- Jari Litmanen
Jari Olavi Litmanen (born February 20 1971 in Lahti) is a Finnish footballer, widely considered the country's greatest ever. He was chosen as the best Finnish player of the last 50 years by the Football Association of Finland in the UEFA Jubilee Awards in November 2003. Litmanen also finished 42nd in the 100 Greatest Finns voting in 2004. Litmanen currently plays for Malmö FF in the Swedish Allsvenskan, and is the captain of the Finnish national team.
- Mikael Forssell
Mikael Kaj Forssell (born March 15 1981 in Steinfurt, Germany) is a Finnish footballer who currently plays for Birmingham City who are in England's FA Premier League. Considered one of the most talented Finnish footballers of all time, Forssell made his Veikkausliiga debut for HJK at the age of just 16. His goal-scoring form for Finland's youth teams made him a target for a host of Europe's top clubs, …
- Antti Niemi
Antti Mikko Niemi (born May 31, 1972, in Oulu) is a Finnish football goalkeeper who plays for Fulham F.C. in the English Premiership.
- Teemu Tainio
Teemu Tainio (born November 27, 1979 in Tornio) is a Finnish footballer who currently plays for Tottenham Hotspur in the Barclay's Premiership in England. He can play both as a defensive and attacking midfielder and even out wide. Known for his fighting spirit and strong tackling, he has constantly suffered from minor injuries throughout his career. Tainio was promoted to the first team of his home-town club TP-47 in Kakkonen, Finland's third division, …
- Alexei Eremenko
Alexei Eremenko, Jr. is a Russian-born Finnish footballer who currently plays for FC Saturn in the Russian Premier League. He is an attacking player who is able to operate in many roles, and is also known as a set piece specialist. Eremenko moved to Finland with his family at the age of seven when his father, former FC Dynamo Moscow and FC Spartak Moscow player Alexei Eremenko Sr., came to play in Finland with FF Jaro.
- Aki Riihilahti
Aki Pasinpoika Riihilahti is a Finnish footballer who currently plays for Djurgårdens IF in the Swedish Allsvenskan. He is known as a hard working, defensive midfielder. Riihilahti started his career at HJK where he made his Veikkausliiga debut in 1995. He won the Finnish championship once and the Finnish Cup twice with HJK, and also gained UEFA Champions League experience in the 1998-99 season. Riihilahti then moved to Norway's Vålerenga I.F. for the 1999 season.
- Joonas Kolkka
Joonas Kolkka (born September 28 1974 in Lahti) is a Finnish footballer who currently plays for NAC Breda in the Dutch Eredivisie. He has played as a left winger most of his career, but can also play on the right wing. Kolkka started his career with Reipas Lahti and MyPa in Finland's Veikkausliiga. He won the Finnish Cup with MyPa in 1995 before joining Netherlands' Willem II the same year.
- Hannu Tihinen
Hannu Tihinen is a Finnish footballer who currently plays for FC Zürich in the Swiss Super League. He is a big and strong central defender. Tihinen started his career with Kemin Palloseura in the lower divisions before moving to Veikkausliiga club HJK Helsinki for the 1997 season. He won both the Finnish championship and Finnish Cup once with HJK, and also earned UEFA Champions League experience with the club in the 1998-99 season.
- Toni Kallio
Toni Kallio (born August 9, 1978 in Tampere) is a Finnish footballer. Kallio is a defender who currently plays for BSC Young Boys in the Swiss Super League. He has also played for FC Jazz, TPV Tampere and HJK Helsinki in Finland's Veikkausliiga and for Molde F.K. in the Norwegian Eliteserien. He became Norwegian cup champion in 2005. Kallio has recently been playing for the Finland national football team.
- Shefki Kuqi
Shefki Kuqi is a Finnish footballer of Kosovar Albanian origin. He currently plays for Crystal Palace in The Championship. Kuqi is a big and strong striker who wears the number thirty-two shirt, and is known more for his determination than technical skill. He is the older brother of Njazi Kuqi. Kuqi started his playing career with Mikkelin Kissat shortly after emigrating to Finland. He later played for Mikkelin Palloilijat, HJK and FC Jokerit in Finland's Veikkausliiga.
