'Motherwell made me the player I was' - Valakari

"Without Motherwell, I would not have done what I did. Motherwell made me the player I was."

Rarely are the Lanarshire club so lauded in the media room at McDiarmid Park.

But as Simo Valakari greeted the Scottish press for the first time since his appointment as St Johnstone's new head coach, the Finn could not help but share his love and gratitude for the Fir Park side.

Valakari started his career in his homeland of Finland before joining the 'Well from FinnPa in 1996.

He went on to make more than 100 appearances for Motherwell over four seasons, before spending a further four years with Derby County.

He made 32 appearances for his national team, all coming once he'd signed in Scotland.

On his return to these shores, Valakari said: "Without Motherwell, I would not go to the Premier League. Without Motherwell I would not go to the MLS. Without Motherwell, more likely, I would not have played for the Finland national team. Motherwell made me the player that I was.

"I still remember that first day, we were training, we still didn’t have the training park, we were running around some park and I was thinking, 'now I am here with the professional football players,' and that had the biggest impact in my career."