Jussi Jaaskelainen insists his decision to quit international football will help prolong his Bolton career.
Trotters shot-stopper hopes to prolong club career
Bolton goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen insists his decision to quit international football will help him prolong his career at the club.
The 34-year-old decided to quit Finland at the end of October after an 11-year spell with the side which earned him 55 caps for his country.
Despite hanging up his international gloves, Jaaskelainen believes he still has three or four seasons of top-flight football left in him, and took the decision to preserve his fitness.
"I felt the time was right because I have at least three or four years left in me and I want to prolong my playing days as long as I possibly can," he said in the
Bolton News.
"It is definitely going to benefit Bolton because when you are away on international duty, there is a lot of travelling involved, and it's not as easy as people think.
"You get a little bit tired when you have been travelling to games around Europe on a Saturday and a Wednesday, and then come back for a weekend game with Bolton and be 100 per cent focused.
"I'm not saying it has ever affected my performance in the past, but I will now have more time to spend with my family."
Finland never managed to reach a major competition during Jaaskelainen's time between the sticks, one of the only regrets he has of his time with the national side.
"We have been very close to reaching the World Cup and European Championship in the last two qualifying campaigns," he added.
"Two years ago we missed out by just one goal, and this time we could have qualified had it not been for us losing our two games against Russia.
"You need a little luck in getting the right draw and we didn't get that because we got Russia and Germany in our group, who are two of the biggest and best footballing countries in Europe.
"We have just lacked that little bit extra that is necessary to make it to a tournament."
