Maiju Ruotsalainen (born 25 November 1983) is a Finnish footballer and coach who played for the Finland women's national football team. At club level she most recently represented Åland United of the Naistenliiga.[3] She formerly played for FC Honka and Italy's Torres CF,[4] and she has also played in the UEFA Women's Champions League with all three teams.[5]

Maiju Ruotsalainen
Personal information
Full name Maiju Ruotsalainen
Date of birth (1983-11-25) 25 November 1983 (age 41)
Place of birth Tampere, Finland[1]
Height 1.77 m (5 ft 9+12 in)[2]
Position(s) Midfielder
Forward
Youth career
FC Ilves
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
FC Ilves
MPS
HJK
2004–2005 Honka
2006–2007 Vejle Boldklub
2007–2008 Honka
2009–2013 Åland United
2010Torres (loan) 10 (0)
International career
2012 Finland 1 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Club career

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Ruotsalainen began playing in her native Tampere with Ilves, then spent time in Helsinki with MPS and HJK. She spent four seasons with FC Honka, of Espoo, intersected by a spell in Denmark with Vejle.[6]

Ahead of the 2013 season, Ruotsalainen travelled to England for a trial with English FA WSL giants Doncaster Rovers Belles. Although the Belles wanted to sign her, she ultimately decided to rejoin Åland United.[7] Heel and hip injuries caused Ruotsalainen to miss most of the 2013 season.[8]

In October 2013 Ruotsalainen left Åland United after five years and returned to her first club Ilves, where she took up a youth coaching role.[9]

International career

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Ruotsalainen was named in the Finland squad for the 2012 Cyprus Cup. At the tournament she featured as a late substitute in Finland's opening match, a 3–1 defeat by England at GSP Stadium.[10]

References

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  1. ^ "Maiju Ruotsalainen" (in Finnish). Orsa Sport. Archived from the original on 13 September 2014. Retrieved 13 September 2014.
  2. ^ "La Torres femminile fa sul serio". Sardies.org (in Italian). 10 December 2009. Retrieved 13 September 2014.
  3. ^ Profile in soccerway.com
  4. ^ Profile in football.it
  5. ^ Profile in UEFA's website
  6. ^ "Maiju Ruotsalainen palaa Ilvekseen" (in Finnish). Ilves. 11 November 2013. Archived from the original on 13 September 2014. Retrieved 13 September 2014.
  7. ^ Magnusson, Oskar (7 February 2013). "Åland Uniteds landslagskvintett" (in Swedish). Nya Åland. Retrieved 13 September 2014.
  8. ^ Magnusson, Oskar (25 May 2013). "Skador stoppar Ruotsalainen" (in Swedish). Nya Åland. Retrieved 13 September 2014.
  9. ^ "Maiju Ruotsalainen jättää Åland Unitedin" (in Finnish). Football Association of Finland. 24 October 2013. Retrieved 13 September 2014.
  10. ^ "Suomen naiset kärsivät tappion Englannille". Kymppipaikka.fi (in Finnish). 28 February 2012. Retrieved 13 September 2014.
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