The greatest player to come out of Finland, Jari Litmanen was born on February 20, 1971, in Lahti, Finland. Largely operating as a midfielder/forwards, Litmanen playing football at a young age and quickly developed a passion for the sport. By the age of 19, he had already made his professional debut for Reipas Lahti, his obvious talents alerting some of Europe’s biggest sides.
Ajax:
The big lights of Ajax came a calling, the Dutch club signing the Finish international in 1992. The player would go onto to play a central role in one of the clubs greatest era’s.
Under the tutorship of Louis Van Gaals, Litmanen would help the side claim three consecutive Dutch championships and a dramatic UEFA Champions League final victory over AC Milan – the forward becoming the first Fin to claim the trophy.
Whilst he scored an equaliser, he was unable to stop Juventus snatching the trophy a year later in a consecutive final. In 1995, he also won the Intercontinental Cup against Grêmio and came third in the voting for the Ballon d’Or (European Footballer of the Year), having finished eighth the previous year.
By the time Jari’s Ajaz career had come to a close, he had notched up 129 goals, 91 of them in the league. 24 (in 52 matches) in European competition, indeed the player’s stock was so high among Ajax fans, Litmanen was given the honour of being one of just three players presented in a special video featurette at the Ajax Museum. The other two are Marco van Basten and Johan Cruyff.
Frank Rijkaard, Litmanen’s teammate in the 1993–94 and 1994–95 seasons, once said, “Dennis Bergkamp was brilliant for Ajax but the best No.10 we ever had was Jari.” In his time at Ajax, some fans called him “Merlin” because of the magic he brought to the pitch.
”Man of Glass”
The forwards talents were untenable. Unfortunately injury blighted the players career to such a degree that he became known as “The Man of Glass”. Indeed, in his six seasons as a regular first-team player, he missed 57 out of a total of 204 league games, and in his last three seasons, he missed seven out of 24 European matches, playing only part of five others).
The injuries would worsen through age. Even Europe’s biggest clubs saw his talents worthy, he would struggle to recapture his Ajax greatness.
Barcelona
After five successful seasons at Ajax, Litmanen made a move to Spanish giants, Barcelona. He spent two seasons with the Catalan club, helping them win the Spanish league title in the 1998-1999 season. Despite his success, Litmanen struggled with injuries during his time at Barcelona and eventually returned to Ajax.
Return to Ajax and Later Career:
Litmanen’s return to Ajax was a triumphant one, as he helped the team win several more league titles and reach the Champions League quarter-finals in 2004.
Added to that, the forward influenced a certain Zlatan Ibrahimovich during the Swede’s early days at the Dutch clubs.
Here’s the great man in his own words.
He played for several other teams during the latter stages of his career, including Liverpool, Hansa Rostock, and Lahti. Despite facing several injuries and setbacks, Litmanen continued to play at a high level and was a key player for Finland’s national team.
Significance in Finland:
Litmanen is widely regarded as one of the greatest Finnish footballers of all time. He is considered a national hero in Finland and has inspired countless young players to take up the sport. His achievements and success on the international stage have put Finnish football on the map and made him a household name in the country.
In Summary
Clubs:
Litmanen played for several clubs throughout his career, including Reipas Lahti, Ajax Amsterdam, Barcelona, Liverpool, Hansa Rostock, and Lahti.
Goals:
Litmanen scored over 200 goals in his professional career, including over 100 goals in club competitions and over 50 goals for the Finnish national team.
Titles:
Litmanen won numerous titles during his career, including several league titles with Ajax Amsterdam, the Spanish league title with Barcelona, and the Dutch Cup with Ajax.
International Caps:
Litmanen earned over 140 caps for the Finnish national team, making him the country’s most-capped player of all time.
Individual Awards:
Litmanen was recognized for his performances with several individual awards, including the Finnish Footballer of the Year award in 1999 and 2000, and the Dutch Footballer of the Year award in 1995.