Jussi Jääskeläinen

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Jussi Jääskeläinen
Jääskeläinen training with West Ham United in 2012
Personal information
Full name Jussi Albert Jääskeläinen[1]
Date of birth (1975-04-19) 19 April 1975 (age 48)
Place of birth Mikkeli, Finland
Height 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in)[2]
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Team information
Current team
 PK-35 (goalkeeping coach)
Youth career
MP
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1992–1995 MP 64 (0)
1995–1997 VPS 54 (0)
1997–2012 Bolton Wanderers 474 (0)
2012–2015 West Ham United 57 (0)
2015–2017 Wigan Athletic 44 (0)
2017–2018 ATK 1 (0)
Total 694 (0)
International career
1998–2010 Finland 56 (0)
Managerial career
2018 Wrexham (joint caretaker)
2024– PK-35 (goalkeeping coach)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Jussi Albert Jääskeläinen (pronounced [ˈjusːi ˈjæːskelæi̯nen]; born 19 April 1975) is a Finnish professional football coach and a former footballer who played as a goalkeeper. He is currently working as a goalkeeping coach of Ykkösliiga club PK-35.

During his career, Jääskeläinen most notably represented Bolton Wanderers from 1997 until 2012, making 530 appearances across all competitions. He left Bolton for West Ham United at the end of the 2011–12 season, moving on after three seasons to Wigan Athletic on a free transfer. In his first season with Wigan, he won the League One title. He left Wigan after two seasons to join Indian club ATK, where he retired in 2018.

Jääskeläinen earned 56 caps for the Finland national team, making his debut in 1998 and retiring from international football in 2010.

Club career

Jääskeläinen was born in Mikkeli, and made his Veikkausliiga debut for MP Mikkeli in 1992, becoming the club's first choice goalkeeper in 1994. In 1996, he moved to VPS Vaasa where he spent two seasons.

Bolton Wanderers

Jääskeläinen was bought by manager Colin Todd for £100,000 for Bolton Wanderers of the Football League First Division in 1997.[3][4] Upon joining the club, manager Todd said: "He's one for the future," Todd explained. "I saw him playing for the Under 21s and he was very impressive. I followed it up immediately but things got held up. When I got wind of him being on trial and possibly signing for another English club I moved in quickly. You can't let people of his quality pass you by."[4] However, Jääskeläinen was the third choice goalkeeper for the rest of the 1997–98 season, behind Keith Branagan and Gavin Ward, as Bolton Wanderers were relegated to Football League First Division.[5]

Following the injury of Branagan and the departure of Ward, Jääskeläinen was promoted to the club’s first choice goalkeeper ahead of the 1998–99 season.[6] He made his Bolton Wanderers debut, starting the whole game, in a 2–2 draw against Crystal Palace in the opening game of the season.[7] Jääskeläinen soon established himself as the club's first choice keeper, though a cruciate ligament injury ruled him out for half of Bolton's 2000–01 promotion season.

In October 2006 he saved two penalties in one match from Blackburn Rovers' Benni McCarthy and Jason Roberts to secure a 1–0 away win.[8] On 13 May 2007, Jääskeläinen received Bolton's "Player of the Year Award" and also the "Players' Player of the Year Award" after helping Bolton secure a UEFA Cup spot for only the second time in their history.[9] Despite much speculation linking him with a move away from Bolton when his contract expired following the 2007–08 season, Jääskeläinen agreed a new four-year contract on 11 June,[10] which he signed on 9 July.[11]

His 400th appearance came against Manchester City on 2 November 2008, with his 400th start coming six days later against Hull City.[12] In January 2009 he saved another penalty from Benni McCarthy in a match against Blackburn Rovers, now managed by his former manager Sam Allardyce, to secure a 2–2 draw.[13] After twelve years, Jääskeläinen was granted a testimonial match against Hibernian in August 2009 in which he kept a clean sheet.[14][15]

Jääskeläinen playing against Chelsea in December 2010

His 500th appearance came against Birmingham City on 12 March 2011 in an FA Cup Quarter-Final[16] and his 500th start a week later at Manchester United.

