Towards the end of last year, FC Honga’s goalkeeper Sofia Manner wrote his name on the paper, which had a couple of very extraordinary details.
The other party to the contract paper was Orlando Pride, the North American top league NWSL team. With the signing, Manneri, who signed a long professional contract, became the first Finnish soccer player to be bought from the National League directly to the North American professional league.
The transfer fee paid by Orlando was also a record. Manner and Honka cannot tell the exact amount, but the general manager of the Espoo club Velimatti Sutela said that the amount was five digit. A similar amount of money has never been paid before for a female player moving abroad from Finland.
The work permit and visa bureaucracy has taken its time, but Manner has finally received the required documents. The goalkeeper will move to Florida this week and the NWSL season will begin in March.
A dream come true
The 26-year-old Manner, who previously saved in the American university series and in Iceland, played an excellent last season in Honga, which included, among other things, 10 clean sheets. The Helsinki native had dreamed of playing in North America’s top league, but Orlando’s offer still came as a bit of a surprise.
– A dream come true. I couldn’t have believed that it was already the next step. I didn’t think that you could get from the National League to such a top-level league, Manner smiles.
As the departure approaches, the goalkeeper has dared to let his emotions and excitement out. For a long time, Manner was even skeptical about his move.
– There was a feeling that anything could happen, and it could be that there will be no departure. I’ve been a bit wary, but now the departure has become a reality. I’ve been feeling a bit sensitive this week.
Manner hopes that her example will inspire faith in other women and girls playing in Finland.
– Hopefully other players in the National League can set their goals high. It is also possible to go to tough leagues in Finnish leagues.
Competition for playing time among the top players
In addition to the transfer fee, Orlando’s credit to Manneri is indicated by a long contract. It includes two seasons and an option for a third year as well. The Finn has received thorough familiarization materials from the club, and according to Manner, all practical matters have been handled with solid professionalism. After moving across the Atlantic, adaptation starts with the basics.
– I’m trying to adapt to the team as quickly as possible and find such a good rhythm. To stay fit and help the team, Manner lists his expectations for the beginning of the year.
The goal is to get into Orlando’s starting lineup. English Anna Moorhouse was Florida’s number one goaltender last season, but Manner is confident about his own role.
– It has been said that no one will be chosen for the season. It depends on which one succeeds better. Maybe it goes every week. “Which one does better in training, it plays,” says Manner.
– The team goes first, and we go for victories in every game.
In Orlando, Manner gets to play with the world’s best. Among others, the Brazilian star plays in the team Adrianaa Canadian top prospect Amanda Allen as well as a brass legend among the players of all time Marta.
– Unbelievable. It’s cool to play with players like this. When I was little, Marta was the first female athlete I knew. Probably every female and girl soccer player knows Marta. It’s fun to be in the same booth with him, Manner enthuses.
Bad experiences too
Friends have asked Manner how his past bad experiences in Florida affect his move to a more conservative environment than Finland.
Manner has told Tiina Tuppurainen in the book From love to sport – Sporting rainbow youth in close-up and Helsingin Sanomat in the story, how difficult it was for him when he was young to tell others that he likes girls. The goalkeeper considers it important that sexual and gender minorities are talked about so that they are no longer taboo.
Manner, who studied in New York and Florida, says that in the United States he realized how much there is to improve the position of sexual and gender minorities. Especially in Florida, he faced inappropriate treatment and aggressive behavior.
Based on his experiences, Manner is confident that the atmosphere in Orlando is tolerant on a state scale.
– I am aware that there will certainly be uncomfortable situations. Some may directly and publicly push things, says Manner.
– But you can handle them in a different way now. When they were completely new things, and I hadn’t experienced anything like that before, it was a bit of a bummer.
Regarding Orlando Pride, Manner is very confident. The club has emphasized that every player is treated equally.
– It was a big thing for me that everyone is equal there.
Under the palm trees to the national team?
Manner cites his decision to go to university in the United States at a young age and the role of FC Honga as factors behind the dream transfer. According to Manner, the Espoo club was a good place to develop and live the everyday life of an athlete.
The professional environment at Stony Brook University, on the other hand, broke Manner’s long cycle of injuries. In the university series, the titles of the conference’s rookie player and goalkeeper of the year were recorded on the merit list, as well as selection to the all-star team.
– It increased my recognition there. I think that helped a bit, those [Orlando] had also talked with my university coaches, says Manner.
– I got a lot of playing time in the Yankees, that was important to me. I got my game confidence and joy back. Since then, I’ve just enjoyed football, the team and my teammates!
Manner would still like to join the Finnish national team. The surprise of the Orlando transfer is made even more so by the fact that Manner has not even played a match in Helmarei. Playing in a blue and white jersey has been an unfulfilled dream so far.
– Playing in Helmari is clearly on my list of goals for this year. It would be a dream come true, says Manner.
Manner has still been training with FC Honga, but this week there will be a big change in the environment. The snowfall in the capital region will change to the heat of Florida.
– I have been waiting for so long to get to the sun and warmth! I’ve been jokingly looking at the weather forecasts that now it’s going to be freezing when I get under the palm trees.
Taking a new step always brings pressure, especially when it happens in one of the toughest leagues in the world. However, based on the discussions with the coaching staff, Manneri is calm.
In the middle of immigration regulations and bureaucracy, the goalkeeper from Helsinki hasn’t really even had time to think about the pressure.
– But I think that when it’s the first training sessions and I put the gloves on, there might be such an ouch!