Aki Riihilahti

Aki Pasinpoika Riihilahti (born 9 September 1976) is a Finnish sports executive and a former professional footballer. He played as a defensive midfielder. He is the CEO of HJK Helsinki. He was voted by leading European clubs to be the vice-chairman of European Club Association (ECA), and has also important positions both in the UEFA club competition committee and in the FIFA stakeholders committee.

Club career Riihilahti started his career at HJK where he made his Veikkausliiga debut in 1995. He has won the Finnish championship four times (1997, 2009, 2010 and 2011), the Finnish Cup three times with HJK, and the Finnish League Cup three times, and played a vital part when the first and so far only time a Finnish Club team qualified for the UEFA Champions League in the 1998–99 season. After his first spell in HJK, Riihilahti moved to Norway's Vålerenga I.F. for the 1999 season.

After two seasons in Norway, he joined England's Crystal Palace in 2001, eventually becoming a fans' favourite at the club. In Palace's 2004–05 Premier League season he showed he has what it takes to play in one of Europe's top leagues. Riihilahti was so loved by the Crystal Palace faithful that a Finnish flag with the legend 'AKI 15' across the centre was hung behind one of the Selhurst Park goals for the entire Premier League season. However, his next season, back in the Championship, following Palace's relegation, was not so successful because injuries limited his chances. Despite not playing for most of his last season with Palace, Riihilahti has a place in the club Hall of Fame as he held the club record for gaining the most caps for his country whilst at Palace.

After his contract with Palace expired in the summer of 2006, Riihilahti was picked up by 1. FC Kaiserslautern on a one-year deal. In June 2007, Riihilahti signed a two-and-a-half-year deal with Stockholm club Djurgårdens IF and on 31 July 2009 returned to Finland to sign with HJK in which he has made a crucial contribution in the club's record 5 consecutive championships 2009–2013. On 29 October 2011, Riihilahti celebrated his 100th league match for HJK by scoring once, in the last match of the season, in a 5–2 home win against Haka, and retired after the club won a convincing double that season.

International career Riihilahti made his debut for the Finnish national team on 5 February 1998 against Cyprus. He was a regular for Finland for most of the 2000s, and earned 69 caps scoring 11 goals. He is part of the Finnish Golden generation in football, but mainly due to his work as football director at International level he has become one of the most well-known Finnish football person.

Administrative career

Riihilahti has worked as the CEO of HJK Helsinki's stadium Bolt Arena since 2011 and as the CEO of HJK Helsinki since 2013. He graduated from the MBA program of University of Liverpool in 2011 and has done some studies in Harvard University and Yale University as well.

Riihilahti had a key role in establishment of the UEFA Europa Conference League which started during the 2021-2022 season.

Personal life During his career Riihilahti has written columns for newspapers, such as The Times and the Finnish Iltalehti.

He has been involved in charity projects like ’'Icehearts and ’'Peace United.

Apart from his careers in sports and media he has been involved in many high profile political and business committees. Riihilahti divorced 2019. Riihilahti married his Tanssii Tähtien kanssa-dance partner, Katri Mäkinen in 2023. Katri gave birth to her first (Aki's 3rd) child on 2 September 2024.

He is the older brother of Finnish TV and sports reporter Riku Riihilahti, and the uncle of professional footballer Daniel Riihilahti, playing in Brann II.

Career statistics Club

International

Finland score listed first, score column indicates score after each Riihilahti goal.

Honours HJK Helsinki Veikkausliiga: 1997, 2009, 2010, 2011 Finnish Cup: 1996, 1998, 2011 Finnish League Cup: 1996, 1997, 1998

Crystal Palace English First Division play-offs: 2004