Bundesliga: Jari Litmanen, Sami Hyypiä and the top 5 Finnish players in Bundesliga history
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Jari Litmanen
Jari Olavi Litmanen is a Finnish former professional footballer who played as an attacking midfielder or a second striker. He was the first-choice captain of the Finland national team between 1996 and 2008 in an international career that ran from 1989 to 2010. Litmanen is widely considered to be Finland's greatest football player of all time. He was chosen as the best Finnish player of the last 50…
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sports · Finnish footballer (born 1971) · association football player · color commentator · actor · documentary participant · also Jari Litmanen, Jari Olavi Litmanen, Litti, Litmanen
Born 20 February 1971 · Q209650
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2026· 4 entries
beIN SPORTS: Jari Litmanen Comes Out of Retirement… at 55 Years Old!
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Tribal Football: Finnish Ajax icon Jari Litmanen makes shock return to football aged 55
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The New York Times: Jari Litmanen interview: Battling long Covid, winning over Van Gaal, and his lifelong Liverpool love
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2025· 1 entry
When Ajax was celebrating its 125th anniversary, the fans of the club voted Litmanen among the best 11 players in the club's entire history
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2024· 2 entries
FC Barcelona: Jari Litmanen: 'Xavi has done a great job as coach'
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The Guardian: Jari Litmanen on Ajax, Barça and a wrist that ‘broke into eight pieces’
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2020· 3 entries
Awarded Knight of the Order of the Lion of Finland (2020).
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Irish Daily Mirror: Jari Litmanen says he felt so sick from coronavirus he didn't miss football
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On 11 May 2020, Litmanen said to Unibet that his coronavirus test was positive, and he had been recovering for four weeks.
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2018· 1 entry
The Mirror: Jari Litmanen
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2016· 1 entry
Won award: FC Lahti Hall of Fame (2016).
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2012· 1 entry
The King – Jari Litmanen is a 2012 documentary film about Litmanen's career.
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2011· 3 entries
Won: Finnish Cup with HJK (2011).
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Won: Veikkausliiga with HJK (2011).
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Played for Helsingin Jalkapalloklubi (2011–2011) — 18 appearances, 1 goals.
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2010· 1 entry
On 10 October 2010, Litmanen became the first Finnish team sport player to be honoured with a statue: it stands at Kisapuisto (Lahti) where he started his career in the 1970s.
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2009· 1 entry
Paul Simpson, former FourFourTwo editor, went as far as to assert that "his career has not been worthy of his talent"
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2008· 2 entries
Played for FC Lahti (2008–2010) — 40 appearances, 10 goals.
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Played for Fulham F.C. (2008–2008) — 0 appearances, 0 goals.
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2006· 1 entry
But was again sidelined with a number of injuries for much of the season
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2005· 3 entries
Played for F.C. Hansa Rostock (2005–2005) — 13 appearances, 1 goals.
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Played for Malmö FF (2005–2007) — 10 appearances, 3 goals.
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Litmanen became a father in November 2005 when his Estonian girlfriend Ly Jürgenson gave birth to a son named Caro.
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2004· 3 entries
Won the Dutch Eredivisie with Ajax (2003-2004).
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Won: Eredivisie with Ajax (2003–04).
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Played for FC Lahti (2004–2004) — 11 appearances, 3 goals.
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2003· 1 entry
Won award: UEFA Jubilee Awards – Greatest Finnish Footballer of the last 50 Years (2003).
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2002· 4 entries
Won award: Football Association of Finland (2002).
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Awarded Captain’s Ball (2002).
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Won award: Captain's Ball (2002).
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Played for AFC Ajax (2002–2004) — 20 appearances, 5 goals.
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2001· 9 entries
Won: UEFA Super Cup with Liverpool (2001).
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Won: FA Charity Shield with Liverpool (2001).
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Won: Football League Cup with Liverpool (2000–01).
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Won: Nordic Football Championship with Finland (2000–01).
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Won: FA Cup with Liverpool (2000–01).
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Won: UEFA Cup with Liverpool (2000–01).
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Played for Liverpool F.C. (2001–2002) — 26 appearances, 5 goals.
