View source for Jari Litmanen

{{short description|Finnish footballer (born 1971)}}
{{redirect|Litti|the Indian and Nepali dish|Litti (dish)}}
{{Use British English|date=March 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Jari Litmanen
| image = Jari Litmanen 2015.jpg
| upright = 
| caption = Litmanen in 2015
| full_name = Jari Olavi Litmanen
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1971|2|20}}<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.premierleague.com/players/1925/Jari-Litmanen/overview |title=Jari Litmanen: Overview |publisher=Premier League |access-date=17 August 2022 |archive-date=17 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220817172030/https://www.premierleague.com/players/1925/Jari-Litmanen/overview |url-status=live}}</ref>
| birth_place = [[Lahti]], Finland
| height = 1.82 m<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/team/squad/litmanen/ |title=Jari Litmanen |publisher=Liverpool F.C. |access-date=17 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010610050657/http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/team/squad/litmanen/ |archive-date=10 June 2001}}</ref>
| position = [[Attacking midfielder]]<br />[[Second striker]]
| currentclub = [[JK Tallinna Kalev U21|Tallinna Kalev Juunior]]
| youthyears1 = 1977–1987
| youthclubs1 = [[Reipas Lahti|Reipas]]
| years1 = 1987–1990
| clubs1 = [[Reipas Lahti|Reipas]]
| caps1 = 86
| goals1 = 28
| years2 = 1991
| clubs2 = [[Helsingin Jalkapalloklubi|HJK]]
| caps2 = 27
| goals2 = 16
| years3 = 1992
| clubs3 = [[MyPa]]
| caps3 = 18
| goals3 = 7
| years4 = 1992–1999
| clubs4 = [[AFC Ajax|Ajax]]
| caps4 = 159
| goals4 = 91
| years5 = 1999–2001
| clubs5 = [[FC Barcelona|Barcelona]]
| caps5 = 21
| goals5 = 3
| years6 = 2001–2002
| clubs6 = [[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]]
| caps6 = 26
| goals6 = 5
| years7 = 2002–2004
| clubs7 = [[AFC Ajax|Ajax]]
| caps7 = 20
| goals7 = 5
| years8 = 2004
| clubs8 = [[FC Lahti|Lahti]]
| caps8 = 11
| goals8 = 3
| years9 = 2005
| clubs9 = [[FC Hansa Rostock|Hansa Rostock]]
| caps9 = 13
| goals9 = 1
| years10 = 2005–2007
| clubs10 = [[Malmö FF]]
| caps10 = 10
| goals10 = 3
| years11 = 2008
| clubs11 = [[Fulham F.C.|Fulham]]
| caps11 = 0
| goals11 = 0
| years12 = 2008–2010
| clubs12 = [[FC Lahti|Lahti]]
| caps12 = 40
| goals12 = 10
| years13 = 2011
| clubs13 = [[Helsingin Jalkapalloklubi|HJK]]
| caps13 = 18
| goals13 = 1
| years14 = 2025–
| clubs14 = [[JK Tallinna Kalev U21|Tallinna Kalev Juunior]]
| caps14 = 2
| goals14 = 0
| totalcaps = 451
| totalgoals = 173
| nationalyears1 = 1989–2010
| nationalteam1 = [[Finland national football team|Finland]]
| nationalcaps1 = 137
| nationalgoals1 = 32
}}
'''Jari Olavi Litmanen''' ({{IPA|fi|ˈjɑri ˈlitmɑnen|pron|Fi-Jari Litmanen.ogg}}; born 20 February 1971) is a Finnish former professional [[association football|footballer]] who played as an [[attacking midfielder]] or a [[second striker]]. He was the first-choice [[Captain (association football)|captain]] of the [[Finland national football team|Finland national team]] between 1996 and 2008 in an international career that ran from 1989 to 2010. Litmanen is widely considered to be Finland's greatest football player of all time.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/world_football/3747175.stm |title=Litmanen heads home |publisher=BBC Sport |date=25 May 2004 | access-date = 12 May 2012 | archive-date = 5 February 2008 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080205080334/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/world_football/3747175.stm | url-status = live}}</ref> He was chosen as the best Finnish player of the last 50 years by the [[Football Association of Finland]] in the [[UEFA Jubilee Awards]] in November 2003. He also finished 42nd in the [[Suuret suomalaiset|100 Greatest Finns]] voting in 2004. The Association of Football Statisticians' (The AFS) compendium of 'Greatest Ever Footballers' listed Litmanen as the 53rd best footballer ever.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/story?id=479862&root=england&lpos=spotlight&lid=tab2pos2&cc=5739 |title=Your Verdict: 100 greatest ever footballers |publisher=ESPN Soccernet |date=7 November 2007 | access-date = 12 May 2012 | archive-date = 1 October 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121001045700/http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/story?id=479862&root=england&lpos=spotlight&lid=tab2pos2&cc=5739 | url-status = dead}}</ref> Litmanen was inducted into the [[Finnish Football Hall of Fame]] in 2015.

In Finland, he is often called "Litti" (after his own surname), which dates from his early years, and is also known as "''Kuningas''" ("The King").

During his club career, Litmanen represented [[Reipas Lahti|Reipas]], [[Helsingin Jalkapalloklubi|HJK]], [[MyPa]] and [[FC Lahti|Lahti]] in Finland, and [[AFC Ajax|Ajax]], [[FC Barcelona|Barcelona]], [[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]], [[F.C. Hansa Rostock|Hansa Rostock]] and [[Malmö FF]] abroad. Once considered one of the best [[attacking midfielder]]s in the world,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2000/oct/08/newsstory.sport15 |title=Jari sets England a poser |newspaper=The Guardian |date=8 October 2000 | access-date = 12 May 2012 |last1=Kuper |first1=Simon | archive-date = 23 March 2004 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20040323071027/http://football.guardian.co.uk/News_Story/0,1563,379160,00.html | url-status = live}}</ref> he became the first Finnish footballing superstar while playing for Ajax in the mid-1990s, winning the [[1994–95 UEFA Champions League|Champions League]] in 1995, the peak year of his career.

His later career was marred by injuries, and he was unable to repeat the success of his Ajax years either at Barcelona or Liverpool, often finding himself on the bench, despite some impressive performances for the latter. Writing about Litmanen in 2009, Paul Simpson, former ''[[FourFourTwo]]'' editor, went as far as to assert that "his career has not been worthy of his talent".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://fourfourtwo.com/blogs/championsleague/archive/2009/03/31/jari-s-game-how-did-litmanen-fade-away.aspx |title=Jari's game: How did Litmanen fade away? |publisher=FourFourTwo |date=31 March 2009 | access-date = 5 March 2013 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120629083323/http://fourfourtwo.com/blogs/championsleague/archive/2009/03/31/jari-s-game-how-did-litmanen-fade-away.aspx | archive-date = 29 June 2012 }}</ref>

In 2025, when Ajax was celebrating its 125th anniversary, the fans of the club voted Litmanen among the best 11 players in the club's entire history. He was also named the best midfielder of Ajax, per voting.<ref>[https://tribuna.com/en/blogs/today-ajax-celebrate-their-125th-anniversary-fans-have-selec/ Today Ajax celebrate their 125th anniversary: Fans have selected the best 11 players in the club's history], tirbuna.com, 18 March 2025</ref>

== Club career ==

=== Early career in Finland ===
Litmanen made his first-team debut for [[Reipas Lahti|Reipas]] in Finland's then top division [[Mestaruussarja]] at the age of 16 in 1987. After four seasons with Reipas, he moved to [[Helsingin Jalkapalloklubi|HJK]], Finland's biggest club, in 1991. A year later, he joined [[MyPa]], where he was coached by [[Harri Kampman]], who later introduced him to his agent, the late Heikki Marttinen. Litmanen did not win any medals in the Finnish league, but he did win the [[Finnish Cup]] with MyPa in July 1992 in a 2–0 win over [[FF Jaro]] in the final at the [[Helsinki Olympic Stadium]]. His performance in the cup final, including a goal, convinced a scout of [[AFC Ajax|Ajax]] that the club should sign him. "For me, he was the player," the scout later told Finnish television. His transfer took place during the same summer, and he did not complete the Finnish football season with MyPa.

