ASN: Now a Kilmarnock starter, Hamalainen pondering worldwide choices

Niko Hamalainen is just not taking part in for a nationwide crew throughout this worldwide window. As a substitute, the Kilmarnock left again is considering his worldwide future having performed for 2 international locations in 2019. With the selection arising, ASN’s Brian Sciaretta spoke with the Florida native about his breakout yr. 

BY

Brian Sciaretta

Posted
November 13, 2019
9:05 AM

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WITH THE NOVEMBER worldwide window now underway, many gamers are in camp with nationwide groups or youth nationwide groups for the ultimate time in 2019. That’s not the case, nevertheless, for Kilmarnock left again Niko Hamalainen who’s remaining together with his Scottish membership and enthusiastic about his worldwide future.

For the previous few years, Hamalainen has sought out knowledgeable membership the place he may very well be knowledgeable starter. Signed to Queens Park Rangers, he’s now on his third mortgage spell with earlier stints at Dagenham & Redbridge (which was solely a one-month mortgage), Los Angeles FC, and now Kilmarnock.

However in Scotland, Hamalainen has lastly discovered his means as a constant starter for the membership that completed third within the Scottish Premier League final season. Up to now in 2019/20, Hamalainen has been named to Scottish Premier League crew of the week twice.

— QPR FC (@QPR) September 18, 2019

“Since I made my debut awhile ago, I literally just have been wanting to play first team football, week-in week-out,” Hamalainen instructed ASN from Scotland. “That’s kind of what the aim of being a professional soccer player is. And obviously getting the opportunity to come over to Kilmarnock, a Scottish Premier League team, who finish third last year is a good opportunity for me to show everyone what I can do.”

The transition from youth soccer to first-team soccer was a problem, and it was a course of that pressured him to mature shortly.

“First-team footballers, they’re playing for their kids, they’re paying for bonuses, for mortgages on houses and having food for their families and all that type of stuff,” Hamalainen defined. “So it is much more demanding for especially for a new player coming in. You have to make sure you on it all the time in training, which obviously makes it easier to be on it in games. But it is quite a difference from games that, I wouldn’t say mean nothing – like U-23 games – but they’re not like bonuses on the line for families or stuff.”

Blessed to have acquired Man Of The Match on my full debut, upset to not get all 3 factors however we once more subsequent weekend ??????To God Be The Glory pic.twitter.com/ne683LxZ4G

— Niko Hamalainen (@Niko_Hamalainen) August 24, 2019

However success for Hamalainen, 22, has pressured him to make necessary choices. Born and raised in South Florida, Hamalainen is a twin nationwide with Finland the place his father is from. And Hamalainen has been a daily with Finland’s youth nationwide groups ever since he signed for QPR in 2014. Earlier this yr, he made his debut for Finland’s full nationwide crew in a non-binding pleasant.

However in September, Hamalainen acquired a call-up to play in a camp with the U.S. U-23 crew. The camp went nicely and he says he and his agent have been in contact with head coach Jason Kreis since then. However for him, there’s a lot to consider when it comes to making a everlasting resolution which nation to characterize.

“I haven’t been called up to play for USA before,” Hamalainen stated. “And obviously I still have the privilege of being able to, I guess, see both national teams before I make it make my final decision. I think they were interested in calling me up before, but obviously I was playing with Finland. Now [Finland doesn’t] have U-23s or anything, it’s just the senior team for me. I didn’t want to make a decision to play for Finland or USA yet until I was playing first-team football somewhere club-wise. They contacted my agent and I got the opportunity to head out to San Diego for the camp. The camp was very good. I know a couple of players from before. It was good overall feeling.”

As for when he intends to decide, Hamalainen has no intention of letting it drag out. Each nations have necessary tournaments they’re getting ready for. If he does choose the USA, he might want to get into camps quickly to compete with a surprisingly first rate crop of U-23 left backs which embody Antonee Robinson, Chris Gloster, Sam Vines, and even perhaps Sergino Dest down the road.

“I think it has to be soon, or soon-ish,” Hamalainen stated about his resolution. “I have to be ready, but it has to be soon. Obviously if I pick Finland, it’s the Euros and then if I pick the USA, maybe it’ll be the Olympic team.”

The choice is hard for Hamalainen as a result of his ties to each international locations are very sturdy. He grew up in South Florida and had the chance to play on the youth ranges with the New York Purple Bulls and FC Dallas. When he was recruited to play for Dallas, he realized to reside alone and the best way to adapt to specializing in soccer.

He even had the chance to play for Los Angeles FC on a sixth month mortgage and expertise knowledgeable degree and a successful mentality which he compares favorably with Europe (“I just remember always being there literally every week and the mentality was definitely: we’re going to win every week. Even though didn’t really play as many games but just being around that in training and stuff, you get just a sense of this is how your mentality needs to be in training. it was great, great experience going out to LAFC.”)

However however, Finland can be necessary to him. His End father was knowledgeable participant in Finland’s prime flight and is among the most necessary influences in his life. Rising up, the would get up and watch English Premier League video games collectively on tv from Florida and that left the youthful Hamalainen with the inspiration to attempt to make it to that degree when he grew up. And naturally, Finland was the primary crew to name him as much as their youth ranges for the U-18 nationwide crew.

His roots within the recreation are multifaceted in how he’s a product of the American growth system that was aided and impressed by his father’s European roots. It was additionally former West Ham midfielder Ian Bishop, who additionally performed with the Miami Fusion in the direction of the tip of his profession and is a household buddy, who helped prepare trials in England for Hamalainen that finally resulted within the QPR deal. He was really observed by QPR whereas on trial at Everton.

So it has been a winding path from Florida to Scotland however Hamalainen is lastly realizing his goals as first-team participant the place his is having constructive contributions to Kilmarnock on a weekly foundation.

In order for the place his nationwide crew ambitions lie, he’s not able to say – but. 

“I am still thinking about it,” Hamalainen admitted. “It is difficult. It’s a tough decision to make.”