Sakari Mattila

Sakari Mattila
Personal information
Full name Sakari Mikael Mattila
Date of birth (1989-07-14) 14 July 1989
Place of birth Tampere, Finland
Height 1.87 m (6 ft 1 12 in)
Playing position Midfielder, Centre-back
Club information
Current team
SønderjyskE
Number 16
Youth career
Malminkartanon Peto
POHU
2001-2008 HJK Helsinki
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2007 Klubi 04 13 (4)
2008 HJK Helsinki 19 (4)
2009–2011 Udinese 0 (0)
2009–2010Ascoli (loan) 11 (0)
2010–2011Bellinzona (loan) 25 (1)
2011–2012 Bellinzona 17 (2)
2012HJK Helsinki (loan) 11 (0)
2013 HJK Helsinki 20 (5)
2014–2015 Aalesund 37 (8)
2015–2016 Fulham 6 (0)
2016– SønderjyskE 7 (0)
National team
Finland U15 2 (0)
Finland U17 2 (1)
Finland U19 9 (1)
Finland U21 3 (0)
2014– Finland 10 (0)

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 14 October 2016 (UTC).

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 9 October 2016 (UTC)

Sakari Mattila (born 14 July 1989) is a Finnish professional football midfielder who plays for the Danish club SønderjyskE and represents the Finland national football team.[1] Mattila was born in Tampere, Finland. He began his senior club career playing for Klubi-04, before making his league debut for HJK at age 18 in 2008.

Mattila was the captain of the Finnish under-19 national team and made his international senior level debut for Finland in March 2014, at the age of 24.

Club career

HJK Helsinki

Before the season 2008, HJK was on a training camp in Marbella and Mattila was spotted by scouts of Sevilla FC and Málaga CF.[2] He was playing on schoolboy terms, but HJK managed to sign a three-year contract with him.[3]

In August 2008, Serie A club Palermo called him up for a week-long trial after scouting him in Helsinki.[4] Just a week after his visit to Palermo, Udinese Calcio called him up for a week-long trial.[5] Before leaving to Udine, Mattila stated that he is ready for a move to Italy.[6] 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.[7] 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.[8]

Udinese Calcio

In November 2008, he signed a 4.5-year contract with Udinese and joined the club in January 2009.[9] He played with the Primavera team and in July 2009 left on loan for Ascoli.

On 10 August 2010 he was loaned again. This time to AC Bellinzona, playing in the Swiss top level.[10]

On 29 July 2012, it was announced that Mattila had joined his former club, HJK, on loan until end of December 2013.[11]

Aalesunds FK

On 3 November 2013, it was announced that Mattila has signed a three-year contract with Aalesunds FK in Norway's Tippeligaen.[12]

Fulham FC

On 4 August 2015 Mattila signed for Fulham FC for an undisclosed fee.[13][14] On 8 August 2016 his contract was terminated by mutual consent.[15]

Sønderjyske Elitesport

Two days after he terminated his contract with Fulham FC, Matilla signed for SønderjyskE. He signed a three-year contract.[16] Mattila made his Superliga debut on 14 August 2016 in a match against Brøndby when on 64th minute he replaced Adama Guira as a substitute.[17]

International career

Mattila earned his first cap for Finland on 5 March 2014, in the 2:1 away win over Hungary in a friendly match after coming on as a last minute substitute for Roman Eremenko.[18]

References

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