POLITICS around transfers in the highest level of football is something that is familiar also to the former Ajax, Barcelona and Liverpool star, Jari Litmanen.

In his latest Unibet podcast, King's Speech, the most successful Finnish footballer looks back on the twists and turns of his career. Litmanen reveals how a transfer to Bayern München was on the table and how the personnel changes of Barcelona affected his time in Spain. He also discusses playing to empty stands.

In his new Unibet podcast, Jari Litmanen talks about his time in Germany and Hansa Rostock in 2005. The transfer to Bundesliga almost happened already six years earlier.

"When my contract with Ajax ended in 1999, there were lots of interesting options on the table. Finally, it came down to three, Liverpool, Bayern München and Barcelona, Litmanen recalls. There were people in the board who said to Ajax coach Morten Olsen that Jari should not be played unless I sign the new contract with Ajax".

Luckily for Litmanen, Olsen persisted and let his Finnish star play… until Olsen was fired in the middle of the season, that is.

"From the very beginning I wanted to be honest with everyone – the coaches, the board and the fans. I had had seven amazing years in Ajax but at the same time, there was constantly this desire growing inside me. I wanted to experience something completely different in football: new club, new language, new culture".

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Barcelona left many ifs and buts

In the end, Litmanen chose Barcelona but he never accomplished similar success there as in Ajax. In fact, some have constantly been second-guessing Litmanen's transfers after 1999.

"Many people have commented on my decisions in public. 'Now he doesn't know what he's doing' or 'now it's clearly only money that talks'. But it's easy to give advice to others on what to do. I have always made my decisions based on what I know and feel at that moment and then I've chosen the option I think is the best.

"In Barcelona, the president and the head coach who hired me left after the first season. The new president and head coach had different ideas. Many others had to leave too in addition to players. Also a certain José Mourinho from the coaching team was among those who had to go".

Wimmer takes it all

Litmanen says that everything is a game of chance, including transfers in the pinnacle of football. It is by chance how he ended up in Hansa Rostock. In early 2005, a contractless Litmanen was training with the Ajax reserve team. After the practice, he ran into Manfred Wimmer, the president of Hansa Rostock, in the parking lot.

"He had just visited his daughter in Belgium and on his way back he decided to come say hello to me. He said that he was looking for new players for Rostock and asked if there was any chance I would be interested. He approached me in a very honest way, so I said I can always think about it".

After a week, Litmanen accepted the offer and joined Rostock. Although the club did not manage to stay in Bundesliga, Litmanen has good memories from his time in Germany.

"Rostock's relegation was a huge disappointment because I had already committed and adjusted myself to the club. I liked it there because for a player, Bundesliga is a very good place to be in. Playing is top-notch, the stadiums are well kept and the fans are amazing".

Litmanen has fond memories especially of his last Bundesliga match in Dortmund, in the legendary Westfalenstadion: "It was an amazing place for the visiting team as well".

“Finishing the season is vital for many clubs”

With 137 appearances for the Finnish national team, Litmanen also talks about a timely subject, playing to empty stands.

" I think professional football should always be played in big stadiums, in front of huge crowds. But now that it is not possible, playing to empty stands is probably the most sensible – and only – option".

Litmane believes that for many clubs, finishing the season can be vital.

"In addition to wrapping things up result-wise, the decision is also important financially. TV deals in the big leagues are so significant these days. Now, many clubs have already budgeted the TV income of the whole season, so losing that money would be disastrous.

"And finally, we should remember the most important thing: people's health. That is why I think fans will understand why the matches should now be played without spectators".
 

Kuninkaan puhe ("King's speech") is Jari Litmanen's new podcast series. The Finnish podcast is produced and published by Unibet. The first five episodes are released daily from 11th to 15th May.