Antti Niemi
Personal information
Full name	Antti Niemi
Date of birth	May 31, 1972 (age 34)
Place of birth	Oulu, Finland
Height	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Nickname	Antti
Position	Goalkeeper
Club information
Current club	Fulham F.C.
Number	29
Professional clubs*
Years	Club	Apps (goals)
1991-1995 1995-1997 1997-2000 1999-2003 2002-2006 2006-	HJK Helsinki FC København Rangers F.C. Heart of Midlothian Southampton F.C. Fulham F.C.	101 (0) 47 (0) 13 (0) 89 (0) 106 (0) 22 (0)
National team**
1992-2004	Finland	66 (0)
* Professional club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 23:29, 18 November 2006 (UTC). ** National team caps and goals correct as of June 3, 2006. Image File history File links Antti_Niemi. ... May 31 is the 151st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (152nd in leap years), with 214 days remaining. ... 1972 (MCMLXXII) was a leap year starting on Saturday. ... City Oulu (1605) Administrative Province Oulu province Historical Province Ostrobothnia Area (2004-01-01)  â€“ Total (excl. ... A football goalkeeper leaves the ground to parry a shot on goal In many team sports, a goalkeeper (termed goaltender, or goalie in some sports) is a designated player that is charged with directly preventing the opposite team from scoring by defending the goal. ... Chelsea Football Club (also known as The Blues or previously as The Pensioners), founded in 1905, are an English Premier League football team. ... 1991 (MCMXCI) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1995 (MCMXCV) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1995 (MCMXCV) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1997 (MCMXCVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1997 (MCMXCVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is about the year 2000. ... 1999 (MCMXCIX) was a common year starting on Friday, and was designated the International Year of Older Persons by the United Nations. ... 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... For album titles with the same name, see 2002 (album). ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Helsingin Jalkapalloklubi (or HJK), internationally known as HJK Helsinki, is a Finnish football club, based in the capital Helsinki. ... FC København is a Danish football team, playing in Copenhagen, and is now a part of Parken Sport & Entertainment. ... Rangers Football Club is a football club from Glasgow, Scotland, which plays in the Scottish Premier League. ... Heart of Midlothian F.C. (most commonly referred to as Hearts) is a football club from Edinburgh, Scotland which plays in the Scottish Premier League. ... Southampton Football Club (originally St Marys YMA) are an English football team, nicknamed The Saints. ... Chelsea Football Club (also known as The Blues or previously as The Pensioners), founded in 1905, are an English Premier League football team. ... 1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday. ... June 3 is the 154th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (155th in leap years), with 211 days remaining. ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Antti Niemi (born May 31, 1972 in Oulu) is a Finnish football goalkeeper who currently plays for Fulham F.C. in the English Premiership. May 31 is the 151st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (152nd in leap years), with 214 days remaining. ... 1972 (MCMLXXII) was a leap year starting on Saturday. ... City Oulu (1605) Administrative Province Oulu province Historical Province Ostrobothnia Area (2004-01-01)  â€“ Total (excl. ... Football (soccer) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ... A football goalkeeper leaves the ground to parry a shot on goal In many team sports, a goalkeeper (termed goaltender, or goalie in some sports) is a designated player that is charged with directly preventing the opposite team from scoring by defending the goal. ... Chelsea Football Club (also known as The Blues or previously as The Pensioners), founded in 1905, are an English Premier League football team. ... Motto: (French for God and my right) Anthem: God Save the King/Queen Capital London Largest city London Official language(s) English (de facto) Unification    - by Athelstan AD 927  Area    - Total 130,395 km² (1st in UK)   50,346 sq mi  Population    - 2005 est. ... The FA Premier League (often referred to as the Barclays Premiership in the UK and the Barclays English Premier League internationally) is a league competition for football clubs located at the top of the English football league system (above The Football League), making it Englands primary football competition. ...

