Jari Niemi (born 2 February 1977 in Nokia) is a retired Finnish footballer. He has played for R.A.E.C. Mons, Standard Liège and K. Sint-Truidense V.V. in Belgium. In the Finnish Veikkausliiga Niemi has also played for TPV Tampere, FC Haka and Tampere United, and has won five Finnish championships. During the second qualifying round of the 2007/2008 Champions League edition, Niemi scored the only goal in Tampere's prestigious 1:0 away win against Bulgarian champions Levski Sofia. As Tampere had attained a 1:0 win in their home game, they became the first Finnish side to eliminate a Bulgarian club from the high-profile competition. However, the Finns were unable to qualify for the group stages of the Champions League, as they were eliminated by Norwegian side Rosenborg BK in the third qualifying round.
Niemi was able to play either as a right midfielder/winger or a striker.
Career statistics
+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueCupLeague cupEuropeTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsTPV1994Veikkausliiga10–––101995Veikkausliiga120––201401996Ykkönen216–––2161997Ykkönen268–––268Total60140000206214Haka1998Veikkausliiga263––413041999Veikkausliiga283––41324Total546000082628Tampere United2000Veikkausliiga3114–––31142001Veikkausliiga32310––3332002Veikkausliiga289––102992003Veikkausliiga2010–––2010Total1113610001011336Mons2003–04Belgian First Division174–––174Standard Liège2004–05Belgian First Division90––40130Sint-Truiden2004–05Belgian First Division16110––1712005–06Belgian First Division27031––301Total431410000472Tampere United2006Veikkausliiga15711––1682007Veikkausliiga217––7428112008Veikkausliiga19410–322362009Veikkausliiga2414285–3682010Veikkausliiga2200010–230Total10119639510612633Ilves2011Kakkonen103–––1032012Kakkonen202–––202Total305000000305Career total4258511495258470102
International
FinlandYearAppsGoals200030200181200241200341200420200520Total233
International goals As of match played 29 January 2003. Finland score listed first, score column indicates score after each Niemi goal.
+ List of international goals scored by Jari NiemiNo.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition120 February 2001Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex, Muscat, Oman2–02–0Friendly110 January 2002Bahrain National Stadium, Riffa, Bahrain2–03–0Friendly129 January 2003Hasely Crawford Stadium, Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago2–12–1Friendly
Honours TPV Veikkausliiga: 1994
Haka Veikkausliiga: 1998, 1999
Tampere United Veikkausliiga: 2001, 2006, 2007 Finnish Cup: 2007
References
External links Guardian Football Veikkausliiga Hall of Fame