Finland - Women Player of the Year Awards

The female "Player of the Year" in Finland is elected by the national FA. The award is for the calendar year (i.e. the Finnish league season).
The Player of the Year in the Finnish domestic league is elected on the basis of a vote among the players themselves. All players in the Finnish league are eligible, no matter their citizenship.


Player of the Year

1976  Merja Sjöman                  TPS Turku
1977  Soile Malm                    Into Kemi
1978  Åsa Wennström                 IF-FK Finström
1979  Kirsi Koskela (gk)            Valtti Helsinki
1980  Merja Sjöman                  TPS Turku
1981  Tarja Konttila                HJK Helsinki
1982  Anna-Maria Lehtonen           HJK Helsinki
1983  Hanna-Mari Sarlin             HJK Helsinki
1984  Tuula Sundman [1]             HJK Helsinki
1985  Marianne Sulen (gk)           HJK Helsinki
1986  Hanna-Mari Sarlin             HJK Helsinki
1987  Anu Toikka                    HerTo Helsinki
1988  Tiina Lehtola                 AIK Solna (Swe)
1989  Soile Ojala                   PPF Helsinki
1990  Marja Aaltonen (gk)           Asker SK (Nor)
1991  Susanna Kuosmanen             HerTo Helsinki
1992  Pauliina Auveri               HJK Helsinki
1993  Anne Mäkinen                  HJK Helsinki
1994  Johanna Lindell (gk)          Ilves Tampere
1995  Marianne Lindholm             KontU Helsinki
1996  Hanna Ekström                 HJK Helsinki
1997  Kaisa Mustonen                Ilves Tampere
1998  Hanna Ekström                 HJK Helsinki
1999  Laura Kalmari [2]             HJK Helsinki
2000  Sani Ylitalo                  HJK Helsinki
2001  Sanna Valkonen                HJK Helsinki
2002  Sanna Valkonen                Umeå IK (Swe)
2003  Laura Kalmari [2]             Umeå IK (Swe)
2004  Anne Mäkinen                  New Jersey Wildcats (Usa)
2005  Satu Kunnas (gk)              United Pietarsaari
2006  Laura Kalmari [2]             Djurgården/Älvsjö AB (Swe)
2007  Tiina Salmen                  Amazon Grimstad (Nor)
2008  Linda Sällström               Djurgårdens IF (Swe)
2009  Laura Kalmari [2]             AIK Solna (Swe)
2010  Laura Kalmari [2]             Sky Blue FC (Usa)
2011  Linda Sällström               Linköpings FC (Swe)
2012  Maija Saari                   AIK Solna (Swe)
2013  Tinja-Riikka Korpela (gk)     Lillestrøm SK (Nor)
2014  Tinja-Riikka Korpela (gk)     Bayern München (Ger)
2015  Tinja-Riikka Korpela (gk)     Bayern München (Ger)
2016  Tinja-Riikka Korpela (gk)     Bayern München (Ger)
2017  Natalia Kuikka                Florida State University (Usa)
2018  Anna Westerlund               Lillestrøm SK (Nor)
2019  Linda Sällström               Paris FC (Fra)
2020  Natalia Kuikka                BK Häcken (Swe)
2021  Natalia Kuikka                Portland Thorns (Usa)
2022  Natalia Kuikka                Portland Thorns (Usa)

Most Awards per Player

5  Laura Kalmari [2]                1999, 2003, 2006, 2009, 2010
4  Tinja-Riikka Korpela (gk)        2013, 2014, 2015, 2016
   Natalia Kuikka                   2017, 2020, 2021, 2022
3  Linda Sällström                  2008, 2011, 2019
2  Hanna Ekström                    1996, 1998
   Anne Mäkinen                     1993, 2004
   Hanna-Mari Sarlin                1983, 1986
   Merja Sjöman                     1976, 1980
   Sanna Valkonen                   2001, 2002


Player of the Year in the Finnish Domestic League

1995  Minna Mustonen                PuiU Helsinki
1996  Laura Kalmari [2]             PuiU Helsinki
1997  Johanna Lindell (gk)          Ilves Tampere
1998  Hanna Ekström                 HJK Helsinki
1999  Terhi Uusi-Luomalahti         HJK Helsinki
2000  Laura Kalmari [2]             HJK Helsinki
2001  Terhi Uusi-Luomalahti         HJK Helsinki
2002  Heidi Kackur                  United Pietarsaari
2003-2006  not elected
2007  Eveliina Sarapää              Honka Espoo
2008  Jaana Lyytikäinen             Honka Espoo
2009  Tuija Hyyrynen                HJK Helsinki
2010  Heidi Kivelä                  Ilves Tampere
2011  Jaana Lyytikäinen             PK-35 Vantaa
2012  Manya Makoski                 ÅU Mariehamn
2013  Tiina Saario                  ÅU Mariehamn
2014  Ria Öling                     TPS Turku
2015  Iina Salmi                    PK-35 Vantaa
2016  Sanni Franssi                 PK-35 Vantaa
2017  Anna Auvinen                  Honka Espoo
2018  Eveliina Summanen             HJK Helsinki

Most Awards per Player

2  Laura Kalmari [2]                1996, 2000
   Jaana Lyytikäinen                2008, 2011
   Terhi Uusi-Luomalahti            1999, 2001

gk = goalkeeper

[1] later Okkola
[2] later Österberg Kalmari


About this document

Thanks to Roberto Di Maggio

Prepared and maintained by Heikki Pietarinen for the Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation

Author: Heikki Pietarinen (hegulino at gmail dot com)
Last updated: 16 Feb 2023

(C) Copyright Heikki Pietarinen and RSSSF 2004/23
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