89: Jussi Jaaskelainen, Bolton Wanderers, Topps Match Attax Trading Card Game, 2009/10

Mat Jolin-Beech continues our trend of looking at underrated players playing in underappreciated positions for under the radar sides today with a look at a fine Finnish glovesman. Today’s subject reached the limelight with the kind of Premier League side that sadly seems to have been sidelined for slick, high energy attacking teams in recent years. We might pretend we care about gegenpressing but deep down we all long for an uncompromising centre-half, ageing continental midfielders and a prick in the mixer. Over to Mat for the all important heroic keeper.

If asked to name where great goalkeepers emerge, you may respond with Italy (Zoff, Buffon, Peruzzi), Spain (Casillas, De Gea, Canizares), France (Barthez, Lloris) or even England if you’re feeling brave (Shilton, Banks, Seaman). As for glamorous clubs of England – Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea and for those of an older vintage Leeds United, Everton, and Aston Villa. None of the above are in line for today’s post. But hang on – don’t go anywhere.

While the thought of doing a literary and sporting tour from Finland to Wigan via Bolton may not excite, it was the path taken by a Premier League stalwart and vastly underrated player - one Jussi Albert Jääskeläinen. Joining the Lancashire club in 1997 for a measly £100,000, not much may have been expected from him. Indeed, no appearances in a relegation campaign from England’s top flight is not a record that would inspire. However, two seasons establishing himself as the number one for his club in the First Division (pre-Championship rebrand) saw Bolton Wanderers return to the top table of English football.

Led by the pragmatic, percentage football manager “Big Sam” Allardyce, Jääskeläinen shone. And he had ample opportunity to show off his goalkeeping talents.  He was protected, and I use that term very loosely, by the greats of the game Mark Fish, Robbie Elliot and Bruno N’Gotty. The wonder years of Bolton did bring in Ivan Campo, an ancient Fernando Hierro, who must have wondered what the hell his agent had landed him in, as well as the entertaining sparks of Jay Jay Okocha and Youri Djorkaeff.

The colander of a defence allowed the Finn to not only showcase his reflexes and acrobatics but also his bravery much loved by Trotters’ fans, and by fantasy football managers alike. Being in a humdrum, lower end of the league side, Jääskeläinen was often cheap. And while the defence was as leaky as (enter sunken ship of your choice here), he regularly made save after save, keeping a cricket score at bay and even helped Bolton to the UEFA Cup in 2007.

He chalked up so many points before his departure to West Ham United (where he didn’t shine…who does at West Ham these days?) before he was released after two underwhelming seasons. When the career for many other keepers may have ended there he decided to go back home, well, to his adopted home up North, with a move to Wigan Athletic. Again, not the most glamorous club in the world, but a couple of seasons there once again saw Lancastrians fall in love with him. Indeed, the YouTube montages from Latics fans showcase the Finn dusting off the form of old. However, another relegation with Wigan falling to the third tier, saw him leave as a 42-year-old and head to Indian Super League franchise ATK. One appearance, five months, and presumably a hefty pay check later, he retired.

So, while not the first name in the pantheon of goalkeeping greats on either domestic or international football lists, Jääskeläinen is someone who, given better clubs, may be in the upper echelons of those lists. If nothing else, he bossed my fantasy football teams for a number of years. I’m sure that will keep him satisfied as he enjoys retirement.