[[Louis Van Gaal]], the manager of Ajax at the time, later stated that Ajax paid a transfer fee of only £10,000 for Litmanen.<ref>[https://tribuna.com/en/news/manutd-2020-05-29-van-gaal-reveals-he-paid-for-a-players-transfer-fee-at-ajax/ Van Gaal reveals he paid for a player's transfer fee at Ajax] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231224021754/https://tribuna.com/en/news/manutd-2020-05-29-van-gaal-reveals-he-paid-for-a-players-transfer-fee-at-ajax/ |date=24 December 2023 }}, tribuna.com, 18 November 2015</ref> However, the original fax document was later revealed in Finnish media, according to which the transfer fee was 100,000 + 800,000 [[Dutch guilder]], which corresponds roughly to €550,000.<ref>[https://www.is.fi/veikkausliiga/art-2000008270776.html Kuva: Tämän paperin vannottiin jäävän ikuisesti salaiseksi – näin paljon rahaa suomalaisseura sai Jari Litmasesta 29 vuotta sitten] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231224023721/https://www.is.fi/veikkausliiga/art-2000008270776.html |date=24 December 2023 }}, [[Ilta-Sanomat]], Mikko Knuuttila, 17 September 2021</ref>

=== Ajax ===
[[File:LitmanenAjaxShirt.JPG|right|thumb|upright=0.9|Jari Litmanen's Ajax shirt in the Sports Museum of Finland]]

Before his move to Ajax, Litmanen had failed to earn a contract with the Romanian club [[FC Dinamo București|Dinamo București]]. A number of European clubs, including [[FC Barcelona|Barcelona]], [[Leeds United F.C.|Leeds United]] and [[PSV Eindhoven|PSV]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ajax.nl/web/show/id=65288 |title=Jari Litmanen |publisher=Ajax |access-date= 5 March 2009 |language=nl |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090201143204/http://ajax.nl/web/show/id=65288 |archive-date= 1 February 2009 }}</ref> had shown an interest in him, but in the end it was Ajax that bought him.

David Endt, who was Ajax team manager in the 1990s, described his first impression of Litmanen to the Finnish broadcasting corporation [[YLE]] in 2010:<ref name="YLE">David Endt in an interview to [[YLE]] TV2, 28 September 2010, during a Champions League match half time.</ref>
{{cquote|The press conference is over, and in comes Jari Litmanen, from behind the door. And I looked at his face and I looked at his eyes, and I recognised something in those eyes. And I thought, this is a man with a great willpower. Because he was not shy, not timid, but he was modest. He is not a man who will raise his voice, or bang with his fist on the table and say, 'We do it this way'. No, he was more of a diplomat, not wanting to be a leader, but being a leader. … He wanted to know everything about football, he was interested in every part of the game, and this gave him the nickname, within the team, we called him the 'Professor', because you could ask anything about football, and he would know the answer.|David Endt}}

During 1992–93, his first season at Ajax, he played mostly in the reserves. Then Ajax manager [[Louis van Gaal]] was apparently not overly impressed with him, but the team physiotherapist suggested using him as a stand-in for [[Dennis Bergkamp]], who was injured at the time. Van Gaal liked what he saw, and knowing that Bergkamp was about to leave for [[Inter Milan|Inter]], he announced that Litmanen would be Bergkamp's successor, something that people in Litmanen's native Finland found difficult to believe.<ref name="YLE" /> This turned out to be true, however, and he inherited from Bergkamp the famous [[Squad number (association football)|number 10 shirt]], which is often given to [[playmaker]]s. He went on to score 26 goals in the 1993–94 season, becoming the league's top scorer, and leading Ajax to the title. He was also voted [[Dutch footballer of the year|Footballer of the Year]] in the Netherlands in 1993.

[[File:Jari Litmanen shirt in Vodafone Park.jpg|upright=0.9|thumb|left|Jari Litmanen shirt in [[Vodafone Park]], Istanbul]]

Litmanen was one of the star players of Van Gaal's team that won three consecutive [[Eredivisie|Dutch championships]] and reached the [[UEFA Champions League]] final twice in a row. From the beginning of the 1994–95 season to the middle of the 1995–96 season, Ajax went undefeated in both the [[Eredivisie]] (a run of 52 games) and the Champions League (19 games). When Ajax beat [[A.C. Milan|Milan]] in the [[1995 UEFA Champions League Final|1995 Champions League final]], Litmanen became the first Finnish player to win the Champions League. In the [[1995–96 UEFA Champions League|1995–96]] edition of the Champions League, he was the Champions League top scorer with nine goals, including the equaliser in the final against [[Juventus FC|Juventus]], which Ajax lost on penalties. In 1995, he also won the [[Intercontinental Cup (1960–2004)|Intercontinental Cup]] against [[Grêmio Foot-Ball Porto Alegrense|Grêmio]] and came third in the voting for the [[European Footballer of the Year|Ballon d'Or]] (European Footballer of the Year), having finished eighth the previous year.

Litmanen spent seven years in [[Amsterdam]], winning four Dutch championships and three [[KNVB Cup]]s, and scored a total of 129 goals, 91 of them in the league. He is the club's top scorer in European competition with 26 goals in 54 matches (including two goals scored in the 2002–03 season). Litmanen has the honour of being one of just three players presented in a special video featurette at the Ajax Museum. The other two are [[Marco van Basten]] and [[Johan Cruyff]]. [[Frank Rijkaard]], Litmanen's teammate in the 1993–94 and 1994–95 seasons, once said, "Dennis Bergkamp was brilliant for Ajax but the best No.10 we ever had was Jari." In his time at Ajax, some fans called him "[[Merlin]]" because of the magic he brought to the pitch.

But his proneness to injury also earned Litmanen the name "The Man of Glass", and injuries hampered his later seasons at Ajax causing him to miss many games (in his six seasons as a regular first-team player, he missed 57 out of a total of 204 league games, and in his last three seasons, he missed seven out of 24 European matches, playing only part of five others). His injury problems were to worsen as time passed, undermining his subsequent career.

=== Barcelona ===
In 1999, Litmanen was reunited with Louis van Gaal at [[FC Barcelona|Barcelona]], one of several former Ajax players recruited by Van Gaal in his time as manager. Litmanen's stint with the club was largely plagued by injuries. An article in ''[[The Observer]]'' in April 2000 likened him to [[Pope John Paul II]], in that he was "[[Pope John Paul II's health|making few appearances and looking more frail each time]]".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2000/apr/02/ajax |title=Surprise, surprise... Catalans in the Barcajax side |publisher=The Observer |date=2 April 2000 | access-date = 8 March 2013 | archive-date = 9 May 2014 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140509012352/http://www.theguardian.com/football/2000/apr/02/ajax | url-status = live}}</ref>

Litmanen also failed to adapt to his new conditions, and he was one of the players dropped by Van Gaal that winter. Van Gaal later expressed his disappointment with Litmanen at Barcelona:<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/clubfootball/news/newsid=667683.html | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080108050250/http://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/clubfootball/news/newsid=667683.html | url-status = dead | archive-date = 8 January 2008 |title=Van Gaal: My football philosophy |publisher=FIFA.com |date=7 January 2008 | access-date = 6 March 2013}}</ref>

{{cquote|Players count for nothing, the team is everything. I set more store by a player's character than by his on-field qualities, and particularly whether he is willing to give everything to the cause. There are some incredibly talented players who haven't got the character or the personality to suit my methods. Litmanen, for example, was a different player at Barca than he was at Ajax. You have to adapt to a new culture when you move to a different club, and not every player is able to do that.|}}

After an unsuccessful season, Van Gaal was replaced by [[Lorenzo Serra Ferrer]], and Litmanen was frozen out of the team, losing the number 10 shirt to [[Rivaldo]], although he remained at the club until January 2001, when he moved to [[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]] on a free transfer.

