Mika Kottila
Encyclopedia
Mika "Hirvi" Kottila is a retired Finnish
footballer. He played as a striker.
Kottila spent the vast majority of his career playing in Scandinavia
joining RoPS
in 1992. He had a spell on loan at Hereford United
during the 1996-97 season
. He made 13 league appearances, scoring 1 goal.
He then joined HJK Helsinki for the second of three spells, having previously played for the club during the 1994 season. He made 157 appearances and scored 56 goals for the club during his three spells.
The top moment of his career came when he scored two goals in UEFA Champions League
1998.
He moved to Norway to play for SK Brann where he was in the 1999 season, and then Sweden to play for Trelleborgs FF
. A third spell at HJK followed between 2002–2004. He also featured in the 2004 UEFA Champions League
playing against the likes of Linfield
and Maccabi Tel Aviv F.C. in the qualifying rounds.
In 2005 and 2006 he was playing for FC Lahti
in the Finnish Premier Division
.
He was capped 31 times for Finland
, scoring 6 goals between 1998 and 2004.
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
footballer. He played as a striker.
Kottila spent the vast majority of his career playing in Scandinavia
Scandinavia
Scandinavia is a cultural, historical and ethno-linguistic region in northern Europe that includes the three kingdoms of Denmark, Norway and Sweden, characterized by their common ethno-cultural heritage and language. Modern Norway and Sweden proper are situated on the Scandinavian Peninsula,...
joining RoPS
RoPS
Rovaniemen Palloseura is a Finnish football club, founded in 1950 and based in the town of Rovaniemi. In 2009 RoPS played in the Finnish Premier Division but got relegated to Ykkönen after being the lowest-placed team in the end of the season...
in 1992. He had a spell on loan at Hereford United
Hereford United F.C.
Hereford United Football Club is an English professional football club based in the city of Hereford. Founded in 1924, they are competing in Football League Two in the 2011–12 season. Hereford have played at Edgar Street for their entire history and are nicknamed 'The Whites' or 'The Lilywhites',...
during the 1996-97 season
1996-97 in English football
The 1996–1997 season was the 117th season of competitive football in England.Arrival into the league and exit out of the league returns in the fourth tier for the first time after its 3 season absence with only 1 relegation spot.- Premier League :...
. He made 13 league appearances, scoring 1 goal.
He then joined HJK Helsinki for the second of three spells, having previously played for the club during the 1994 season. He made 157 appearances and scored 56 goals for the club during his three spells.
The top moment of his career came when he scored two goals in UEFA Champions League
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
1998.
He moved to Norway to play for SK Brann where he was in the 1999 season, and then Sweden to play for Trelleborgs FF
Trelleborgs FF
Trelleborgs FF, or simply Trelleborg, is a Swedish football club located in Trelleborg. The club, formed 6 December 1926, will during the season of 2012 play in the second highest Swedish league, Superettan...
. A third spell at HJK followed between 2002–2004. He also featured in the 2004 UEFA Champions League
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
playing against the likes of Linfield
Linfield F.C.
Linfield F.C. , is a semi-professional, Northern Irish football club, whose home ground is Windsor Park in Belfast, which is also the home of the Northern Ireland international team....
and Maccabi Tel Aviv F.C. in the qualifying rounds.
In 2005 and 2006 he was playing for FC Lahti
FC Lahti
FC Lahti is a Finnish football club, based in the town of Lahti. It currently plays in the Finnish First Division after placing last in Finnish Premier League during season 2010...
in the Finnish Premier Division
Veikkausliiga
Veikkausliiga is the premier division of Finnish football, comprising the top 12 clubs of the country. Veikkausliiga is currently ranked as the 28th best league in Europe. Its main sponsor is the Finnish national betting agency Veikkaus, hence the league's name...
.
He was capped 31 times for Finland
Finland national football team
The Finland national football team represents Finland in international football competitions and is controlled by the Football Association of Finland....
, scoring 6 goals between 1998 and 2004.