Paulus Arajuuri ends his career. The decision was influenced by the fact that the central defender has not been able to give his all anymore due to pain.
Played this season’s first division football in IFK Helsinki Paulus Arajuuri end his career at the end of the season. HIFK informed about it on their website.
HIFK writes that the defender, who had a long career on international football fields and in the Finnish national team, got excited about the club’s new construction project last winter and signed a two-year contract with HIFK starting in early 2023.
However, the 35-year-old central defender’s career ends this fall.
– The decision to end my career has come little by little over the course of the season. There have been an awful lot of pains, and even though I have been able to play a lot and playing minutes have accumulated, it hasn’t felt the same in training anymore. I haven’t been able to give my all every day. However, the purpose is that even after your career you would be able to walk and enjoy a normal life. With this, there has been a strong feeling that now is the right time to end this journey, Arajuuri says in the press release.
Arajuuri, who made his debut in the Veikkausliiga in FC Honga’s shirt in the 2006 season, made his mark at the main league level in IFK Mariehamn’s shirt in the 2008–2009 season.
That started an international playing career that lasted more than ten years. Arajuuri played in Kalmar FF in Sweden, Lech Poznań in Poland, Bröndby in Denmark and Kypos in Paphos and Anorthosis in Famagusta. In the Polish league, Arajuuri got to celebrate the championship.
Arajuuri returned to the Finnish courts in the summer of 2022, when he represented HJK for the rest of the season. Returning to Helsinki was a big deal for the topper.
– This season, living in Helsinki close to family and friends and being able to live the life of a soccer player at the same time, has been great. In many ways, it has been a reminder to myself of where this all started and why I have fallen in love with this sport so much.
In the press release, Arajuuri mentions what he misses after finishing his career, especially community and great everyday memories.
– A football team consists of so many parts, there are players, background people, supporters and people who work in the club. That sense of community is so great that even in everyday life you can find incredibly great memories that you will really miss.
Arajuuri says that he doesn’t have the faintest idea about his future yet, but he could be interested in a career as a coach.
– I have lived for a long time in such a performance-oriented world that the first thing I should probably do is recover a bit and reflect. I bet my mind can’t even understand yet that it’s really going to end now.
The “smiling viking” is especially well remembered as the mainstay of Huuhkajie. Arajuuri played 58 matches in the A national team. When Huuhkajat took the first place in their history in the 2019 EC qualifiers, Arajuuri and HJK, who continues his career Joona Toivio formed a stable topper pair.
Arajuuri, who also served as captain in Huuhkaj, ended his national team career in the fall of 2021.
– I got to experience so much more in my career than I ever thought I would get to experience. I have often had a fear when I have been in and out of the world for so long that I will be separated from home, family or friends. However, they have been by my side until the end.
– As I mentioned before, there are so many people involved and a big community. I want to thank everyone who has made this trip possible – I am grateful in many ways.