IS: Now the news has come about Jori Lehterä – this is his plan
Jori Lehterä‘s surprising decision to retire has new information behind it. According to Ilta-Sanomat journalist Juha Hiitelä, the star center of HIFK was simply tired of playing.
Lehterä’s games were no longer going as before, and his role in HIFK had also diminished. According to Hiitelä, the collaboration between Lehterä and head coach Olli Jokinen was not particularly fruitful either.
However, it was not a true conflict, but rather the two did not manage to get on the same page, according to Hiitelä.
Lehterä announced before the weekend that he would retire during the season. The HIFK team received the news of the decision only two hours before the Lukko match.
Lehterä also left a small backdoor open for a return.
– To be honest, I can’t promise that 100% – my mind can change, as it often does, Lehterä wrote.
According to IS, Lehterä currently has no plans to play in the Liiga this season.
If the spark were to return this season, Lehterä would not be able to freely transfer to another Liiga team. His player rights still belong to HIFK, so a transfer would require the Helsinki club’s permission.
According to IS, domestic clubs have not inquired about Lehterä so far, but contacts have come from abroad.
Lehterä’s contract with HIFK would have ended after this season. Next season, he could continue his career without HIFK’s permission if he wanted to.
Lehterä will not receive a salary from HIFK for the remainder of the season, meaning he will also give up a significant sum. According to IS, his annual salary has been over 200,000 euros.
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