Otso Liimatta
{{Short description|Finnish footballer (born 2004)}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Otso Liimatta
| image =
| fullname = Otso Urho Eemil Liimatta[https://www.playmakerstats.com/player/otso-liimatta/853509?epoca_id=151 Player profile], playmakerstats.com
| height = 1.69 m
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|2004|7|10}}
| birth_place = Oulu, Finland{{WorldFootball.net|otso-liimatta}}
| position = Midfielder
| currentclub = Famalicão
| clubnumber = 18
| youthyears1 = 2008–2020
| youthclubs1 = Tervarit
| years1 = 2020–2023
| clubs1 = AC Oulu
| caps1 = 53
| goals1 = 9
| years2 = 2020–2021
| clubs2 = → OLS (loan)
| caps2 = 18
| goals2 = 3
| years3 = 2023–
| clubs3 = Famalicão
| caps3 = 17
| goals3 = 0
| nationalyears1 = 2019
| nationalteam1 = Finland U15
| nationalcaps1 = 2
| nationalgoals1 = 0
| nationalyears2 = 2019
| nationalteam2 = Finland U16
| nationalcaps2 = 2
| nationalgoals2 = 1
| nationalyears3 = 2021–2022
| nationalteam3 = Finland U18
| nationalcaps3 = 6
| nationalgoals3 = 1
| nationalyears4 = 2022
| nationalteam4 = Finland U19
| nationalcaps4 = 6
| nationalgoals4 = 1
| nationalyears5 = 2023–
| nationalteam5 = Finland U21
| nationalcaps5 = 19
| nationalgoals5 = 8
| medaltemplates =
{{Medal|Team|AC Oulu}}
{{Medal|2nd|Finnish League Cup|2023}}
| club-update = 30 December 2024
| nationalteam-update = 25 March 2025
}}
Otso Urho Eemil Liimatta (born 10 July 2004) is a Finnish professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Primeira Liga club Famalicão and the Finland under-21 national team.
Club career
=AC Oulu=
Born in Oulu and raised in Karjasilta, Liimatta played in the youth sector of Tervarit before signing his first professional contract with AC Oulu in September 2020.[https://www.apu.fi/artikkelit/otso-liimatta-on-suomen-jalkapallon-huominen-ja-suuri-kysymys Suomen jalkapallotulevaisuuden suurin toivo on futaaja, ei jalkapalloilija – Mitä se tarkoittaa sinivalkoiselle juniorivalmennukselle?], Apu, 14 May 2024{{cite news |last=Nevala |first=Kai |date=22 November 2021 |title=17-vuotias oululainen Otso Liimata on hionut taitonsa kotipihallaan Kar-jasillalla - Juniori murtautui syksyllä AC Oulun liigajoukkueeseen |language=fi |publisher=Kaleva |url=https://www.kaleva.fi/17-vuotias-oululainen-otso-liimatta-on-hionut-tait/4125239 |access-date=4 June 2023}}{{cite news |last=Nevala |first=Kai |date=18 September 2022 |title=Otso Liimata, 18, on noussut raketin lailla yhdeksi AC Oulun tärkeimmistä pelaajista – Miksi kevytrakenteinen juniori on pystynyt pelaamaan erinomaisen liigakauden? |language=fi |publisher=Kaleva |url=https://www.kaleva.fi/otso-liimatta-18-on-noussut-raketin-lailla-yhdeksi/4939430 |access-date=4 June 2023}}
He made his Veikkausliiga debut on 28 May 2021, aged 16, in a 3–1 away loss to HJK: in the process, he assisted his side's only goal.{{cite news |title=HJK Helsinki - AC Oulu 3:1 (Veikkausliiga 2021, 2. Round) |publisher=Worldfootball.net |url=https://www.worldfootball.net/report/veikkausliiga-2021-hjk-helsinki-ac-oulu/ |access-date=8 June 2023}} During 2021, Liimatta played for the club's reserve team Oulun Luistinseura (OLS) in third-tier Kakkonen, and additionally made nine appearances in Veikkausliiga with the first team.