- Mixu Paatelainen
Mika-Matti "Mixu" Paatelainen is a Finnish football player and manager. Mixu is the oldest of three brothers, all of whom play football. He scored 18 goals in 70 appearances for the Finnish national team. A virtual unknown, Dundee United signed him from FC Haka for £100,000 in October, 1987. He would become their top scorer twice. He was then transferred to Aberdeen for £400,000 in February, 1992, and further to Bolton Wanderers in 1994.
- Lauri Tanner
Lauri Arvo Tanner (born November 20, 1890 - died July 11, 1950) was a Finnish gymnast and amateur football (soccer) player who competed in the 1912 Summer Olympics. He was part of the Finnish team, which won the silver medal in the gymnastics men's team, free system event. He also competed in the football tournament. His only game was the bronze medal game, which Finland lost against the Netherlands 0-9.
- Kai Haaskivi
Kai Haaskivi (born December 28th, 1955 in Lahti, Finland) is a former indoor soccer star, North American Soccer League player, and Finland national football team member. He now coaches in the United States. The 178 cm midfielder began his NASL career in the summer of 1978 playing for the Dallas Tornado. Haaskivi played the '79 and '80 seasons with the Houston Hurricane and '81 and '82 with the Edmonton Drillers.
- Peter Enckelman
Peter Enckelman (born March 10, 1977 in Turku) is a Finnish football goalkeeper who currently plays for Blackburn Rovers in the English Premiership. Enckelman signed for his first English club, Aston Villa, from his hometown team, TPS Turku in February 1999. Signed due to fellow goalkeeper David James' recurring injury problems, he enjoyed a few outings during the 1999-00 season. He made his debut during a 3-1 defeat against Arsenal on September 11, …
- Jarkko Wiss
Jarkko Wiss is a Finnish footballer who currently plays for Tampere United in Finland's Veikkausliiga. He plays in the position of defensive midfielder. Wiss has also represented TPV Tampere, FF Jaro and HJK in Finland, Molde, Lillestrøm and Moss in Norway, Stockport County in England as well as Hibernian in Scotland. He has also appeared for the Finnish national team.
- Jussi Jääskeläinen
Jussi Jääskeläinen is a Finnish football goalkeeper who currently plays for Bolton Wanderers F.C. in the English Premiership. Jääskeläinen made his Veikkausliiga debut in Finland for MP Mikkeli in 1992, and became the club's first choice goalkeeper in 1994. In 1996 he moved to VPS Vaasa where he spent two seasons. Jääskeläinen was bought by Bolton of the then First Division in 1997. He soon made himself the number one between the sticks, …
- Ari Hjelm
Ari-Juhani Hjelm, known as Ari Hjelm, is a Finnish football coach and former player. He is currently the head coach of home-town club Tampere United in Finland's Veikkausliiga. A forward, Hjelm played in the German Bundesliga for Stuttgarter Kickers in the 1988-89 season. He also played in the 2. Bundesliga for Kickers (1989-90) and FC St. Pauli (1992-94). In Finland Hjelm represented FC Ilves (1981-88 and 1990-94) and HJK Helsinki (1995-96).
- Peter Kopteff
Peter Kopteff (born April 10, 1979 in Helsinki) is a Finnish footballer who currently plays for FC Utrecht in the Dutch Eredivisie. He usually plays in the position of left winger. Kopteff moved to Utrecht in the summer of 2006 from English club Stoke City. He has previously played for FC Jazz and HJK Helsinki in Finland and for Viking in Norway. Kopteff is a regular squad member of the Finland national football team, he has been capped 39 times (January 2007).
- Jonatan Johansson
Jonatan Lillebror Johansson is a Finnish footballer who currently plays for Malmö FF in Sweden's national football league Allsvenskan. He plays in the position of a striker and is a regular in the Finnish national team
- Mika Aaltonen
Mika Aaltonen (born November 16, 1965 in Turku) is a former Finnish football (soccer) player. During his career (1982-1994) he played in Switzerland, Italy, Germany and the Netherlands for TPS Turun, Inter Milan, Bellinzona, Bologna, Hertha BSC Berlin, Twente Enschede and Kuusysi Lahti. He is best remembered for a goal scored against Italian goalkeeper Walter Zenga in UEFA Cup in the 1980s during a match between Turun Palloseura and Inter Milan.
