Jukka Lehtovaara
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 15 March 1988 | ||
| Place of birth | Turku, Finland | ||
| Height | 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in) | ||
| Playing position | Goalkeeper | ||
| Club information | |||
Current team | TPS Turku | ||
| Number | 12 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| TPS | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 2006– | TPS Turku | 107 | (0) |
| National team‡ | |||
| 2008– | Finland U-21 | 6 | (0) |
| 2010- | Finland | 1 | (0) |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 18 July 2012. † Appearances (Goals). | |||
Jukka Lehtovaara (born 15 March 1988, Turku) is a Finnish football goalkeeper.
He represents TPS of Finnish premier football division, Veikkausliiga. He made his debut in 2006. During the 2007 Lehtovaara gained his place as the starting goalie for the team. After the season he was nominated as the goalkeeper of the year and rookie of the year in Finland. He is generally considered as one of the most promising footballers in Finland. 2009 he was nominated again as the goalkeeper of the year after a terrific season and thus has stirred up a lot of interest in bigger clubs. He continued dominating in the 2010 season as well, winning the goalkeeper of the year award again.
Lehtovaara has played several caps for Finland on different junior levels and he is currently a member of the Finland national under-21 football team. He has also visited the training camps of, for example, West Ham United FC, Liverpool F.C., Chelsea FC, Everton FC and Fulham FC. On 4 November 2010 he is on a one-week trial at West Bromwich.
His current contract with TPS lasts until 2013.
Lehtovaara made his debut for Finnish national squad on 21 May 2010 against Estonia, playing the first half in a 2-0 away defeat.
Honours
- Finnish Cup: 2010
- Finnish League Cup: 2012
- Veikkausliiga goalkeeper of the year: 2007, 2009, 2010
References
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