Former Finland international midfielder Simo Valakari has been appointed as the new head coach of St Johnstone. The club, located at McDiarmid Park, has been actively searching for a successor to Craig Levein, who was dismissed two weeks ago following a string of disappointing results.
Valakari secured the role after a thorough interview process, having previously impressed club officials. His recent tenure at Riga included winning the Latvian Supercup, while he also boasts a successful track record with KuPS, including winning the Finnish Cup in both 2021 and 2022.
Currently sitting 10th in the Scottish Premiership, St Johnstone finds themselves just two points above the relegation zone, with a single victory from their first seven league matches this season. Meanwhile, Andy Kirk and Alex Cleland will continue to oversee the team for the upcoming match against Rangers.
Following his appointment with a contract lasting until the summer of 2027, Valakari expressed his enthusiasm for the position, stating: “I am very happy, very excited, and very proud that St Johnstone have made me their head coach. We have many opportunities to make this an exciting journey, and it’s important that we are all in this together – the players, the staff, and most importantly the fans.”
St Johnstone owner Adam Webb praised Valakari’s vision for the club’s future, highlighting his experience and creativity as vital assets for the team’s growth.
Looking ahead, St Johnstone will face a challenging schedule in the coming weeks:
– Rangers (h) – Scottish Premiership – October 6
– Ross County (h) – Scottish Premiership – October 19
– Dundee (a) – Scottish Premiership – October 26
– St Mirren (a) – Scottish Premiership – October 30
– Hearts (h) – Scottish Premiership – November 2
– Motherwell (a) – Scottish Premiership – November 9
