Mikael Forssell

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Mikael Forssell
Forssell signs autographs Weiden.jpg
Forssell during Birmingham City's pre-season tour, 2004
Personal information
Full name Mikael Kaj Forssell[1]
Date of birth (1981-03-15) 15 March 1981 (age 40)[1]
Place of birth Steinfurt, West Germany
Height 1.84 m (6 ft 0 in)[2]
Position(s) Striker
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)
National team
1999–2014 Finland 87 (29)
Honours
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Mikael Kaj Forssell (born 15 March 1981) is a Finnish-German former football striker.[2]

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.

Club career[]

Born in Steinfurt,[3] 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]

Chelsea[]

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[4] 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[5] 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.[6] His first league goal came three weeks later, when he scored against Nottingham Forest.[7] However, when Chelsea signed Chris Sutton for £10 million, Forssell was loaned out twice to Crystal Palace[8] of the then First Division, scoring 16 league goals in just over 50 appearances.[9]

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.[7] After initially impressing new manager Claudio Ranieri scoring in four consecutive games,[10] he was sent out on loan again and had spells at Borussia Mönchengladbach[11] of the German Bundesliga[12] 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,[13] a month in which he scored twice in a 4–1 win against Leeds United,[14] and won Birmingham's Player of the Year award.[15]

He returned to Birmingham on loan for the 2004–05 season, but suffered the second serious knee injury of his career.[16] He returned to Chelsea to recuperate, and made occasional appearances for Chelsea that season,[17] playing against Bayern Munich in the Champions League[18] and in the last home match, against Charlton Athletic, as Chelsea celebrated winning their first top-flight title for 50 years.[19]

Birmingham City[]

In the summer of 2005, Forssell joined Birmingham on a three-year deal for a fee of £3 million, 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.[20] 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.[21]

Hannover 96[]

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.[22][23]

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.[24]

Leeds United[]

After leaving Hannover when his contract expired at the end of the 2010–11 season, Forssell had trials with clubs including West Ham United[25] and Leeds United[26] 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.[27] 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.[28] He came on as a substitute against fierce rivals Manchester United in a 3–0 League Cup defeat.[29]

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.[30]

Return to HJK[]

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.[31] 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.[32]

HIFK and retirement[]

On 10 April 2017, Forssell signed a contract for one year with HIFK.[33] Forssell announced his retirement in May 2018.[34]

International career[]

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.[35] He often partnered Jari Litmanen.[36] 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.[37]

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.[38]

Personal life[]

Forssell's older sister,  [fi], was also a footballer who played for HJK and Finland. On 23 August 2013, Forssell married Metti Lukkarila,[39] the couple have Lilia, born in May 2014,[40] and Lucas Mikael, born in August 2016.[41]

Honours[]

HJK Helsinki

National[]

Finland

Individual

Career statistics[]

Club career[]

As of 31 December 2016[45][46][47]

