Maiju Ruotsalainen

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]

Maiju Ruotsalainen
Personal information
Full name Maiju Ruotsalainen
Date of birth (1983-11-25) 25 November 1983
Place of birth Tampere, Finland[1]
Height 177 cm (5 ft 9 1⁄2 in)[2]
Playing 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)
National team
2012 Finland 1 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Club career

Ruotsalainen 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

Ruotsalainen 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]

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References
  1. "Maiju Ruotsalainen" (in Finnish). Orsa Sport. Archived from the original on 13 September 2014. Retrieved 13 September 2014.
  2. "La Torres femminile fa sul serio". Sardies.org (in Italian). 10 December 2009. Retrieved 13 September 2014.
  3. Profile in soccerway.com
  4. Profile in football.it
  5. Profile in UEFA's website
  6. "Maiju Ruotsalainen palaa Ilvekseen" (in Finnish). Ilves. 11 November 2013. Archived from the original on 13 September 2014. Retrieved 13 September 2014.
  7. Magnusson, Oskar (7 February 2013). "Åland Uniteds landslagskvintett" (in Swedish). Nya Åland. Retrieved 13 September 2014.
  8. Magnusson, Oskar (25 May 2013). "Skador stoppar Ruotsalainen" (in Swedish). Nya Åland. Retrieved 13 September 2014.
  9. "Maiju Ruotsalainen jättää Åland Unitedin" (in Finnish). Football Association of Finland. 24 October 2013. Retrieved 13 September 2014.
  10. "Suomen naiset kärsivät tappion Englannille". Kymppipaikka.fi (in Finnish). 28 February 2012. Retrieved 13 September 2014.


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