Niki Mäenpää

Niki Emil Antonio Mäenpää (Finnish pronunciation: [ˈmæ.en.pæː], born 23 January 1985), is a Finnish professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper. He also represents the Finnish national team.[4] Mäenpää was born in Espoo, Finland. He began his senior club career playing for Lens Reserves, before signing with Den Bosch at age 21 in 2006.

Niki Mäenpää
Mäenpää playing in a pre-season friendly for Brighton & Hove Albion in 2015
Personal information
Full name Niki Emil Antonio Mäenpää[1]
Date of birth (1985-01-23) 23 January 1985[2]
Place of birth Espoo, Finland
Height 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)[3]
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Youth career
1991–1996 Kasiysi
1997–2003 HJK Helsinki
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2003–2006 RC Lens B 17 (0)
2006 → Telstar (loan) 0 (0)
2006–2009 FC Den Bosch 67 (0)
2009–2011 Willem II 18 (0)
2011–2012 AZ 0 (0)
2012–2015 VVV-Venlo 101 (0)
2015–2018 Brighton & Hove Albion 1 (0)
2018–2020 Bristol City 30 (0)
2020–2021 Stoke City 0 (0)
National team‡
2003 Finland U18 5 (0)
2004 Finland U19 5 (0)
2005–2006 Finland U21 13 (0)
2008– Finland 26 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 23:17, 29 July 2020 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 30 July 2016

Mäenpää made his international debut for Finland in June 2008, at the age of 23, and has since had over 20 caps, including appearing in 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification.

Club career

RC Lens

He started his senior career at Lens Reserves in 2003.[5] During winter 2006 transfer window, he joined Telstar on loan until the end of the season. He did not feature in any Ligue 1 match in the first team of RC Lens. His contract with Lens expired on 30 June 2006.

FC Den Bosch

During summer 2006, he joined Dutch Eerste Divisie side FC Den Bosch on a free transfer. He made his breakthrough in season 2006–07 when he played 27 league matches. He made a total of 67 league appearances during 3 seasons. His contract with FC Den Bosch expired in summer 2009.

Willem II

In summer 2009, he joined Dutch Eredivisie side Willem II on a free transfer, making 18 league appearances. He left Willem II in summer 2011, by terminating his contract after they got relegated to Eerste Divisie.

AZ Alkmaar

On 3 October 2011, he joined AZ Alkmaar on a free transfer on a contract until the end of the season, joining compatriot and team captain Niklas Moisander.[6] However at AZ, he found himself demoted to third-choice, behind Esteban Alvarado and the veteran Erik Heijblok. He left the club after only one season, without making a single appearance for the AZ's first team.

VVV-Venlo

On 29 May 2012 it was announced that Mäenpää had signed a three-year contract with fellow Eredivisie side VVV-Venlo.[7] Despite being sent off 3 minutes into his debut match,[8] the fans voted him as best Venlo player of the season 2013–14.[9] In the summer of 2015 Niki Mäenpää left VVV Venlo on a free transfer after his contract expired[10]

Brighton & Hove Albion

On 6 July 2015 it was announced that Mäenpää had signed a contract with English side Brighton & Hove Albion following his release from VVV-Venlo.[11] He made his Brighton & Hove Albion league debut in the 3–0 victory over Rotherham at Falmer Stadium on 16 August 2016.[12] At the end of 2017–18 season, he left the club.[13]

Bristol City

On 1 August 2018, Mäenpää signed for EFL Championship club Bristol City.[14] On 4 August 2018, Mäenpää made his debut in a match against Nottingham Forest. On 21 May 2019, it was announced an option to extend his contract was triggered and he would be remaining with The Robins for the 2019–20 season.[15]

Stoke City

Mäenpää signed a short-term contract with Stoke City on 27 November 2020 to act as cover for Josef Bursik following injuries to Adam Davies and Angus Gunn.[16] However Mäenpää suffered an injury himself in his first training session and Stoke brought in Andy Lonergan.[17]

International career

Mäenpää was 18 years old on 1 April 2003 when he debuted in Finland's youth team in a match against Sweden in Malmö. He played his first game in Finland national under-21 football team 30 March 2004 in Corradino in a match against Malta. He gained 13 caps in Finland U21-team.

He made his debut for the Finnish national team on 2 June 2008 in a friendly match in Veritas Stadion, Turku against Belarus when Stuart Baxter chose him to the starting line up.[18] During 2012 he established himself as a regular in the Finland national team and gained 6 caps.[19] He played his first FIFA World Cup qualification game on 12 October 2012 in Helsinki Olympic Stadium when Mixu Paatelainen chose him to starting eleven in a match against Georgia.[20] He played one of his best games in March 2013 when Finland got a surprising 1–1 away draw against Spain in the 2014 World Cup qualifying. He established himself as the national team's regular goal keeper and played 7 out of 8 matches in the qualifications and all together 20 matches during years 2012–2014.