- Daniel Sjölund
Henrik Daniel "Daja" Sjölund is a Finnish footballer who currently plays for Djurgårdens IF in the Swedish Allsvenskan. Sjölund started his career at IF Finströms-Kamraterna when he was a child. Afterwards he went to IFK Mariehamn and IF Brommapojkarna, before being signed by West Ham at the age of just 16, after impressive displays for Finland's youth teams.
- Petri Pasanen
Petri Pasanen (born September 24 1980 in Lahti) is a Finnish footballer who currently plays for Werder Bremen in the German Bundesliga. He is a defender who is most comfortable in central defence, but can also play at right back.
- Toni Kuivasto
Toni Kuivasto is a Finnish footballer who currently plays for Djurgårdens IF in the Swedish Allsvenskan. He is known as a reliable central defender. Kuivasto started his career at home-town club FC Ilves, making his Veikkausliiga debut in 1992. He also played for MyPa and HJK Helsinki in Finland, before moving abroad to play for Viking FK of the Norwegian Tippeligaen in 2001. After a few years in Norway he wanted new challenges, …
- Tuomas Haapala
Tuomas Haapala (born April 20, 1979 in Lahti) is a Finnish footballer who is currently playing for Sandefjord Fotball in the Norwegian Tippeliga as a defensive midfielder. Haapala has previously played for FC Lahti (2000-03) and MyPa (2004-05) in the Finnish Veikkausliiga. He won the Finnish Cup with MyPa in 2004, and captained the club to the Finnish championship in 2005. After an excellent 2005 season, Haapala was invited for a trial with Manchester City.
- Juho Mäkelä
Juho Mäkelä is a Finnish footballer who currently plays Scottish Premier League club Hearts. He is a striker especially known for his speed. Mäkelä started his career with OLS Oulu and Tervarit in his home-town, before moving to Veikkausliiga club HJK Helsinki for the 2003 season. He scored 33 goals in 66 appearances for the club in three seasons, and was the Veikkausliiga top scorer in 2005.
- Janne Saarinen
Janne Saarinen is a Finnish footballer who currently plays for FC Honka in Finland's Veikkausliiga. Saarinen started his career as a promising attacking midfielder at HJK Helsinki, making his Veikkausliiga debut in 1993. In 1997 he moved to Swedish giants IFK Göteborg, but never made a breakthrough partly because of injuries. After two years he returned to HJK, where he was converted to a left back by the then coach Jyrki Heliskoski.
- Paulus Roiha
Paulus Roiha is a Finnish footballer who currently plays for Újpest FC in the Hungarian NB I. Roiha is a quick striker who started his Veikkausliiga career in Finland with HJK Helsinki. He was the top scorer in Finland in 2001 with 22 goals. Roiha has since also played for FC Utrecht and FC Zwolle in the Netherlands and for Cercle Brugge in Belgium.
- Pekka Lagerblom
Pekka Lagerblom is a Finnish footballer who currently plays for 1. FC Köln in the German 2. Bundesliga. Lagerblom is a versatile midfielder who started his career at home-town club FC Lahti in Finland's Veikkausliiga. In January 2004 he moved to Werder Bremen, and won the Bundesliga and German Cup double with the club the same spring. However, he was not able to find a regular spot in Bremen's first team, and spent the spring of 2005 on loan at 1. FC Nürnberg.
- Jukka Sauso
Jukka Sauso is a Finnish footballer who currently plays for Örgryte IS in the Swedish Allsvenskan. Sauso is a big and strong central defender, but is often used as a last minute solution up front because of his notorius heading skills. During Allsvenskan season 2006, Sauso did also start some matches for ÖIS as a striker. Sauso played for Vaasan Palloseura and FC Hämeenlinna in Finland's Veikkausliiga before moving to Sweden for the 2005 season.
