Antti Mikko Niemi (born 31 May 1972) is a Finnish former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper. He also worked as a goalkeeping coach at Brighton & Hove Albion during the 2014–15 season. Niemi spent time as a player in the Scottish Premier League (with Rangers, Heart of Midlothian) and the Premier League (with Southampton and Fulham), and in 2008 announced his retirement due to injury. However, in 2009 he returned to sign for Premier League club Portsmouth, although he did not make any appearances before leaving in 2010. Club career Early career Niemi was born in Oulu, Finland and began his professional career with HJK Helsinki, where he made over 100 appearances in four years, before transferring to FC Copenhagen in 1995. Impressive performances over the next two years saw a transfer to Scotland with Glasgow club Rangers. Rangers Niemi joined Rangers in 1997 and initially competed with Andy Goram and Theo Snelders for the goalkeeper position; he made seven appearances in all competitions in his first season at Rangers. The following season, 1998−99, Niemi began the season competing with Lionel Charbonnier to be Rangers' goalkeeper. Niemi started the 1998 Scottish League Cup Final as Rangers defeated St Johnstone, however Stefan Klos was signed in December 1998 and immediately became Rangers' first choice. Rangers won the Scottish Premier League in the 1998–99 season, but Niemi only contributed seven league appearances. In fact, Niemi only made one Rangers appearance after Klos was signed, which came in the league against Motherwell in August 1999. Niemi also had a brief loan spell at Charlton Athletic late in 1999. Hearts Niemi moved to Edinburgh to join Heart of Midlothian in December 1999. He became a hero for Hearts fans in the three years he played at Tynecastle. He put in some fantastic performances which helped Hearts maintain their status as Scotland's best team outside the Old Firm. Niemi also became famous in Scotland for his ability to save penalties, demonstrating this skill when saving from Dundee United's Charlie Miller and Dunfermline Athletic's Scott Thomson. Niemi also played in European competition for Hearts against opponents such as Stuttgart. In a more light-hearted incident, Niemi was also famously during his time at Hearts the subject of a call during a phone-in on radio channel talkSPORT, in which a Scottish fan queried why Niemi had not been called up to the Scotland national team. When