Anssi Jaakkola


Anssi Valtteri Jaakkola is a Finnish professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for English club Bristol Rovers. He also represents the Finnish national team. Jaakkola was born in Kemi, Finland. He began his senior club career playing for TP-47, before signing with Serie A side Siena at age 19 in 2007.
Jaakkola made his international debut for Finland in June 2011, at the age of 24. He was nominated for all 10 of Finland's UEFA Euro 2020 qualification matches but did not gain any appearances when Finland national team secured its first ever place in European Football Championship tournament's group stage.

Career

Jaakkola previously played for TP-47 and FC-88. In the January 2007 window, Jaakkola signed a three-and-a-half-year contract with Serie A side Siena. He made his Serie A debut by substituting Dimitrios Eleftheropoulos in the 2007–08 season final matchday, a 2–2 home draw with Palermo. In 2009, he was loaned to V.F. Colligiana in Lega Pro Seconda Divisione.
He moved to Slavia Prague on free transfer in July 2010, signing a two-year contract with the option of a further year.

Kilmarnock

In January 2011, Jaakkola left Slavia for Scottish Premier League club Kilmarnock, under the management of fellow Finn Mixu Paatelainen.
He made his debut as a substitute on 12 February against Hibernian. He then made his first start on 26 February against St Mirren.
He left Kilmarnock when his contract expired in the summer of 2013.

Ajax Cape Town

Jaakkola joined South African Premier Soccer League club Ajax Cape Town in August 2013.

Reading

On 11 July 2016, Jaakkola signed a two-year contract with Reading. Jaakkola made his competitive debut for Reading on 8 August 2016, playing the full 90 minutes of Reading's 2–0 EFL Cup victory over Plymouth Argyle.
He was released by Reading at the end of the 2018–19 season.

Bristol Rovers

After his contract at Reading expired, Jaakkola joined League One side Bristol Rovers. Jaakola made over twenty appearances in his debut season for Rovers before his season was cut short by an injury on New Years Day against Milton Keynes Dons. After the season was cut short, Jaakola signed a new contract on 3 July 2020 until the end of the 2021-22 season with an option for a further year.

International

On 30 August 2010 he was selected to represent Finland for European Championship qualification matches against Moldova and Netherlands as a replacement for injured Peter Enckelman. However, he didn't earn any caps. He made his national team debut on 7 June 2011, conceding five goals against Sweden in a 5–0 away loss.

Career statistics

Club

International

Honours

Club

;Kilmarnock
;Ajax Cape Town
Jaakkola has one daughter and one son. His wife is Scottish.