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'Antti Niemi? He's not finished, he's only 28!' – remembering the greatest radio phone-in ever

'Antti Niemi? He's not finished, he's only 28!' – remembering the greatest radio phone-in ever

It remains one of the most iconic radio call-in moments of all time.

It remains one of the most iconic radio call-in moments of all time.

Back in 2002, just hours after Scotland manager Craig Brown announced his squad for the upcoming international break, a passionate Hearts fan rang into talkSPORT to reveal his fury at goalkeeper Antti Niemi being overlooked for the national side.

The only problem? Hearts goalkeeper Antti Niemi was a seasoned Finland international.

Former Manchester United and Scotland defender Arthur Albiston, who was hosting the radio show, had to break the news to the confused fan live on-air and it makes for incredible entertainment. Just take a look at the clip above.

If you aren't able to watch the above YouTube video for one reason or another, then here is the full transcript of that iconic talkSPORT moment.

Caller: I was wondering about the goalkeeper selection for the Scotland squad, and he must know Hearts have got a good team, we get Colin Cameron in the squad and Steven Pressley but I just don't know why, for at least three seasons, he's been ignoring Antti Niemi.

Albiston: Antti Niemi?

Caller: Aye! I dunnae know why he doesn't get a game?

Albiston: ...for Scotland?

Caller: Aye!

Albiston: ...he's from Finland.

Caller: He's what?!

Albiston: He's Finnish.

Caller: He's not finished, he only 28!

Albiston: ...no, not finished, he's from Finland.

Caller: What do you mean?

Albiston: His nationality is Finnish.

Caller: He's not Scottish?

Albiston: No!

Caller: Ohhh, I thought he was Scottish!

Back in 2021, the former Rangers, Hearts, Southampton and Fulham shot-stopper had his say on the viral radio moment that never seems to go away, admitting he's been sent it "a thousand times".

"It was funny, of course it was funny, but I kind of thought it must be a wind-up," he said in an interview with CoffeeFriend.co.uk.

"I thought, 'This can't be serious.' Whoever was presenting the programme, I was thinking, 'Don't argue with him, he's obviously not serious.'

"A lot of people bought it, and I still get messages from people every year saying, 'Have you heard about this?'

"Yes, like a thousand times and it's not funny anymore!"

Niemi also revealed that he was later offered the chance to speak to the man who made the call when he returned to Scotland years later.

"I actually went and we spent Christmas a couple of years ago with a family in Edinburgh and I went to a Hearts game," explained Niemi, who's worked as a goalkeeping coach since he stopped playing in 2010.

"A guy came to me before the game and said, 'Have you heard about this call?' And I said, 'Yes,' thinking, 'Here we go again.'

"But he said to me it was actually his good friend who made that phone call, and I actually spoke to the guy who made the call over the phone.

"He explained to me that it was just a wind-up, he never thought it would go through, and he kind of got scared afterwards thinking, 'Oh my God, what have I done?'

"It was a good joke but it was never meant to be that big, so it's a funny story but not true!"

Featured Image Credit: talkSPORT

Topics: Football