Jani Viander (born 18 August 1975) is a Finnish former professional football goalkeeper who currently works as the Lead Academy Goalkeeper Coach at Premier League side Brentford. In a long career as a player, Viander played professionally in Finland, Belgium, England, Denmark, Israel, and Cyprus. He won 13 caps for Finland national team at international level.
Playing career Viander played 13 times for Finland national team. He used to play for clubs like HJK Helsinki, Bolton Wanderers and K.V. Kortrijk. With Bolton, his only appearance came in the FA Cup against Stockport County. He also joined Stoke City for a season, in which he did not feature in a single match, apart from being named on the substitutes bench.
He ended his long outland journey after returning to Finland to season 2005. He joined newly promoted RoPS, Rovaniemi, but he was not capable to keep them in Finnish Premier league. RoPS were relegated to first division and Viander left club to join Jaro. He played against 1. FC Kaiserslautern with HJK in the 1998–99 UEFA Champions League group stage in 1998.
Coaching career Viander began his coaching career in 2010, after being named HJK Helsinki's club's full-time goalkeeping coach. The following year, he was awarded the Coach of the Year award by the Veikkausliiga. Viander was named goalkeeping coach for the Finland U21 side in 2011. In the summer of 2012, Viander returned to England to take up the position of academy goalkeeping coach at Premier League side Norwich City. In April 2013, Viander returned to Brentford, to take up the role of Lead Academy Goalkeeper Coach.
Personal life Viander married British-born model Laura Duncan in June 2008.
Career statistics
Club + Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueCupTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsK-UP Kerava1993Kakkonen200—200FinnPa1994Veikkausliiga250—2501995Veikkausliiga140—140Ilves1995Veikkausliiga60—60Jaro1996Veikkausliiga270—270Jazz1997Veikkausliiga20—20KV Kortrijk1997–98Belgian Second Division30010310HJK1998Veikkausliiga80—801999Veikkausliiga270—2702000Veikkausliiga320—3202001Veikkausliiga160—160Bolton Wanderers (loan)2001–02First Division001010Stoke City2001–02Second Division0000002002–03First Division000000Midtjylland (loan)2002–03Danish Superliga10—10Plymouth Argyle2003–04Second Division000000Brentford2003–04Second Division000000Ashdod 2003–04Israeli Premier League15020170Aris Limassol2004–05Cypriot First Division70—70RoPS 2005Veikkausliiga260—260Jaro2006Veikkausliiga210—210AC Oulu2007Veikkausliiga260—260Klubi 042008Kakkonen00—002009Ykkönen10—10HJK2010Veikkausliiga10—10Career total3050403090
International + Appearances and goals by national team and yearNational teamYearAppsGoalsFinland199940200030200130200220200310Total130
Honours Stoke City Football League Second Division play-offs: 2002
References
External links Player profile on official club website