Anssi Jaakkola

Anssi Valtteri Jaakkola (born 13 March 1987) is a Finnish former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper.[3] He is currently goalkeeping coach at Bristol Rovers.

Anssi Jaakkola
Jaakkola with Bristol Rovers in 2022
Personal information
Full name Anssi Valtteri Jaakkola[1]
Date of birth (1987-03-13) 13 March 1987
Place of birth Kemi, Finland
Height 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in)[2]
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Team information
Current team
 Bristol Rovers (goalkeeping coach)
Youth career
0000–2003 FC-88
2003–2004 TP-47
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2004–2006 TP-47 17 (0)
2007–2010 Siena 1 (0)
2009 → Colligiana (loan) 7 (0)
2010–2011 Slavia Prague 2 (0)
2011–2013 Kilmarnock 14 (0)
2013–2016 Ajax Cape Town 78 (0)
2016–2019 Reading 20 (0)
2019–2023 Bristol Rovers 46 (0)
Total 185 (0)
International career
2007–2009 Finland U21 11 (0)
2011–2021 Finland 3 (0)
Managerial career
2022– Bristol Rovers (Goalkeeping coach)
Medal record
Men's football
Kilmarnock
First placeScottish League Cup2012
Ajax Cape Town
Second placeNedbank Cup2015
First placeMTN 82015
Reading
Third placeEFL Championship2017
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Jaakkola was born in Kemi. He began his senior club career playing for TP-47 aged 17 in 2004, before signing with Serie A side Siena in 2007.[4]

Jaakkola made his international debut for Finland in June 2011, at the age of 24. He was nominated for all 10 of Finland's UEFA Euro 2020 qualification matches but did not gain any appearances when Finland national team secured its first ever place in European Football Championship tournament's group stage.

Jaakkola's biggest career achievement was a victory over ex Premier League footballer Joey Barton in The Bristol Rovers Head Tennis Arena on 20th October 2023.

Club career

Early career

Jaakkola previously played for TP-47 and FC-88. In the January 2007 window, Jaakkola signed a three-and-a-half-year contract with Serie A side Siena. He made his Serie A debut by substituting Dimitrios Eleftheropoulos in the 2007–08 season final matchday, a 2–2 home draw with Palermo. In 2009, he was loaned to V.F. Colligiana in Lega Pro Seconda Divisione. He moved to Slavia Prague on free transfer in July 2010, signing a two-year contract with the option of a further year.[5]

Kilmarnock

In January 2011, Jaakkola left Slavia for Scottish Premier League club Kilmarnock, under the management of fellow Finn Mixu Paatelainen.[6] He made his debut as a substitute on 12 February against Hibernian. He then made his first start on 26 February against St Mirren. He left Kilmarnock when his contract expired in the summer of 2013.

Ajax Cape Town

Jaakkola joined South African Premier Soccer League club Ajax Cape Town in August 2013.[7] On 22 September 2013 Jaakkola made his debut in the Premier Soccer League in a match against Polokwane when he came in as a substitute for Brandon Peterson on 57th minute of the match.[8]

Reading

On 11 July 2016, Jaakkola signed a two-year contract with Reading.[9] Jaakkola made his competitive debut for Reading on 8 August 2016, playing the full 90 minutes of Reading's 2–0 EFL Cup victory over Plymouth Argyle.[10] On 7 November 2018 he was awarded as Reading supporters October player of the month.[11] He was released by Reading at the end of the 2018–19 season.[12]

Bristol Rovers

After his contract at Reading expired, Jaakkola joined League One side Bristol Rovers.[13] Jaakola made over twenty appearances in his debut season for Rovers before his season was cut short by an injury on New Years Day against Milton Keynes Dons. After the season was cut short, Jaakola signed a new contract on 3 July 2020 until the end of the 2021-22 season with an option for a further year.[14] On 8 December 2020, Jaakkola was taken off with an Achilles injury in an EFL Trophy match against Leyton Orient and was originally set to be out of contention for a few weeks,[15] but he was still yet to return in February 2021 when new manager Joey Barton gave an update stating that Jaakkola was 'about a week away' from being able to return to action.[16] He made his return on 27 March 2021 in a 1–0 home defeat to Sunderland as Rovers continued to fight against relegation.[17]