=== Liverpool ===
"We have signed a world-class player. He comes with a massive reputation and I believe he's one of the most exciting signings we have made," said Liverpool manager [[Gérard Houllier]] after the transfer had been completed.<ref name="Player profile">{{cite web |url=http://www.lfchistory.net/players/player/profile/361 |title=Player profile |publisher=LFCHistory.net | access-date = 8 March 2013 | archive-date = 16 September 2013 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130916043736/http://www.lfchistory.net/Players/Player/Profile/361 | url-status = live}}</ref> Litmanen also expressed his pleasure with the move: "It has always been my dream to play for Liverpool. I have supported them since I was a child and there has been talk about me joining them before."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/l/liverpool/1099798.stm |title=Litmanen completes Liverpool switch |publisher=BBC Sport |date=4 January 2001 | access-date = 12 May 2012 | archive-date = 19 March 2022 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220319035427/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/l/liverpool/1099798.stm | url-status = live}}</ref> He wanted to wear the number seven shirt as worn by his boyhood hero [[Kenny Dalglish]], but this had already been taken by [[Vladimír Šmicer]]. As shirt numbers 17 and 27 were also in use, he settled for the number 37.

Litmanen made a good start at Liverpool but broke his wrist playing for [[Finland national football team|Finland]] against [[England national football team|England]] at [[Anfield]] in late March 2001 and missed the rest of the season. Although he was part of the Liverpool team that won the treble of the [[Football League Cup|League Cup]], [[FA Cup]] and [[UEFA Europa League|UEFA Cup]] in 2001, he missed all three finals because of injury. The following season, he was used sparingly by Houllier but did score goals against [[Tottenham Hotspur F.C.|Tottenham Hotspur]], [[Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal]], [[Aston Villa F.C.|Aston Villa]] and [[Fulham F.C.|Fulham]] in the [[Premier League]] and against [[FC Dynamo Kyiv|Dynamo Kyiv]], [[A.S. Roma|Roma]] and [[Bayer 04 Leverkusen|Bayer Leverkusen]] in the Champions League.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://myliverpoolfc.org/fixtures01-02.htm |title=Fixtures & Results 2001–2002 | access-date = 26 August 2012 | archive-date = 18 June 2010 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100618222743/http://myliverpoolfc.org/fixtures01-02.htm | url-status = live}}</ref>

According to his profile on LFCHistory.net, "Litmanen had difficulties in training due to his [[ankle problems]] and was hardly able to play for ninety minutes week in and week out." Litmanen himself was frustrated by his lack of playing time at Liverpool:<ref name="Player profile" />

{{cquote|Litmanen was puzzled by Houllier's treatment of him. 'It's strange that he was so pleased when he signed me and then decided to not use me. I cannot explain it myself.' Houllier's explanations made his reasons even more puzzling. 'I let Jari go because I have always believed he had great potential which could benefit other teams. When we had some difficult moments, he was there for us, notably with goals against Fulham, Sunderland, AS Roma and in other crucial games. He had a lack of opportunities in the team but I really liked the reaction of the Ajax players towards Jari when I sold him!'|}}

Litmanen was again given permission to move clubs for free after the 2001–02 season, having scored a total of 9 goals in 43 official matches during his one and a half seasons at the club.

=== Return to Ajax ===
Litmanen decided to return to Ajax, and was given a hero's welcome with the crowd again singing his name. He was one of the key players as Ajax reached the quarter-finals of the [[2002–03 UEFA Champions League|2002–03 Champions League]], but he continued to be plagued by injuries, and much of the following season was once again spent on the sidelines. In the spring of 2004, the club released him from his contract.

=== Lahti and Hansa Rostock ===
Litmanen's return to Finland, where he joined [[FC Lahti|Lahti]], was much hyped and was hailed as "[[The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King|the return of the king]]".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hs.fi/english/article/Litmanen+returns+but+Allianssi+take+League+Cup+trophy+as+outdoor+football+season+begins/1076152632018 |title=Litmanen returns, but Allianssi take League Cup trophy as outdoor football season begins |publisher=hs.fi |first=William |last=Moore | access-date = 12 May 2012 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120607142518/http://www.hs.fi/english/article/Litmanen+returns+but+Allianssi+take+League+Cup+trophy+as+outdoor+football+season+begins/1076152632018 | archive-date = 7 June 2012 }}</ref> Litmanen, however, moved to German [[Bundesliga]] strugglers [[F.C. Hansa Rostock|Hansa Rostock]] in January 2005, but he was unable to prevent them being relegated, which ended his stint at the club.

=== Malmö FF ===
Litmanen joined the Swedish club [[Malmö FF]] in July 2005 in an attempt to help them qualify for the Champions League. This attempt, however, failed, and Litmanen himself was injured during the whole of the autumn, only making a few appearances. He decided to continue his career with Malmö in 2006 but was again sidelined with a number of injuries for much of the season. However, the matches he did play showed he remained a brilliant player when fit. After an operation to repair a damaged ankle during the winter break, Malmö decided to extend his contract over the 2007 season, but an ankle injury suffered in June 2007 forced Litmanen to cancel it.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://sverigesradio.se/sida/gruppsida.aspx?programid=2835&grupp=12344&artikel=1515337 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160303212032/http://sverigesradio.se/sida/gruppsida.aspx?programid=2835&grupp=12344&artikel=1515337 | url-status = dead | archive-date = 3 March 2016 |title=Fotboll: Skadad Litmanen lämnar Malmö |language=sv |publisher=sverigesradio.se |date=2 August 2007}}</ref>

=== Fulham ===
In January 2008, Litmanen received a ten-day trial invitation from Fulham under former Finland manager [[Roy Hodgson]],<ref>{{cite news |title=Litmanen training with FFC |url=http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2008/january/22/litmanen-training-with-ffc |publisher=Fulham Official Website |date=22 January 2008|access-date=16 April 2014|archive-date=17 April 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140417210048/http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2008/january/22/litmanen-training-with-ffc|url-status=live}}</ref> and was signed on 31 January 2008 together with fellow countryman [[Toni Kallio]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Litmanen joins Fulham |url=http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2008/january/31/litmanen-joins-fulham |publisher=Fulham Official Website |date=31 January 2008|access-date=16 April 2014|archive-date=17 April 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140417210630/http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2008/january/31/litmanen-joins-fulham|url-status=live}}</ref> Just weeks after signing with Fulham, Litmanen had to return to his native Finland to rest, after serious heart concerns.<ref>{{cite news |title=Litmanen back training |url=http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2008/february/23/litmanen-back-training |publisher=Fulham Official Website |date=23 February 2008|access-date=16 April 2014|archive-date=17 April 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140417211032/http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2008/february/23/litmanen-back-training|url-status=live}}</ref>

Litmanen eventually made his debut for Fulham in a reserve-team match against Tottenham on 31 March 2008, but he was released in May of the same year without playing a single game for the first team.<ref name="Bocanegra heads Fulham clear-out">{{cite web |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/f/fulham/7417368.stm |title=Bocanegra heads Fulham clear-out |publisher=BBC |date=23 May 2006|access-date=23 May 2008|archive-date=26 May 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080526022710/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/f/fulham/7417368.stm|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Return to Lahti ===
On 8 August 2008, it was announced that Litmanen would join his former club Lahti of the [[Veikkausliiga|Finnish Premier Division]] for the remainder of the 2008 season. Although he only played 34 minutes in his first match, he scored twice and provided the passes for two other goals. He played an important role in helping Lahti to finish third in the league and qualify for Europe for the first time in the club's history. He signed a new one-year contract with Lahti on 16 April 2009. Litmanen scored his first European goal for Lahti in a 2–0 win against [[ND Gorica|Gorica]] in the second qualifying round of the [[UEFA Europa League|Europa League]], with the final aggregate score being 2–1. This was his 30th goal in 83 European matches. On 18 September 2010, he scored a [[bicycle kick]] goal against [[AC Oulu|Oulu]] in a 2–1 away victory.

On 23 October 2010, he scored his 50th [[Veikkausliiga]] goal, but this happened in a 3–2 defeat against [[Turun Palloseura|TPS]] and didn't stop the club from being relegated to [[Ykkönen]].

