Tinja-Riikka in Korpela was an English club in Tottenham with top conditions and resources. She got to play in one of the toughest women’s football leagues and enjoyed herself quite well both in the club and in East London.
Despite this, the Finnish national team’s long-time number one goalkeeper announced at the beginning of July that he would be moving to Italy and the reigning Serie A champion AS Roma.
– It came quite unexpectedly even to myself. For the rest of the season, I was determined to stay at Tottenham. The club would also have liked to continue with me. However, I had told the agent that if there was an offer from a top club and top league, we would see to the end what kind of deal it would be, Korpela revealed to Urheilu.
At the last minute, Korpela received a message from AS Roma that the club would be interested in a Finnish goalkeeper.
– At that point, I put Tottenham’s continuation match aside. I thought, let’s see this now, Korpela recounted the events of the early summer.
Things progressed quickly and suddenly Korpela received a concrete offer from the club.
– I felt that it was an opportunity that could not be refused.
Korpela got to know the club and was convinced by what he saw, even though AS Roma did not offer quite the same top-class conditions as he was used to in London. However, the club has a good training field and playing field, gyms, dining facilities and all the necessary basics.
Last season in England, Tottenham were fighting for a league place, while AS Roma ended Juventus’ reign and took the Italian title. In the Champions League, the team progressed all the way to the quarter-finals, until Barcelona, who dominated the European fields, ended the Italian club’s struggle.
– It is a big deal for them that I have experience in different leagues and the national team for a long time and they hope that I will bring that to the team. To be on a team that is fighting for the championship is a big deal. I will do my best to win something in the coming season as well.
When the club still had an apartment ready for Korpela close to the training center, he didn’t have to think about it any more. Korpela signed a contract with the club that lasts until the summer of next year.
Not just as a second guard
AS Roma was quite active in the spring transfer market and a legendary Japanese player joined the team Saki Kumagai. Korpela states that the team has quality players from around the world for every playing position. On the other hand, next season the team is playing for both the Serie A championship and the success of the Champions League.
That’s exactly why Roma also wanted Tinja-Riikka Korpela in their ranks.
– They want experience and a good goalkeeper duo in the team.
Korpela believes that he faces a similar situation in Roma’s team as in Tottenham. He has to fight for playing time with a Romanian Camelia Caesar’s with, who has been carrying a lot of responsibility lately. However, Korpela is not afraid of the competitive situation and is ready to challenge the number one goalkeeper.
– There are a lot of games coming, there will certainly be enough for both of them. Both will get a fair amount of screen space now in the pre-season, he assured.
Korpela wants to play as much as possible, but says he will understand if the coaching team decides otherwise. He does everything for his team, whether he is between the posts or on the bench.
– Fortunately, I’ve already gotten used to it and understood that it’s not the end of the world if I don’t get to play. Still, I’m an important part of the team and I get to train in a good environment every day. It will definitely develop.
Korpela has toured and played in many countries and leagues in his long career. After the Norwegian and Swedish leagues, he played for several seasons in the German league for Bayern Munich, until he moved again through Norway to England, first to Everton and then to Tottenham. He has celebrated championships in Finland, Norway and Germany as well.
Now 37-year-old Korpela has a new chapter and a new country ahead of him. Experienced players are interested in seeing both the Italian Football culture and the coaching culture.
– It seems that at this age you can no longer wait if a new opportunity comes later. It has to go now if you want to see this again.
Rome is a familiar city to Korpela, as he once visited the city on vacation. However, Korpela will not be seen in the main tourist destinations, he plans to focus only on football. Instead, friends and relatives have been more excited about Korpela’s move under the Italian sun.
– The friends and relatives who have messaged have all said that they are coming to visit! he chuckled.
On the other hand, Korpela understands this well, as he himself is a fan of Italian food and culture.
– Who wouldn’t be! That’s one plus point of this change: the food culture is right next to the last one. I’m a fan of pasta and pizza, so it doesn’t hurt at all that Italy becomes my new home country.
The Finnish women’s national football team will face Iceland on Friday, July 14 and Scotland on Tuesday, July 18 in the July A national matches. shows the matches on its channels.