Blades-Mad feature Estonian international keeper Mihkel Akaslu in our player-profiles section.
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Name: Mihkel Akaslu
DoB: 7 November 1984
POB: Kuressaare, Estonia
Height: 6ft 4inch
Debut: -
Clubs: FC Kuressaare (2000-02, 1 (0) + 0), Muhumaa JK (loan, 2000-01, 27 (0) + 0), Sorve JK (loan, 2002, 12 (0) + 0), HUJK Emmaste (2003, 0 (0) + 0), FC Flora Tallin (2003-10, 116 (0) + 0), JK Tervis Parnu (loan, 2003-05), FC Flora II Tallin (loan, 2006, 6 (0) + 0), Sheffield United (2010-??).
Aksalu joined Sheffield United for a nominal fee in late January 2010 on a two and a half year deal following a successful trial; though at the time of writing has yet to make his full debut for the Bramall Lane club.
He started his football career with home base club FC Kuressaare in 2000; making just one appearance, he floated around at several clubs on loan and featuring mostly in the reserves. He played 39 times for Kuressaare's second string during his three year stay.
It wasn't until he joined one of Estonia's finest clubs' that he began to be recognised as a promising player; he joined FC Flora Tallin in 2003 but again was sent out on loan.
Whilst on loan at JK Tervis Parnu he helped the Lelle club win promotion from the Estonian Second Division, finishing as runners-up.
In 2006 he became a regular in the first at Flora following a loan spell with their reserve team in the second tier. They were runners-up in both the Estonian Cup and Estonian Super-Cup losing to FC TVMK on both occasions.
Already with 13 U-21 caps to his name Akaslu was drafted into the national team and made his debut in a 1-0 home defeat to Montenegro on 17 October 2007 and to date has made seven international appearances.
Domestically 2007 was a great year for him; with Flora they were runners-up Levida in the domestic league whilst personally he was named as number one shot stopper in the Baltic League Awards.
A year later Aksalu was part of a team which were once again runners-up in the league, whilst they won the Estonian Cup; beating Maag Tammeka 3-1.
He was also involved in the clubs' European exploits; losing 4-2 to Norweagan club Brondby in Europa League Qualification
Flora retained the Estonian Cup in 2009, this time beating Kalju 4-3 on penalties, whilst they also won the Estonian Super Cup for the fifth time in their history also. He left the club in January 2010 having conceded 100 goals in 116 appearances.
Blades boss Kevin Blackwell has tipped the keeper to become a regular for his national team whilst he may also be included with United next season.
:: international caps ::
- 17.10.2007 - Estonia 0-1 Montenegro
- 31.05.2008 - Estonia 0-1 Lithuania
- 10.09.2009 - Bosnia 7-0 Estonia
Updated: June 2010