=== Return to HJK ===
On 20 April 2011, Litmanen signed a one-year contract with the reigning Finnish champions HJK at age 40, making him one of the few footballers to play at professional level in four different decades (1980s–2010s).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hjk.fi/joukkueet/miehet/uutiset/1-230 |title=Litmanen pelaa tulevan kauden HJK:ssa | trans-title = Litmanen joins HJK |language=fi |publisher=HJK.fi |date=20 April 2011 | access-date = 12 May 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110425101306/http://www.hjk.fi/joukkueet/miehet/uutiset/1-230 | archive-date = 25 April 2011 | url-status = dead}}</ref> He usually started as a substitute and played for 10–30 minutes. The HJK coach [[Antti Muurinen]] described Litmanen as something akin to a "precision munition" for HJK. He played in this role on 24 September 2011 in the [[Finnish Cup]] final against [[Kuopion Palloseura|KuPS]], coming on in the 80th minute when the score was 0–0. During the second half of [[Extra time#Association football|extra time]], he scored a spectacular half volley to make it 1–0 to HJK in the 108th minute. They went on to win the match 2–1. This was Litmanen's first [[Finnish Cup]] final after winning it with [[MyPa]] in 1992.

On 2 October 2011, HJK secured their third consecutive [[2011 Veikkausliiga|Finnish championship]], thus winning the [[Double (association football)#Finland|Double]]. As of that day, Litmanen had played 18 matches for HJK that season, and they had won every single match in which he had been on the field. On 14 October 2011, this run ended when HJK drew 0–0 with [[JJK Jyväskylä]].

On 29 October 2011, Litmanen celebrated his 200th league match by giving three assists in HJK's 5–2 home win over [[FC Haka|Haka]]. It was also his last game of the season and would prove to be the last of his professional career.

=== Tallinna Kalev Juunior ===
In October 2025, Litmanen returned to playing, playing for fourth tier Estonian club [[JK Tallinna Kalev U21|Tallinna Kalev Juunior]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://jalgpall.ee/voistlused/player/68414/team/2327|title=Jari Litmanen|publisher=Eesti Jalgpalli Liit|accessdate=26 October 2025|language=et}}</ref> On 25 October 2025, Litmanen played alongside his two sons, Bruno and Caro, in a 3–2 defeat against [[Tallinna FC Zapoos|Tallinna Zapoos]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://jalgpall.ee/voistlused/protocol/135566|title=JK Tallinna Kalev Juunior 2–3 Tallinna FC Zapoos|publisher=Eesti Jalgpalli Liit|accessdate=26 October 2025|language=et}}</ref>

== International career ==
[[File:Litmanen jari2.jpg|right|thumb|Litmanen after his last international against San Marino in November 2010]]
Litmanen is Finland's most capped player and was Finland's leading goalscorer until 12 October 2021, when [[Teemu Pukki]] broke the record with two goals against [[Kazakhstan national football team|Kazakhstan]] in a World Cup qualifier.<ref name="Pukki">{{cite web |url=https://www.canaries.co.uk/content/internationals-teemu-pukki-breaks-finland-all-time-goalscoring-record |title=Internationals: Teemu Pukki breaks Finland all-time goalscoring record |publisher=Canaries.co.UK | access-date = 12 October 2021 |date=12 October 2021 | archive-date = 12 October 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20211012174158/https://www.canaries.co.uk/content/internationals-teemu-pukki-breaks-finland-all-time-goalscoring-record | url-status = live}}</ref> His international career ran for 21 years from 1989 to 2010.

Litmanen made his Finland debut on 22 October 1989 against [[Trinidad and Tobago national football team|Trinidad and Tobago]], and scored his first goal on 16 May 1991 against [[Malta national football team|Malta]]. Litmanen served as Finland's captain from 1996 to 2008, and was arguably their key player for more than a decade, helping the team to many unexpected victories against higher [[FIFA rankings|ranked]] opposition.{{citation needed|date=July 2013}}

Litmanen earned his 100th [[cap (football)|cap]] on 25 January 2006 against [[South Korea national football team|South Korea]], one of only four Finns to have reached such a milestone, the others being [[Ari Hjelm]], [[Sami Hyypiä]] and [[Jonatan Johansson (footballer)|Jonatan Johansson]].

When he played for Finland against South Korea on 19 January 2010, Litmanen became one of a handful of male players to represent a national team in four different decades,<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.sportskeeda.com/football/10-legends-that-didnt-get-credit-they-deserved/4#:~:text=%237%20Jari%20Litmanen&text=Unopposed%20in%20the%20race%20for,Marino%20(8%2D0). |title=10 legends that didn't get the credit they deserved |date=10 February 2017|access-date = 24 June 2020|archive-date = 26 June 2020|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200626123444/https://www.sportskeeda.com/football/10-legends-that-didnt-get-credit-they-deserved/4#:~:text=%237%20Jari%20Litmanen&text=Unopposed%20in%20the%20race%20for,Marino%20(8%2D0).|url-status = live}}</ref> a feat matched by [[Andorra national football team|Andorra]]'s [[Ildefons Lima]] in June 2021.<ref name="Four-decade international icon – Ildefons Lima">{{cite web |url=https://footballpink.net/ildefons-lima-andorra-most-capped-footballers-uefa/ |title=Ildefons Lima: Andorra's four-decade international icon |publisher=Liam Togher |website=Football Pink |date=17 February 2022 |access-date=15 June 2022 |url-status=live  |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220615154728/https://footballpink.net/ildefons-lima-andorra-most-capped-footballers-uefa/ |archive-date=15 June 2022 |language=en}}</ref>

On 17 November 2010, Litmanen became the oldest player ever to score for Finland – and also the oldest player overall to score a goal in the [[UEFA European Championship qualifying|qualifying stages]] for the [[UEFA European Championship]] – when he netted a penalty in an 8–0 win over [[San Marino national football team|San Marino]], which proved to be his last international match.

== Later career ==
[[File:Jari-Litmanen-2015.jpg|thumb|[[Paavo Arhinmäki]] interviews Litmanen at the time of announcing his autobiography book in 2015]]
[[File:1 jari litmanen 2017.jpg|thumb|Litmanen playing in a friendly in 2017]]
In February 2011, the sports news programme [[Urheiluruutu]] of the Finnish Broadcasting Company [[YLE]] interviewed two of Litmanen's former teammates about the possibility of his working for Ajax when he decides to end his playing career. Former Ajax captain [[Danny Blind]] said the following:<ref>[[YLE]] [[Urheiluruutu]], 3 March 2011.</ref>{{cquote|Jari knows the door is always open for him as an assistant coach, as a youth coach, whatever in the club. We love Jari, and we know his qualities as a football player, but also as a coach, I think, so the door is always open for him.}}
[[Michel Kreek]] of the [[Ajax Academy]] was equally positive about this possibility: {{cquote|It would be great if Jari would return here in Ajax. We played together, Jari came to Ajax when I played in the first team, and we saw him become a world player, so if that kind of player are willing to come back to Amsterdam, to Ajax, and put some of their experience into Ajax Academy, it’s only a great help for us.}}

He served as a TV pundit for YLE during [[UEFA Euro 1992|Euro 1992]], [[UEFA Euro 2012|Euro 2012]], [[FIFA World Cup 2014|World Cup 2014]] and [[UEFA Euro 2016|Euro 2016]], and, during the latter, also wrote comment and analysis for the newspaper [[Ilta-Sanomat]].

Jari Litmanen has confirmed in his autobiography that his professional career is over.<ref>{{cite book |title=Litmanen 10 |page=7 |author=Jari Litmanen |language=fi |publisher=Tammi}}</ref> He played his last professional game in 2011.

== Personal life ==
Litmanen was born into a footballing family. His father, [[Olavi Litmanen]], was also a Finnish international and a Reipas player. His mother also played for Reipas at the women's highest level.