In 2012, in the Premier League 20 Seasons Awards, a double-save from Jääskeläinen against Manchester United on 20 October 2001 came third in a poll deciding the best save in the Premier League's 20-year existence.[17]

At the end of the 2011–12 season Bolton were relegated from the Premier League and Jääskeläinen rejected a two-year contract bringing an end to his 15-year stay with the club.[18] He made 530 appearances in all competitions, putting him joint third in Bolton's all-time appearance list.[19]

West Ham United

On 13 June 2012, West Ham confirmed that Jääskeläinen had agreed personal terms on a one-year deal with an option for a second year. Jääskeläinen was once again reunited with former manager Sam Allardyce, under whom he worked for eight years at Bolton Wanderers.[20] He made his debut for West Ham on 18 August 2012 in a 1–0 win against Aston Villa.[21] On 12 April 2013, the option for contract extension was activated, keeping Jääskeläinen with "the Hammers" until summer 2014.[22] He played all 38 games of West Ham's 2012–13 season, in the Premier League and was named runner-up in the Hammer of the Year.[23][24] He played 18 games in the next Premier League season before being dropped in January for Adrián.[25]

On 4 June 2014, signed a new one-year contract extension with West Ham keeping him at the club until the end of the 2014–15 season, saying "Physically I feel good and I felt good last season so I hope I can carry on from there."[25] Jääskeläinen played just one game for West Ham in the 2014–15 season, coming on for Carlton Cole after Adrián had been sent-off in a goalless draw at Southampton on 11 February 2015.[26][27] He was released at the end of the campaign.[28]

Wigan Athletic

After his release from West Ham, Jääskeläinen trialled with Bradford City.[29] On 11 August 2015, he signed a one-year deal with Wigan Athletic, newly relegated to League One.[30] Initially back-up to fellow incomer Richard O'Donnell, he made his debut on 3 October at the age of 40, keeping a clean sheet in a goalless draw with Walsall at the DW Stadium.[31]

On 31 March 2016, after his 15 clean sheets in 32 games helped Wigan onto an 18-match unbeaten run and second place in the table, he extended his contract for another season.[32] Wigan ended the season as champions.[33] Following the end of his contract at the end of the 2016–17 season, with Wigan being relegated back to League One after finishing 23rd, Jaaskelainen was one of four players to be released by Wigan.[34][35]

ATK

On 1 September 2017, 42-year old Jääskeläinen switched clubs and countries, signing for Indian Super League club ATK.[36] He made his debut three months later in a goalless draw at Jamshedpur FC.[37] On 17 January 2018 he was released after having played as a second choice to Debjit Majumder.[38] Later reports clarified he will remain at the club as a coach, but his playing career had ended.[39]

International career

Jääskeläinen next to Andrey Arshavin in goal against Russia in 2008.

Jääskeläinen made his debut for Finland on 25 March 1998 against Malta, having been called up to the national team for the first time.[40] He was Finland's second choice behind Antti Niemi for years, but after Niemi retired from international football in 2005, Jääskeläinen finally became the Finnish number one.

On 29 October 2009, Jääskeläinen announced his retirement from international football having collected 55 caps for his country. In explaining his decision Jääskeläinen stated that he hoped that it would allow him to prolong his club career.[41] However, on 6 October 2010 Jääskeläinen announced his comeback to national team in a match against Hungary as Otto Fredrikson was unable to play because of an injury but confirmed that this was just a one-off.[42]

Coaching career

In 2018 he was appointed as the goalkeeper coach at Wrexham by manager Sam Ricketts, a former team-mate at Bolton.[43] Due to the speculation over Ricketts' job, Jääskeläinen, alongside Graham Barrow and Carl Darlington, took charge of Wrexham's second round FA Cup match against Newport County on 1 December.[44] The match finished 0–0, meaning a replay would be played.[45] Two days later, the departure of Ricketts was confirmed, and Barrow was named sole caretaker manager until a replacement was found.[46] He left the club on 7 June 2019.[47]

Personal life

Jääskeläinen's eldest son Will Jääskeläinen plays for Woking FC, in the same position, having left Bolton in August 2017 without making a competitive senior appearance.[48] He wears the shirt number 22, the same that his father did during his time at Bolton.[49][50] His youngest son, Emil, plays for LIU Sharks.[51]

Jääskeläinen is close friends with Tepi Moilanen.[52]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 12 January 2017.
Club performance League Cup League Cup Continental Total
Season Club League Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Finland League Finnish Cup League Cup Europe Total
1992 MP Mikkeli Veikkausliiga 6 0 6 0
1993 6 0 6 0
1994 26 0 26 0
1995 26 0 26 0
MP Mikkeli total 64 0 64 0
1996 VPS Vaasa Veikkausliiga 27 0 27 0
1997 27 0 27 0
VPS Vaasa total 54 0 54 0
England League FA Cup League Cup Europe Total
1997–98 Bolton Wanderers Premier League 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
1998–99 Division 1 34 0 1 0 5 0 0 0 40 0
1999–2000 36* 0 3 0 2 0 0 0 41 0
2000–01 27 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 27 0
2001–02 Premier League 34 0 1 0 3 0 0 0 38 0
2002–03 38 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 38 0
2003–04 38 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 41 0
2004–05 36 0 4 0 0 0 0 0 40 0
2005–06 38 0 3 0 2 0 5 0 48 0
2006–07 38 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 40 0
2007–08 28 0 0 0 1 0 6 0 35 0
2008–09 38 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 40 0
2009–10 38 0 3 0 2 0 0 0 43 0
2010–11 35 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 38 0
2011–12 18 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 18 0
Bolton Wanderers total 476 0 21 0 19 0 11 0 527 0
2012–13 West Ham United Premier League 38 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 40 0
2013–14 18 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 19 0
2014–15 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 2 0
West Ham United total 57 0 2 0 2 0 0 0 61 0
2015–16 Wigan Athletic League One 35 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 35 0
2016–17 Championship 9 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 10 0
Wigan Athletic total 44 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 45 0
2017–18 ATK Indian Super League 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
ATK total 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
Career total 696 0 23 0 22 0 11 0 752 0

