Kalevi Lehtovirta

Kalevi Lehtovirta
Personal information
Full name Kalevi Valdemar Lehtovirta
Date of birth (1928-02-20)20 February 1928
Place of birth Turku, Finland
Date of death 10 January 2016(2016-01-10) (aged 87)
Position(s) Striker
Youth career
Maarian Kisa-Veikot
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1946–1948 Turun Weikot (TUL) (14)
1948–1950 Turun Weikot 52 (36)
1951-1953 Turun Pyrkivä (33)
1953-1957 Red Star Paris 63 (18)
1957-1962 Turun Palloseura 94 (34)
1963-1964 Turun Toverit (8)
1965-1966 Turun Pyrkivä (1)
International career
1947–1959 Finland 44 (13)
Managerial career
1962 TPS
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Kalevi Valdemar Lehtovirta (20 February 1928 – 10 January 2016)[1] was a Finnish football striker who competed in the 1952 Summer Olympics.[2][3][4]

Personal life

While in Paris he married a local woman who gave birth to their twin sons. They lived in Montmartre neighbourhood. His children and grandchildren reside in France.[5]

Career

Club

Lehtovirta started playing football in Maarian Kisa-Veikot. In 1947 he was promoted to senior squad of Turun Weikot.[6] After 1950 season he transferred to Turun Pyrkivä where he spent 3 seasons. In 1953 he became second finnish footballer to play professionally when he moved to Red Star F.C. in French Division 2. In his second season for the club they nearly gained promotion to Ligue 1 but were not promoted due to bribery scandal between their manager and opposition goalkeeper.[7] After 4 seasons in Paris he returned to Turku where he played for Turun Palloseura and Turun Toverit before ending his career at Turun Pyrkivä.[8]

International

Lehtovirta earned 44 caps for Finland and scored 13 goals. He made his first appearance in 1947 in a defeat against Sweden played in Borås. His first goal was scored against Sweden in 1948. One of his most memorable moments was a winner in a friendly match against Yugoslavia in 1950.[9]

References

  1. ^ "Kalevi Lehtovirta". Olympedia. Retrieved 9 November 2021.
  2. ^ Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Kalevi Lehtovirta". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020. Retrieved 4 October 2012.
  3. ^ "Kalevi Lehtovirta - national football team player".
  4. ^ Juha Kanerva. "Kalevi Lehtovirta on kuollut". Ilta-Sanomat. Archived from the original on 13 February 2016. Retrieved 15 January 2016.
  5. ^ "Jalkapallolegenda Kalevi Lehtovirta on kuollut". 14 January 2016.
  6. ^ "Kalevi Lehtovirta (20.2.1928-10.1.2016) - FC TPS".
  7. ^ "Jalkapallolegenda Kalevi Lehtovirta on kuollut". 14 January 2016.
  8. ^ "Kalevi Lehtovirta on kuollut". 14 January 2016.
  9. ^ "Kalevi Lehtovirta, international football player".
  • Barreaud, Marc (1998). Dictionnaire des footballeurs étrangers du championnat professionnel français (1932-1997). L'Harmattan, Paris. ISBN 2-7384-6608-7.


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