Litmanen became a father in November 2005 when his Estonian girlfriend Ly Jürgenson gave birth to a son named Caro. The couple's second son, Bruno, was born in September 2007. Although they avoid too much publicity, they are sometimes seen together in public.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.iltalehti.fi/viihde/a/201209260215247 |title=Jari Litmasen vaimo häikäisi Litti-elokuvan ensi-illassa |language=fi |publisher=iltalehti.fi |date=26 September 2012 | access-date = 25 January 2012 | archive-date = 19 March 2022 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220319040027/https://www.iltalehti.fi/viihde/a/201209260215247 | url-status = live}}</ref>

On 10 October 2010, Litmanen became the first Finnish [[team sport]] player to be honoured with a statue: it stands at Kisapuisto (Lahti) where he started his career in the 1970s.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.veikkausliiga.com/News.aspx?id=41078 |title=Jari Litmaselle patsas Lahden kisapuistoon | trans-title = Litmanen's statue was revealed |language=fi |publisher=veikkausliiga.com |date=16 October 2010 | access-date = 12 May 2012 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120727052433/http://www.veikkausliiga.com/News.aspx?id=41078 | archive-date = 27 July 2012 }}</ref> ''[[The King – Jari Litmanen]]'' is a 2012 documentary film about Litmanen's career.<ref>[http://www.yellowaffair.com/web/guest/product?redirect=%2Fweb%2Fguest&productId=9834086 The King – Jari Litmanen] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160911135453/http://www.yellowaffair.com/web/guest/product?redirect=%2Fweb%2Fguest&productId=9834086 |date=11 September 2016 }} The Yellow Affair. Retrieved 1 March 2015</ref>

In late September 2019, Litmanen provoked controversy in Finland with his positive comments on the future [[2022 FIFA World Cup]] and Qatar.<ref>[https://www.mtvuutiset.fi/artikkeli/jari-litmasen-nakemykset-qatarin-mm-jalkapallosta-tyrmistyttavat-kompakti-turnaus-on-merkittava-etu-kaikille/7568310 Jari Litmasen näkemykset Qatarin MM-jalkapallosta tyrmistyttävät – lajilegenda uskoo kritisoitujen kisojen lunastavan odotukset], [[MTV Oy]], mtvuutiset.fi, 29 September 2019</ref><ref>[https://www.suomifutis.com/2019/09/nakokulma-jari-litmanen-teki-kommenteillaan-itsestaan-pellen/ Näkökulma: Jari Litmanen teki kommenteillaan itsestään pellen], suomifutis.com, 30 September 2019</ref><ref>[https://yle.fi/a/3-10996625 Asiantuntijat tuomitsivat Jari Litmasen Qatar-kommentit: "Ihmisten ilmeet olivat hiukan surullisia Litmasen hölmöistä lausunnoista"], [[Yle]], 30 September 2019</ref><ref>[https://www.iltalehti.fi/jalkapallo/a/d339c9d8-9a87-4556-993f-ba3854a4eb8a Näkökulma: Miksi Jari Litmanen ryhtyi qatarilaisten mannekiiniksi? Kuningas kuohitsi itsensä narriksi muutamalla virkkeellä], [[Iltalehti]], 30 September 2019</ref> Later Litmanen explained that his comments were targeted only to football conditions and infrastructure, and said that according to freedom of speech, he has a right to express his personal opinion.<ref>[https://www.is.fi/jalkapallo/art-2000006256097.html Jari Litmanen vastaa Qatar-kohuun: ”Sananvapauteen kuuluu edelleen se, että saa olla jotain mieltä”], [[Ilta-Sanomat]], 30 September 2019</ref><ref>[https://yle.fi/a/3-10997437 Jari Litmanen kommentoi arvostelua herättäneitä Qatar-lausuntojaan – Palloliiton pomo: "Litmasella on yksityishenkilönä oikeus olla mitä mieltä haluaa"], [[Yle]], 30 September 2019</ref><ref>[https://www.is.fi/jalkapallo/art-2000009172888.html Jari Litmanen aiheutti kohun Qatar-lausunnoillaan – lataa nyt: ”Olen edelleen samaa mieltä”], [[Ilta-Sanomat]], 1 November 2019</ref>

On 11 May 2020, Litmanen said to [[Unibet]] that his [[Coronavirus disease 2019|coronavirus]] test was positive, and he had been recovering for four weeks. He said of this time that "I've probably never been in such bad shape".<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.foreigner.fi/articulo/coronavirus/jari-litmanen-got-coronavirus/20200511120117005748.html |title=Jari Litmanen and his family recovering from coronavirus |date=11 May 2020|access-date=6 July 2020|archive-date=2 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200802084816/https://www.foreigner.fi/articulo/coronavirus/jari-litmanen-got-coronavirus/20200511120117005748.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Influence in the Netherlands===
Since the 1990s, name Jari has been a popular first name for newborns in the Netherlands and also in Belgium, due to Litmanen's influence. As of 2017, there were 2,188 people named Jari in the country, including professional footballers [[Jari Oosterwijk]], [[Jari Vandeputte]], [[Jari Schuurman]], [[Jari Vlak]] and [[Jari De Busser]].<ref>[https://www.hs.fi/kuukausiliite/art-2000005467390.html Hollannissa on yli 2000 Jaria, ja moni heistä pelaa jalkapalloa – mutta tuleeko kenestäkään Litmasen Jarin veroista?], [[Helsingin Sanomat]], 28 November 2017</ref><ref>[https://www.iltalehti.fi/jalkapallo/a/3001cc24-40d9-4277-af19-910ef9fb2d99 Hollantilainen Jari syntyi vuonna 1994 – nimi vaihtui aivan viime hetkillä erään suomalaisen takia: ”Isäni katseli Ajaxin ottelua...”], [[Iltalehti]], 10 May 2020</ref><ref>[https://www.hs.fi/urheilu/art-2000011183385.html Oliver Antman juhlii Hollannin cupin voittoa – Jari Litmasen mukaan nimetty pelaaja nousi sankariksi], [[Helsingin Sanomat]], 22 April 2025</ref><ref>[https://www.is.fi/jalkapallo/art-2000000704361.html Jarit valtaavat futiskenttiä Hollannissa – tässä ovat Litmasen perilliset], [[Ilta-Sanomat]], 16 January 2014</ref> At the end of the 1990s, Jari was occasionally more popular name in the Netherlands than in Finland.<ref>[https://www.hs.fi/suomi/art-2000004776810.html Jari-nimi tuli Hollantiin jäädäkseen], [[Helsingin Sanomat]], 19 December 2010</ref>

