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Episode details

Radio 5 Live,06 Nov 2026,23 mins

Celebrating in saunas and Teemu Pukki’s farewell – the final weekend in Finland

Euro Leagues

Available for over a year

John Bennett interviews HJK assistant coach Erkka Lehtola ahead of a fascinating final weekend in the Finnish League. Lehtola explains their approach for the final weekend, with his HJK and Inter Turku both heading into their final matches on 58 points. It will be the final weekend before Teemu Pukki retires and he discusses exactly how incredibly popular the former Norwich and Celtic striker is in Finland. Lehtola played in the Champions League for HJK and discusses playing against Michael Ballack and Ruud van Nistelrooy. He also works as a football commentator and pundit – and discusses how the team may well celebrate in a sauna if they win this weekend. TIMECODES… 1 min – The excitement ahead of this weekend’s match. 6 mins – Teemu Pukki’s final match – and how popular he is in Finland. 9 mins – How HJK have missed out over the last two years. 11 mins – Champions League prospects and Lehtola’s memories of playing in it. 13 mins – The standard of football in Finland. 15 mins – Lehtola’s work as a commentator. 19 mins – Cristiano Ronaldo’s retirement. 20 mins – Final words of encouragement and possible celebrations.

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