"Jari Litmanen achieved more than most of us mere mortals could ever dream of during his 24-year professional career. He spent the bulk of the 1990s as one of the planet's best attacking midfielders, dazzling with Ajax, where he was key to the club's superlative 1995 Champions League under Louis van Gaal, before enjoying stints at Barcelona and Liverpool, and then returning to Ajax before a somewhat nomadic end to his career."
"It was this poor luck with injuries that saw his spells at Barcelona and Liverpool end prematurely, with his Ajax return also cut short when the club released him from his contract in the spring of 2004. A brief return to Finland with Lahti followed before he joined German side Hansa Rostock for half a season as the club were relegated from the Bundesliga."
"With Litmanen still showing his class when he did play, he was handed a lifeline in January 2008 from his former Finland boss Roy Hodgson, who was now in charge at Fulham. After an initial ten-day trial shortly before his 37th birthday, Litmanen signed with the Cottagers, but he would play just one reserve team match that season before being released."
Jari Litmanen enjoyed a 24-year professional career and emerged as one of the world's top attacking midfielders during the 1990s. He starred for Ajax, playing a key role in their 1995 Champions League triumph under Louis van Gaal, and later had spells at Barcelona and Liverpool before returning to Ajax. Litmanen earned 137 caps for Finland, the national record. Persistent injuries curtailed several club spells, led to an early release from Ajax in 2004, and limited appearances at Hansa Rostock and a Swedish club. Roy Hodgson signed him for Fulham in January 2008 after a trial, but heart rhythm problems soon sidelined him.
Read at www.fourfourtwo.com
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