Sakari Mattila
Encyclopedia
Sakari Mattila is a Finnish
footballer, who represents AC Bellinzona
in Swiss Super League
. Mattila, who is 187 cm tall, plays as a midfielder. He made his debut at the senior level in 2008. He is well-known about his shooting skills. Mattila was the captain of the Finnish under-19 national team.
municipality. Before joining HJK, he also played for Pohjois-Haagan Urheilijat (FC PoHU).
in Kakkonen (third highest level).
He made his first-team debut for HJK in Finland's top division Veikkausliiga
at the age of 18 in April 2008, against IFK Mariehamn
. He scored his first professional goal against FC Inter Turku in his third match. On the first half of the season
, Mattila was used mainly as a sub, but played more and more and took the role of set-piece taker in the team. In a couple of matches, Mattila played also as a centre-back.
Before the season 2008, HJK was on a training camp in Marbella
and Mattila was spotted by scouts of Sevilla FC
and Málaga CF
. He was playing on schoolboy terms, but HJK managed to sign a three-year contract with him. It was released that Málaga was also interested to sign a contract and had scouted him on several occasions.
In August 2008, Serie A
club Palermo
called him up for a week long trial after scouting him in Helsinki
. Just a week after his visit to Palermo
, Udinese Calcio
called him up for a week long trial. Before leaving to Udine
, Mattila stated that he is ready for a move to Italy
. In October, Iltasanomat told that Udinese had made an offer, but HJK rejected the first bid. The asking price was said to be around 700.000 euros. After rumours about his move to Udinese, Mattila stated that he wants to make a career in Italy and was hoping for a move in the next transfer window.
.
On 10 August 2010 he was loaned again. This time to AC Bellinzona
, playing in the Swiss
top level
.
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
footballer, who represents AC Bellinzona
AC Bellinzona
AC Bellinzona is a Swiss football club based in Bellinzona. It was founded in 1904, and won the Swiss Super League in 1948.-History:Since Bellinzona is an Italian speaking region, many Italian Serie A clubs loan youth players to the club to get first team experience. AS Roma are a parent club to...
in Swiss Super League
Swiss Super League
The Swiss Super League or Axpo Super League is the top tier of the Swiss Football League. The Swiss Super League is currently ranked 16th according to UEFA's ranking of league coefficients, which is based upon Swiss team performances in European competitions.-Names:-Participating clubs:The teams...
. Mattila, who is 187 cm tall, plays as a midfielder. He made his debut at the senior level in 2008. He is well-known about his shooting skills. Mattila was the captain of the Finnish under-19 national team.
Early career
Mattila started playing football in the age of five. His first club was Malminkartanon PETO in the Malminkartano suburb in the northern part of HelsinkiHelsinki
Helsinki is the capital and largest city in Finland. It is in the region of Uusimaa, located in southern Finland, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, an arm of the Baltic Sea. The population of the city of Helsinki is , making it by far the most populous municipality in Finland. Helsinki is...
municipality. Before joining HJK, he also played for Pohjois-Haagan Urheilijat (FC PoHU).
Helsingin Jalkapalloklubi
Mattila joined HJK's Kannelmäki youth section as a ten year old and was soon promoted to HJK's youth squad. In 2007, he played for HJK's reserve club Klubi 04Klubi-04
Klubi 04 is the reserve team of Helsingin Jalkapalloklubi for whom a number of the players are also registered.-History:It was founded in 2004 when HJK bought FC Jokerit. Initially Klubi 04 played Kakkonen. Klubi 04 rose to Ykkönen in 2006 when it beat FC Inter's reserve team VG-62...
in Kakkonen (third highest level).
He made his first-team debut for HJK in Finland's top division Veikkausliiga
Veikkausliiga
Veikkausliiga is the premier division of Finnish football, comprising the top 12 clubs of the country. Veikkausliiga is currently ranked as the 28th best league in Europe. Its main sponsor is the Finnish national betting agency Veikkaus, hence the league's name...
at the age of 18 in April 2008, against IFK Mariehamn
IFK Mariehamn
IFK Mariehamn is a Finnish football club, based in Mariehamn, capital of the Åland Islands. It currently plays in the Finnish Premier Division . The club's manager is Pekka Lyyski, and it plays its home matches at Wiklöf Holding Arena....
. He scored his first professional goal against FC Inter Turku in his third match. On the first half of the season
Veikkausliiga 2008
The 2008 season of Veikkausliiga was the seventy-eighth season of top-tier football in Finland. It started on 27 April 2008 and ended on 26 October 2008. The defending champions were Tampere United.-Promotion and relegation:...