Jaakkola featured in the first two League Two matches of the 2021–22 season before the return of his recurring Achilles injury forced him out of action. In early September, manager Barton estimated that he would be injured for another week,[18] however Jaakkola needed injections in the Achilles and in October it was estimated that he would be out of action until November in order to allow the injury to fully heal with the hope to solve the problem for good.[19] With James Belshaw having impressed in Jaakkola's absence, upon his return from injury Jaakkola found himself on the bench before a slight knock to Belshaw at the end of January allowed Jaakkola the opportunity to return to first-team football.[20] Following Rovers' promotion back to League One at the end of the 2021–22 season,[21]

International career

On 30 August 2010 he was selected to represent Finland for European Championship qualification matches against Moldova and Netherlands as a replacement for injured Peter Enckelman.[22] However, he didn't earn any caps. He made his national team debut on 7 June 2011, conceding five goals against Sweden in a 5–0 away loss. He gained his second appearance in the national team on 7 June 2017 when Markku Kanerva announced that Jaakkola would replace Lukáš Hrádecký in a friendly match against Liechtenstein.[23]

In May 2021, Jaakkola was named in the provisional-26 man squad for the upcoming delayed UEFA Euro 2020 Championship.[24] Jaakkola was a member of the Finnish squad at the UEFA Euro 2020 tournament but remained as an unused substitute for Lukáš Hrádecký. Finland was placed 3rd in Group B following a 2-0 defeat to Belgium on 21 June 2021.[25]

Managerial career

Bristol Rovers

Jaakkola stepped up into the role of goalkeeping coach in pre-season following the departure of goalkeeping coach Tony Warner to Jaakkola's former club Reading.[26] Throughout the 2022–23 season, he balanced his coaching role with being the back-up goalkeeper, however the January loan signing of Ellery Balcombe allowed him to focus more on his new role.[27] He was offered the position of permanent goalkeeping coach at the end of the season.[28]

Career statistics

Club
As of 10 January 2023
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup League Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
TP-47 2005[29] Veikkausliiga 3000——30
2006[29] Ykkönen 14000——140
Total 17000——170
Siena 2006–07[29] Serie A 0000——00
2007–08[29] Serie A 1000——10
2008–09[29] Serie A 0000——00
2009–10[29] Serie A 0000——00
Total 1000——10
Colligiana (loan) 2008–09[30] Lega Pro Seconda Divisione 7000——70
Slavia Prague 2010–11[29] Czech First League 2020——40
Kilmarnock 2010–11[31] Scottish Premier League 800000—80
2011–12[32] Scottish Premier League 500010—60
2012–13[33] Scottish Premier League 000000—00
Total 1300010—140
Ajax Cape Town 2013–14[29] South African Premier Division 2400010—250
2014–15[29] South African Premier Division 2804020—340
2015–16[29] South African Premier Division 26010104[lower-alpha 1]0320
Total 780504040910
Reading 2016–17[34] Championship 000030—30
2017–18[35] Championship 503030—110
2018–19[36] Championship 1501000—160
Total 2004060—300
Reading U23 2016–17[34] ———3[lower-alpha 2]030
Bristol Rovers 2019–20[37] League One 210302000260
2020–21[38] League One 21020001[lower-alpha 2]0240
2021–22[39] League Two 4000000040
2022–23[40] League One 0000006[lower-alpha 2]060
Total 460502070600
Career total 18401601301402270
  1. Appearances in 8 Cup
  2. Appearances in EFL Trophy

International
As of match played on 26 March 2018.[30]
National team Year Competitive Friendly Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Finland 20111[lower-alpha 1]0 0 0 1 0
201700 1 0 1 0
201800 1 0 1 0
Total 1 0 2 0 3 0

Notes

  1. Appearance in the UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying.

Honours
Kilmarnock[29]
Ajax Cape Town[29]

Bristol Rovers

Individual

Personal life

Jaakkola has two daughters and one son. His wife is Scottish.

