13 July 2022, Alanko returned to VPS once again, this time from AC Oulu.^[4]

For the 2025 season, Alanko moved to Norway and signed with Jerv in 2. divisjon. He revealed his spouse was already living in Norway.

Career statistics

As of 3 May 2025^[5]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			Cup[a]		League cup[b]		Europe		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
VPS	2015	Veikkausliiga	1	0	1	0	4	0	1[c]	0	7	0
	2016	Veikkausliiga	1	0	0	0	3	1	–		4	1
	Total		2	0	1	0	7	1	1	0	11	1
Kiisto (loan)	2015	Kakkonen	9	0	–		–		–		9	0
Jaro (loan)	2016	Ykkönen	9	7	–		–		–		9	7
First Vienna	2016–17	Austrian Regionalliga	9	2	–		–		–		9	2
Austria Wien II	2017–18	Austrian Regionalliga	19	2	–		–		–		19	2
VPS	2018	Veikkausliiga	9	0	–		–		–		9	0
	2019	Veikkausliiga	16	2	8	1	–		–		24	3
	2020	Ykkönen	18	5	5	0	–		–		23	5
	Total		43	7	13	1	0	0	0	0	56	8
VPS Akatemia	2018	Kolmonen	2	2	–		–		–		2	2
	2019	Kakkonen	2	0	–		–		–		2	0
	Total		4	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	4	2
AC Oulu	2021	Veikkausliiga	27	2	3	0	–		–		30	2
	2022	Veikkausliiga	2	0	1	0	2	0	–		5	0
	Total		29	2	4	0	2	0	0	0	35	2
OLS	2022	Kakkonen	7	6	–		–		–		7	6
VPS	2022	Veikkausliiga	16	2	–		–		–		16	2
	2023	Veikkausliiga	19	2	3	0	5	1	–		27	3
	2024	Veikkausliiga	26	2	2	0	4	1	2[d]	0	34	3
	Total		61	6	5	0	9	2	2	0	77	8
VPS Akatemia	2023	Kolmonen	1	0	–		–		–		1	0
Jerv	2025	2. divisjon	3	0	0	0	–		–		3	0
Career total			196	34	23	1	18	3	3	0	240	38

1. Includes Suomen Cup
2. Includes Finnish League Cup
3. Appearance(s) in UEFA Europa League
4. Appearances in UEFA Conference League