== Career statistics ==

=== Club ===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
|-
!rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Season
!colspan="3"|League
!colspan="2"|Cup
!colspan="2"|Continental
!colspan="2"|Other
!colspan="2"|Total
|-
!Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals
|-
|rowspan="5"|[[Reipas Lahti]]
|[[1987 Mestaruussarja|1987]]
|[[Mestaruussarja]]
|9||0||1||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||10||0
|-
|[[1988 Mestaruussarja|1988]]
|Mestaruussarja
|26||8||4||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||30||8
|-
|[[1989 Mestaruussarja|1989]]
|Mestaruussarja
|25||6||4||2||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||29||8
|-
|[[1990 Veikkausliiga|1990]]
|[[Veikkausliiga]]
|26||14||3||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||29||14
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!86||28||12||2||0||0||0||0||98||30
|-
|[[HJK Helsinki]]
|[[1991 Veikkausliiga|1991]]
|Veikkausliiga
|27||16||0||0||2||0||colspan="2"|—||29||16
|-
|[[MyPa]]
|[[1992 Veikkausliiga|1992]]
|Veikkausliiga
|18||7||6||4||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||24||11
|-
|rowspan="8"|[[AFC Ajax|Ajax]]
|[[1992–93 Eredivisie|1992–93]]
|[[Eredivisie]]
|12||1||1||0||1||0||0||0||14||1
|-
|[[1993–94 Eredivisie|1993–94]]
|Eredivisie
|30||26||3||4||5||4||1||2||39||36
|-
|[[1994–95 AFC Ajax season|1994–95]]
|Eredivisie
|27||17||4||2||11||6||1||1||43||26
|-
|[[1995–96 Eredivisie|1995–96]]
|Eredivisie
|26||14||2||0||12||9||0||0||40||23
|-
|[[1996–97 Eredivisie|1996–97]]
|Eredivisie
|16||6||1||0||7||2||1||0||25||8
|-
|[[1997–98 Eredivisie|1997–98]]
|Eredivisie
|25||16||3||4||6||2||0||0||34||22
|-
|[[1998–99 AFC Ajax season|1998–99]]
|Eredivisie
|23||11||5||1||4||1||1||0||33||13
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!159||91||19||11||46||24||4||3||228||129
|-
|rowspan="3"|[[FC Barcelona|Barcelona]]
|[[1999–2000 FC Barcelona season|1999–2000]]
|[[La Liga]]
|21||3||2||1||8||0||1||0||32||4
|-
|[[2000–01 FC Barcelona season|2000–01]]
|La Liga
|0||0||0||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||0||0
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!21||3||2||1||8||0||1||0||32||4
|-
|rowspan="3"|[[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]]
|[[2000–01 Liverpool F.C. season|2000–01]]
|[[Premier League]]
|5||1||2||1||2||0||2||0||11||2
|-
|[[2001–02 Liverpool F.C. season|2001–02]]
|Premier League
|21||4||1||0||9||3||1||0||32||7
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!26||5||3||1||11||3||3||0||43||9
|-
|rowspan="3"|Ajax
|[[2002–03 AFC Ajax season|2002–03]]
|Eredivisie
|14||5||1||0|||7||2||0||0||22||7
|-
|[[2003–04 AFC Ajax season|2003–04]]
|Eredivisie
|6||0||0||0||3||0||0||0||9||0
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!20||5||1||0||10||2||0||0||31||7
|-
|[[FC Lahti|Lahti]]
|[[2004 Veikkausliiga|2004]]
|Veikkausliiga
|11||3||1||0||1||0||colspan="2"|—||13||3
|-
|[[F.C. Hansa Rostock|Hansa Rostock]]
|[[2004–05 Bundesliga|2004–05]]
|[[Bundesliga]]
|13||1||1||0||0||0||0||0||14||1
|-
|rowspan="4"|[[Malmö FF]]
|[[2005 Allsvenskan|2005]]
|[[Allsvenskan]]
|2||1||||0||2||0||colspan="2"|—||4||1
|-
|[[2006 Allsvenskan|2006]]
|Allsvenskan
|8||2||||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||8||2
|-
|[[2007 Allsvenskan|2007]]
|Allsvenskan
|0||0||||||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||0||0
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!10!!3||||||2!!0!!0!!0!!12!!3
|-
|[[Fulham F.C.|Fulham]]
|[[2007–08 Fulham F.C. season|2007–08]]
|Premier League
|0||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||0||0||0||0
|-
|rowspan="4"|Lahti
|[[2008 Veikkausliiga|2008]]
|Veikkausliiga
|6||3||0||0||colspan="2"|—||0||0||6||3
|-
|[[2009 Veikkausliiga|2009]]
|Veikkausliiga
|13||2||2||0||6||1||3||1||24||4
|-
|[[2010 Veikkausliiga|2010]]
|Veikkausliiga
|21||5||0||0||colspan="2"|—||2||0||23||5
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!40||10||2||0||6||1||5||1||53||12
|-
|HJK Helsinki
|[[2011 Veikkausliiga|2011]]
|Veikkausliiga
|18||1||1||1||2||0||1||0||22||2
|-
!colspan="3"|Career total
!449||173||48||20||15||4||87||30||599||227
|}

*Finnish League Cup held for the first time in 1994.

=== International ===

{{legend2|#CCFFCC|Win|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}
{{legend2|#FFFFCC|Draw|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}
{{legend2|#FFCCCC|Loss|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}

