In Conversation, Podcast Show Notes1 Comment

[Podcast] In Conversation with… Sauli Väisänen

March 2, 2021March 3, 2021 Mark Wiltshear

The Finnish Football’s Show’s intrepid interviewer, Keke, was flying solo again for this interview, with Finland and Chievo Verona defender, Sauli Väisänen. Keke took one of his customary trips with a player through their career, and Sauli was good value, sharing stories about:

His varied youth career around Helsinki.
Moving to the Allsvenskan in Sweden at an early age and ALMOST playing with Eero Markkanen.
His views on Finnish players moving overseas at a young age.
Making a big move to Serie A in Italy and how he kept active under the first, strict lockdown in Italy.
Making his international debut away to Iceland and, later, playing for Finland alongside his brother, Leo.
How he still gets chills when he thinks about THAT NIGHT in Helsinki, when Finland qualified for Euro 2020. And taking inspiration from Greece winning Euro 2004
His appreciation for the support from the Huuhkajat fans over the years, through good times and bad.

In Conversation, Podcast Show Notes3 Comments

[Podcast] In Conversation with… Lukáš Hrádecký

December 17, 2020 Mark Wiltshear

Our guest for this episode, inspired the entire FFS team to turn up for a five-way Zoom. Current Bayer Leverkusen and Finland goalkeeper, Lukáš Hrádecký, spoke to us for an hour about, well, his entire career. A career that started at TPS Turku and took him to Denmark and then Germany. Lukáš explains the perils of hearing a room with Teemu Pukki and why he turned down Manchester United.

We learn what situations give him ‘brown underpants’ and his perspective of his 3rd minute red card and following ‘walk of shame’. He also explains the camaraderie among the national team, created by a club-style atmosphere in the dressing room. He also gets his Huuhkaja mask out – no, that’s not a euphemism!

In Conversation, Podcast Show Notes1 Comment

[Podcast] In Conversation with… the Armada Turku Supporters Group

November 29, 2020November 29, 2020 Keke Mylläri

[Show Notes] Keke flies solo on this episode and speaks with Jussi from the Armada Turku ultra group. Jussi tells Keke about the different supporter groups following Inter Turku, the rivalry with ‘the other Turku club’ and dealing with heavy-handed security. He explains how they design and create their eye-catching Tifos and how it helps attract new, younger fans, both to Inter Turku and Finnish football in general. They also discuss following the Finland National team, the Huuhkajat, which is Keke’s ‘club side’ nowadays and those all-important Away Days, travelling to support their teams.

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[Podcast] In Conversation with… Antti Niemi

October 2, 2020October 5, 2020 Mark Wiltshear

[Show Notes] Keke & Mark W are joined by another legend of Finnish football, former international goalkeeper, Antti Niemi. He explains why he loves both Glenn Kamara and the city of Edinburgh equally. He exposes Sami Hyyppiä as a bad loser and explains his FA Cup final gamble. He also outlines why Markku Kanerva is the new Roy Hodgson. Finally, he discusses his new venture, marketing and selling the ‘Sport Shot 0.03’ made from Finnish beetroot juice.

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[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.

The Finnish Football Show

Category: In Conversation