Jari Olavi Litmanen, better known as Jari Olavi Litmanen, is widely regarded as one of the greatest Finnish football players of all time.
His impressive career spanned more than two decades, during which time he played as an attacking midfielder or second forward.
He is also known for his leadership qualities, serving as the first-choice captain of the Finnish national team for 12 years.
contour
- Full name: Jari Olawi Litmanen
- Stage name: Jari Litmanen
- Date of birth: February 20, 1971
- Age: 53 years old
- Place of birth: Lahti, Finland
- Nationality: Finland
- Occupation: Former football player
- Height: 1.82m
- Parents: Olavi Litmanen, Alice Litmanen
- Siblings: 1
- Spouse: Leigh Jurgensen
- Children: Bruno Litmanen, Carlo Litmanen
- Relationship: Married
- Net worth: $10 million
early life and education
Jari Olawi Litmanen was born in Lahti, Finland on February 20, 1971, into a family with a strong football background.
His father, Olavi Litmanen, is a Finnish international, and his mother, Alice Litmanen, also played high-level football.
He has a sibling, but their identities are unknown. Although the details of Litmanen’s education are not widely recorded, it is known that he was of Finnish descent and his religious beliefs were not known to the public.
Profession
Jari Litmanen’s professional football career began in 1987 with the team of Reipas Lahti, where he quickly showed his talent.
After a brief spell at HJK Helsinki, Litmanen moved to Ajax Amsterdam in 1992. At Ajax, he became a cornerstone of the team and contributed to the team’s golden era in the mid-1990s.
Litmanen’s outstanding performances included winning the Eredivisie top scorer title in the 1993-94 season and winning the Dutch Footballer of the Year award in 1993.
His crowning achievement was helping Ajax win the Champions League in 1995, cementing his status as one of Europe’s elite players.
After a brilliant tenure at Ajax, Litmanen joined FC Barcelona in 1999. However, injuries hampered his time in Spain and he eventually moved to Liverpool in 2001.
He re-emerged at Liverpool and contributed to the team’s UEFA Cup win that year. After a brief return to Ajax, Litmanen continued his career at various clubs including Lahti FC and Malmo FC before retiring in 2011.
His technical brilliance, vision and versatility made him a standout player in the league, earning him the admiration of fans and peers alike.
On the international stage, Litmanen was the backbone of the Finnish national team from 1989 to 2010.
With 137 international appearances and 32 goals, he remains Finland’s most capped player and one of the country’s all-time top scorers.
Litmanen served as captain from 1996 to 2008, symbolizing excellence in Finnish football and bringing Finland global recognition.
He is widely regarded as one of Finland’s greatest footballers and a legend of European football, with a legacy that inspires future generations.
social media
- Instagram account: @litmanenjari10
- Facebook account: Jari Litmanen
- Twitter account: @JariLitmanen10
personal life
Jari Litmanen is married to Ly Jürgenson and the couple has been happily together since 2015.
They live together between Helsinki, Finland and Tallinn, Estonia, and have built a wonderful family together with two children named Bruno Litmanen and Caro Litmanen .
Despite Litmanen’s successful football career, he put his family first and often talked about how they played an important role in his life, even after retiring.
net worth
Jari Litmanen has a net worth of approximately $10 million, mainly due to his successful football career.
His income comes from high-profile contracts with prestigious clubs such as Ajax, Barcelona and Liverpool.