Career statistics

Club
As of 1 July 2020[21][22][23]
Club Season Division League Cup League Cup Europe Other Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
RC Lens B 2003–04 CFA 30————30
2004–05 CFA 140————140
2005–06 CFA 00————00
Total 170————170
Telstar (loan) 2005–06 Eerste Divisie 0000———00
Den Bosch 2006–07 Eerste Divisie 27000——3[lower-alpha 1]0300
2007–08 Eerste Divisie 33000——3[lower-alpha 1]0360
2008–09 Eerste Divisie 7000———70
Total 67000—0060730
Willem II 2009–10 Eredivisie 6000——0[lower-alpha 1]060
2010–11 Eredivisie 12010———130
Total 18010—0000190
AZ Alkmaar 2011–12 Eredivisie 0000—0[lower-alpha 2]0—00
VVV-Venlo 2012–13 Eredivisie 33030——2[lower-alpha 1]0380
2013–14 Eerste Divisie 33040——2[lower-alpha 1]0390
2014–15 Eerste Divisie 35020——4[lower-alpha 1]0410
Total 101090—00801180
Brighton & Hove Albion 2015–16 Championship 001020—0[lower-alpha 3]030
2016–17 Championship 100030——40
2017–18 Premier League 001010——20
Total 102060000090
Brighton & Hove Albion U23 2016–17 ————1[lower-alpha 4]010
Bristol City 2018–19 Championship 2601000——270
2019–20 Championship 401000——50
Total 3002000——320
Stoke City 2020–21 Championship 000000——00
Career total 234014060001502690
  1. Appearances in Promotion – Relegation play-offs
  2. Appearances in UEFA Europa League
  3. Appearance in Championship play-offs
  4. Appearances in EFL Trophy

International
As of match played 29 March 2016[24]
National teamYearCompetitive Friendly Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Finland 200800 2 0 2 0
200900 2 0 2 0
201000 0 0 0 0
201100 0 0 0 0
201210 5 0 6 0
201360 3 0 9 0
201430 2 0 5 0
201500 1 0 1 0
201600 1 0 1 0
Total 10 0 16 0 26 0

Honours and achievements

International

Finland national football team

References
  1. "Updated squads for 2017/18 Premier League confirmed". Premier League. 2 February 2018. Retrieved 10 February 2018.
  2. "PLAYER PROFILES 1 NIKI MAENPAA". seagulls.co.uk. Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club. Archived from the original on 6 June 2017. Retrieved 11 March 2016.
  3. "PLAYER PROFILES 1 NIKI MAENPAA". seagulls.co.uk. Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club. Archived from the original on 6 June 2017. Retrieved 11 March 2016.
  4. "Niki Mäenpää" (in Finnish). Suomen Palloliitto. Retrieved 1 November 2014.
  5. "FootballSquads – Lens – 2003/04". FootballSquads. Retrieved 1 November 2014.
  6. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 5 November 2011. Retrieved 4 October 2011.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  7. "Suomen maajoukkuevahti Hollannin pääsarjaseuraan (Finnish international goalkeeper continues at Eredivisie)" (in Finnish). Archived from the original on 30 May 2012. Retrieved 30 May 2012.
  8. "Suomen maajoukkuevahti Hollannin pääsarjaseuraan (Finnish international goalkeeper continues at Eredivisie)" (in Finnish). Archived from the original on 30 May 2012. Retrieved 30 May 2012.
  9. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 31 May 2014. Retrieved 31 May 2014.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  10. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 10 June 2015. Retrieved 9 June 2015.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  11. "Brighton sign Finland goalkeeper Niki Maenpaa". BBC Sport. 6 July 2015. Retrieved 16 August 2015.
  12. "Maenpaa's seized opportunity". Brighton and Hove Albion Football Club. 17 August 2016. Archived from the original on 24 September 2016. Retrieved 24 September 2016.
  13. "Albion confirm departure of goalkeeper Niki Maenpaa". The Argus. 21 June 2018. Retrieved 18 July 2018.
  14. "Niki Maenpaa: Bristol City sign former Brighton & Hove Albion goalkeeper". BBC Sport. 1 August 2018. Retrieved 1 August 2018.
  15. "Mäenpää to remain in BS3". Bristol City. Retrieved 3 July 2019.
  16. "Breaking - Stoke City confirm new goalkeeper signing on eve of Sheffield Wednesday clash". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 27 November 2020.
  17. "Andy Lonergan: Stoke City sign experienced goalkeeper". BBC Sport. Retrieved 25 December 2020.
  18. "Suomi venyi tasapeliin – katso pelin eteneminen minuutti minuutilta" (in Finnish). YLE Urheilu. 2 June 2008. Archived from the original on 31 December 2014. Retrieved 28 December 2014.
  19. "Finland (2012)". National Football Teams. Retrieved 12 November 2016.
  20. "Eremenko junior ulos, Suomi puristi vajaalla tasapeliin" (in Finnish). YLE Urheilu. 12 October 2012. Retrieved 28 December 2014.
  21. http://www.national-football-teams.com/player/21437/Niki_Maeenpaeae.html
  22. https://int.soccerway.com/players/niki-maenpaa/49565/
  23. http://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=51279
  24. "Niki Mäenpää". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmerman. Retrieved 25 May 2019.
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