Teemu Tainio could have played for Manchester United
Teemu Tainio could have played for Manchester United
Teemu Tainio was forced to scrap a contract with Manchester United to complete mandatory military service.
The 45-year-old defensive midfielder from Tornio, Finland, impressed during a stint with Auxerre between 1997 and 2005, after training with Sir Alex Ferguson's Red Devils for two weeks and scoring four goals in two games for the reserves. And while Tainio has claimed that Ferguson hoped to bring him to the north west of England on a permanent basis, he was forced away from Old Trafford by duties for his country.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Tainio said: "I trained for two weeks with Man Utd and it was a great experience. I played two games for the reserves and I scored four goals.
"I had to go back to Finland to complete my army service. I was supposed to go to Auxerre for a year and then move to Old Trafford. I talked with Sir Alex Ferguson and he wanted to sign me."
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Finland has universal male conscription in place, which means that all mentally and physically capable men between the ages of 18 and 29 serve between 165 and 347 days of service. Alternative non-military service is also available as an option.
Despite being forced away from the footballing world to complete his service, Tainio returned to the beautiful game in the summer of 2005 - signing with Tottenham Hotspur on a free transfer. With the Lilywhites, the midfielder made 83 appearances and even lifted a League Cup in the 2007/08 campaign, before moving on to Sunderland AFC.
After a two-year stint on Wearside, Tainio represented Ajax, New York Red Bulls, and HJK Helsinki, before hanging up his playing boots in February 2015. He then transitioned into the world of management, initially working as an assistant at Klubi 04 and Haka, before taking the reins of the latter.
Teemu Tainio went on to play for Sunderland and Ajax after Spurs
Teemu Tainio went on to play for Sunderland and Ajax after Spurs
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Image:
Jeremy Pardoe)
Fast forward to 2025, and Tainio is currently running Estonian Meistriliiga outfit Tallinna Kalev, and is also an assistant coach for the Finland national team. And while Tainio managed a number of accolades throughout his illustrious playing career - including an Eredivisie title with Ajax and a pair of Veikkausliiga titles with HJK - many football fans will be left asking what could have been if military service didn't interrupt him signing for Manchester United.
Ferguson managed nine Premier League titles with the Red Devils between 1997 and 2013, as well as three League Cups, two FA Cups and a two coveted Champions Leagues, including a treble in the 1998/99 campaign - all of which, Tainio could have been a part of should fate have had other plans. The Finnish footballing prodigy is not the only high profile name which has been affected by mandatory service to his country over the years either.
Spurs star Son Heung-Min was granted a reduced service time of three weeks as opposed to 21 months for South Korea as a result of helping his nation to victory in the 2018 Asian Games - which he completed during the global Coronavirus pandemic. Meanwhile, Pavel Nedved served the Czech Republic by playing for army-run side FK Dukla Praha in the early 1990s.
It comes as Spurs are set to host Manchester United in the Premier League on Sunday. Ange Postecoglou is in dire need of points on the board following a lacklustre start to the current campaign - winning just eight games from 24 played. Ruben Amorim, meanwhile, will also be hoping to turn the tide at United, who are just two points ahead of the north Londoners in the standings after their own rocky season filled with challenges.
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