Petri Pasanen

Petri Pasanen (born September 24 1980 in Lahti) is a Finland football (soccer) who currently plays for Werder Bremen in the Germany Bundesliga (football). He is a defender (football) who is most comfortable in Football (soccer) positions Centre-back, but can also play at Football (soccer) positions Fullback.

Career

Pasanen became a regular for FC Lahti during the club's promotion season in 1998. During the next two seasons he made 42 appearances for the club in Finland's Veikkausliiga. Many of Europe's top clubs had become interested in the promising Pasanen, and in the summer of 2000 he joined Netherlands giants Ajax Amsterdam. He became a regular in the Ajax defence in his first season, but his progress was halted when he broke his foot in August 2001, and had to miss most of the 2001-02 season. Next season he was a regular again as Ajax reached the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League. He fell out of favour at Ajax in 2003-04, and spent the second half of the season on loan at Portsmouth F.C. in the England FA Premier League. Portsmouth's manager Harry Redknapp was interested in purchasing Pasanen at the end of the season, but claimed Ajax's asking price was too high.

Pasanen was then signed by reigning German champions Werder Bremen in the summer of 2004. He has since become a key player for the club, helping them to a top three finish in the Bundesliga and the second round of the Champions League in each of his two seasons at the club.

Pasanen is also a regular for the Finland national football team. He made his international debut on November 15, 2000 against Republic of Ireland national football team. Pasanen has mostly played at right back for Finland, as the team lacks quality players for that position, but has other capable central defenders, such as Sami Hyypiä and Hannu Tihinen.

Clubs

- 1998-2000 FC Lahti
- 2000-04 Ajax Amsterdam
- 2004 Portsmouth F.C. (loan)
- 2004- Werder Bremen

Honours

- Eredivisie: 2001-02
- KNVB Cup: 2001-02
- Johan Cruijff-schaal: 2002