In Conversation, Podcast Show NotesLeave a comment

[Podcast] In Conversation with… Aki Riihilahti

July 10, 2020 Mark Wiltshear

[Show Notes] Keke & Mark W are joined by a legend of Finnish football, Aki Riihilahti. Aki takes us back down memory lane for a fascinating conversation about his playing career at HJK Helsinki and Crystal Palace, as well as behind-the-scenes in his current role as CEO at HJK.

Learn how Aki once broke Keke’s heart 💔 (and that he’s not sorry about it), how his work with the European Clubs Association gives him so much satisfaction and why he’s added ‘Toilet Paper Delivery Driver’ to his CV.

VeikkausliigaLeave a comment

Veikkausliiga 2020 Predictions

June 16, 2020 Mark Wiltshear

The Corona-delayed 2020 Veikkausliiga season is about to start and we want you to take part in our predictions competition. No prizes, just glory. What are you waiting for? Continue reading Veikkausliiga 2020 Predictions

Podcast Show NotesLeave a comment

[Podcast] Finnish Football Show 30 – Suomen Cup | Closed-Season Transfers | 3rd Kits | Fans In Stadiums

June 7, 2020June 7, 2020 Mark Wiltshear

In this episode, I hope we’ll get back to something like normal. Wait, wait, don’t all switch off or skip to the next show in your podcast player. Surely YOU are gagging for football as much as we are?! We recorded this in the first week of June 2020 and there are a couple of key dates coming up in the near future; the Veikkausliiga is due to kick off from the 1st July and the Suomen Cup has matches scheduled from 16th June.

We look at those Suomen Cup fixtures and then start to prepare for the Veikkausliiga kick off, by looking at the transfers that have taken place during the extended closed season. All EIGHT months of it! 😫 This show was pulled together all of a sudden (with two weeks planning!) but we won’t have all the usual features this time. We’ll bring back ‘Ja sillä sipuli’ and ‘Following’ next time, we promise.

Behind the Quarantine, Podcast Show NotesLeave a comment

[Podcast] Behind the Quarantine: The Football Agent

May 27, 2020 Mark Wiltshear

Mark W speaks to Chris Cleaver, the British football agent at Scandinavian FI OÜ Player Agency. Chris is the former captain & first team coach of SJK Seinäjoki in Finland. He talks about his playing career in Finland, bookended with spells in Seinäjoki, before explaining about the transition to becoming an agent and how this has been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Podcast Show NotesLeave a comment

[Podcast] Bonus – When Podcast Recordings Go Wrong! Behind The Scenes Of Episode 27.

May 17, 2020 Mark Wiltshear

Back in February 2020, the Finnish Football Show team got together online to record FFS 27. Mark began FFS27 with the words “We started recording this show at 21:45 because we had some technical problems for the last 20 minutes, which were MY fault this time…!” What you are about to hear is what happened before the show, eventually, went live.

HuuhkajatLeave a comment

Oi Suomi On! – Interview with Author, Ari Virtanen

May 12, 2020May 21, 2020 mahaffs

Recently, the Finnish Football Show had the honor and privilege to meet with Helsingin Sanomat Sports writer and author ,Ari Virtanen, at the launch of the new sensational book Oi Suomi On! Ari himself was also good enough to take the time to answer our questions. Continue reading Oi Suomi On! – Interview with Author, Ari Virtanen

Podcast Show NotesLeave a comment

[Podcast] Finnish Football Show 29 – Mikko Laitinen from Suomen Palloliitto | ‘Season’s Most Important Game’ campaign | Veikkausliiga to start on 1st July?

May 7, 2020May 17, 2020 Mark Wiltshear

Yes, we know, it’s been ages since the last show, but this time it really ISN’T our fault. There’s been this virus thing, you see. This episode is something a little different. Firtsly, it’s only Mark W & Keke, but this time we are joined by a very special guest, Mikko Laitinen, Marketing Manager at Suomen Palloliitto – the Finnish Football Association.

Mikko talks to us about financial challenges within Finnish football and, conversely, the commercial opportunities offered by the impressive performances of the Huuhkajat. Mikko also explained the background to the “Kauden tärkein ottelu” (the Season’s Most Important Game) campaign, which enables fans to support Finnish football during this difficult time. Encouragingly, the start of the 2020 Veikkausliiga season was also announced on 6.5.2020, the day of the recording, so of course we talked about that too.

Buy tickets for the Kauden tärkein ottelu” (the Season’s Most Important Game) campaign

Behind the Quarantine, Podcast Show NotesLeave a comment

[Podcast] Behind the Quarantine: The Sporting Director

May 4, 2020 Mark Wiltshear

Rich speaks to Jonne Lindblom, a former agent and now the Sporting Director of KuPS Kuopio in Finland. Jonne explains how KuPS is helping its players maintain fitness during the COVID-19 pandemic. He looks at the challenge the corona virus poses for new manager, Arne Erlandsen, to communicate his ideas to the team, as they prepare for the defence of the Veikkausliiga title they won in 2019 – whenever that defence might start!

Jonne tells about his role as Sporting Director (handling recruitment, scouting, player contracts and agents). He also gives some insight into his close involvement, as an agent, in the rise of Alfredo Morelos. Then he looks forward to future plans for a new stadium in Kuopio and his determination to develop the KuPS Academy, so it provides more players for the first team squad.

Behind the Quarantine, Podcast Show NotesLeave a comment

[Podcast] Behind the Quarantine: The Finland International Footballer

April 24, 2020April 24, 2020 Mark Wiltshear

Keke talks to Finland international player (or Huuhkaja) Markus Halsti, who explains how he, and fellow Finn Joni Kauko, are trying to keep fit for Esbjerg fB in Denmark, and how they could be recalled to action with a days notice, even though the club coaches are currently NOT ALLOWED to train them!

Markus tells about his special connection with HJK Helsinki and Malmo FF and his experiences at D.C. United in Major League Soccer – including how USA fan culture incorporates chainsaws! 😨 Finally Markus shares his disappointment at not swapping shirts with Xabi Alonso and why he couldn’t celebrate on the pitch after THAT Liechtenstein game, when Finland qualified for Euro 2020.

Behind the Quarantine, Podcast Show NotesLeave a comment

[Podcast] Behind the Quarantine: The 1st Team Coach

April 15, 2020 Mark Wiltshear

Mark W talks to SJK Seinäjoki’s new 1st Team Coach, Joaquin Gomez about his bold move from Spain to the UK and dramatic rise, as a coach and assistant manager, through the Football League (EFL). We talk about how meeting Sami Hyypiä and Antti Niemi, later led to opportunities to become coach for Finland U21s and, latterly, SJK. Finally, he explains how they are keeping the SJK players fit, physically and mentally, during this period of uncertainty.