Niemi began his Veikkausliiga career in Finland with HJK Helsinki in 1991. After five seasons at HJK, he moved to Denmark's FC København and from there to Scottish giants Rangers in 1997. He never became first choice at Rangers though, and mostly played with the reserves, while also having a loan spell at Charlton. Veikkausliiga is the premier division of Finnish football, comprising the top 14 clubs of the country (season 2006 is played exceptionally with 13 teams because of the AC Allianssi-bankrupt). ... Helsingin Jalkapalloklubi (or HJK), internationally known as HJK Helsinki, is a Finnish football club, based in the capital Helsinki. ... 1991 (MCMXCI) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... FC København is a Danish football team, playing in Copenhagen, and is now a part of Parken Sport & Entertainment. ... Motto: (Latin for No one provokes me with impunity)1 Anthem: Multiple unofficial anthems Capital Edinburgh Largest city Glasgow Official language(s) English, Gaelic, Scots 2 Government Constitutional monarchy  - Queen Queen Elizabeth II  - Prime Minister of the UK Tony Blair MP  - First Minister Jack McConnell MSP Unification    - by Kenneth I... Rangers Football Club is a football club from Glasgow, Scotland, which plays in the Scottish Premier League. ... 1997 (MCMXCVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Charlton Athletic Football Club are a Football club from southeast London. ...

In 1999 Niemi moved to Hearts, where he became known as one of the most respected goalkeepers in the SPL. He moved to Southampton in 2002, and soon established himself as one of the best goalkeepers in England. After Southampton were relegated in 2005 and failed to be promoted the following season, Niemi decided to return to the Premiership with Fulham, for whom he signed in January 2006. He is now their first choice keeper. 1999 (MCMXCIX) was a common year starting on Friday, and was designated the International Year of Older Persons by the United Nations. ... Heart of Midlothian F.C. (most commonly referred to as Hearts) is a football club from Edinburgh, Scotland which plays in the Scottish Premier League. ... The Scottish Premier League (SPL) is the top division within the current structure of football in Scotland. ... Southampton Football Club (originally St Marys YMA) are an English football team, nicknamed The Saints. ... For album titles with the same name, see 2002 (album). ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Widely considered Finland's best ever goalkeeper, Niemi was first choice for the Finnish national team for almost a decade, before announcing his decision to retire from international football in 2005. He was capped 66 times by his country. First international Finland 2 - 5 Sweden (Helsinki, Finland; October 22, 1911) Largest win Finland 10 - 2 Estonia (Helsinki, Finland; August 11, 1922) Worst defeat Germany 13 - 0 Finland (Leipzig, Germany; September 1, 1940) The Finland national football team is the national football team of Finland and is controlled by the...

Niemi is known as an excellent shot-stopper with great reflexes. Having played for middle-to-bottom drawer teams throughout his career, he has gained something of a reputation for carrying his team through against relentless pressure from superior opponents. His main shortcoming is relative lack of stature and occasional unwillingness to leave the goalmouth, resulting in lack of control of the penalty area.

On the 11th of November, 2006, Fulham met Portsmouth in a premiership clash at Fratton park. Niemi made 3 world class saves along with 2 one-on-one saves from Kanu and Lomana LuaLua. Fulham went on to draw the game 1-1 after a goal mouth scramble which controversially ended up in ex-Fulham player Andy Cole scoring for Portsmouth. It was believed that Niemi was fowled by Kanu while in control of the ball.

Honours

With Southampton Southampton Football Club (originally St Marys YMA) are an English football team, nicknamed The Saints. ...

• 2003 F.A. Cup runners up medal

The FA Cup Final 2003 was the final and deciding match of the FA Cup for the 2002-03 season. ...

References

• Jeremy Wilson (2006). Southampton’s Cult Heroes. Know The Score Books. ISBN 1-905449-01-1.

External links

• Antti Niemi career stats at Soccerbase
• Profile at www.fulhamfc.com
• Profile at ESPNsoccernet.com
• FootballDatabase provides Antti Niemi's profile and stats
• Antti Niemi Official Personal Website