, Mattila was used mainly as a sub, but played more and more and took the role of set-piece taker in the team. In a couple of matches, Mattila played also as a centre-back.
Before the season 2008, HJK was on a training camp in Marbella
Marbella
Marbella is a town in Andalusia, Spain. It is situated on the Mediterranean Sea, in the province of Málaga, beneath the La Concha mountain. In 2000 the city had 98,823 inhabitants, in 2004, 116,234, in 2010 approximately 135,000....
and Mattila was spotted by scouts of Sevilla FC
Sevilla FC
Sevilla Fútbol Club S.A.D. is a Spanish professional football club based in Seville, Spain that plays in the Spanish La Liga championship.They are one of the most successful clubs in Spanish football having won a 1 La Liga title, 5 Spanish "Copa del Rey" Cups, 1 Spanish Super Cup and 2 UEFA...
and Málaga CF
Málaga CF
Málaga Club de Fútbol is a Spanish football club based in Málaga, Andalusia. The team currently plays in Spain's La Liga.Málaga CF is generally seen as the successor to CD Málaga, one of the most historical Andalusian football clubs, by being a near-identical looking football club that even shares...
. He was playing on schoolboy terms, but HJK managed to sign a three-year contract with him. It was released that Málaga was also interested to sign a contract and had scouted him on several occasions.
In August 2008, Serie A
Serie A
Serie A , now called Serie A TIM due to sponsorship by Telecom Italia, is a professional league competition for football clubs located at the top of the Italian football league system and has been operating for over eighty years since 1929. It had been organized by Lega Calcio until 2010, but a new...
club Palermo
U.S. Città di Palermo
Unione Sportiva Città di Palermo is an Italian football club from Palermo, Sicily which currently plays in Serie A, the top level of Italian football. Formed in 1900 as Anglo Panormitan Athletic and Football Club, the club had various names before assuming its final form in 1987 and is currently...
called him up for a week long trial after scouting him in Helsinki
Helsinki
Helsinki is the capital and largest city in Finland. It is in the region of Uusimaa, located in southern Finland, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, an arm of the Baltic Sea. The population of the city of Helsinki is , making it by far the most populous municipality in Finland. Helsinki is...
. Just a week after his visit to Palermo
Palermo
Palermo is a city in Southern Italy, the capital of both the autonomous region of Sicily and the Province of Palermo. The city is noted for its history, culture, architecture and gastronomy, playing an important role throughout much of its existence; it is over 2,700 years old...
, Udinese Calcio
Udinese Calcio
Udinese Calcio is an Italian football club based in Udine, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, and currently plays in the Serie A. Founded in 1896, Udinese is the second oldest club in the Serie A, after Genoa....
called him up for a week long trial. Before leaving to Udine
Udine
Udine is a city and comune in northeastern Italy, in the middle of Friuli-Venezia Giulia region, between the Adriatic sea and the Alps , less than 40 km from the Slovenian border. Its population was 99,439 in 2009, and that of its urban area was 175,000.- History :Udine is the historical...
, Mattila stated that he is ready for a move to Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. In October, Iltasanomat told that Udinese had made an offer, but HJK rejected the first bid. The asking price was said to be around 700.000 euros. After rumours about his move to Udinese, Mattila stated that he wants to make a career in Italy and was hoping for a move in the next transfer window.
Udinese Calcio
In November 2008, he signed a 4,5-year contract with Udinese and joined the club in January 2009. He played with the Primavera team and in July 2009 left on loan for AscoliAscoli Calcio 1898
Ascoli Calcio 1898 is an Italian football club based in Ascoli Piceno, Marche. The club was formed in 1898 and currently plays in Italian Serie B, having returned to it after two seasons spent in Serie A...
.
On 10 August 2010 he was loaned again. This time to AC Bellinzona
AC Bellinzona
AC Bellinzona is a Swiss football club based in Bellinzona. It was founded in 1904, and won the Swiss Super League in 1948.-History:Since Bellinzona is an Italian speaking region, many Italian Serie A clubs loan youth players to the club to get first team experience. AS Roma are a parent club to...
, playing in the Swiss
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
top level
Swiss Super League
The Swiss Super League or Axpo Super League is the top tier of the Swiss Football League. The Swiss Super League is currently ranked 16th according to UEFA's ranking of league coefficients, which is based upon Swiss team performances in European competitions.-Names:-Participating clubs:The teams...
.
External links
- Profile at HJK.fi
- Stats at Veikkausliiga.com