References
  1. "Retained List 2016–17" (PDF). English Football League. Retrieved 13 June 2017.
  2. "Anssi Jaakkola". Bristol Rovers F.C. Archived from the original on 23 November 2019. Retrieved 6 October 2022.
  3. "Anssi Jaakkola" (in Finnish). Suomen Palloliitto. Archived from the original on 8 May 2021. Retrieved 23 January 2020.
  4. "Anssi Jaakkola TP-47:stä ammattilaiseksi Italiaan" [Anssi Jaakkola moves from TP-47 to be a professional in Italy] (in Finnish). Kaleva. 12 January 2007. Retrieved 23 January 2020.
  5. (in Czech)Anssi Jaakkola slávistou Archived 18 July 2010 at the Wayback Machine at Slavia Prague website
  6. "Kilmarnock add Finnish goalkeeper". 2011. Retrieved 18 May 2018.
  7. "New Faces at Ajax". SoccerLaduma. 29 August 2013. Retrieved 29 August 2013.
  8. "Polokwane win first PSL match". news24. 22 September 2013. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  9. "Jaakkola joins Royals ranks". readingfc.co.uk. Reading F.C. Retrieved 11 July 2016.
  10. "Reading 2–0 Plymouth". readingfc.co.uk. Reading F.C. 8 August 2016. Archived from the original on 17 August 2016. Retrieved 26 August 2016.
  11. "Your October 2018 Player Of The Month: Anssi Jaakkola". The Tile Hurstend. 7 November 2018. Retrieved 23 November 2022.
  12. "Paul McShane: Reading defender released by the Championship club". BBC Sport. 10 May 2019. Retrieved 10 May 2019.
  13. "Anssi Jaakkola: Bristol Rovers sign goalkeeper following his Reading release". 1 July 2019. Retrieved 22 July 2019.
  14. "Anssi Jaakkola Agrees Contract Extension". www.bristolrovers.co.uk. 3 July 2020. Archived from the original on 13 November 2022. Retrieved 4 July 2020.
  15. "Bristol Rovers dealt Anssi Jaakkola injury blow with keeper set to miss several games". Bristol Post. 27 December 2020. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
  16. "Joey Barton delivers Anssi Jaakkola injury update but Brandon Hanlan is big doubt for Shrewsbury". Bristol Post. 26 February 2021. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
  17. "Bristol Rovers 0–1 Sunderland". BBC Sport. 27 March 2021. Retrieved 28 March 2021.
  18. Frost, Sam (3 September 2021). "Joey Barton reveals Anssi Jaakkola injury news and when Bristol Rovers' new signings will play". Bristol Post. Retrieved 24 October 2021.
  19. Frost, Sam (15 October 2021). "Bristol Rovers injury report: Joey Barton gives latest on Grant, Hughes, Jaakkola and more". Bristol Post. Retrieved 24 October 2021.
  20. Frost, Sam (3 February 2022). "Joey Barton clarifies Bristol Rovers goalkeeping situation for Sutton United amid injury fears". Bristol Post.
  21. "Bristol Rovers go up after extraordinary 7–0 win". BBC Sport. 7 May 2022. Retrieved 9 May 2022.
  22. Anssi Jaakkola liittyy Huuhkajiin EM-karsinnan avauksessa Archived 18 November 2011 at the Wayback Machine (in Finnish)
  23. "Kanerva nimesi avauskokoonpanon Liechtenstein-otteluun - Jaakkola aloittaa maalissa" [Kanerva named the starting line-up for the Liechtenstein match - Jaakkola starts in goal] (in Finnish). Iltalehti. 7 June 2017. Retrieved 12 January 2023.
  24. "Finland Euro 2020 squad: star player, manager and past records". www.fourfourtwo.com. 19 May 2021. Retrieved 21 May 2021.
  25. "Belgium win to push Finland into third". BBC Sport. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  26. Frost, Sam (13 July 2022). "Joey Barton gives update on Bristol Rovers' goalkeeping coach situation as Jaakkola steps up". Bristol Post. Retrieved 14 July 2022.
  27. Frost, Sam (20 January 2023). "Anssi Jaakkola's change in focus signals the end of a Bristol Rovers comfort zone". Bristol Post. Retrieved 22 March 2023.
  28. "2022/23 Retained and Released List". www.bristolrovers.co.uk. 20 May 2023. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
  29. "A. Jaakkola: Summary". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 1 January 2020.
  30. "Jaakkola, Anssi". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmermann. Retrieved 1 January 2020.
  31. "Games played by Anssi Jaakkola in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2020.
  32. "Games played by Anssi Jaakkola in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2020.
  33. "Games played by Anssi Jaakkola in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2020.
  34. "Games played by Anssi Jaakkola in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2020.
  35. "Games played by Anssi Jaakkola in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2020.
  36. "Games played by Anssi Jaakkola in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2020.
  37. "Games played by Anssi Jaakkola in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2020.
  38. "Games played by Anssi Jaakkola in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
  39. "Games played by Anssi Jaakkola in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 September 2021.
  40. "Games played by Anssi Jaakkola in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 22 March 2023.
  41. "Anssi Jaakkola named Ajax Cape Town Player of the Year". Ajax Cape Town. 15 May 2014. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
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