Pertti Alaja

Pertti Johannes Alaja (18 February 1952 – 18 August 2017) was a Finnish footballer. He was born in Helsinki, Finland. He played as a goalkeeper.^[3] He played for HJK Helsinki, Haka, Oulun Työväen Palloilijat, Ikast, Edmonton Drillers, Malmö FF and for the Finland national football team.^[4]

Pertti Alaja

Pertti Alaja in 2012.
Personal information
Full name	Pertti Johannes Alaja
Date of birth	(1952-02-18)18 February 1952
Place of birth	Helsinki, Finland
Date of death	18 August 2017(2017-08-18) (aged 65)
Place of death	Espoo, Finland
Position(s)	Goalkeeper
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1971-1972	Haka	31	(0)
1973-1975	HJK	57
1976-1977	OTP	44	(0)
1978–1979	Ikast	23	(0)
1980–1981	Edmonton Drillers[1]	47	(0)
1982–1983	Malmö FF	44	(0)
International career
	Finland[2]	29	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Alaja was elected as the 15th president of the Football Association of Finland on 14 October 2012, replacing Sauli Niinistö.^[5]

Alaja died in Espoo, Finland, on 18 August 2017 of cancer at the age of 65.^[6]