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Missed all three finals because of injury
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Joined Liverpool in 2001.
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2000· 1 entry
Won award: Finnish Football Association Player of the Year (9) (2000).
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1999· 5 entries
Won: KNVB Cup with Ajax (1998–99).
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Awarded AFC Ajax–player of the year (1999).
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Played for FC Barcelona (1999–2001) — 21 appearances, 3 goals.
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Litmanen was reunited with Louis van Gaal at Barcelona, one of several former Ajax players recruited by Van Gaal in his time as manager
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Joined Barcelona in 1999.
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1998· 5 entries
Won the Dutch Eredivisie with Ajax (1997-1998).
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Won award: Finnish Sports Journalists Player of the Year (8) (1998).
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Won: Eredivisie with Ajax (1997–98).
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Won award: Finnish Football Association Player of the Year (9) (1998).
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Won: KNVB Cup with Ajax (1997–98).
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1997· 2 entries
Won award: Finnish Sports Journalists Player of the Year (8) (1997).
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Won award: Finnish Football Association Player of the Year (9) (1997).
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1996· 7 entries
Won the Dutch Eredivisie with Ajax (1995-1996).
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Won award: Finnish Sports Journalists Player of the Year (8) (1996).
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Won award: UEFA Champions League top scorer (1995–96).
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Won award: ESM Team of the Year (1995–96).
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Runner-up: UEFA Champions League with Ajax (1995–96).
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Won: Eredivisie with Ajax (1995–96).
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Won award: Finnish Football Association Player of the Year (9) (1996).
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1995· 12 entries
Won the Dutch Eredivisie with Ajax (1994-1995).
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Won award: Ballon d'Or (1995).
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Won: UEFA Super Cup with Ajax (1995).
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Won: Dutch Supercup with Ajax (1995).
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Won: Intercontinental Cup with Ajax (1995).
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Won award: Finnish Football Association Player of the Year (9) (1995).
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Won: UEFA Champions League with Ajax (1994–95).
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Won award: ESM Team of the Year (1994–95).
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Won award: Finnish Sports Journalists Player of the Year (8) (1995).
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Won award: Finnish Sports Personality of the Year (1995).
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Won: Eredivisie with Ajax (1994–95).
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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
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1994· 8 entries
Won the Dutch Eredivisie with Ajax (1993-1994).
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Won: Eredivisie with Ajax (1993–94).
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Won: Dutch Supercup with Ajax (1994).
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Won award: Finnish Sports Journalists Player of the Year (8) (1994).
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Won award: Finnish Football Association Player of the Year (9) (1994).
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Won award: Dutch league top scorer (1993–94).
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Won award: Ballon d'Or (1994).
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Awarded AFC Ajax–player of the year (1994).
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1993· 5 entries
Won: Dutch Supercup with Ajax (1993).
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Won: KNVB Cup with Ajax (1992–93).
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Won award: Dutch Footballer of the Year (1993).
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Won award: Finnish Football Association Player of the Year (9) (1993).
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Won award: Finnish Sports Journalists Player of the Year (8) (1993).
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1992· 7 entries
Won award: Finnish Sports Journalists Player of the Year (8) (1992).
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Won award: Finnish Football Association Player of the Year (9) (1992).
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Won: Finnish Cup with MyPa (1992).
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Played for AFC Ajax (1992–1999) — 159 appearances, 91 goals.
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Played for MYPA (1992–1992) — 18 appearances, 7 goals.
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Joined MyPa in 1992.
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Joined Ajax in 1992.
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1991· 2 entries
Played for Helsingin Jalkapalloklubi (1991–1991) — 27 appearances, 16 goals.
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Joined HJK Helsinki in 1991.
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1990· 3 entries
Won award: Finnish Sports Journalists Player of the Year (8) (1990).
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Won award: Veikkausliiga Player of the Year (1990).
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Won award: Finnish Football Association Player of the Year (9) (1990).
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1989· 1 entry
Played for Finland men's national football team (1989–2010) — 137 appearances, 32 goals.
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1987· 1 entry
Played for Reipas Lahti (1987–1990) — 86 appearances, 28 goals.
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1971· 1 entry
Born 1971-02-20.
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