Mika Ääritalo

Mika Ääritalo
Personal information
Full nameMika Ääritalo
Date of birth25 July 1985
Place of birthTaivassalo, Finland
Height1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Playing positionStriker
Club information
Current team
TPS Turku
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2002–2003TPS Turku5(0)
2003–2005Aston Villa0(0)
2005–TPS Turku196(47)
2014Holstein Kiel (loan)4(0)
National team
2010–Finland6(1)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 28 February 2014.

† Appearances (Goals).

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 2 June 2012

Mika Ääritalo (born 25 July 1985) is a Finnish international footballer who plays as a striker for TPS Turku.

Career

Club career

After beginning his senior career in 2002 with hometown club TPS Turku,[1] English Premiership side Aston Villa beat a host of clubs from across Europe to the signing of Ääritalo in January 2003.[2] After failing to make a first-team appearance for Aston Villa, Ääritalo returned to first club TPS Turku in February 2005.

In June 2008, Portuguese BWINLIGA club C.D. Nacional were interested in signing Ääritalo, but the deal fell through due to cost and the fact that Ääritalo didn't want to move to Portugal.[3]

In January 2014, he joined the German 3. Liga side Holstein Kiel on a six-month loan.

International career

Ääritalo made his international debut in 2010.[4] He scored his first international goal on 22 January 2012, in a friendly against Trinidad and Tobago.

Career statistics

International goals

# Date Location Opponent Score Result Competition
1. 22 January 2012 Trinidad and Tobago Port of Spain  Trinidad and Tobago 2−3 2−3 Friendly

International

As of 2 June 2012
Finland national team
YearAppsGoals
201010
201130
201221
Total61

References

  1. "Veikkausliiga statistics" (in Finnish). Veikkausliiga official website.
  2. "Villa snap up teenage star". BBC Sport. 18 October 2002. Retrieved 16 November 2010.
  3. Jari Welling (15 June 2008). "Nacional tekemässä TPS:lleuuden tarjouksen" (in Finnish). Turun Sanomat. Retrieved 16 November 2010.
  4. Mika Ääritalo at National-Football-Teams.com