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
1997 HJK Veikkausliiga 1 0 ? ? ? ? 0 0 1 0
1998 16 1 ? ? ? ? 4 0 20 1
England League FA Cup League Cup Europe Total
1998–99 Chelsea Premier League 10 1 3 2 0 0 0 0 13 3
1999–00 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 2 0
1999–00 Crystal Palace (loan) First Division 13 3 0 0 0 0 — 13 3
2000–01 39 13 2 0 8 2 — 49 15
2001–02 Chelsea Premier League 22 4 6 3 4 2 3 0 35 9
2002–03 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Germany League DFB-Pokal Ligapokal Europe Total
2002–03 Mönchengladbach (loan) Bundesliga 16 7 0 0 — — 16 7
England League FA Cup League Cup Europe Total
2003–04 Chelsea Premier League 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0
2003–04 Birmingham City (loan) 32 17 4 2 1 0 — 37 19
2004–05 4 0 0 0 0 0 — 4 0
2004–05 Chelsea 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 2 0
2005–06 Birmingham City 27 3 5 3 3 2 — 35 8
2006–07 Championship 8 1 0 0 2 0 — 10 1
2007–08 Premier League 30 9 1 0 1 0 — 32 9
Germany League DFB-Pokal Other Europe Total
2008–09 Hannover 96 Bundesliga 30 7 1 0 — — 31 7
2009–10 2 0 1 0 — — 3 0
2010–11 12 0 1 0 — — 13 0
2009–10 Hannover 96 II Regionalliga Nord 1 0 — — — 1 0
England League FA Cup League Cup Europe Total
2011–12 Leeds United Championship 15 0 1 0 1 0 — 17 0
Finland League Finnish Cup League Cup Europe Total
2013 HJK Veikkausliiga 27 14 2 0 5 3 2 0 36 17
2014 17 7 1 0 5 4 1 0 24 11
Germany League DFB-Pokal Other Europe Total
2014–15 VfL Bochum 2. Bundesliga 16 3 1 0 — — 17 3
Finland League Finnish Cup League Cup Europe Total
2016 HJK Veikkausliiga 19 3 3 1 0 0 1 0 23 4
Total Finland 80 25 6 1 10 7 8 0 104 33
England 201 51 22 10 21 6 6 0 250 67
Germany 77 17 4 0 0 0 0 0 81 17
Career total 358 93 32 11 31 13 14 0 435 117

International goals[]

Finland's score given first. As of 26 March 2013.[2]

International[]

