Jari Litmanen surprises and returns to football at 55 years old.

Jari Litmanen, the living legend of Finnish football, is set to surprise the sports world by announcing an unexpected return to the pitch at the age of 55! The iconic forward, who shone brightly at Ajax and played a key role in winning the UEFA Champions League in 1995, will lace up his boots again as he is officially registered with the third team of Tallinna Kalev, an Estonian club that gained prominence with the presence of former Liverpool defender Ragnar Klavan.

Regarded as “Kuningas” – or “The King” – by fans, Litmanen built a dream career that included stints with European giants such as Liverpool and FC Barcelona. The Finnish player’s last professional match was in 2011, for HJK Helsinki, the club with which he won his only title in the Finnish league. His international career is equally impressive, with 137 appearances for the Finland national team before officially retiring at the age of 40.

However, the passion for football has not abandoned him. Litmanen, who has been living in Tallinn since 2010, splitting his time between the Estonian capital and Helsinki, where he works as a television commentator, confessed in a recent interview with The Athletic that the invitation to train with the Tallinna Kalev team came unexpectedly. “Suddenly, they had a small group, and since I was already training on the field, the coach asked me: ‘Is it possible for you to train with us so we have one more player?'” Litmanen revealed.

This return to competitive football marks the tenth club of Litmanen’s career, having previously played for FC Lahti, HJK Helsinki, MyPa, Ajax, FC Barcelona, Liverpool, Hansa Rostock, Malmö FF, and Fulham. The news has stirred fans and experts who see this return as a unique opportunity to witness the talent and class of the eternal “King” in a new phase of his life.

Jari Litmanen defies time and expectations, proving that age is no barrier for those who have football in their blood. The football world eagerly awaits to see if the legendary Finn still has magic to spread on the fields, this time under the colors of Tallinna Kalev. Will this be the final chapter of a brilliant career or just another unforgettable episode in the story of one of the greatest names in European football? The answer is about to be written in Tallinn.

This article first appeared on Apito Final.