Litmanen has played for FC Lahti for the last two years, but following their relegation to Ykkönen, the second tier in Finnish football, he announced that it was unlikely he would continue to play for his home town club.
Since then he has trained with HJK, played in their pre-season matches and travelled to Spain with for the club’s training camp. His decision to sign a contract was not unexpected.
”In a sense, I’ve come full circle as I played for HJK in the past,” said Litmanen at a press conference held on Wednesday to announce his decision. ”I like the club’s direction.”
The former Ajax and Barcelona star had played for HJK in the early 1990s before he left Finland for Ajax.
”I’ve followed HJK closely since I left,” enthused the Finland international. ”I had a good impression, and I got a good feeling about the team. After that, the decision was easy.”
Litmanen has also played for Liverpool, Hansa Rostock and Malmö FF. In Finland, his previous clubs include Mypa and Lahden Reipas. His career has spanned four different decades.
Litmanen has played for Finland on 137 occasions. He also won the Champions League with Ajax in 1995, an experience that will stand him in good stead for HJK’s European campaign this year. He also took FC Lahti further than expected in 2009, when they went out of the Europa League in the Third Qualifying round with a narrow defeat to Club Brugge.
