Teemu Tainio

Football player infobox
playername = Teemu Tainio
fullname = Teemu Tainio


cityofbirth = Tornio
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1979|11|27|df=y
height = height|ft=5|in=9
nickname = Teme, Tornion Terrieri (The Terrier of Tornio), Tiger, Sex Machine
countryofbirth = Finland
currentclub = Sunderland
clubnumber = 4
position = Midfielder
youthyears = 1994–1995
youthclubs = TP-47
years = 1996–1997
1997–2005
2005–2008
2008–
clubs = FC Haka
Auxerre
Tottenham Hotspur
Sunderland
caps(goals) = 020 0(4)
148 (14)
061 0(3)
003 0(0)
nationalyears = 1998–
nationalteam = Finland
nationalcaps(goals) = 043 0(6)
pcupdate = 21:32, 27 May 2008 (UTC)
ntupdate = 20:54, 22 August 2008 (UTC)

Teemu Tainio (born 27 November 1979 in Tornio) is a Finnish footballer who currently plays for Sunderland in the Barclays Premier League in England. He can play both as a defensive and attacking midfielder and even out wide. Tainio also played at right-back under Juande Ramos at Tottenham. Known for his fighting spirit and strong tackling, he has frequently suffered from minor injuries throughout his career.

Club career

Early career

Tainio was promoted to the first team of his home-town club TP-47 in Kakkonen, Finland's third division, at the age of just 14. He was signed by Veikkausliiga club FC Haka for the 1996 season. Tainio joined French club AJ Auxerre in 1997, and spent eight years at the club. He won the Coupe de France with Auxerre twice, and also gained UEFA Champions League experience. His time at the club was, however, plagued by injuries, which also postponed his move to a higher profile league.

Tottenham Hotspur

With Tainio's contract with Auxerre due to expire in 2005, he became available on a free transfer. In January 2005, it was announced that he would move to Tottenham Hotspur, the club he supported as a boy, on a seven-year deal in the summer of 2005. Tainio became an instant hit with both fans and manager Martin Jol in pre-season matches, and he become a regular for Spurs in his first season, playing in different midfield positions.

He scored his first goal for his new club in December 2005 against Newcastle United during a Premiership match at White Hart Lane. Tainio was one of ten Spurs squad members reportedly struck down by food poisoning on the evening of May 6 2006 before their crucial final game of the season against West Ham. He nevertheless played in the match, which Spurs lost, missing out on a place in the Champions League.

He scored his second Spurs goal on December 9 2006, the third goal in the 5-1 home win against Charlton Athletic. His third goal for the club was an equaliser against West Ham to make the score 2-2 on March 4 2007. A volley that he struck brilliantly after a cheeky Aaron Lennon flick. Spurs went on to win the game 4-3.

Tainio won the Football League Cup trophy (also known as Carling Cup) when Tottenham took a 2-1 extra-time win over Chelsea at Wembley Stadium in the final played on 24th of February, 2008. He came on as a substitute in the 75th minute when the score was 1-1. [ [http://www.hs.fi/english/article/Teemu+Tainio+wins+League+Cup+winners+medal/1135234337787 Helsingin Sanomat - International Edition - Sport ] ]

underland

He joined Sunderland on the 23 July, 2008 for an undisclosed fee. He became their first summer signing and the first Finnish player ever for Sunderland. [cite web|url=http://www.premierleague.com/page/Headlines/0,,12306~1349935,00.html|title=Sunderland complete Tainio signing|author=Martin Walker|publisher=SAFC.com|date=2008-22-07|accessdate=2008-24-08] [cite web|url=http://www.safc.com/news/?page_id=15265|title=Tainio Completes Sunderland Move|author=www.safc.com|publisher=Premierleague.com|date=2008-22-07|accessdate=2008-24-08]

International career

Tainio made his debut for the Finnish national team on February 5 1998 against
Cyprus, and has been a regular for the team through most of the 2000s. He is now considered perhaps the most important player in the team before Jari Litmanen, and is often mentioned as a future Finland captain.

Unfortunately for Finland, Tainio's injury problems have meant that he has missed a lot of important matches for his country as well.

Honours

FC Haka
*Finnish Cup: 1997

AJ Auxerre
*Coupe de France: 2003, 2005

Tottenham Hotspur
*Carling Cup: 2007-08

References

External links

*soccerbase|id=19778|name=Teemu Tainio
*FIFA player|185932|Teemu Tainio
* [http://www.palloliitto.fi/maajoukkueet/miesten_a-maajoukkue/pelaajat/tainio_teemu/ Profile at FA of Finland's official website]
* [http://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/players/teemutainio.html Profile at Tottenham Hotspur's official website]
* [http://soccernet.espn.go.com/players/profile?id=10558&cc=5739 Profile at ESPNsoccernet.com]
* [http://www.footballdatabase.com/site/players/index.php?dumpPlayer=741 FootballDatabase provides Teemu Tainio's profile and stats]