Liimatta scored his first goal in the league on 29 April 2022, the opener in a 3–0 home win against Haka.{{cite news |title=OULU VS. HAKA 3 - 0) |publisher=Soccerway |url=https://nr.soccerway.com/matches/2022/04/29/finland/veikkausliiga/oulun-edustusjalkapallo/football-club-haka-valkeakoski/3746126/ |access-date=5 August 2023}} In the summer of 2022, various Finnish media outlets reported that Liimatta had attracted interest by several high-profile European clubs.{{cite news |date=2 July 2022 |title=Veikkausliigan timantti herättää kiinnostusta ulkomaalaisseuroissa - italialaisjätti mukana kuvioissa |language=fi |publisher=MTV Uutiset |url=https://www.mtvuutiset.fi/artikkeli/veikkausliigan-timantti-herattaa-kiinnostusta-ulkomaalaisseuroissa-italialaisjatti-mukana-kuvioissa/8462114 |access-date=2 July 2022}}{{cite news |last=Teksti |first=Joel Perovuo |date=10 August 2022 |title=Huippulupaus Otso Liimatta kasvaa korkeaa korkoa portugalilaisen kultasormen tehtaassa |language=fi |publisher=elmotv.com |url=https://elmotv.com/huippulupaus-otso-liimatta-kasvaa-korkeaa-korkoa-portugalilaisen-kultasormen-tehtaassa/ |access-date=4 June 2023}} At the end of the 2022 season, Liimatta was named the Best Young Player of the Year at the Captain's Ball awards held by the Finnish FA.{{cite news |date=1 December 2022 |title=Captain's Ball 2022 palkitut |language=fi |publisher=Football Association of Finland |url=https://www.palloliitto.fi/ajankohtaista/captain-s-ball-2022-palkitut-osa-1/ |access-date=1 December 2022}}{{cite news |date=13 January 2023 |title=Henkilökuvassa viime kauden nuori sensaatio Otso Liimatta |language=fi |publisher=pallotv.fi |url=https://pallotv.fi/2023/01/13/henkilokuvassa-viime-kauden-nuori-sensaatio-otso-liimatta/ |access-date=13 January 2023}}{{cite news |date=22 March 2023 |title=Otso Liimatta: Olen asettanut tulevalle kaudelle entistä kovemmat tavoitteet |language=fi |publisher=Football Association of Finland |url=https://www.palloliitto.fi/ajankohtaista/otso-liimatta-olen-asettanut-tulevalle-kaudelle-entista-kovemmat-tavoitteet/ |access-date=22 March 2023}}
=F.C. Famalicão=
On 29 July 2023, Liimatta officially joined Primeira Liga side Famalicão for an undisclosed fee,{{cite news |date=29 July 2023 |title=AC Oulun Otso Liimatta Portugaliin |language=fi |publisher=AC Oulu |url=https://acoulu.fi/uutiset/ac-oulun-otso-liimatta-portugaliin |access-date=29 July 2023}}{{cite news |date=29 July 2023 |title=Otso Liimatta assina por quatro temporadas |language=pt-PT |publisher=FC Famalicão |url=https://www.fcfamalicao.pt/otso-liimatta-assina-por-quatro-temporadas/ |access-date=29 July 2023}}{{Cite web |last=Halonen |first=Mika |date=29 July 2023 |title=Jalkapallon suomalainen superlupaus Otso Liimatta, 19, Portugalin pääsarjaan – AC Oulu ”tyytyväinen” siirtokorvaukseen |url=https://yle.fi/a/74-20043043 |access-date=20 August 2023 |website=Yle Urheilu |language=fi}} signing a four-year deal with the Portuguese club.{{Cite web |date=29 July 2023 |title=Oficial: Contratada promessa do futebol finlandês (Famalicão) |url=https://www.abola.pt/nnh/2023-07-29/famalicao-oficial-contratada-promessa-do-futebol-finlandes/https%3a%2f%2fwww.abola.pt%2fnnh%2f2023-07-29%2ffamalicao-oficial-contratada-promessa-do-futebol-finlandes%2f998389 |access-date=20 August 2023 |website=A Bola |language=pt-PT}} According to the media, the fee was in six figures and is believed to be close to €600,000.{{cite news |date=9 August 2023 |title=Suomalaislupaus teki harvinaisen valinnan - ratkaisu syntyi Googlen avulla |language=fi |publisher=Ilta-Sanomat |url=https://www.is.fi/veikkausliiga/art-2000009769684.html |access-date=8 October 2023}}
He made his debut for the Fama on 11 August 2023, starting in the opening league game of the season against Braga, which ended in a 2–1 win for his team.{{Cite web |last=Savonen |first=Ilari |date=11 August 2023 |title=Huippulupaus Otso Liimatta, 19, heti avauksessa Portugalin liigassa |url=https://www.mtvuutiset.fi/artikkeli/huippulupaus-otso-liimatta-19-heti-avauksessa-portugalin-liigassa/8755212 |access-date=20 August 2023 |website=MTV Uutiset |language=fi}}{{Cite web |title=Sp. Braga x Famalicão - Record Jogos em Direto |url=https://www.record.pt/jogos-em-direto/live/139086 |access-date=20 August 2023 |website=Record.pt |language=pt-PT}}
International career
=Youth=
Liimatta has represented Finland at various youth levels.
