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Mikael Forssell
Club: Chelsea FC (England)
Position: Striker
Date of Birth: 15 March 1981
Caps/Goals: 1/-
Previous Clubs: HJK Helsinki
Comment:
Mikael Forssell was one of the hottest properties in European football when he emerged as a 16 year old playing for Finnish champions HJK Helsinki. Several top European sides including Ajax, Inter-Milan, Liverpool, Bayer Leverkusen, Bayem Munich, Sampdoria and Glasgow Rangers, were after his signature but it was Chelsea who won the race.
At 18, yet already big and strong with pace and a deadly eye for goal the hype surrounding him before his debut was extraordinary. He made his long awaited debut away to Arsenal on the 31st Jan 1999, he only got the last 15 minutes but showed a few nice touches. He made his full debut from the start a few days later in an FA Cup game against Oxford and left the whole crowd discussing his name. The sheer quality of his 2 goals on his home debut was breathtaking, a curler into the top corner and a thunderbolt from outside the box.
Dennis Wise, described him as the best young player he had ever trained with and forecast a superb future for the youngster.
Mikael was chosen as the best youth player in Finland in 1996 and 1997. For the Finnish Under 15, 16 and 17 national teams he has been capped 21 times and scored 18 goals. On his debut for the Under 18s he bagged four goals. Forssell played his first full International away against Moldova in the Euro 2000 Qualifying.
Petri Pasanen
Club: FC Lahti
Position: Defender
Date of Birth: 24 September 1980
Apps/Goals in Finnish Premier 1999: 27/-
Previous Clubs: FC Kuusysi, FC Pallo-Lahti, FC Hämeenlinna
Comments: The last few years Finland has produced a number of good players. While looking through the players one may notice that it's mainly players whom are known for their attacking skills, so it's nice to see Petri Pasanen's development the last years.
He might not be the nicest player to watch, but he surely does his job. He's aggressive and a good tackler. Under 1999 he's been a regular in FC Lahti's Premiership squad. The past season he also took part in 15 youth internationals, played well, and was awarded with a price as the best prospect.
Finnish Under-21 coach Jukka Ikäläinen is hoping that Pasanen will get his big International breakthrough this season.
Daniel Sjölund
Club: West Ham United (England)
Position: Attacking Midfielder/Forward
Date of Birth: 22 April 1983
Previous Clubs: IFK Mariehamn, IF Brommapojkarna (Sweden)
Comments: After completing his second season with IFK Mariehamn in 1999, Sjölund made a summer move to Swedish First Division side IF Brommapojkarna. Brommapojkarna is well known for producing young tallent and it didn't take long before Sjölund was discovered.
It was however when representing Finland in a tournament in England when all the Brittish sides got their eyes on him. Finland won 5-4 over hosts England in the final of the tournament and Sjölund was an important factor in the win.
Although he had offers from bigger clubs, Sjölund chose West Ham. He started his Hammers career superbly, scoring in his first 3 games for the youth team. Sjölund surely has the potential to one of the best Finnish players ever.
Teemu Tainio
Club: AJ Auxerre (France)
Position: Attacking Midfielder/Forward
Date of Birth: 27 November 1979
Caps/Goals: 5/-
Previous Clubs: TP-47, FC Haka
Comments: Teemu Tainio played his first game in the Finnish Premier Division on April 28th 1996. Under his first season he impressed a lot and several clubs got their eyes on him. Auxerre and Guy Roux finally got Tainio's signature in 1997.
On September 5 1998 Tainio saw his first French Premier Division action when Lens visited Auxerre.
Teemu is not big and physical, but his speed and technique is superb. Tainio is likely to be a part of Antti Muurinen's World Cup Qualifying squad thats in the qualifying group as England and Germany.
Mika Väyrynen
Club: FC Lahti
Position: Midfielder
Date of Birth: 28 December 1981
Apps/Goals in Finnish Premier 1999: 13/1
Previous Clubs: Kyrkslätt IF, FC Pallo-Lahti
Started his career as a 5-year old in Kyrkslätt IF. In 1999 he moved from Pallo-Lahti to FC Lahti. In his first season in the Finnish Premier Division he played in 13 games and scored one goal.
Värynen has represented his country on various youth levels, and has found the back of the net on many occasions too. Was an important player in the Finnish under-16 that played in the European Championships in 1998.
Big European clubs have brought their attention to Värynen and his future in the Finnish League looks uncertain. In March 2000 Ajax took Värynen and 3 other Finnish prospects on trial.
Dave
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