Mikael Forssell
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Mikael Kaj Forssell (born March 15 1981 in Steinfurt, Germany) is a Finnish footballer who currently plays for Birmingham City F.C. in the English 1st division - 'The Championship'. Considered one of the most talented Finnish footballers of all time, Forssell made his Veikkausliiga debut for HJK Helsinki 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, and in 1998 the 17-year-old striker was bought by Chelsea. Although FC Barcelona of Spain also showed intrest in him before he signed for Chelsea.
However, Forssell found it hard to find a place in the Chelsea first team, and he was sent out to various loan spells, twice to Crystal Palace of the then First Division, once to Borussia Mönchengladbach of the German Bundesliga and twice to Premiership's Birmingham. Forssell scored seven Bundesliga goals for Mönchengladbach in the spring of 2003 and then 17 Premiership goals for Birmingham in the 2003–2004 season. He returned to Birmigham on loan for the 2004–2005 season, but suffered the second serious knee injury of his career, which ruined his season.
In the summer of 2005 Forssell joined Birmingham on a three-year deal for a fee of £3 million, after Chelsea decided that he did not figure in their long term plans. He has struggled for form in the 2005–2006 season, not having gained full fitness after his injury.
Forssell has been a regular for the Finnish national team for most of the 2000s. He played his first match for Finland on June 9 1999 against Moldova, and scored his first goal on February 28 2001 against Luxembourg. Forssell is Finland's number one striker, and his partnership with Jari Litmanen has worked especially well. Finland has suffered greatly from Forssell's injury problems, as he had to watch much of qualifying campaigns for both Euro 2004 and World Cup 2006 from the sidelines. Forssell also played for Finland in the 2001 FIFA World Youth Championship.
External links
| Birmingham City F.C. - Current Squad |
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| 1 Taylor | 2 Kelly | 3 Sadler | 4 Taylor | 5 Upson | 6 Clemence | 7 Pennant | 8 Jerome | 9 Forssell | 10 Dunn | 11 Gray | 12 Nafti | 13 Doyle | 14 Campbell | 15 Kilkenny | 17 Danns | 20 Painter | 22 Johnson | 24 Bruce | 26 Tébily | 28 Birley | 30 Oji | 32 Howland | 39 Aluko | 41 Allen | -- N'Gotty |
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