Niemi very highly regarded in his early years when playing his football in his homeland, winning Under-21 caps for his country and also being voted the best young player in 1990 and 1992. Also won the Player of the Year award in Finland in the latter year. After moving to Copenhagen he soon became a fans' favourite, picking up their Player of the Year award in 1997.

The Finland international moved to these shores that summer when Rangers signed the goalkeeper. His career at Ibrox would be blighted by injury, making it impossible for him to make the number one jersey his own. Was loaned to Charlton Athletic as cover for a month in November 1999, but did not appear for the Addicks. In the end, Niemi made just 22 appearances for Rangers before heading for Edinburgh and Heart of Midlothian for £400,000 on his return from the loan spell. Soon established himself between the sticks at Tynecastle.

It was rumoured in the summer of 2001 that Charlton were ready to take him to the Premiership on a permanent basis, but no move materialised. A year later, however, Southampton paid £2million for the player to provide competition for Paul Jones at St Mary's. Saints chairman Rupert Lowe said of the acquisition: 'He is a quality goalkeeper who will certainly give us increased competition in that area. He is the right age and the right price and he speaks perfect English. 'He is the Finnish number one and his quality can be seen by the fact he keeps Peter Enckelman out of the national side. And he played an absolute blinder to keep out Germany so that England qualified for the World Cup.

source: soccernet