Jari Litmanen: indestructable

Column in VI. About Jari. A must read…

“I quickly zapped across the global sports channels after Oranje’s win over Sctoland. The Brits drooled over our skills. The deciding assist of Suarez at Uruguay – Paraguay. The French stumbling in Lituania, the endless victory-chariot of the Spanish, I ate it all with relish.

But, the most impressing images came from Cardiff, of all places. In the periphery of top football Wales and Finland fought for their last chance in group 4. Typically a match you zap past. But…suddenly I saw something familiar. The crooked legs, the bent back, that impeccable feel for ball, time and space. That was vintage Jari Litmanen.

The messages in the media in Holland recently covered his weird injuries. A year back, Litmanen was ready for his debut at Fulham. Former Finland coach Roy Hodgson believed in Jari. But on the training session pre-game, team mate Batista hit a ball like a rocket on Jari’s head. He’d never play for Fulham.

Hodgson called Litmanen the most unlucky player ever. He told the story how he once opened a can of coke. The lid flew away, right in Jari’s eye. Not much later, Jari tripped on his staircase holding a glass of milk.

These messages don’t mix well with WC qualification football, but whoever saw him play in Wales will never call him the Man of Glass anymore. He played his 121st international, he’s 38 years old now and he was pushing, working, sweating, running, yelling, coaching, passing and leading as in his best Ajax years.

A few minutes before the half time break, he got the ball. He accelerated a tad and gave a smooth through pass, outside foot, in the stride of striker Johansson. The only thing he needed to do was score. In the last minute of the game, Litmanen prepared Finland’s second goal.

He got his ovation replacement in the last seconds and the Brittish fans applauded him. The analysts of Sky Sports gave him a 9. The viewers later voted him Man of the Match with a rare average of 9,7! The English team manager of Finland would later say that Jari “reinvented himself”.

Ffor those who missed it: the indestructable midfielder plays his football at FC Lahti again, in the city where he was born. He has the freedom to train and play whenever he feels like it. His next goal is the crucial qualifications game against Russia, in Helsinki on June 10.

An interesting clash between two old sly foxes, Hiddink and Litmanen. The winner will grab the second place behind Germany. And Litmanen will be there. In an ultimate attempt to finally reach a big tournament. Three weeks ago, he was at Ajax in Amsterdam. Not to return as youth coach, as the media shouted. But to meet and spend time with some old mates. One of them David Endt, Ajax’ team manager. Last Sunday I asked him how long Litmanen will last as a player. His answer: ambition unchanged.