Antti Niemi

Early career

Niemi was born in Oulu, Finland and started football in local club Oulun Luistinseura (OLS). In 1991, he joined HJK Helsinki, where he made over 100 appearances in four years, before transferring to FC Copenhagen in 1995. Impressive performances over the next two years saw a transfer to Scotland with Glasgow club Rangers.

Rangers

Niemi joined Rangers in 1997 and initially competed with Andy Goram and Theo Snelders for the goalkeeper position; he made seven appearances in all competitions in his first season at Rangers. The following season, 1998−99, Niemi began the season competing with Lionel Charbonnier to be Rangers' goalkeeper. Niemi started the 1998 Scottish League Cup final as Rangers defeated St Johnstone, however Stefan Klos was signed in December 1998 and immediately became Rangers' first choice. Rangers won the Scottish Premier League in the 1998–99 season, but Niemi only contributed seven league appearances. In fact, Niemi only made one Rangers appearance after Klos was signed, which came in the league against Motherwell in August 1999. Niemi also had a brief loan spell at Charlton Athletic late in 1999.

Hearts

Niemi moved to Edinburgh to join Heart of Midlothian in December 1999. He became a hero for Hearts fans in the three years he played at Tynecastle. Niemi also became famous in Scotland for his ability to save penalties, demonstrating this skill when saving from Dundee United's Charlie Miller and Dunfermline…

Niemi was first choice for the Finland national team for almost a decade, before announcing his decision to retire from international football in 2005, but returned to the squad in 2007 playing a friendly game against Spain (0–0). He was capped 67 times by his country before this. On 2 March 2010, Niemi joined Finland's national team as a goalkeeping coach.

Niemi began his coaching career as the goalkeeping coach for the Finland national team in March 2010. On 3 January 2013, his first club and reigning Veikkausliiga champions HJK announced that they had appointed Niemi as the club's goalkeeping coach and that he would continue his duties with the national team. After a brief stint in FC Honka coaching staff, on 27 June 2014, Niemi was appointed goalkeeper coach at Championship side Brighton & Hove Albion by former Finland teammate Sami Hyypiä. Hyypia resigned in December 2014, and Niemi left his role in May 2015, returning to Finland for "personal reasons". On 26 January 2021, Niemi was appointed in the coaching staff of HIFK, after a request of then head coach Joaquín Gómez.

Club

As of 7 March 2024