Tuija Hyyrynen ends his playing career – football gave everything the defender who worked hard from Puotinkylä Valtista dreamed of and even a little more

Tuija Hyyrynen ends his playing career football gave everything

Tuija Hyyrynen the deliberation that has been going on since August has ended. The player’s path, which started at Valti in Puotnkylä at the age of 10, ends in his native Finland, 24 years later, as the defender who has played the fourth most international matches of the Finnish women’s national football team of all time.

And as a five-time Italian champion, the team from Turin celebrated the triple championship in the last season.

– It felt like the tank was empty after Juventus’ triple championship and the European Championships. I had achieved the things I had dreamed of. I had done everything I ever wanted and got much more than I would have ever expected from football, Hyyrynen, 34, tells Urheilu about his decision.

The contract with Juventus ended last spring, and even then it was clear that Hyyrynen would return to Finland for the summer to think about his future. The Finnish defender has been allowed to mature his future plans during the autumn, when a back injury that appeared during the European Championships forced him to rest.

In September, the Helmari defender was seen in Tampere like more than 6,600 others cheering on Finland in the World Cup qualifying match against Sweden. At that time, career continuation was still under consideration, and contract offers poured in from several foreign countries.

– Of course, I also thought about continuing my career. But I felt that now is the right moment to make a decision. It’s good to end on a high after a great season with good feelings. I was able to play as long as I wanted and I achieved the goals I had set. There was no motivation to start all over again in a new place.

Hyyrynen says that he is fine with the termination decision.

– And quite excited about the future! Fut has been played for so many years.

Success seeks its peers

However, the truth is that Hyyrynen’s last European Championships ended prematurely. He contracted the corona virus from the Games and only had time to play in the opening match against Spain.

So the career ended with a 1-4 loss to one of the top countries in the world in Milton Keynes.

– The decision is still fresh enough that the thoughts are divided. I’m terribly disappointed that the games ended with the first game, especially when I spent so many years preparing for the games and dreaming about them for a long time. At the same time, I am proud, happy and grateful that I got to experience the opening game and its excitement, excitement and charging, Hyyrynen describes.

The former Helmari defender believes that the disappointment will subside over the years.

Hyyrynen’s career is unmatched. He had time to play on the pitches of the USA, Denmark and Sweden before moving to Italy, where the defender got to live a real professional life. At Juventus, the level of demands was high, and with the club Hyyrynen celebrated the championship at the end of each season. Three Finnish Cup victories have been added to his trophy cabinet from domestic fields. Hyyrynen is the player who played the fourth most matches in the women’s A national team, who managed to represent Finland in three European Championships.

– A total of 16 trophies have been collected, Hyyrynen calculates.

The most important career achievements can still be found elsewhere than in the medal cabinet.

– One of the most important things is that you have been able to take part in the incredibly fast development and do your part so that the next generations have better conditions, resources and opportunities to dream even bigger. Another important thing is the friends that have been made all over the world, Hyyrynen lists.

A new career in binoculars

Hyyrynen has already had time to prepare for a new life. Already during his career, he studied for a master’s degree in exercise science, and now he has supplemented his knowledge with courses at the Open University. During the fall, Hyyrynen has had time to network and attend seminars.

Working abroad is also not excluded.

– I already went to one job interview abroad, Hyyrynen reveals.

However, Hyyrynen, who recognizes himself as a citizen of the world, says that he will find his home for the rest of his life in Finland – and hopefully a job in football.

– I want to share my expertise here, develop football and sports in Finland. My dream is to stay with soccer and develop especially women’s soccer from a different angle, not from the field anymore, but in terms of sports medicine, physics and that. Maybe also do research related to women’s football, Hyyrynen lists.

In national team duties, he would see himself possibly as a physical trainer.

A positive team player is also a role model for many little girls and boys. The message to future Helmari and Huuhkaja stars is clear.

– Only dreams are the limit. I myself come from Puotila, a small club in Valti, and I have gone out into the world from there. The starting points don’t have to be weird. All you need is a ball, motivation and dreams, professional football is possible for anyone. I have received so much from football that I cannot describe in words. Football takes a lot, but gives twice as much.

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