{| class="wikitable" style=font-size:85%
!width=30| No.
!width=70| Date
!width=110| Home team
!width=100| Visiting team
!width=105| Goals
!width=65| Score
!width=70| Result
!width=260| Venue
!width=200| Competition
|-style="background-color:#CCFFCC"
|align=center|''' 1.''' || 16 May 1991 || {{fb|FIN}} || {{fb|MLT}} || align=center| {{goal|87}} '''2'''–0 || align=center| '''2–0''' || align=center| Win || [[Helsinki Olympic Stadium]] || [[UEFA Euro 1992 qualifying Group 6|UEFA Euro 1992 qualifying]]
|-style="background-color:#FFFACD"
|align=center|''' 2.''' || 25 March 1992 || {{fb|SCO}} || {{fb|FIN}} || align=center| {{goal|41}} 1–'''1''' || align=center| '''1–1''' || align=center| Draw || [[Hampden Park]], [[Glasgow]] || [[Exhibition game#Association football|Friendly]]
|-style="background-color:#FFCCCC"
|align=center|''' 3.''' || 13 October 1993 || {{fb|SWE}} || {{fb|FIN}}|| align=center| {{goal|60}} 3–'''2''' || align=center| '''3–2''' || align=center| Loss || [[Råsunda Stadium]], [[Stockholm]] || [[1994 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA – Group 6)|1994 FIFA World Cup qualification]]
|-style="background-color:#CCFFCC"
|align=center|''' 4.''' || rowspan=2| 16 November 1994 || rowspan=2| {{fb|FIN}} || rowspan=2| {{fb|FRO}} || rowspan=2 align=center| {{goal|53}} '''2'''–0<br />{{goal|72}} '''3'''–0 || rowspan=2 align=center| '''5–0''' || rowspan=2 align=center| Win || rowspan=2| [[Helsinki Olympic Stadium]] || rowspan=2| [[UEFA Euro 1996 qualifying Group 8|UEFA Euro 1996 qualifying]]
|-style="background-color:#CCFFCC"
| align=center|''' 5.'''
|-style="background-color:#CCFFCC"
|align=center|''' 6.''' || 29 March 1995 || {{flagicon image|Flag of San Marino (civil).svg}} [[San Marino national football team|San Marino]] ||{{fb|FIN}} || align=center| {{goal|45}} 0–'''1''' || align=center| '''0–2''' || align=center| Win || [[Stadio Olimpico (San Marino)|Stadio Olimpico]], [[Serravalle (San Marino)|Serravalle]] || UEFA Euro 1996 qualifying
|-style="background-color:#CCFFCC"
|align=center|''' 7.''' || 11 June 1995 || {{fb|FIN}} || {{fb|GRE}} || align=center| {{goal|45+1}} '''1'''–1 ([[Penalty kick (association football)|pen.]]) || align=center| '''2–1''' || align=center| Win || [[Helsinki Olympic Stadium]] || UEFA Euro 1996 qualifying
|-style="background-color:#FFCCCC"
|align=center|''' 8.''' || 2 June 1996 || {{fb|FIN}} || {{fb|TUR}} || align=center| {{goal|25}} '''1'''–0 ||align=center| '''1–2''' || align=center| Loss || [[Helsinki Olympic Stadium]] || Friendly
|-style="background-color:#FFFACD"
|align=center|''' 9.''' || 2 February 1997 || {{fb|TUR}} || {{fb|FIN}} || align=center| {{goal|17}} 0–'''1''' ||align=center| '''1–1''' || align=center| Draw || [[Denizli Atatürk Stadium|Atatürk Stadium]], [[Denizli]] || Friendly
|-style="background-color:#CCFFCC"
|align=center|''' 10.''' || 2 April 1997 || {{fb|AZE}} || {{fb|FIN}} || align=center| {{goal|26 }} 0–'''1'''|| align=center| '''1–2''' || align=center| Win || [[Tofik Bakhramov Stadium]], [[Baku]] || [[1998 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA)|1998 FIFA World Cup qualification]]
|-style="background-color:#CCFFCC"
|align=center| ''' 11.'''
| 8 June 1997 || {{fb|FIN}} || {{fb|AZE}} ||align=center| {{goal|65}} '''2'''–0 ||align=center| '''3–0''' ||align=center| Win || [[Helsinki Olympic Stadium]] || 1998 FIFA World Cup qualification
|-style="background-color:#CCFFCC"
|align=center|''' 12.''' || 6 September 1997 || {{fb|SUI}} || {{fb|FIN}} || align=center| {{goal|16}} 0–'''1''' ||align=center| '''1–2''' || align=center| Win || [[Stade Olympique de la Pontaise]], [[Lausanne]]|| 1998 FIFA World Cup qualification
|-style="background-color:#CCFFCC"
|align=center|''' 13.''' || 14 October 1998 || {{fb|TUR}} || {{fb|FIN}} || align=center| {{goal|90+6}} 1–'''3''' ||align=center| '''1–3''' || align=center| Win || [[Ali Sami Yen Stadium]], [[Istanbul]] || [[UEFA Euro 2000 qualifying Group 3|UEFA Euro 2000 qualifying]]
|-style="background-color:#CCFFCC"
|align=center|''' 14.''' || 29 March 2000 || {{fb|WAL}} || {{fb|FIN}} || align=center| {{goal|21}} 0–'''1'''||align=center| '''1–2''' || align=center| Win || [[Millennium Stadium]], [[Cardiff]] || Friendly
|-style="background-color:#CCFFCC"
|align=center|''' 15.''' || rowspan=2| 16 August 2000 || rowspan=2| {{fb|FIN}} || rowspan=2| '''{{fb|NOR}}''' || rowspan=2 align=center| {{goal|24}} '''1'''–0<br />{{goal|61}} '''2'''–1 || rowspan=2 align=center| '''3–1''' || rowspan=2 align=center| Win || rowspan=2| [[Sonera Stadium|Finnair Stadium]], [[Helsinki]] || rowspan=2| [[2000–01 Nordic Football Championship]]
|-style="background-color:#CCFFCC"
|align=center|''' 16.'''
|-style="background-color:#CCFFCC"
|align=center|''' 17.''' || 2 September 2000 || {{fb|FIN}} || {{fb|ALB}} || align=center| {{goal|45 }} '''1'''–0 ||align=center| '''2–1''' || align=center| Win || [[Sonera Stadium|Finnair Stadium]], [[Helsinki]] || [[2002 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group 9|2002 FIFA World Cup qualification]]
|-style="background-color:#CCFFCC"
|align=center|''' 18.''' || 15 August 2001 || {{fb|FIN}} || {{fb|BEL}} || align=center| {{goal|}} '''3'''–0 ([[Penalty kick (association football)|pen.]]) ||align=center| '''4–1''' || align=center| Win || [[Helsinki Olympic Stadium]] || Friendly
|-style="background-color:#CCFFCC"
|align=center|''' 19.''' || 5 September 2001 || {{fb|FIN}} || {{fb|GRE}} || align=center| {{goal|53}} '''5'''–1 ||align=center| '''5–1''' || align=center| Win || [[Helsinki Olympic Stadium]] || 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification
|-style="background-color:#CCFFCC"
|align=center|''' 20.''' || rowspan=2| 27 March 2002 || rowspan=2| {{fb|POR}} || rowspan=2| {{fb|FIN}} || rowspan=2 align=center| {{goal|41}} 1–'''3'''<br />{{goal|53}} 1–'''4''' || rowspan=2 align=center| '''1–4''' || rowspan=2 align=center| Win || rowspan=2| [[Estádio do Bessa]], [[Porto]] || rowspan=2| Friendly
|-style="background-color:#CCFFCC"
|align=center|''' 21.'''
|-style="background-color:#CCFFCC"
|align=center|''' 22.''' || 30 April 2003 || {{fb|FIN}} || {{fb|ISL}} || align=center| {{goal|55}} 1–0 ([[Penalty kick (association football)|pen.]]) ||align=center| '''3–0''' || align=center| Win || [[ISS Stadion|Pohjola Stadion]], [[Myyrmäki]], [[Vantaa]] || Friendly
|-style="background-color:#CCFFCC"
|align=center|''' 23.''' || 31 April 2004 || {{fb|MLT}} || {{fb|FIN}} || align=center| {{goal|86}} 0–'''2''' ||align=center| '''1–2''' || align=center| Win || [[Ta' Qali National Stadium]], [[Valletta]] || Friendly
|-style="background-color:#FFCCCC"
|align=center|''' 24.''' || 28 May 2004 || {{fb|FIN}} || {{fb|SWE}} || align=center| {{goal|8}} '''1'''–0 ([[Penalty kick (association football)|pen.]]) ||align=center| '''1–3''' || align=center| Loss || [[Ratina Stadion]], [[Tampere]] || Friendly
|-style="background-color:#FFCCCC"
|align=center|''' 25.''' || 26 March 2005 || {{fb|CZE}} || {{fb|FIN}} || align=center| {{goal|46 }} 2–'''1''' ||align=center| '''4–3''' || align=center| Loss || [[Na Stinadlech]], [[Teplice]] || [[2006 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group 1|2006 FIFA World Cup qualification]]
|-style="background-color:#CCFFCC"
|align=center|''' 26.''' || rowspan=2| 2 September 2006 || rowspan=2| {{fb|POL}} || rowspan=2| {{fb|FIN}} || rowspan=2 align=center| {{goal|54}} 0–'''1'''<br />{{goal|76}} 0–'''2''' ([[Penalty kick (association football)|pen.]]) || rowspan=2 align=center| '''1–3''' || rowspan=2 align=center| Win || rowspan=2| [[Stadion Zawiszy Bydgoszcz im. Zdzisława Krzyszkowiaka|Zdzisław Krzyszkowiak]], [[Bydgoszcz]] || rowspan=2| [[UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying Group A|UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying]]
|-style="background-color:#CCFFCC"
|align=center|''' 27.'''
|-style="background-color:#CCFFCC"
|align=center| '''28.''' || 11 October 2006 || {{fb|KAZ}} || {{fb|FIN}} ||align=center| {{goal|29}} 0–'''1''' ||align=center| '''0–2''' ||align=center| Win || [[Almaty Central Stadium]], [[Almaty]] || UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying
|-style="background-color:#FFCCCC"
|align=center|''' 29.''' || 6 February 2008 || {{fb|FIN}} || {{fb|GRE}} || align=center| {{goal|66}} '''1'''–0 ||align=center| '''1–2''' || align=center| Loss || [[Neo GSP Stadium]], [[Nicosia]] || Friendly
|-style="background-color:#FFCCCC"
|align=center|''' 30.''' || 26 March 2008 || {{fb|BUL}} || {{fb|FIN}} || align=center| {{goal|22}} 0–'''1''' ([[Penalty kick (association football)|pen.]]) ||align=center| '''2–1''' || align=center| Loss || [[Vasil Levski National Stadium]], [[Sofia]] || Friendly
|-style="background-color:#FFFACD"
|align=center|''' 31.''' || 9 September 2009 || {{fb|LIE}} || {{fb|FIN}} || align=center| {{goal|74}} 0–'''1''' ([[Penalty kick (association football)|pen.]]) ||align=center| '''1–1''' || align=center| Draw || [[Rheinpark Stadion]], [[Vaduz]] || [[2010 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group 4|2010 FIFA World Cup qualification]]
|-style="background-color:#CCFFCC"
|align=center|''' 32.''' || 17 November 2010 || {{fb|FIN}} || {{flagicon image|Flag of San Marino (civil).svg}} [[San Marino national football team|San Marino]] || align=center| {{goal|71}} '''6'''–0 ([[Penalty kick (association football)|pen.]]) ||align=center| '''8–0''' || align=center| Win || [[Helsinki Olympic Stadium]] || [[UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying Group E|UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying]]
|}

== Honours ==
'''MyPa'''
*[[Finnish Cup]]: 1992

'''Ajax'''<ref name="Honours">{{cite web |title=Jari Litmanen and his legacy in the Netherlands |publisher=[[FIFA]] |date=24 February 2023 |url=https://www.fifa.com/fifaplus/en/articles/jari-litmanen-and-his-legacy-in-the-netherlands |access-date=28 April 2024 |archive-date=29 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230329070725/https://www.fifa.com/fifaplus/en/articles/jari-litmanen-and-his-legacy-in-the-netherlands |url-status=live}}</ref>
*[[Eredivisie]]: [[1993–94 Eredivisie|1993–94]], [[1994–95 Eredivisie|1994–95]], [[1995–96 Eredivisie|1995–96]], [[1997–98 Eredivisie|1997–98]], [[2003–04 Eredivisie|2003–04]]
*[[KNVB Cup]]: [[1992–93 KNVB Cup|1992–93]], [[1997–98 KNVB Cup|1997–98]], [[1998–99 KNVB Cup|1998–99]]
*[[Johan Cruyff Shield|Dutch Supercup]]: [[1993 Dutch Supercup|1993]], [[1994 Dutch Supercup|1994]], [[1995 Dutch Supercup|1995]]
*[[UEFA Champions League]]: [[1994–95 UEFA Champions League|1994–95]]; runner-up: [[1995–96 UEFA Champions League|1995–96]]
*[[UEFA Super Cup]]: [[1995 UEFA Super Cup|1995]]
*[[Intercontinental Cup (1960–2004)|Intercontinental Cup]]: [[1995 Intercontinental Cup|1995]]

