"I liked very much playing for this fantastic club!"

(January 2015)

Between 2003 and 2008 Mikael Forssell (*15th March 1981) played five seasons (in two spells) for Birmingham City, four of them in the Premier League. The Finnish striker scored 37 goals in 119 games for the Blues.

Since summer 2014 Mikael has been playing for VfL Bochum in the German "Zweite Bundesliga" (Second Division). A few years ago, he played "Bundesliga" with Borussia Mönchengladbach and Hannover 96. So this as well as his birthplace Steinfurt qualify him for this "BiG Talk". ;-)

In the Interview with Tom Kleine from BiG Mikael looks back on his time in Birmingham. On missed derby wins, long injury times and Crispy Cream Donuts with Sebastian Larsson.

Mikael Forssell, you are Finnish, but you were born in Germany?
MF: That’s true. My father had a job in Germany, so that’s why I was born in Steinfurt (near Münster) in 1981. When I was one and a half years old, we moved back to Finland via Sweden.

"Of course we players hear it when tousands of people
start chanting "Keep Right On!"

How did you perceive the atmosphere at St. Andrew’s? Do you players hear the fans chanting during a game?

MF: The atmosphere at St. Andrew’s was just amazing. A traditional and just fantastic typical English ground. The fans of Birmingham City are incredible. It doesn’t matter if it’s freezing cold outside, the fans are standing at the terraces wearing the Blues shirts and supporting their team all the time. They cheer on every tackling and every corner. And the chants? Of course we players hear it when thousands of people star chanting "Keep Right On"!

Do you still have a view on St. Andrew’s?

MF: Of course I have! Mostly via Internet, sometimes via international TV. Even if there’s only Colin Doyle in the current squad at Birmingham with who I played together. And recently there were quite a few changes at the club board. But of course I still care about the fate of Birmingham City Football Club because it was a great time at this fantastic club.

Next round in the FA Cup shows the derby against West Bromwich Albion.

MF: A fantastic draw for both clubs. That will be an amazing derby. I have a high opinion about WBA. They have made a fantastic job during the last years. Other clubs really envy them.

"I used to have one manager in England who only made me run up and down the pitch. Otherwise I would habe been suspended from the team."

What are the major differences between the English and the German football for you?

MF: Everyone knows that the tempo in England is a bit higher while the Germans focus rather on the quality of playing skills. You often see this difference on the practice field. I used to have one manager in England who only made me run up and down the pitch. Otherwise I would have been suspended from the team. That was of course a bit too boring. But the main difference are the referees. In Germany the referees blow the whistle nearly every time you touch the opponent player, while in England they admit a "fair toughness".

You suffered some long injuries. How do you deal with that? Do you also think about your career end at a young age?

MF: Of course! Especially after a severe knee injury you never know if and how you come back. Thank God I’ve always come back. After every injury I always worked hard for my comeback. However, such a long injury also has its positive sides: you question yourself and your way of life. And after a long injury time you are mentally strong, that’s a fact.

Where did you live in Birmingham?

MF: I lived in Solihull during my first spell, and during my second spell near King Edward Wharf.

How did you like living in Birmingham?

MF: You can live very well in Birmingham. It used to be an industrial city, but today you see the positive effects of the structural change. They’ve been building a lot in the city. My agent still lives in Birmingham and I visit him from time to time. I really like this city.

"And finally a Crispy Cream Donut on top."

Your hot spot in Birmingham?

MF: During my time there I always spent my time with Sebastian Larsson. Mostly in the area around the Bullring. Sushi here, ice cream there. And finally a Crispy Cream Donut on top.

However, the English food doesn’t have the best reputation in Germany.

MF: Unfortunately it doesn’t. That was quite difficult (laughs). But there are also really good restaurants in Birmingham.

What are the major "mental differences" between the Finnish, the Germans and the English?

MF: We Finnish are easy to handle (laughs) and are able to integrate everywhere rather quickly, as almost all Finnish speak English. No wonder, you don’t get very far with Finnish (laughs). I like the German clarity. You always know what they want. And they are world champions in organizing. I especially like the English humour. My teammate Felix Bastians here in Bochum used to play for Nottingham Forest for a couple of years. He speaks English perfectly. And we both laugh and make jokes "the English way" all day long.

One day before the interview I asked the BiG followers on Twitter to send me questions for you. Here we go:

MF: There is only one horse....Geoff Horsfield...(laughs)!

MF: Never say never. There is always a chance for a return. You'll never know about the future. But at the moment I'm very happy in Bochum.

MF (laughs): I used to sing that to Sebastian Larsson while I eat a donut in the Bullring.

Mikael, thanks a lot for the "BiG Talk" and all the best for your future!

And KEEP RIGHT ON!

Very BiG thanks to VfL Bochum for making the interview possible!