Simo Valakari: New St Johnstone boss says Scotland special in his heart

New St Johnstone head coach Simo Valakari is thrilled to be back in Scotland, where “everyone is breathing football”.The 51-year-old former Finland international spent almost three-and-a-half years at Motherwell before joining Derby County in the English Premier League in May 2000.”I have been dreaming of it,” said Valakari. “I never took it for granted that I would come back here, but when I started my coaching career one of my things was ‘yes, one day I would like to coach in Scotland’.”I started my professional career here so it was always a special place in my heart and how I see Scottish football, how I see this culture, everyone is breathing football. That is what I have been missing in my last positions.”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 Finnish national team. Motherwell made me the player that I was.”A number of names, including Aberdeen coach…