Hammerman Ikon

Hammerman Ikon Film Guide

Kuningas Litmanen (The King - Jari Litmanen)
2012
***
Director: Arto Koskinen
Cast:

Jari Litmanen, arguably the best footballer to come out of Finland, made his first-team debut in Lahden Reipas in 1987, aged 16, and his career peaked early in 1995 when he led Ajax Amsterdam to the UEFA Champions League title. Litmanen was a player of superb technical ability and an incredible eye for the game, but extremely injury-prone. The frustrating second half of his career in Barcelona and Liverpool was filled with disappointments. Arto Koskinen's documentary is interesting and emotionally charged. It has no grander ambition than to paint an idolising portrait of a sporting hero, and that it does well.