'''Liverpool'''<ref name="Honours" /><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.lfchistory.net/players/player/profile/361 |title=Liverpool career stats for Jari Litmanen – LFChistory – Stats galore for Liverpool FC! |last=LFChistory.net |website=www.lfchistory.net|access-date=8 March 2013|archive-date=16 September 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130916043736/http://www.lfchistory.net/Players/Player/Profile/361|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.liverpoolfc.com/news/first-team/286038-10-jari-litmanen-january-2001 |title=10. Jari Litmanen (January 2001) |publisher=www.liverpoolfc.com |date=3 January 2018 |access-date=1 October 2019 |archive-date=1 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191001022933/https://www.liverpoolfc.com/news/first-team/286038-10-jari-litmanen-january-2001 |url-status=live}}</ref>
*[[FA Cup]]: [[2000–01 FA Cup|2000–01]]
*[[Football League Cup]]: [[2000–01 Football League Cup|2000–01]]
*[[FA Charity Shield]]: [[2001 FA Charity Shield|2001]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Liverpool edge out Man Utd |publisher=[[BBC Sport]] |date=12 August 2001 |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/1487037.stm |access-date=28 April 2024 |archive-date=23 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220523090046/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/1487037.stm |url-status=live }}</ref>
*[[UEFA Cup]]: [[2000–01 UEFA Cup|2000–01]]
*[[UEFA Super Cup]]: [[2001 UEFA Super Cup|2001]]

'''HJK'''
*[[Veikkausliiga]]: [[2011 Veikkausliiga|2011]]
*Finnish Cup: [[2011 Finnish Cup|2011]]

'''Finland'''
*[[Nordic Football Championship]]: [[2000-01 Nordic Football Championship|2000–01]]<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://eu-football.info/_match.php?id=24564 |title=Finland vs Norway, 16 August 2000|access-date=4 November 2019|archive-date=2 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200802030338/https://eu-football.info/_match.php?id=24564|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesn/nord2001.html |title=Nordic Championship 2000-01|access-date=2 February 2023|archive-date=30 January 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230130012644/https://rsssf.org/tablesn/nord2001.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

'''Individual'''
*[[Finnish Footballer of the Year|Finnish Sports Journalists Player of the Year]] (8): 1990, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998
*[[Finnish Footballer of the Year|Finnish Football Association Player of the Year]] (9): 1990, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2000
* [[Veikkausliiga]] Player of the Year: 1990
*[[Dutch Footballer of the Year]]: 1993
*[[Eredivisie|Dutch league top scorer]]: [[1993–94 Eredivisie|1993–94]] (26 goals)
*[[European Footballer of the Year|Ballon d'Or]]: [[1994 Ballon d'Or|1994]] (8th), [[1995 Ballon d'Or|1995]] (3rd)
*[[Finnish Sports Personality of the Year]]: 1995
*[[Football Association of Finland]]: [[:fi:Captain's Ball|Captain's Ball]] 2002<ref>[https://www.palloliitto.fi/captain-s-ball Captain's Ball], palloliitto.fi</ref>
* [[European Sports Media|''ESM'' Team of the Year]]: [[European Sports Media#1994–95|1994–95]], [[European Sports Media#1995–96|1995–96]]
*[[List of European Cup and UEFA Champions League top scorers|UEFA Champions League top scorer]]: [[1995–96 UEFA Champions League|1995–96]] (9 goals)
*Captain's Ball: 2002<ref>{{Cite web |date=11 November 2013 |title=Captain's Ball Göran Enckelmanille |url=http://yle.fi/urheilu/3-6928933|access-date=24 December 2021 |website=Yle Urheilu |language=fi|archive-date=24 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211224094338/https://yle.fi/urheilu/3-6928933|url-status=live}}</ref>
*[[UEFA Jubilee Awards]] – Greatest Finnish Footballer of the last 50 Years: 2003
*Most-capped player for the [[Finland national football team|Finland national team]]: 137 caps
*2nd all-time top scorer for the Finland national team: 32 goals<ref name="Pukki" />
*All-time top scorer in Europe for Ajax: 26 goals
*Oldest Player to Score in [[UEFA European Championship qualifying]]: 39 years and 270 days<ref>{{Cite web |date=18 November 2010 |title=Litmasesta EM-karsintahistorian vanhin maalintekijä |url=http://yle.fi/urheilu/3-5671844|access-date=24 December 2021 |website=Yle Urheilu |language=fi|archive-date=24 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211224093011/https://yle.fi/urheilu/3-5671844|url-status=live}}</ref>
*FC Lahti Hall of Fame: 2016

== See also ==
* [[List of men's footballers with 100 or more international caps]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category}}
* [https://www.liverpoolfc.com/info/jari-litmanen Profile] at the Liverpool F.C. website
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20090804215005/http://www.palloliitto.fi/maajoukkueet/miesten_a-maajoukkue/pelaajat/litmanen_jari/ Profile at FA of Finland's official website] {{in lang|fi}}
* [http://www.sports.ru/tribuna/blogs/oranje/106150.html Big article, photos and interview with Jari Litmanen] {{in lang|ru}}
* [http://www.escapetosuomi.com/p/kuningas-litmanen_10.html Kuningas Litmanen documentary – English] at [Escape To Suomi]
* [http://www.hs.fi/english/article/1101979516256 Article] at [[Helsingin Sanomat]]
* {{FIFA player}}
* {{UEFA player}}

{{S-start}}
{{s-sports}}
{{succession box|title=[[Finland national football team|Finland football captain]]|before= [[Ari Hjelm]] |after= [[Sami Hyypiä]]|years=1996–2008}}
{{S-end}}
{{Navboxes
|title=Awards
|bg=gold
|fg=navy
|list1=
{{Finnish Football Hall of Fame}}
{{UEFA Jubilee Awards}}
{{Eredivisie top scorers}}
{{AFC Ajax Player of the Year}}
{{Dutch Footballer of the Year}}
{{Finnish Footballer of the Year}}
{{Finnish Sportspersonality}}
{{UEFA Champions League top scorers}}
}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Litmanen, Jari}}
[[Category:1971 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Footballers from Lahti]]
[[Category:Finnish men's footballers]]
[[Category:Men's association football midfielders]]
[[Category:Men's association football forwards]]
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[[Category:Helsingin Jalkapalloklubi players]]
[[Category:Myllykosken Pallo −47 players]]
[[Category:AFC Ajax players]]
[[Category:FC Barcelona players]]
[[Category:Liverpool F.C. players]]
[[Category:FC Lahti players]]
[[Category:FC Hansa Rostock players]]
[[Category:Malmö FF players]]
[[Category:Fulham F.C. players]]
[[Category:Mestaruussarja players]]
[[Category:Veikkausliiga players]]
[[Category:Eredivisie players]]
[[Category:La Liga players]]
[[Category:Premier League players]]
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[[Category:Allsvenskan players]]
[[Category:UEFA Champions League–winning players]]
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[[Category:Finland men's international footballers]]
[[Category:FIFA Men's Century Club]]
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[[Category:Finnish expatriate sportspeople in Spain]]
[[Category:Finnish expatriate sportspeople in England]]
[[Category:Finnish expatriate sportspeople in Germany]]
[[Category:Finnish expatriate sportspeople in Sweden]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in the Netherlands]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Spain]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in England]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Germany]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Sweden]]
[[Category:Finnish Football Hall of Fame inductees]]