Yaqin Hjansen
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Yaqin Hjansen | ||
| Year of birth | 1980 | ||
| Place of birth | Cherry Trees, Craitland | ||
| Playing position | Centre-back | ||
| Senior career | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls)* |
| 2003–14 |  Cherry Trees FC | ||
| International career | |||
| 2008–14 | Craitland | 10 | (0) |
| * Appearances (Goals) Player has received at least one call-up for any emboldened national teams | |||
Yaqin Hjansen is a Craitish former-footballer who last played for Cherry Trees FC, with whom he spent his entire professional career. Hjansen gained ten international caps as a centre-back.
Career
Club
Hjansen began playing professionally in 2003, upon signing for Cherry Trees FC at the age of 22 ahead of the inaugural season of CrFA League 1. Wearing the number 3 jersey, which he wore for his entire career with the club, Hjansen formed a strong central defensive partnership with Futbólio C. Herä during his earlier years, helping the team to consecutive league titles in 2003 and 2004. Although Cherry Trees were unable to win the league the two seasons following, Hjansen played as a regular starter as they won back-to-back King's Cup finals in 2005 and 2006. As Cherry Trees regained their title in the 2007 season, Hjansen was a key member in the starting line-up and the back four conceded the fewest goals in the league. The arrival of Tellian centre-back Pasquale di Montezemolo ahead of the 2008 campaign led to rotation between Herä and the new recruit to play alongside Hjansen; a move which helped the team to a fourth league title and a third cup victory as part of a historic double.
Hjansen and di Montezemolo's partnership came to the forefront in the following seasons, but the team was unable to add any further trophies to its honours and even finished a then-record-lowest fourth in the 2010 season. Cherry Trees began using different formations in the 2011 season, leading to Hjansen's first-team opportunities being limited, with the arrival of Ricardo Lavichelli adding further competition in defence as well. The team won the league in 2011, and added the King's Cup in 2012 despite finishing bottom of the league that year, with Hjansen being used sparingly throughout both campaigns. Over the following two seasons, Cherry Trees experienced a new period of success, as they won a cup double in 2013 with the King's Cup and a first ever Cities' Cup, before winning a sixth league title the following year. 2014 also saw the club seal its first EMUFA Champions' League triumph, although Hjansen's own involvement was limited strictly to that of a reserve player over this time, but was awarded winner's medals nevertheless. At the age of 34, and having spent 12 prosperous seasons with his hometown club, Hjansen announced his retirement that summer.
International
Hjansen was first brought into the national setup in 2008, following an injury to stalwart centre-back Paulio Demhivo, and was included in the squad for the year's FMF World Cup finals. Utilised in the centre of Craitland's three-man defence in the tournament, Hjansen and domestic teammate Jim Dehbo rotated starting in the earlier stages before Hjansen cemented his place in the team's line-up; playing the entirety of the semi-final and final victories over Bobalania and Passas, respectively, as Craitland won a second world title. Hjansen's strong performances led to him being a valuable member of the national team over the coming year, and he was included as support to Demhivo in the squads for EMU 2009 and the 2009 FMF World Cup, as the team finished as runners-up in the former and placed third in the latter. Hjansen remained in contention internationally for two years after this, being called-up for the team's summer training squads in both 2010 and 2011, but failed to be involved in any further finals tournaments. After never announcing a separate international retirement, Hjansen remained eligible for the national team up until 2014, when he called time on his whole career, and ended playing having won ten caps.
Honours
- FMF World Cup (1): 2008
- MicrOlympics Gold (1): 2008
- CrFA League 1 (6): 2003, 2004, 2007, 2008, 2011, 2014
- King's Cup (5): 2005, 2006, 2008, 2012, 2013
- Cities' Cup (1): 2013
- EMUFA Champions' League (1): 2013–14
