Tuomas Haapala

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Haapala in center of the picture. KuPS vs HJK at Magnum Areena, Kuopio. Finnish League Cup, March 11, 2008.
Haapala in center of the picture. KuPS vs HJK at Magnum Areena, Kuopio. Finnish League Cup, March 11, 2008.

Tuomas Haapala (born April 20, 1979 in Lahti) is a Finnish footballer who is currently playing for HJK in the Finnish Veikkausliiga 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. After two weeks at the club, manager Stuart Pearce decided to offer him a contract to the end of the 2005-06 season. However, Haapala failed to break into the first team, and made only reserve team appearances. After his long try-out in Manchester he signed for Sandefjord Fotball. In August 2007 he joined HJK Helsinki.

Haapala played his first game for the Finnish national team on October 12, 2005 against Estonia.

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