Bolton Wanderers legend Jussi Jaaskelainen has officially announcement his retirement from football to focus on a career in coaching.
Having started the season as Player/Goalkeeper Coach at Indian Super League side Atletico Kolkata, the 42-year-old made the final appearance of a 26-year-long career last month, typically keeping a clean sheet in his side’s 0-0 draw with Jamshedpur FC.
The Big Finn has now decided to hang up his gloves and focus on the coaching side of his role and will remain with Atletico Kolkata until the end of the season.
After joining Wanderers from Finnish side VPS for just £100,000 in 1997, Jaaskelainen established himself as one of the Whites’ greatest ever players during his time at the Reebok Stadium.
Fifth in the all-time list of Bolton appearance-makers having featured 526 times during his 15 years with the club, Jaaskelainen helped the Trotters win promotion to the Premiership in 2001 as well as twice qualify for the UEFA Cup in 2005 and 2007.
An ever-present in six of his seasons with the club in the top-flight, Jaaskelainen firmly cemented his place as a member of the Bolton Wanderers family and, after twelve years, was granted a testimonial match against Hibernian in August 2009.
He left the Whites in 2012 a Bolton legend, going on to enjoy stints with West Ham United and Wigan Athletic prior to his time in India.
Everyone associated with Bolton Wanderers would like to congratulate Jussi on a fabulous playing career, thank him for the countless good memories during his time with the club, and wish him and his family the very best in the next stage of his career.