VENICE. At the beginning of summer Joel Pohjanpalo didn’t know where autumn would start. The further we went, the less likely Bayer Leverkusen looked like an option.
Almost nine years had passed since the German giant Leverkusen had acquired the promising Pohjanpalo from HJK.
Shortly after the club transfer, the cycle of loans began, which marked the Finn’s entire career in Leverkusen. Aalen, Düsseldorf, HSV, Union Berlin and finally the Turkish Rizespor were temporary homes, one loan at a time.
In the background, the departure was already at a high pace.
– In the end, what the club wants from the coming years and what part they wanted me in made the decision pretty easy. I wanted to move to Venezia to play, says Pohjanpalo.
Continuing in Leverkusen was a viable exchange well into the summer, although there were other suitors. 16 goals in 33 games for the team that was relegated from the Turkish premier league was not enough for Leverkusen, but they attracted the interest of clubs in the Bundesliga as well as in other European premier leagues.
– Venezia was already inquiring at the very beginning, but at least at that point they were not agreeing to the financial demands. The transfer window went longer and longer, and I guess Jesse also said something good to the club, Pohjanpalo thinks referring to the national teammate To Jesse Jorosethe goalkeeper of the Italian club.
More than a hundred years old, Venezia has been more popular than ever, even though 81 years have already passed since its best achievement – winning the Italian Cup. Last year, the team returned to the highest league level after a 19-year break.
A lot had happened since the last major league visit. After three bankruptcies and more than a decade spent in the lower leagues, the club came under new ownership in 2015. Since then, it has clung to the iconic reputation of its hometown with both hands.
Last year, a careful marketing campaign on social media primed the shirt release, which became a hit in the football world. The warehouses were sold out in hours and Venezia’s new rise got a dream start with the international attention. The fashion magazine GQ titled the Lions as the world’s most fashionable football club.
– Note that we have American owners. It shines through in the activity, Pohjanpalo states.
Everything is still relatively new for Pohjanpalo, because only a couple of months have passed since the transfer.
Leverkusen had been the striker’s home for almost his entire adult life, although he only made 22 Bundesliga appearances in his shirt. Unfortunate injuries played a significant part in that, but at the same time, the path to the playing lineup was blocked again and again.
The goal of a place in the team’s starting line-up, which was looming on the horizon, always moved a little further.
– I wouldn’t say that it was difficult to let go of it, but it does leave a mark on the player if he has played for a long time in the same club, Pohjanpalo thinks.
– At some point, you have to accept that it might be too much work behind it. Now let’s get started on getting Venezia up to Serie A and let’s make the dream come true in Italy. The best place of all is when you can move to the club as the number one striker. Now I got just such a starting point.
From falling into the backseat of dreams
Only a couple of kilometers away from the worst tourist spots, it’s quiet. Parks and cafes are quiet, only locals are present.
The Venezia stadium is also located here. It is also unique, as water bodies surround it on three sides. The quiet soundscape is broken only by the engine of a small boat, as two older gentlemen, engrossed in their conversation, drift towards the harbor at the other end.
Venezia’s PR people point, among other things, in the direction of the new banner. It is decorated with a new logo that resembles a designer clothing brand instead of a typical sports club badge. That is also part of the club’s current image.
The jerseys are still so popular that the new limited editions are usually sold out already with pre-orders, and may not even make it to the stores in the city center.
– The social phenomenon created by the club and the fact that the jerseys go to hot stones is of course a great thing. In itself, this is quite a romantic football club. We go to the games by boat and leave the stadium by boat. A pretty unique place to play futsal.
Pohjanpalo poses as usual when the club’s employees rush to present the improvements made to the stadium. It can hold just under 12,000 spectators, enough for a small town whose touristic spirit has at the same time caused noise among long-term local supporters – especially now that the club is playing in Divar again.
Falling back to Serie B happened quickly, and the continuation has not been glamorous either, because the autumn has been difficult. When November came, the head coach was already fired, when Venezia was at the tail end of the league table in the second league.
Pohjanpalo’s goals have also been scarce, as the team’s performances on the field so far have not matched the glamorous setting and polished image. Pohjanpalo has hit twice in 12 matches.
Serie B was already underway when the news broke about Pohjanpalo’s transfer. On the field, one had to get used to the tactical and closely defensive Italian football, which allowed the opponents to punish Venezia for fumbling right from the start of the season. The training sessions lasted longer than in Germany, but were perhaps not as intense, and there were new things to learn off the field as well.
There are already three Finns in the booth
From the stadium located in the far east of the city, the journey towards traffic jams is along the peaceful beach promenade. The wind keeps the 24-degree afternoon mostly cool, especially in the smaller side streets, where the heat of the sun doesn’t even reach them. Pohjanpalo says that so far the weather has been too warm. The fog of the Venetian mornings feels more comfortable and the winter rains will hopefully soften the fields as well.
While walking, you come across many plastic bags with the Venezia logo, but very few passers-by who speak Italian. The rapidly internationalizing brand is represented by an international team with only a handful of Italians playing. At the beginning of October, there were 18 different nationalities on the lists.
There are no less than five Americans. There are also three Finns. Before the arrival of Pohjanpalo, Venezia already had a blue and white goalkeeper department, when Niki Mäenpää was joined by Joros. Mäenpää already represented Venezia last season, this is Jorose’s fourth season in Italy.
– There we sit next to each other in the booth, Pohjanpalo laughs.
– Jesse is one of my best friends and I have spent a lot of time with him. Actually, I stayed at Jesse’s place for a couple of weeks. Of course, it has also helped a lot to get into this country and learn about this culture.
As an exception to the majority of the team, Pohjanpalo does not live on the mainland, but closer to the tourist masses in the most photogenic part of Venice. With that, he can usually walk home after matches, while the rest leave the stadium on the team’s water bus.
The club’s training center is also located on the mainland. Millions have been put into renovating it, and not just out of charity. Venezia doesn’t plan to be just a trendy divar team.
According to Pohjanpalo, there is no pressing need for an increase for this season yet, although in the longer term the goal is clear.
The renewal of the team has brought with it its difficulties. The sticky fall plunged the investment closer to the threat of another fall than the possibility of a rise.
Venezia is currently second to last in Serie B.
– We have a lot of young players and new players. From the beginning of the season, we practically did not get to the goal posts at all. After that, the way of playing was changed to be a little similar to that of the A national team. At least the direction looks right, Pohjanpalo hopes.
– The club has now been completely rebuilt. It affects our operations a lot and maybe shows up a little on the field in this initial phase. When you look at our players and their potential, I have a lot of faith that in the next two years we will be promoted to Serie A.
Joel Pohjanpalo will be there when the Finnish men’s national team meets North Macedonia and Norway in international matches this week. Huuhkajat will play against North Macedonia on Thursday 17.11. and against Norway on Sunday 20.11. The matches are away matches.