Profile at SBI: http://sbisoccer.com/2016/10/span-c...fter-securing-improbable-title-with-mariehamn Now a league champion, a Champions League berth awaits Mariehamn, as the small Finnish club enters the second qualifying round next summer. It’s a historic event for the island town, and one that Span has all intentions of being a part of. Span says he has yet to re-sign with the club, but talks are ongoing. A new contract “looks good” as he just awaits a formal sitdown with club officials. Span wants to play in the Champions League after all, and he feels he has more to give.
Interview: http://www.yanks-abroad.com/content.php?mode=show&id=12096 Of course it will be more difficult as a champion, and especially with the Champions League qualifiers arriving in the summer I think were going to have to improve in every category," he said. "Personally I want to be more lethal going forward to take more chances for myself whether its a shot on goal or to create a chance for an assist. I know I can do it and I just have to continue training hard and trying new things In the game and practices." "As a team I think there's many things to improve on, and I know we will lose a couple players and sign some new ones so it will be a new learning process with the players that arrive. We just have to keep the same mentality and work towards staying that tight knit team we are now with an underdog mentality." The challenges will come later, but as for now, Span will take the off-season to reflect on Mariehamn's title-winning season and excitedly look forward to the Champions League. "Playing in the Champions League has been a dream of mine since I was a kid and now that I have that opportunity its something I want to take advantage of. I want to win and show my qualities to the best and also see how I compare at that level. It's Gging to be an awesome experience and I'm really looking forward to it," said Span.
USA Brian Span with a Goal for IFK Mariehamn in Suomen Cup match. Mariehamn lead P-Iirot Rauma 4 - 0 84'— AccrossthePond (@accrossthepond) February 11, 2017
📝🇫🇮Brian Span scores the opening goal of season for IFK Mariehamn; 5-2 W vs JJK for defending champs.https://t.co/Vyi80dJlae#USMNT🇺🇸🌍⚽️— Roderick MacNeil (@rodmacneil) April 8, 2017
Span also got assists on 3 of the other 4 goals scored after his on Saturday. Video: https://natsabroad.com/weekend-highlight-reel-ef8a585115b1
Is it? Mariehamn lose 6-0 in the second leg. Lose 9-0 on aggregate. Span went 90. http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsle...ound=2000878/match=2021536/lineups/index.html
On the bench: Här kommer laguppställningen IFK - HIFK idag lördag med avspark klockan 16.00: Marc Nordqvist, - Albin Granlund, Kristian Kojola (K), Bobbie Friberg Da Cruz, Tommy Wirtanen - Joel Mattsson, Anthony Dafaa Clement, Gabriel Petrovic, Robbin Sellin - Amos Ekhalie, Aleksei Kangaskolkka - Avbytare: Andreas Vaikla, Aapo Mäenpää , Rezgar Amani, Robin Sid, Jani Lyyski, Brian Span Borta: Petter Hemming, Philip Mantilla
Starts: Här kommer laguppställningen IFK - FC Inter avspark 18.30 idag tisdag. Andreas Vaikla- Philip Mantilla, Kristian Kojola (K), Bobbie Friberg da Cruz, Albin Granlund - Brian Span, Amos Ekhalie, Gabriel Petrovic, Filip Hlupik - Robin Sid - Aleksei Kangaskolkka - https://www.facebook.com/ifkmariehamn/posts/10155051028638022
Starts for Mariehamn as they visit RoPS in Veikkausliiga - Mariehamn need all the points they can get to break into the Europa League group in Finland
SCORED an ET Goal in a 0 - 3 win Lahti (the team they are battling for the final Europa spot) lost today and so Mariehamn have a 3 point edge - for the final spot
Span was a regular starter for IFK Mariehamn this year and finished with five goals. His club finished fifth in the Veikkausliiga on goal difference, just missing the opportunity to lose in early round Europa League qualifiers.
His Transfermarkt page says he's leaving the club on 1/1/18. T'markt isn't an official source, of course, but in my experience they only show that a player is departing a club in advance of his date of departure when there has been some sort of club announcement or story from a reputable news source. I couldn't find any news of his departure on IFK Mariehamn's website, which incidentally is also the first time I've ever encountered the ".ax" top-level domain of the Åland Islands.
Also, this is the content that people want from a small club: http://www.ifkfotboll.ax/nyheter/god-morgon
It's not inconceivable that he'll try to pursue opportunities at a modestly higher level than the Finnish league.
That's a hell of a drop from being the champion of Finland in '16 to the Swedish third division a year later. I not surprised he left, he won the league and their cup, there is nothing more to prove there but moving to a life long third division team sucks for him.