Teemu Pukki will play his last match in Norwich on Monday. During his five years at the club, he rose to a position that few Finnish footballers have been able to achieve, writes Urheilu’s Joska Saarinen.
Joska Saarinen digital producer at Urheilu
“This pint cost more than Teemu Pukki, unbelievable!”
These Norwich fan by Matt Ambrose the words spoken remained indelibly in my mind. I was in Norwich doing something Teemu Pukin from an incredible breakthrough season in spring 2019.
Norwich had signed Puk for free. At first, supporters were suspicious of the Finn, but he quickly won the hearts of the locals. Pukki scored 29 goals in his debut season and was lifting Norwich to the Premier League, the top league of English football.
Usually, for acquisitions at this level, a hefty transfer fee is paid to the club from which the player is leaving. Denmark’s Bröndby let Puk go for free.
Now, five years, 209 games and 88 goals later, Puki’s era at Norwich is coming to an end. Today, Monday, he will play his last match in the “Canaries” shirt.
Norwich will face Blackpool in a Championship match, the result of which is irrelevant in itself. Blackpool’s relegation is already confirmed, and Norwich no longer has a chance to get into the Premier League.
The importance of the match is still huge. Puki’s farewell, the end of an era.
Pukki has tasted a rare delicacy for Finnish footballers – he has earned the status of a club legend in a top European club.
They enjoyed a similar position in their time Jari Litmanen in Ajax and sami Hyypiä in Liverpool.
Pukki didn’t shine as brightly at the top of the world, but the importance to the club community is the same.
Becoming a legend takes more than just goals
“Unbelievable! If I could get Teemu Puk every time I order a pint, that would be great,” Norwich fan Matt Ambrose continued to rave in spring 2019.
You could stop anyone on the street, and there was always time to exchange a few words about Teemu Puki. In the fan shop, products were sold with Puki’s face on them. The local paper found out how to write Santa Claus in Finnish – and so on.
It was obvious from everything that Pukki was a great hero of a million Norfolks.
Pukki was lifting Norwich from the Championship to the Premier League twice.
He scored goals in the Premier League as well, although Norwich were unable to put together a team that would have stayed in the premier league for longer than a season on either occasion.
He has scored the fourth most goals in Norwich’s club history.
Goals alone did not make Pukki a legend. Puki’s work ethic, humility and modesty melted the hearts of the locals.
– People in Norfolk want that from their sports stars, a reporter following Norwich Michael Bailey said in 2019.
A wistful farewell
The evening’s farewell will surely be sad for both the club community and Puki. The Finnish star had a great time in Norwich with his family.
If the team had established itself in the Premier League, Pukki could very well have continued with the club until the end of his career.
However, the 33-year-old Finnish striker had the opportunity to experience something else in his career.
Pukki himself has said that he has one more adventure left before it’s time to stop and return to Finland. He understandably wanted to look for a new club on the free market when his contract expires in the summer.
Someone has another chance to get a gem for less than a pint of beer.
Before that, it’s time to take a look at Teemu Puk’s era in Norwich.
What thoughts did the story evoke? You can discuss the topic on 9.5. until 11 p.m.