As of 9 March 2016[9]
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

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b "Mikael Forssell". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 13 October 2017.
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b c d "Mikael Forssell" (in Finnish). Suomen Palloliitto (Football Association of Finland). Archived from the original on 3 August 2013. Retrieved 11 June 2013.
  3. ^ Von Holthaus, Marius (12 August 2008). "Mikael Forssell, der Fußballstar aus Steinfurt" (in German). Münstersche Zeitung. Retrieved 30 May 2011.
  4. ^ "Chelsea FC squad 1998–1999". en.eufo.de. Retrieved 26 May 2012.
  5. ^ "Factfile: Mikael Forssell, striker". Helsingin Sanomat. Archived from the original on 27 October 2014. Retrieved 2 June 2012.
  6. ^ Tongue, Steve (4 February 1999). "Football: Oxford buried by Forssell". The Independent. Retrieved 8 August 2012.
  7. ^ Jump up to: a b Barker, Kelvin. "Mikael Forssell: Biography (part 1)". Football Heroes. Sporting Heroes Collection Ltd. Retrieved 23 September 2011.
  8. ^ "Mikael Forssell". Hannoverscher Sportverein von 1896 e.V. Archived from the original on 6 February 2013. Retrieved 8 September 2012.
  9. ^ Jump up to: a b "Mikael Forssell". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmermann. Retrieved 13 October 2017.
  10. ^ White, Clive (16 February 2002). "Forssell is hungry for action". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 31 January 2013.
  11. ^ "Forssell joins Mönchengladbach fight". UEFA. 30 January 2003. Retrieved 26 March 2013.
  12. ^ Arnhold, Matthias (28 May 2020). "Mikael Forssell - Matches and Goals in Bundesliga". RSSSF.com. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
  13. ^ Luckings, Steve (2 April 2004). "Forssell scoops player award". Sky Sports. Retrieved 17 October 2008.
  14. ^ "Birmingham 4–1 Leeds". BBC Sport. 27 March 2004. Retrieved 23 September 2011.
  15. ^ "Mikael is the fans' choice". Birmingham Evening Mail. 6 May 2007. p. 87 – via Gale OneFile: News.
  16. ^ "Forssell to miss six months". The Guardian. 23 September 2004. Retrieved 24 August 2020.
  17. ^ "Summary of Season 2004–05". bounder.friardale.co.uk. Retrieved 20 October 2013.
  18. ^ "Chelsea 4–2 Bayern Munich". BBC Sport. 6 April 2005. Retrieved 16 October 2013.
  19. ^ Barker, Kelvin. "Mikael Forssell: Biography (part 2)". Football Heroes. Sporting Heroes Collection Ltd. Retrieved 23 September 2011.
  20. ^ "Mikael Forssell routs Spurs". The Sunday Times. 2 March 2008. Retrieved 2 March 2008.
  21. ^ Tattum, Colin (16 May 2008). "Birmingham City begin contract talks with Mikael Forssell". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 23 September 2011.
  22. ^ "Alex wishes Forss well". Birmingham City F.C. 2 June 2008. Archived from the original on 4 November 2008. Retrieved 2 June 2008.
  23. ^ "Forssell completes Hannover deal". BBC Sport. 30 May 2008. Retrieved 30 May 2008.
  24. ^ "Forssell scores 10 goals on Hannover debut". ESPN Soccernet. 12 July 2008. Retrieved 30 May 2010.
  25. ^ "Sam ready for Saturday". West Ham United F.C. 29 July 2011. Archived from the original on 29 September 2012. Retrieved 30 July 2011.
  26. ^ "Forssell has his trial extended by Grayson". Yorkshire Evening Post. 19 August 2011. Retrieved 19 August 2011.
  27. ^ "Leeds United sign striker Mikael Forssell for the season". BBC Sport. 8 September 2011. Retrieved 23 September 2011.
  28. ^ "McCormack seals United victory". Leeds United A.F.C. 10 September 2011. Retrieved 23 September 2011.
  29. ^ "United slip out of Cup". Leeds United A.F.C. 20 September 2011. Retrieved 23 September 2011.
  30. ^ "ELEVEN TOLD THEY CAN GO". Leeds United A.F.C. 2 May 2012. Retrieved 2 May 2012.
  31. ^ "Forssell palaa vahvistamaan mestaria" (in Finnish). HJK. 29 October 2012. Archived from the original on 2 November 2013. Retrieved 29 October 2012.
  32. ^ "Miklu palaa kotiin" (in Finnish). HJK. 3 March 2016. Retrieved 3 March 2016.
  33. ^ "Hyökkäys vahvistuu – Mikael Forssell siirtyy IFK:hon" (in Finnish). HIFK Fotboll. 10 April 2017. Retrieved 31 May 2018.
  34. ^ "Mikael Forssell lopettaa pelaajauransa – "Olen koko elämäni pelännyt tätä hetkeä, mutta nyt on sen aika"" (in Finnish). Yle Urheilu. 12 May 2018. Retrieved 31 May 2018.
  35. ^ Mamrud, Roberto (28 May 2020). "Mikael Forssell - Goals in International Matches". RSSSF.com. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
  36. ^ "Kun Jari Litmanen ja Mikael Forssell tulivat vaihtoon, Suomi joutui vaikeuksiin" (in Finnish). Urheiluviikko. 22 February 2009. Retrieved 24 September 2011.
  37. ^ Collins, Roy (4 June 2001). "Germans much less than perfect". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 25 November 2016.
  38. ^ "Euro 2012 Qualifier: Finland 8–0 San Marino: Hat-Trick Hero Mikael Forssell Fires Hosts To Emphatic Win". Goal.com. 17 November 2010. Retrieved 29 February 2012.
  39. ^ "Tämän kaunottaren Mikael Forssell kihlasi - katso kuva!". Seiska (in Finnish). 28 August 2013.
  40. ^ "Mikael Forssellille perheenlisäystä: "Elämäni suurin asia"". Helsingin Sanomat (in Finnish). 6 May 2014.
  41. ^ "Metti ja Mikael Forssellin poika sai isänsä nimen – julkaisivat suloisia ristiäiskuvia". Ilta-Sanomat (in Finnish). 4 September 2016.
  42. ^ "Finland vs Norway, 16 August 2000".
  43. ^ "Nordic Championship 2000-01".
  44. ^ "Mikael Forssell: Overview". Premier League. Retrieved 28 September 2018.
  45. ^ "Mikael Forssell". kicker (in German). Retrieved 18 June 2015.
  46. ^ "Mikael Forssell Football Stats". Soccerbase. Retrieved 13 December 2014.
  47. ^ "M. Forssell". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 13 October 2017.

External links[]

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