* includes 2 play off matches

International

International statistics[53]
National team Year Apps Goals
Finland 1998 2 0
1999 2 0
2000 3 0
2001 0 0
2002 3 0
2003 6 0
2004 2 0
2005 7 0
2006 8 0
2007 9 0
2008 5 0
2009 8 0
2010 1 0
Total 56 0

Honours

Bolton Wanderers

Wigan Athletic

Individual

Finland

Individual

References

  1. ^ Hugman, Barry J., ed. (2010). The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2010–11. Mainstream Publishing. p. 215. ISBN 978-1-84596-601-0.
  2. ^ "Jussi Jääskeläinen Profile". Premier League. Retrieved 24 March 2021.
  3. ^ Iles, Mark (2 June 2012). "Is Jussi the best Wanderers keeper of all time?". www.boltonnews.co.uk. Retrieved 10 June 2012.
  4. ^ a b "Jussi the job!". www.boltonnews.co.uk. 11 November 1997. Retrieved 23 January 2024.
  5. ^ "Keeper injury worry". www.boltonnews.co.uk. 8 December 1997. Retrieved 23 January 2024.
    "Todd aims to turn tables". www.boltonnews.co.uk. 6 February 1998. Retrieved 23 January 2024.
    "Better news for Branagan". www.boltonnews.co.uk. 15 April 1998. Retrieved 23 January 2024.
  6. ^ "WANDERERS: Mark back on a mission". www.boltonnews.co.uk. 29 July 1998. Retrieved 23 January 2024.
    "Ternent checks in at emergency Ward for loan keeper". www.boltonnews.co.uk. 15 August 1998. Retrieved 23 January 2024.
  7. ^ "WANDERERS: Arnie's deadly strike seals last gasp point". www.boltonnews.co.uk. 10 August 1998. Retrieved 23 January 2024.
  8. ^ "Blackburn 0-1 Bolton". BBC Sport. 22 October 2006. Retrieved 12 September 2015.
  9. ^ Jussi Handed Top Award Archived 8 August 2007 at the Wayback Machine – Bwfc Official Site
  10. ^ "Jussi agrees Bolton deal". Sky Sports. 11 June 2008. Retrieved 11 June 2008.
  11. ^ "Bolton duo sign new deals". Sky Sports. 9 July 2008. Retrieved 9 July 2008.
  12. ^ "Gardner rarity helps Bolton dig out a long-overdue three points". www.guardian.co.uk. 2 November 2008. Retrieved 10 June 2012.
  13. ^ "Blackburn 2-2 Bolton". BBC Sport. 28 January 2009. Retrieved 12 September 2015.
  14. ^ Jussi Granted Testimonial Archived 10 May 2009 at the Wayback Machine – BWFC Official Site
  15. ^ Jaaskelainen lines up testimonial, BBC Sport, 6 May 2009.
  16. ^ "Premier League Player Profile". Bolton Wanderers. Archived from the original on 30 September 2011. Retrieved 1 October 2011.
  17. ^ "Sunderland's Gordon wins Best Save Award". Premier League. 11 May 2012. Archived from the original on 15 July 2014. Retrieved 4 June 2014.
  18. ^ Iles, Marc (30 May 2012). "Jaaskelainen quits Wanderers". Bolton News. Bolton.
  19. ^ "Norwich v Bolton". Goal.com. Archived from the original on 3 November 2013. Retrieved 10 June 2012.
  20. ^ "Jussi agrees terms". whufc.com. Archived from the original on 13 June 2012. Retrieved 13 June 2012.
  21. ^ "West Ham 1 – 0 Aston Vila". BBC Sport. Retrieved 19 August 2012.
  22. ^ "Jaaskelainen triggers one-year extension at West Ham". Www.goal.com. Retrieved 20 May 2013.
  23. ^ "Soccerbase". Www.soccerbase.com. Retrieved 20 May 2013.
  24. ^ "Reid crowned Hammer of the Year". Www.whufc.com. Archived from the original on 11 May 2013. Retrieved 20 May 2013.
  25. ^ a b "Jussi Jaaskelainen: West Ham goalkeeper signs new contract". BBC Sport. 4 June 2014. Retrieved 4 June 2014.
  26. ^ "Southampton 0-0 West Ham". BBC Sport. Retrieved 29 May 2015.
  27. ^ "J Jaaselainen". Socccerway. Retrieved 29 May 2015.
  28. ^ "Hammers confirm retained list". www.whufc.com. Retrieved 28 May 2015.
