23 Facts About Mikael Forssell

Mikael Kaj Forssell was born on 15 March 1981 and is a Finnish former professional footballer who played as a striker.

Mikael Forssell is currently working as an assistant coach of HJK Helsinki, having previously worked as a youth coach for the club.

Mikael Forssell never broke into the Chelsea team, making 33 league appearances in seven years, and spent two loan spells at Crystal Palace, one at Borussia Monchengladbach, and two at Birmingham City.

Mikael Forssell switched permanently to the latter club in 2005, but injury problems restricted him to 65 league appearances in three seasons.

Mikael Forssell joined German side Hannover 96 in July 2008 on a free transfer, but struggled with form and injury problems, and he left the club in 2011, having made 44 league appearances.

Mikael Forssell made his full international debut for Finland in 1999, and was a regular player for his country for the next 15 years.

Mikael Forssell earned 87 caps for his country, and scored 29 goals, making him Finland's sixth most capped player and second highest goalscorer.

On 2 October 2022, Mikael Forssell was named in the HJK Hall of Fame.

Mikael Forssell made his debut as a substitute in a league game against Arsenal in January 1999 and then three days later, Forssell made his first start for the club when he scored two goals against Oxford United in the FA Cup.

Mikael Forssell returned to Chelsea to recuperate, and made occasional appearances for Chelsea that season, playing against Bayern Munich in the Champions League and in the last home match, against Charlton Athletic, as Chelsea celebrated winning their first top-flight title for 50 years.

Mikael Forssell remained at Birmingham to have another go at resurrecting his career.

Mikael Forssell continued his good form into the start of the season, scoring the opening goal of the match against Chelsea and consolidating his good form with two assists in the next three matches.

In May 2008, following the club's relegation from Premier League, Mikael Forssell signed a pre-contract agreement to join Hannover 96 on a free transfer when his Birmingham contract expired at the end of June.

Mikael Forssell was handed the number 18 shirt and took his place on the bench two days later against his former club Crystal Palace.

On 29 October 2012, it was announced that Mikael Forssell would be returning to Finland after spending 14 years abroad, signing a two-year contract with his former club HJK.

Mikael Forssell finished the season with 14 league goals, the club's top goalscorer as HJK won their fifth consecutive championship.

On 10 April 2017, Mikael Forssell signed a contract for one year with HIFK.

Mikael Forssell was a regular for the Finnish national team for most of the 2000s.

Mikael Forssell played his first match for Finland on 9 June 1999 against Moldova, and scored his first goal on 28 February 2001 against Luxembourg.

Mikael Forssell played for Finland in the 2001 FIFA World Youth Championship.

On 17 November 2010, Mikael Forssell scored three of Finland's eight goals against San Marino in the Euro 2012 qualifying.

Mikael Forssell's older sister, Christina Mikael Forssell, was a footballer who played for HJK and Finland.

On 23 August 2013, Forssell married Metti Lukkarila, the couple have Lilia, born in May 2014, and Lucas Mikael, born in August 2016.