Saarinen started his career as a promising
attacking midfielder at
HJK Helsinki, making his Veikkausliiga debut in 1993. In 1997, he moved to Swedish giants
IFK Göteborg, but never made a breakthrough – partly because of injuries. After two years he returned to HJK, where he was converted to a
left back by the then coach
Jyrki Heliskoski. He impressed in his new position, earning a move to Norwegian giants
Rosenborg in 2001 for a transfer fee of €800,000. In 2003, Saarinen moved to
1860 Munich of the German
Bundesliga for €500,000, but he was not successful there, and moved to Danish giants
FC København in 2004. Saarinen returned to Finland with home-town club
FC Honka for the
2006 season, stating he wanted to play in a more attacking role once more. In 2008 Saarinen joined
Allsvenskan club
Häcken in Sweden, where he played for two years. On 11 September 2009, Saarinen went back to
HJK Helsinki. ==International career==