  29. ^ Parker, Simon (11 August 2015). "Former Bantam trialist Jaaskelainen signs for Wigan". Telegraph & Argus. Retrieved 30 October 2015.
  30. ^ "Jussi Jaaskelainen signs one-year Wigan deal". Retrieved 11 August 2015.
  31. ^ Seddon, Nick (3 October 2015). "Latics collect hard earned point after Morgan is harshly dismissed". Wigan Athletic F.C. Retrieved 30 October 2015.
  32. ^ "Jussi Jaaskelainen: Wigan Athletic goalkeeper extends stay until summer 2017". BBC Sport. 1 April 2016. Retrieved 1 April 2016.
  33. ^ a b "League One Review: Barnsley seal play-off spot by stunning Wigan, Burton go up and Blackpool go down". FourFourTwo. 8 May 2016. Retrieved 8 May 2016.
  34. ^ "Wigan Athletic: Captain Stephen Warnock among four to be released". BBC Sport. 17 May 2017. Retrieved 8 June 2017.
  35. ^ "Former Bolton and West Ham goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen has retired". FourFourTwo. 8 June 2017. Retrieved 8 June 2017.[permanent dead link]
  36. ^ "ATK sign Finland goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen". Indian Express. 1 September 2017. Retrieved 7 October 2017.
  37. ^ "Jamshedpur play another goalless draw, this time against ATK". The Times of India. 1 December 2017. Retrieved 14 January 2018.
  38. ^ "ISL 2017-18: ATK release Njazi Kuqi, Jussi Jaaskelainen and Augustin Fernandes, sign replacements". Goal. 17 January 2018. Retrieved 18 January 2018.
  39. ^ "Bolton legend Jussi Jaaskelainen retires from playing duties". The Bolton News. 20 January 2018. Retrieved 18 January 2018 – via Indian Express.
  40. ^ "Chance for Frandsen". www.boltonnews.co.uk. 17 March 1998. Retrieved 23 January 2024.
    "Winning start". www.boltonnews.co.uk. 27 March 1998. Retrieved 23 January 2024.
  41. ^ Jussi Calls Time On International Career Archived 1 November 2009 at the Wayback Machine – Bwfc Official Site
  42. ^ Call up was a one off – Jussi – Bolton News
  43. ^ "Wrexham A.F.C. Staff Profiles". Wrexham A.F.C. 7 August 2018. Retrieved 7 August 2018.[permanent dead link]
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  45. ^ "REPORT - WREXHAM 0 - 0 NEWPORT COUNTY". Wrexham A.F.C. 1 December 2018. Archived from the original on 23 September 2020. Retrieved 1 December 2018.
  46. ^ "STATEMENT - Sam Ricketts Departs Wrexham AFC". Wrexham A.F.C. 3 December 2018. Archived from the original on 8 November 2020. Retrieved 9 December 2018.
  47. ^ "Jussi Jaaskelainen: Former Bolton goalkeeper leaves Wrexham role". BBC Sport. 7 June 2019.
  48. ^ "WANDERERS: Mark back on a mission". The Bolton News. 29 July 1998. Retrieved 23 January 2024.
  49. ^ Pye, William (26 November 2013). "Jaaskelainen Junior helps Bolton Wanderers U18s stop the rot". The Bolton News. Retrieved 20 August 2015.
  50. ^ "Will Jaaskelainen: Crewe sign goalkeeper on one-year deal after release from Bolton". BBC Sport. 15 August 2017. Retrieved 16 August 2017.
  51. ^ @kendaltownfc (17 January 2020). "Emil Jaaskelainen:Kendal Town are pleased to announce the permanent signing of Emil Jaaskelainen.Jaaskelainen w…" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  52. ^ "Jussi good friends - and rivals!". The Bolton News. 19 August 1998. Retrieved 23 January 2024.
  53. ^ "Jussi Jääskeläinen". EU-Football. Retrieved 2 April 2016.
  54. ^ "Boro lift Carling Cup". BBC Sport. 29 February 2004. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  55. ^ "Finland-Norway|Line-ups|". Retrieved 6 December 2020.
  56. ^ "Tournament table". Retrieved 6 December 2020.

External links

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