Maiju Ruotsalainen (born 25 November 1983) is a Finnish footballer and coach who played for the Finland women's national football team. At club level she most recently represented Åland United of the Naistenliiga.[3] She formerly played for FC Honka and Italy's Torres CF,[4] and she has also played in the UEFA Women's Champions League with all three teams.[5]
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Maiju Ruotsalainen | ||
| Date of birth | 25 November 1983 | ||
| Place of birth | Tampere, Finland[1] | ||
| Height | 1.77 m (5 ft 9+1⁄2 in)[2] | ||
| Position(s) |
Midfielder Forward | ||
| Youth career | |||
| FC Ilves | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| FC Ilves | |||
| MPS | |||
| HJK | |||
| 2004–2005 | Honka | ||
| 2006–2007 | Vejle Boldklub | ||
| 2007–2008 | Honka | ||
| 2009–2013 | Åland United | ||
| 2010 | → Torres (loan) | 10 | (0) |
| International career | |||
| 2012 | Finland | 1 | (0) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Club career
editRuotsalainen began playing in her native Tampere with Ilves, then spent time in Helsinki with MPS and HJK. She spent four seasons with FC Honka, of Espoo, intersected by a spell in Denmark with Vejle.[6]
Ahead of the 2013 season, Ruotsalainen travelled to England for a trial with English FA WSL giants Doncaster Rovers Belles. Although the Belles wanted to sign her, she ultimately decided to rejoin Åland United.[7] Heel and hip injuries caused Ruotsalainen to miss most of the 2013 season.[8]
In October 2013 Ruotsalainen left Åland United after five years and returned to her first club Ilves, where she took up a youth coaching role.[9]
International career
editRuotsalainen was named in the Finland squad for the 2012 Cyprus Cup. At the tournament she featured as a late substitute in Finland's opening match, a 3–1 defeat by England at GSP Stadium.[10]
References
edit- ^ "Maiju Ruotsalainen" (in Finnish). Orsa Sport. Archived from the original on 13 September 2014. Retrieved 13 September 2014.
- ^ "La Torres femminile fa sul serio". Sardies.org (in Italian). 10 December 2009. Retrieved 13 September 2014.
- ^ Profile in soccerway.com
- ^ Profile in football.it
- ^ Profile in UEFA's website
- ^ "Maiju Ruotsalainen palaa Ilvekseen" (in Finnish). Ilves. 11 November 2013. Archived from the original on 13 September 2014. Retrieved 13 September 2014.
- ^ Magnusson, Oskar (7 February 2013). "Åland Uniteds landslagskvintett" (in Swedish). Nya Åland. Retrieved 13 September 2014.
- ^ Magnusson, Oskar (25 May 2013). "Skador stoppar Ruotsalainen" (in Swedish). Nya Åland. Retrieved 13 September 2014.
- ^ "Maiju Ruotsalainen jättää Åland Unitedin" (in Finnish). Football Association of Finland. 24 October 2013. Retrieved 13 September 2014.
- ^ "Suomen naiset kärsivät tappion Englannille". Kymppipaikka.fi (in Finnish). 28 February 2012. Retrieved 13 September 2014.
External links
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