Simo Valakari, the Finnish manager who took over St Johnstone in October 2025, is urging his squad to be "solid and streetwise" if they hope to make a meaningful impact in Scotland's top flight. After guiding the Perth‑based club to an immediate return to the Premiership by winning the Championship at the first attempt, Valakari knows that the challenges ahead will be very different from those they faced in the second tier. The Saints earned promotion by losing only three league matches during their title‑winning campaign, a record that speaks to the quality and consistency they displayed over the course of the season.
Yet Valakari is quick to point out that the same style that brought them success in the Championship cannot simply be transplanted into the Premiership without adaptation. In a candid interview with Sky Sports News, he warned that the team must shed any notion of being a "naïve, beautiful, nice" side that relies solely on attractive football.
"If we are not hard to beat, if we are not solid, if we are not ruthless about ourselves, it will be difficult," Valakari said. He emphasized that while the club’s identity will still be rooted in attractive, possession‑based play, they must also develop a tougher, more pragmatic edge – a kind of street‑smartness that allows them to cope with the physicality and intensity of top‑flight opposition. St Johnstone’s first match back in the Premiership is scheduled for Sunday, when they travel to face Kilmarnock at Rugby Park.
The game will be broadcast live on Sky Sports, providing a high‑profile platform for the newly promoted side to showcase their evolution. Valakari believes that the upcoming season will test the squad’s depth, resilience, and ability to adjust tactics on the fly.
One of the manager’s key strategic moves has been to retain the core group of players that secured promotion while also bolstering the roster with eight new signings. This blend of continuity and fresh talent is intended to give the team a balanced foundation, ensuring that there are capable alternatives should injuries or suspensions arise. Valakari highlighted that the recruitment process began well before the end of the Championship season, allowing the club to secure long‑term contracts for several players, typically spanning two to three years. This proactive approach was designed to avoid the uncertainty that often follows a promotion campaign, where clubs can find themselves scrambling for reinforcements after the season ends.
"It was important that we started this process already before our Championship season," Valakari explained. "We got the players in and we made them two, three‑year contracts. So we knew that we never wanted to be in that situation as we were after the Premiership season." The manager also noted that the new arrivals have brought distinct personalities and skill sets that complement the existing squad. While the team already possesses a solid foundation of good players, the additional depth should allow them to rotate effectively and maintain a high level of performance throughout the grueling schedule of the Premiership.
Valakari expressed confidence that, after a comprehensive pre‑season, the squad is as prepared as possible to embark on their top‑flight campaign. He was realistic about the inevitable challenges that lie ahead. "When these real games start happening, maybe there will be injuries, there will be some injuries on some of our players, or things like that," he said.
"We have a foundation, we have good players, we have enough depth in our squad as well. We are as ready as you can be after pre‑season to start the Premiership campaign." Beyond the tactical and personnel considerations, Valakari stressed the mental aspect of the game. The term "streetwise" in his comments refers not only to physical robustness but also to the ability to read matches, make smart decisions under pressure, and exploit opponents' weaknesses. This mindset, he believes, will be crucial when facing seasoned Premiership teams that are accustomed to a faster pace and more aggressive play.
St Johnstone’s promotion story is already remarkable – rebounding from relegation in the previous season and clinching the Championship title with a record of just three defeats. The club’s fans will be eager to see whether the team can translate that momentum into a respectable showing in the top division. While the manager does not promise a top‑four finish, his realistic optimism aims to set a tone of hard work, collective responsibility, and tactical flexibility. The upcoming match against Kilmarnock will serve as a litmus test for Valakari’s philosophy.
A solid defensive display, combined with opportunistic attacking play, could signal that the Saints are on the right path. Conversely, any lapses in concentration or an inability to cope with the Premiership’s physical demands would highlight areas needing immediate improvement. In summary, Simo Valakari is urging St Johnstone to blend their attractive style with a newfound grit and street‑savvy approach.
By maintaining a core group, adding strategic signings, and securing long‑term contracts, the club has built a squad capable of weathering the inevitable challenges of Premiership football. The manager’s emphasis on being "hard to beat" and "ruthless" reflects a pragmatic shift designed to help the team survive and thrive among Scotland’s elite. As the season kicks off on Sunday, all eyes will be on whether the Saints can deliver on this vision and establish themselves as a resilient, competitive force in the top tier.