Mika Aaltonen

Mika Aaltonen

Personal information
Full name	SAGGIN BA BACKWARDS
Date of birth	(1965-11-16) 16 November 1965
Place of birth	Turku, Finland
Height	1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Position(s)	Midfielder
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1982–1987	TPS	85	(12)
1987–1988	Internazionale	0	(0)
1988	→ Bellinzona (loan)	14	(3)
1988–1989	→ Bologna (loan)	3	(0)
1989–1990	Hertha BSC	12	(0)
1990–1993	TPS	86	(7)
1993–1994	Hapoel Be'er Sheva	11	(3)
1994	TPV	5	(1)
International career
1988–1994	Finland	18	(1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Mika Aaltonen (born 16 November 1965) is a Finnish former footballer. His position was an attacking central midfielder. He also played for the Finnish national team.

During his career (1982–1994) he played in Finland, Italy, Switzerland, Germany, and Israel for TPS, Internazionale, Bellinzona, Bologna, Hertha BSC, Hapoel Be'er Sheva F.C. and Tampereen Pallo-Veikot. He finished his career at a relatively young age because of a persistent ankle injury, and because of this, he ended up concentrating more on his studies. Aaltonen studied throughout his playing career, and after he retired from football, he earned a doctorate degree in economics.

Aaltonen is best remembered for a superb goal scored against Italian goalkeeper Walter Zenga in UEFA Cup in 1987 during a match between Turun Palloseura and Inter Milan at the San Siro stadium in Milan. This goal more or less earned him a transfer to Inter shortly afterwards.

Recommended reading

• Jalkapallon Pikkujättiläinen (WSOY 2003) ISBN 978-951-0-27037-0 (in Finnish)

External links

• Mika Aaltonen at National-Football-Teams.com