Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Full name | Mikael Kaj Forssell [1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Date of birth | [1] | 15 March 1981||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Place of birth | Steinfurt, West Germany | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Height | 1.84 m (6 ft 0 in) [2] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Position(s) | Striker | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Team information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Current team | HJK (assistant coach) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Youth career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1994–1997 | HJK | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Senior career* | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1997–1998 | HJK | 17 | (1) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1998–2005 | Chelsea | 33 | (5) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2000 | → Crystal Palace (loan) | 13 | (3) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2000–2001 | → Crystal Palace (loan) | 39 | (13) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2003 | → Borussia Mönchengladbach (loan) | 12 | (7) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2003–2004 | → Birmingham City (loan) | 32 | (17) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2004–2005 | → Birmingham City (loan) | 4 | (0) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2005–2008 | Birmingham City | 65 | (13) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2008–2011 | Hannover 96 | 44 | (7) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2011–2012 | Leeds United | 15 | (0) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2012–2014 | HJK | 44 | (21) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2014–2015 | VfL Bochum | 16 | (3) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2016 | HJK | 19 | (3) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2017 | HIFK | 25 | (8) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total | 383 | (101) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
International career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1999–2014 | Finland | 87 | (29) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Managerial career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2019–2021 | HJK (youth) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2024– | HJK (assistant) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
*Club domestic league appearances and goals |
Mikael Kaj Forssell (born 15 March 1981) is a Finnish former professional footballer who played as a striker. [2] He is currently working as an assistant coach of HJK Helsinki, having previously worked as a youth coach for the club. [3]
Forssell began his professional career in 1997 for HJK, having progressed through the team's youth teams, but he only remained at the club for a single season, making 17 league appearances, before he moved to England to join Chelsea in 1998. He never broke into the Chelsea team, making 33 league appearances in seven years, and spent two loan spells at Crystal Palace, one at Borussia Mönchengladbach, and two at Birmingham City. He switched permanently to the latter club in 2005, but injury problems restricted him to 65 league appearances in three seasons. He joined German side Hannover 96 in July 2008 on a free transfer, but once again struggled with form and injury problems, and he left the club in 2011, having made 44 league appearances. This was followed by an unsuccessful season back in England, this time with Leeds United; 15 league games failed to yield a single goal. Forssell returned to HJK in October 2012.
Forssell made his full international debut for Finland in 1999, and was a regular player for his country for the next 15 years. He earned 87 caps for his country, and scored 29 goals, making him Finland's sixth most capped player and second highest goalscorer.
On 2 October 2022, Forssell was named in the HJK Hall of Fame. [4]
Born in Steinfurt, [5] Germany, and considered one of the most talented Finnish footballers of all time, Forssell made his Veikkausliiga debut for HJK at the age of just 16. [2]
His goal-scoring form for Finland's youth teams made him a target for a host of Europe's top clubs, and in 1998, the 17-year-old striker was snapped up by Chelsea [6] who at the time were managed by Gianluca Vialli. He made his debut as a substitute in a league game against Arsenal in January 1999 [7] and then three days later, Forssell made his first start for the club when he scored two goals against Oxford United in the FA Cup. [8] His first league goal came three weeks later, when he scored against Nottingham Forest. [9] However, when Chelsea signed Chris Sutton for £10 million, Forssell was loaned out twice to Crystal Palace [10] of the then First Division, scoring 16 league goals in just over 50 appearances. [11]
Forssell found it hard to find a place in the Chelsea first team with Gianfranco Zola, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, Tore Andre Flo and Eiður Guðjohnsen, who were all ahead of him in the pecking order. [9] After initially impressing new manager Claudio Ranieri, scoring in four consecutive games, [12] he was sent out on loan again and had spells at Borussia Mönchengladbach [13] of the German Bundesliga [14] and twice to Birmingham City of the Premier League. Forssell scored seven Bundesliga goals for Mönchengladbach in the spring of 2003 and then 17 Premier League goals for Birmingham in the 2003–04 season (more league goals than any other Chelsea player), during which he was the division's fifth highest goalscorer. He was named Premier League Player of the Month for March 2004, [15] a month in which he scored twice in a 4–1 win against Leeds United, [16] and won Birmingham's Player of the Year award. [17]
He returned to Birmingham on loan for the 2004–05 season, but suffered the second serious knee injury of his career. [18] He returned to Chelsea to recuperate, and made occasional appearances for Chelsea that season, [19] playing against Bayern Munich in the Champions League [20] and in the last home match, against Charlton Athletic, as Chelsea celebrated winning their first top-flight title for 50 years. [21]
In the summer of 2005, Forssell joined Birmingham on a three-year deal for a fee of £3.5 million, [22] after Chelsea decided that he did not figure in their long-term plans. He struggled in the 2005–06 season, not having found his best form after his injury, and could not save Birmingham from relegation. Forssell suffered another cruel injury blow to his other knee during training in October 2006. This left him on the sidelines until he returned to training in February 2007 after undergoing operations on both knees. He remained at Birmingham to have another go at resurrecting his career.