- Olli Huttunen
Olavi "Olli" Huttunen (born August 4, 1960 in Kajaani) is a Finnish football coach and former goalkeeper. He is currently the head coach of Finnish Veikkausliiga club FC Haka and the goalkeeping coach of the Finnish national team. Considered one of the best Finnish goalkeepers of all time, Huttunen represented Haka all of his career, winning one Finnish championship and three Finnish Cups with the club. He earned 60 caps for Finland.
- Antti Sumiala
Antti Sumiala (born February 20, 1974 in Pori) is a Finnish footballer who currently plays for Porin Palloilijat in Kakkonen, Finland's third highest division. He plays as a striker. Sumiala has appeared 38 times for the Finnish national team, scoring nine goals.
- Mika Nurmela
Mika "Nure" Nurmela (born December 26, 1971 in Oulu) is a Finnish footballer who currently plays for HJK Helsinki in Finland's Veikkausliiga. He is a right sided player who has played most of his career as a wide midfielder or winger, but can also play at full back. Nurmela has been capped 66 times for the Finnish national team, scoring four goals.
- Algoth Niska
Algoth Niska was a Finnish bootlegger and adventurer. Algoth Niska was born in Viipuri on December 5 1888. He was the youngest child. When his father died in 1903, the family moved to Helsinki, where he got interested in soccer. He was a member the soccer team hwich played at the Stockholm Olympics in 1912. Niska joined his first ship in 1908.
- Mika Väyrynen
Mika Väyrynen is a Finnish footballer who currently plays for PSV Eindhoven in the Dutch Eredivisie. A two-way midfielder, Väyrynen played for FC Lahti and FC Jokerit in Finland's Veikkausliiga before joining the Netherlands' SC Heerenveen in 2001. During his four seasons at Heerenveen he became one of the club's key players, making a total of 101 appearances and scoring 17 goals in the league.
- Aulis Rytkönen
Aulis Rytkönen is a Finnish football legend. He became the country's first professional player when he signed for France's Toulouse FC in 1952. In total Rytkönen spent eight seasons (1952-1960) in France, winning the French Cup in 1957. A forward, he started his career in Finland with KuPS Kuopio, and after returning from France he worked as player-coach of HJK Helsinki 1960-1966 and as coach 1967-1971. Rytkönen earned 36 caps for the Finnish national team, …
- Åke Lindman
Åke Leonard Lindman is a Finnish director and actor. In his youth Lindman was a good football player, playing in the defence for the Finnish national football team during the Olympics in Helsinki 1952. He represented the football club HIFK in the Finnish league. In the 1960s, the British Premier League club Swindon Town F.C. wanted to sign him, but he said no and turned to his acting career.
- Janne Lindberg
Janne Lindberg (born 25 May 1966 in Kuusankoski) is a Finnish former professional footballer. Lindberg joined his local club Ku Mu as a six year old boy where he stayed for 18 years. In 1990, at the age of 24, he moved onto FC Haka and after two years at Haka he transferred to MyPa. At MyPa Lindberg established himself as a Finnish International, gaining the first of his 34 caps in 1992. He also experienced European football in the UEFA Cup.
- Markus Heikkinen
Markus Heikkinen is a Finnish footballer. Heikkinen, who can play either as a defensive midfielder or central defender, currently plays for SK Rapid Wien in the Austrian Bundesliga. An integral part of the Luton side that finished 10th in The Championship in the 2005-2006 season, Heikkinen collected four awards – the Player of the Year trophy, Players’ Player of the Season, Internet Player of the Season and the Luton News Player of the Season.
- Juha Pasoja
Juha Pasoja (born 16 November 1976) is a Finnish football defender who currently plays for Hamarkameratene in the Norwegian Premier League. He joined the team from FC Haka ahead of the 2006 season. Pasoja has also played for KPT-85 og FC Jazz, and has 151 matches and 19 goals in the Veikkausliiga. In addition he has been capped 8 times for Finland.
- Simo Valakari
Simo Johannes Valakari (born April 24, 1973 in Helsinki) is a Finnish football player, who currently plays defensive midfielder for Turun Palloseura. Valakari began his career in 1995 with FinnPa and moved to Scottish club Motherwell in 1996. After four seasons there, it was off to Derby County in the Premiership, but Simo failed to win a regular place in the squad.