Tournament ambassadors

Thursday 1 May 2008

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Antti Niemi's career took in spells in Finland, Denmark, England and Scotland (©Getty Images)

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Former international goalkeepers Antti Niemi and Satu Kunnas are the ambassadors for UEFA WOMEN'S EURO 2009™ in their native Finland.

Antti Niemi
Niemi was capped 67 times between 1992 and 2007, in a career that took in spells at HJK Helsinki, FC København, Rangers FC, Charlton Athletic FC, Heart of Midlothian FC, Southampton FC and Fulham FC, where he ended his career in September 2008. Among his career highlights was playing in the 2003 FA Cup final for Southampton – though he was injured during the 1-0 defeat by Arsenal FC. In 2003, he was voted Finnish Footballer of the Year and he won similar club awards at FCK in 1997 and Southampton in 2003/04.

Satu Kunnas
At the time Niemi was a stalwart in goal for the Finland men's team, Kunnas performed the same role for the women but was able to cap her international career in 2005 by appearing at the UEFA European Women's Championship, helping the debutants to the semi-finals, including a crucial clean sheet in the 0-0 draw with Sweden. She was also 2005 Finland Women's Player of the Year, a fitting tribute after a decade in the national team and sterling service for clubs Nummelan Palloseura, HJK, FC Kontu, AC Vantaa, Malmin Palloseura, Norwegian sides Flöya IF and Asker SK, and FC United. Her brother Kristian appeared at the 2001 FIFA U-20 World Cup for Finland.