His 2007–08 pre-season performances were good, he scored five goals in five games. His manager, Steve Bruce, was enthusiastic about his return to form. He continued his good form into the start of the season, scoring the opening goal of the match against Chelsea and consolidating his good form with two assists in the next three matches. He scored his first hat-trick at club level on 1 March 2008, in the 4–1 win over Tottenham Hotspur, a so-called "perfect hat-trick" – one goal scored with the left foot, one with the right, and one with the head. [23] In his final season at Birmingham, he finished the season as their top scorer with nine goals as the club were relegated from the Premier League. [24]
In May 2008, following the club's relegation from Premier League, Forssell signed a pre-contract agreement to join Hannover 96 on a free transfer when his Birmingham contract expired at the end of June. His contract with Hannover ran out at the end of the 2010–11 season. [25] [26]
On his pre-season debut for Hannover, he scored 10 goals including an eight-minute hat-trick in one friendly game against amateurs FC Boffzen. The game ended up as a 23–0 win. [27]
After leaving Hannover when his contract expired at the end of the 2010–11 season, Forssell had trials with clubs including West Ham United [28] and Leeds United [29] of the English Football League Championship (second tier). On 8 September he returned from international duty with Finland to sign a contract with Leeds until the end of the 2011–12 season. [30] Forssell was handed the number 18 shirt and took his place on the bench two days later against his former club Crystal Palace. He came on as a second-half substitute to make his Leeds debut and assisted Ross McCormack for their winning goal in a 3–2 victory. [31] He came on as a substitute against fierce rivals Manchester United in a 3–0 League Cup defeat. [32]
After mainly being used as a substitute and failing to score a single goal for Leeds, Forssell was told by Neil Warnock that his one-year contract wouldn't be renewed at the end of the 2011–12 season and that he would be released from the club at the expiry of his contract. [33]
On 29 October 2012, it was announced that Forssell would be returning to Finland after spending 14 years abroad, signing a two-year contract with his former club HJK. [34] On 22 April 2013, Forssell opened the scoring by a header, in a 2–0 away win over rivals Honka. He finished the season with 14 league goals, the club's top goalscorer as HJK won their fifth consecutive championship.
After a stint with German side VfL Bochum, Forssell rejoined HJK on 3 March 2016. [35]
On 10 April 2017, Forssell signed a contract for one year with HIFK. [36] Forssell announced his retirement in May 2018. [37]
Forssell was a regular for the Finnish national team for most of the 2000s. He played his first match for Finland on 9 June 1999 against Moldova, and scored his first goal on 28 February 2001 against Luxembourg. [38] He often partnered Jari Litmanen. [39] Forssell also played for Finland in the 2001 FIFA World Youth Championship.
