First Finn to play in Premier League warns not to expect goals in Helsinki
Mixu Paatelainen has a fondness for Irish players, who he regards as exemplary. Photo: Getty Images
A proud son of the land they call Suomi, and a former player and manager of the national team, there’s no case of divided loyalties for Mixu Paatelainen when Ireland play in Helsinki tonight.
His second team, if he had one, would be Scotland, as that’s been his home – as a player, manager and now a coach educator for the guts of three decades (he played for and managed six different clubs in Scotland, as well as spells as a player in England and France).
