that Antti Niemi was in talks with Portsmouth. On 7 August, Niemi confirmed he had signed for Portsmouth on a one-year deal as backup to David James and to work with the goalkeeping coaches. On 24 March 2010, he was released from his contract, without making a single appearance for Portsmouth's first team. It was reported that Niemi earned almost £450,000 during those eight months with Portsmouth. International career Niemi was first choice for the Finnish national team for almost a decade, before announcing his decision to retire from international football in 2005, but returned to the squad in 2007 playing a friendly game against Spain (0–0). He was capped 67 times by his country before this. On 2 March 2010, Niemi joined Finland's national team as a goalkeeping coach. Coaching career Niemi began his coaching career as the goalkeeping coach for the Finland national team in March 2010. On 3 January 2013, his first club and reigning Veikkausliiga champions HJK announced that they had appointed Niemi as the club's goalkeeping coach and that he would continue his duties with the national team. On 27 June 2014, Niemi was appointed goalkeeper coach at Championship side Brighton & Hove Albion by former Finland teammate Sami Hyypiä. References External links Profile at ESPNsoccernet.com FootballDatabase provides Antti Niemi's profile and stats Profile at londonhearts.com 1972 births Living people Sportspeople from Oulu Finnish footballers Finland international footballers Association football goalkeepers Oulun Luistinseura players Rauman Pallo footballers Helsingin Jalkapalloklubi players F.C. Copenhagen players Rangers F.C. players Charlton Athletic F.C. players Heart of Midlothian F.C. players Southampton F.C. players Fulham F.C. players Portsmouth F.C. players English Football League players Premier League players Scottish Football League players Scottish Premier League players Danish Superliga players Finnish expatriate footballers Expatriate men's footballers in Denmark Expatriate footballers in Scotland Expatriate footballers in England Finnish expatriate sportspeople in Denmark Finnish expatriate sportspeople in England Finnish expatriate sportspeople in Scotland Association football goalkeeping coaches FA Cup Final players