Forssell scored twice against Germany in a 2002 World Cup qualifier; the match ended 2–2. [40]
Forssell scored two hat-tricks for Finland. On 7 September 2005, in Tampere, he scored three goals against FYR Macedonia in qualifying for the 2006 FIFA World Cup. On 17 November 2010, Forssell scored three of Finland's eight goals against San Marino in the Euro 2012 qualifying. [41]
After his playing career, Forssell has coached HJK's U19 youth team. On 6 June 2024, he was appointed an assistant coach of HJK first team. [42]
Forssell's older sister, Christina Forssell, was also a footballer who played for HJK and Finland. On 23 August 2013, Forssell married Metti Lukkarila, [43] the couple have Lilia, born in May 2014, [44] and Lucas Mikael, born in August 2016. [45]
HJK Helsinki
Finland
Individual
Club | Season | League | National Cup [lower-alpha 1] | League Cup [lower-alpha 2] | Other | Total | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
HJK | 1997 [49] | Veikkausliiga | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||||
1998 [49] [50] | Veikkausliiga | 16 | 1 | 4 [lower-alpha 3] | 0 | 20 | 1 | |||||
Total | 17 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 21 | 1 | ||||||
Chelsea | 1998–99 [51] | Premier League | 10 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 3 |
1999–2000 [52] | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 [lower-alpha 3] | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
2001–02 [53] | Premier League | 22 | 4 | 6 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 3 [lower-alpha 4] | 0 | 35 | 9 | |
2002–03 [54] | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
2003–04 [55] | Premier League | 0 | 0 | — | — | 1 [lower-alpha 3] | 0 | 1 | 0 | |||
2004–05 [56] | Premier League | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 [lower-alpha 3] | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
Total | 33 | 5 | 9 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 53 | 12 | ||
Crystal Palace (loan) | 1999–2000 [52] | First Division | 13 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 13 | 3 | |
2000–01 [57] | First Division | 39 | 13 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 2 | — | 49 | 15 | ||
Total | 52 | 16 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 2 | — | 62 | 18 | |||
Borussia Mönchengladbach (loan) | 2002–03 [58] | Bundesliga | 16 | 7 | — | — | — | 16 | 7 | |||
Birmingham City (loan) | 2003–04 [55] | Premier League | 32 | 17 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | — | 37 | 19 | |
2004–05 [56] | Premier League | 4 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | — | 4 | 0 | |||
Birmingham City | 2005–06 [59] | Premier League | 27 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 2 | — | 35 | 8 | |
2006–07 [60] | Championship | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 10 | 1 | ||
2007–08 [61] | Premier League | 30 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 32 | 9 | ||
Total | 101 | 30 | 10 | 5 | 7 | 2 | — | 118 | 37 | |||
Hannover 96 | 2008–09 [50] | Bundesliga | 30 | 7 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 31 | 7 | ||
2009–10 [50] | Bundesliga | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 3 | 0 | |||
2010–11 [50] | Bundesliga | 12 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 13 | 0 | |||
Total | 44 | 7 | 3 | 0 | — | — | 47 | 7 | ||||
Hannover 96 II | 2009–10 [50] | Regionalliga Nord | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 1 | 0 | |||
Leeds United | 2011–12 [62] | Championship | 15 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 17 | 0 | |
HJK | 2013 [63] [64] | Veikkausliiga | 27 | 14 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 2 [lower-alpha 3] | 0 | 36 | 17 |
2014 [63] | Veikkausliiga | 17 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 4 | 1 [lower-alpha 3] | 0 | 24 | 11 | |
Total | 44 | 21 | 3 | 0 | 10 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 60 | 28 | ||
VfL Bochum | 2014–15 [63] | 2. Bundesliga | 16 | 3 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 17 | 3 | ||
