| Pertti Alaja | |
| Fullname: | Pertti Johannes Alaja |
| Birth Date: | 18 February 1952 |
| Birth Place: | Helsinki, Finland |
| Death Place: | Espoo, Finland |
| Position: | Goalkeeper |
| Years1: | 1971-1972 |
| Caps1: | 31 |
| Goals1: | 0 |
| Years2: | 1973-1975 |
| Caps2: | 57 |
| Goals2: | 0 |
| Years3: | 1976-1977 |
| Caps3: | 44 |
| Goals3: | 0 |
| Years4: | 1978–1979 |
| Caps4: | 23 |
| Goals4: | 0 |
| Years5: | 1980–1981 |
| Clubs5: | Edmonton Drillers[1] |
| Caps5: | 47 |
| Goals5: | 0 |
| Years6: | 1982–1983 |
| Caps6: | 44 |
| Goals6: | 0 |
| Nationalteam1: | Finland[2] |
| Nationalcaps1: | 29 |
| Nationalgoals1: | 0 |
| Manageryears1: | 1984–1986 |
| Managerclubs1: | HIFK |
| Manageryears2: | 1987–1989 |
| Managerclubs2: | PPJ |
| Manageryears3: | 1988–1989 |
| Managerclubs3: | Finland (gk coach) |
Pertti Johannes Alaja (18 February 1952 – 18 August 2017) was a Finnish football executive and a former footballer who played as a goalkeeper.[3]
Alaja served as the Secretary General of the Football Association of Finland during 1991–2000 and the vice-president during 2004–2006. He was also the tournament director of the FIFA World Cup 2010.
Alaja was elected the 15th president of the Finnish FA on 14 October 2012, replacing Sauli Niinistö,[4] and served in the position until 2017.
Alaja passed away on 18 August 2017. He was previously diagnosed with cancer.[5]
In November 2017, Alaja was posthumously awarded the Captain's Ball, the most prestigious personal award by the Football Association of Finland. He was also named in the Hall of Fame of Finnish football.
Alaja had also previously played handball at the highest domestic level.[6]
His late brother Erkki Alaja was also a professional footballer and handball player, and later worked in various positions in sports management.[7]
HJK
1973Individual
The Captain's Ball