On 7 March 2023, at the age of 18, he got his first call-up to the Finland under-21 national team for two friendly matches against North Macedonia and Bulgaria.{{cite news |date=7 March 2023 |title=Pikkuhuuhkajat nimetty maaliskuun maaotteluihin. |language=fi |publisher=Football Association of Finland |url=https://www.palloliitto.fi/ajankohtaista/pikkuhuuhkajat-nimetty-maaliskuun-maaotteluihin/ |access-date=7 March 2023}} He scored his first U21 goal in the latter match, on 28 March 2023, taking part in a 0–2 win over Bulgaria.{{cite news |title=Tulospalvelu |language=fi |publisher=Football Association of Finland |url=https://tulospalvelu.palloliitto.fi/match/2992595/lineups |access-date=28 March 2023}}
Liimatta scored a hat-trick against Albania U21 on 13 October 2023 in a 2025 UEFA U21 Euro qualifying match, which ended in 4–1 victory for Finland.[https://www.uefa.com/under21/match/2037395--finland-vs-albania/ Finland vs Albania], 13 October 2023, UEFA Liimatta finished the qualification campaign scoring seven goals, making him the joint-second-best goalscorer of the whole qualification, and helped Finland to qualify for the final tournament, for the second time in the nation's history.
Career statistics
{{updated|30 December 2024|{{cite web | url = https://www.flashscore.com/player/liimatta-osto/Ot6F6hMk/| title = Otso Liimatta | publisher = flashscore}}}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition | ||||||||||
| rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|Cup{{efn|Includes Suomen Cup and Taça de Portugal}} !colspan="2"|League cup{{efn|Includes Kakkonen Cup and Finnish League Cup}} !colspan="2"|Europe !colspan="2"|Total | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| rowspan="3"|OLS
|2020 |1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 2 | 2 | colspan="2"|— | 3 | 2 | |||
| 2021
|Kakkonen |17 | 3 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 17 | 3 | ||||
| colspan="2"|Total
!18 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 5 | |
| rowspan="4"|AC Oulu
|2021 |9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 9 | 0 | |||
| 2022
|Veikkausliiga |28 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 31 | 6 | ||
| 2023
|Veikkausliiga |16 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 1 | colspan="2"|— | 26 | 8 | ||
| colspan="2"|Total
!53 | 9 | 6 | 4 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 66 | 14 | |
| rowspan=3|Famalicão
|12 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | |13 | 0 | ||
| 2024–25
|Primeira Liga |5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 6 | 0 | ||
| colspan="2"|Total
!17 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 0 | |
| colspan="3"|Career total
!88 | 12 | 8 | 4 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 105 | 19 |
{{notelist}}
Honours
AC Oulu
- Finnish League Cup runner-up: 2023[https://www.veikkausliiga.com/tilastot/2023/liigacup/ottelut/2927661/seuranta/ HJK AC Oulu], Veikkausliiga
Individual
- Veikkausliiga Team of the Year: 2022{{Cite web |date=1 January 2023 |title=Perinteinen Koplajoukkue nimetty - jalkapallotoimittajien valinnat kauden parhaiksi |url=http://www.veikkausliiga.com/uutiset/2022/10/16/perinteinen-koplajoukkue-nimetty-jalkapallotoimittajien-valinnat-kauden-parhaiksi |access-date=8 June 2023 |website=Veikkausliiga |language=fi}}
- Finnish FA: Best Young Player of the Year 2022
- Finnish FA: U21 Player of the Year 2023[https://www.veikkausliiga.com/uutiset/2023/12/01/captains-ball-2023-kaj-natrille-katso-kaikki-palkitut Captain's Ball 2023 Kaj Natrille – Katso kaikki palkitut], Veikkausliiga, 1 December 2023
- Finnish FA, Northern Finland: Player of the Year 2022,[https://acoulu.fi/uutiset/ac-oulun-riveihin-kolme-palkintoa-palloliiton-gaalassa Vuoden pelaaja Otso Liimatta AC Oulu], acoulu.fi, 15 February 2023 2023[https://acoulu.fi/uutiset/ac-oululaisia-palkittiin-palloliiton-pohjoisen-alueen-gaalassa AC OULULAISIA PALKITTIIN PALLOLIITON POHJOISEN ALUEEN GAALASSA], acoulu.fi, 22 February 2024
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{Sister project links|wikt=no|s=no|v=no|b=no|c=no|n=no|q=no|d=yes}}
- [https://www.fcfamalicao.pt/en/player/otso-liimatta/ F.C. Famalicão official profile]
- [https://tulospalvelu.palloliitto.fi/person/77079/info Finnish Football Federation profile]
- {{BDFutbol}}
- {{BeSoccer|id=otso-liimatta-882831}}
- {{Soccerway|id=681125}}
- {{WorldFootball.net|id=otso-liimatta}}
{{F.C. Famalicão squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Liimatta, Otso}}
Category:Finnish men's footballers
Category:21st-century Finnish sportsmen
Category:Men's association football midfielders
Category:Finland men's youth international footballers
Category:Finland men's under-21 international footballers
Category:Veikkausliiga players
Category:Oulun Luistinseura players
Category:Primeira Liga players
Category:F.C. Famalicão players
Category:Finnish expatriate men's footballers
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Portugal