HJK | 2016 [63] [65] | Veikkausliiga | 19 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 [lower-alpha 5] | 0 | 24 | 5 |
HIFK | 2017 [63] | Veikkausliiga | 26 | 8 | 0 | 0 | — | 2 [lower-alpha 6] | 0 | 28 | 8 | |
Career total | 384 | 101 | 33 | 12 | 31 | 13 | 16 | 0 | 464 | 126 |
Appearances and goals by national team and year
Finland national team | ||
---|---|---|
Year | Apps | Goals |
1999 | 1 | 0 |
2000 | 7 | 0 |
2001 | 9 | 6 |
2002 | 2 | 1 |
2003 | 9 | 4 |
2004 | 3 | 1 |
2005 | 7 | 3 |
2006 | 6 | 1 |
2007 | 7 | 1 |
2008 | 8 | 1 |
2009 | 6 | 1 |
2010 | 7 | 5 |
2011 | 9 | 2 |
2012 | 0 | 0 |
2013 | 5 | 3 |
2014 | 1 | 0 |
Total | 87 | 29 |
International goals
Finland's score given first. As of 26 March 2013. [2]
Mikael Forssell international goals | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
# | Date | Location | Opponent | Result | Competition |
1. | 28 February 2001 | Luxembourg, Luxembourg | Luxembourg | 1–0 | Friendly |
2. | 2 June 2001 | Helsinki, Finland | Germany | 2–2 | 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification |
3. | |||||
4. | 15 August 2001 | Helsinki, Finland | Belgium | 4–1 | Friendly |
5. | 5 September 2001 | Helsinki, Finland | Greece | 5–1 | 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification |
6. | |||||
7. | 27 March 2002 | Porto, Portugal | Portugal | 4–1 | Friendly |
8. | 30 April 2003 | Vantaa, Finland | Iceland | 3–0 | Friendly |
9. | 7 June 2003 | Helsinki, Finland | Serbia and Montenegro | 3–0 | UEFA Euro 2004 qualifying |
10. | 10 September 2003 | Cardiff, Wales | Wales | 1–1 | Euro 2004 qualifying |
11. | 11 October 2003 | Tampere, Finland | Canada | 3–2 | Friendly |
12. | 8 September 2004 | Jerevan, Armenia | Armenia | 2–0 | 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification |
13. | 7 September 2005 | Tampere, Finland | Macedonia | 5–1 | 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification |
14. | |||||
15. | |||||
16. | 1 March 2006 | Larnaka, Cyprus | Belarus | 2–2 | Friendly |
17. | 17 November 2007 | Helsinki, Finland | Azerbaijan | 2–1 | UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying |
18. | 11 October 2008 | Helsinki, Finland | Azerbaijan | 1–0 | 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification |
19. | 6 June 2009 | Helsinki, Finland | Liechtenstein | 2–1 | 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification |
20. | 7 September 2010 | Rotterdam, Netherlands | Netherlands | 1–2 | UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying |
21. | 12 October 2010 | Helsinki, Finland | Hungary | 1–2 | UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying |
22. | 17 November 2010 | Helsinki, Finland | San Marino | 8–0 | UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying |
23. | |||||
24. | |||||
25. | 3 June 2011 | Serravalle, San Marino | San Marino | 1–0 | UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying |
26. | 2 September 2011 | Helsinki, Finland | Moldova | 4–1 | UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying |
27. | 23 January 2013 | Chiang Mai, Thailand | Thailand | 3–1 | 2013 King's Cup |
28. | |||||
29. | 26 March 2013 | Luxembourg, Luxembourg | Luxembourg | 3–0 | Friendly |
Bengt Ulf Sebastian Larsson is a Swedish former professional footballer who played as a midfielder. Beginning his career at hometown club IFK Eskilstuna, Larsson was signed by Arsenal. He made three Premier League appearances for the Gunners, before joining Birmingham City, initially on loan for the 2006–07 season, before a permanent transfer in the winter of 2007. Larsson spent five years at Birmingham, experiencing promotion to, and relegation from, the Premier League on two occasions. He joined Sunderland on 1 July 2011 upon the expiry of his contract, after Birmingham suffered relegation. He left Sunderland in 2017 to sign for Hull City in the EFL Championship where he spent one season. He returned to his native Sweden in 2018 to sign for AIK, and helped them win the 2018 Allsvenskan title before retiring in 2022. Larsson is renowned for being a set-piece specialist.
