Jussi Jääskeläinen made an impression on young Aaron Ramsdale.
Before Arsenal, Aaron Ramsdale has also played in the Premier League for Bournemouth and Sheffield United. EPA / AOP
Goalkeeper for Arsenal and the England national team Aaron Ramsdale mentions Jussi Jääskeläinen as a great inspiration of his youth in a recent interview with Kicker.
– My first (idol) was Gianluigi Buffon. It hit when he played in short-sleeves at the 2006 World Cup and won the world championship, Ramsdale recalls.
– Then came Jussi Jääskeläinen, who played for Bolton like me. I followed him closely every weekend.
Ramsdale has talked about Jääskeläinen’s significant role in his career before.
– He was my early inspiration, a big part of my career, Ramsdale characterizes in an interview on Arsenal’s website.
– It was a great thing for me that I could watch him play in home matches every other weekend.
Ex guard Fred Barber coached both Jääskelainen and later Ramsdale.
– I would say that I hold my hands and feet very similarly to Jussi. Of course, it happens unconsciously with the years of training with Fred.
Ramsdale, 25, is part of the standard equipment of the England national team. The CIES Football Observatory, which specializes in football statistics, rated him as the most valuable goalkeeper in the world in June, ahead of PSG Gianluigi Donnarumma and Liverpool Alisson.
Jussi Jääskeläinen played almost 500 matches in Bolton between 1997 and 2012. PDO