Ilja Venäläinen

Ilya Venäläinen in the yellow jersey in 2007

Ilya Venäläinen ( born September 27, 1980 in Kuopio ) is a Finnish footballer, who currently stands at Kuopio PS under contract. He plays the position of striker.

Venäläinen began his career in the youth of Kuopio PS, for which he later played in the professional sector six seasons before moving to FF Jaro 2004. He remained there, however, only a year and moved to the 2005 season for FC KooTeePee for which he scored thirteen goals in 49 games in 2005 and 2006. For the 2007 season, he returned to his hometown club Kuopio PS in the second-class Ykkönen with which he made the direct promotion back to the First Division. With twelve gates, he was instrumental in this.

Venäläinen graduated zwöf caps for the Finnish U- 21 team and was also used by interim coach Olli Huttunen on 9 February 2011 in a 1-1 draw against Belgium, where he came on in the 83rd minute for the midfielder Tim Sparv.