Neil Martin Kilkenny is a professional footballer who plays for Football West State League Division 1 side Sorrento. A midfielder, he began his career in the youth system at Arsenal, and went on to play league football for Oldham Athletic, Birmingham City, Leeds United, Bristol City, Preston North End, Melbourne City, Perth Glory and Western United.
Njazi Kuqi is a Finnish former professional footballer, who played as a forward.
Lee David Bowyer is an English football manager and former professional player. He is the head coach of Montserrat.
James Oliver Vaughan is an English former professional footballer who played as a forward. He is currently the loans pathway manager at Everton.
Shefki Kuqi[a] is a professional football manager and former player who played predominantly as a striker. He was most recently the manager of Football Superleague of Kosovo club Feronikeli.
Teemu Mikael Tainio is a Finnish football coach and former player. He is the head coach of Tallinna Kalev and an assistant coach of the Finland national football team.
Mika Väyrynen is a Finnish former professional footballer who played as a central midfielder, and a football manager, currently working as the head coach of Honka. After his playing career, Väyrynen has also worked as an assistant coach of Klubi 04 and HJK, and as a head coach of Klubi 04.
Michael Wayne Duberry is an English former professional footballer who played as a centre-back.
Jermaine Paul Alexander Beckford is a football pundit and former professional footballer who played as a striker. He began his career as a trainee at Chelsea, and played for Wealdstone, Uxbridge, Leeds United, Carlisle United, Scunthorpe United, Everton, Leicester City, Huddersfield Town, Bolton Wanderers, Preston North End and Bury. He also represented Jamaica at international level.
Matthew James Green is an English footballer who most recently played as a striker for National League South club Eastbourne Borough.
The 2003–04 season was Birmingham City Football Club's 101st season in the English football league system, their second season in the Premier League, and their 52nd season in the top tier of English football. They finished 10th in the 20-team league, three places higher than the previous season. They entered the FA Cup at the third round stage and lost to Sunderland in the fifth after a replay, and lost their opening second-round League Cup-tie to Blackpool. Top scorer was loan signing Mikael Forssell with 19 goals, 17 of which were scored in the league.
Guy Moussi is a French former professional footballer who last played as a defensive midfielder. He spent several years with both Angers SCO and Nottingham Forest, and short spells with Millwall and Birmingham City. He ended his career after one season with Finnish club HJK Helsinki.
Jake Mario Jervis is an English professional footballer who plays as a winger or striker for Northern Premier League Division One West club Hednesford Town.
The 2005–06 season was Birmingham City Football Club's 103rd season in the English football league system and their fourth in the Premier League. Under the management of Steve Bruce, they finished in 18th position in the 20-team division, so were relegated to the Championship for 2006–07. They entered the 2005–06 FA Cup at the third round and progressed to the sixth round (quarter-final), in which they suffered their heaviest ever FA Cup defeat, and their heaviest defeat at St Andrew's in any competition, losing 7–0 at home to Liverpool. They also reached the quarter-final of the League Cup, in which they were eliminated by Manchester United.
Lee Harry Erwin is a Scottish professional footballer who plays as a striker for Veikkausliiga club HJK Helsinki. He is a Scottish youth international, having played at the under-17, under-18 and under-19 levels.
Glen Adjei Kamara is a Finnish professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Ligue 1 club Rennes and the Finland national team.
Daniel Michael O'Shaughnessy is a Finnish professional footballer who plays for Veikkausliiga club HJK and the Finland national team as a defender.
Aapo Ilmari Halme is a Finnish professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Veikkausliiga club HJK. He has also represented the Finland national under-21 football team from 2017 to 2020. Halme was born in Helsinki, Finland. He began his senior club career playing for Honka, before signing with HJK Helsinki at age 17 in 2015. He would go on to win the 2017 Veikkausliiga and 2016–17 Finnish Cup.