Ollie Whyte (FC Haka | Finland)

No it's not but this average salary doesn't include bonuses and player personal sponsorships ( if they have any). Footballers have a lot of free time and some use it to run side gigs eg coaching the youth.  

Anyway, it's a foot in the door, and players are always hoping to catch a  move to the other Scandinavian leagues for more digits.it's very common for a good player in Finland to move to the Danish 2nd division or higher.

Yeah ex AW & maverick Chris James made a football life for himself in Finland. Was coaching in his final playing years, and I presume still coaching somewhere. He got his UEFA B Coaching Licence in 2019, so Wiki tells me.

Now 36, his last year playing at a decent level was in 2021 at Klubi 04 (the reserve team of HJK Helsinki), in the Finnish 2nd tier. He was also an assistant coach to the club's U14 team. He actually helped Des a little bit, in the lead up to the 2019 U20 WC. 

Exactly.  Great example

Saffa

The average pay for a Football Player is €41,617 a year and €20 an hour in Finland. The average salary range for a Football Player is between €30,172 and €49,857. On average, a High School Degree is the highest level of education for a Football Player. This compensation analysis is based on salary survey data collected directly from employers and anonymous employees in Finland

Probably about right that €30,000-€40,000 range. Logan Rogerson would have been on 55-65k NZD roughly and was amongst the highest earners at his club during his time there.

You don't go there to get rich. You go there for the opportunities.

Here's Whyte's assist from the other morning btw.

The old Suomen Cup (🇫🇮) doesn't get too much coverage down this part of the world, but there is still a Kiwi flying the 🇳🇿 flag over in Scandinavia this season.

Ollie Whyte (#77) laying on an assist for FC Haka in their 3rd round tie against JIPPO Joensuu the other morning. pic.twitter.com/zwvCiRKcwT

— YoungHeart - 🇳🇿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 (@YoungHeartHM) April 18, 2024

Back to the league & Haka travel to Lahti.

https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2024/04/20/finland/veikkausliiga/football-club-lahti/football-club-haka-valkeakoski/4304275/

Whyte on the pine for Haka. They are a pretty multi cultural team this season, only 4 Finns in their starting lineup.

30 year old ex Nixer Dylan Fox starts for Lahti.
Not the most memorable of ex Nix players, but did have 3 seasons in Welly. Then CCM, and then 3 years in India's ISL.
https://us.soccerway.com/players/dylan--fox-/429420/

Luke Ivanovic, ex SFC, Roar & Glory on Lathi's bench.

Whyte on for Haka at 77 mins (1-1) in a 1-1 draw.

Whyte 61 mins (1-1) as Haka draw 1-1 with Finnish big guns HJK.

https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2024/04/27/finland/veikkausliiga/football-club-haka-valkeakoski/helsingin-jalkapallokubi/4304281/