17 Facts About Anssi Jaakkola

Anssi Valtteri Jaakkola was born on 13 March 1987 and is a Finnish former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper.

Anssi Jaakkola began his senior club career playing for TP-47 aged 17 in 2004, before signing with Serie A side Siena in 2007.

Anssi Jaakkola 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.

Anssi Jaakkola moved to Slavia Prague on free transfer in July 2010, signing a two-year contract with the option of a further year.

In January 2011, Anssi Jaakkola left Slavia for Scottish Premier League club Kilmarnock, under the management of fellow Finn Mixu Paatelainen.

Anssi Jaakkola left Kilmarnock when his contract expired in the summer of 2013.

Anssi Jaakkola joined South African Premier Soccer League club Ajax Cape Town in August 2013.

On 22 September 2013 Anssi 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.

On 11 July 2016, Anssi Jaakkola signed a two-year contract with Reading.

On 8 December 2020, Anssi 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, but he was still yet to return in February 2021 when new manager Joey Barton gave an update stating that Anssi Jaakkola was 'about a week away' from being able to return to action.

Anssi Jaakkola gained his second appearance in the national team on 7 June 2017 when Markku Kanerva announced that Jaakkola would replace Lukas Hradecky in a friendly match against Liechtenstein.

In May 2021, Anssi Jaakkola was named in the provisional-26 man squad for the upcoming delayed UEFA Euro 2020 Championship.

Anssi Jaakkola was a member of the Finnish squad at the UEFA Euro 2020 tournament but remained as an unused substitute for Lukas Hradecky.

Anssi Jaakkola stepped up into the role of goalkeeping coach in pre-season following the departure of goalkeeping coach Tony Warner to Anssi Jaakkola's former club Reading.

Anssi Jaakkola was offered the position of permanent goalkeeping coach at the end of the season.

In September 2024, Anssi Jaakkola was announced to have joined National League side Southend United as goalkeeping coach.

The move saw him reunite with manager Kevin Maher, whom Anssi Jaakkola had previously worked with at Bristol Rovers.