Joni Kauko

Joni Kauko (born 12 July 1990) is a Finnish professional football midfielder who plays for Danish Superliga club Esbjerg fB, and represents Finland national team.[1][2] Kauko was born in Turku, Finland where he played for the local youth teams before starting his senior career in Inter Turku at age 17 in 2008.

Joni Kauko
Personal information
Full name Joni Kauko
Date of birth (1990-07-12) 12 July 1990
Place of birth Turku, Finland
Height 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)
Position(s) Midfielder
Club information
Current team
 Esbjerg
Number 7
Youth career
1995–2001 Runosmäen Nappulat
2002–2005 TPS
2006–2009 Inter Turku
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2008–2012 Inter Turku 98 (10)
2013 Lahti 9 (0)
2013–2015 FSV Frankfurt 48 (3)
2015–2016 Energie Cottbus 34 (4)
2016–2018 Randers 47 (3)
2018– Esbjerg 81 (21)
National team‡
2006 Finland U16 5 (0)
2007–2008 Finland U18 11 (0)
2009 Finland U19 4 (0)
2009–2012 Finland U21 23 (3)
2012– Finland 16 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 2 July 2020
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 15 October 2019

Kauko made his international debut for Finland in January 2012, at the age of 21. He was a regular member of the team that won League C group 2 in 2018–19 UEFA Nations League.

Club career

A product of local Inter Turku's youth system, Kauko signed his professional contract on 27 November 2007 at the age of 17. He made his Veikkausliiga debut six months later on 26 June 2008 against IFK Mariehamn. During his first season with the Turku-based club, he made only eight appearances, but helped his team to win the Finnish championship. He scored his first senior goal for Inter on 3 May 2009 against MYPA. After representing Inter for five seasons, his contract was not renewed after the 2012 season and he signed with FC Lahti for one season.[3]

Six months after signing with Lahti, it was announced that Kauko had signed a two-year contract with an option to a third, with German 2. Bundesliga side FSV Frankfurt.[4] Upon expiry of his contract with FSV Frankfurt Kauko signed a two-year contract with German 3. Liga side FC Energie Cottbus.[5]

In July 2016, Kauko signed a two-year contract with Danish club Randers FC.[6] Two years later, on 28 June 2018, Kauko signed a contract with Esbjerg fB ahead of the 2018–19 Danish Superliga season.[7]

International career

Kauko was a regular member for the Finland's U21 during 2009–2012, making in total of 23 appearances and scoring three goals. He has also served as a captain for the Finland U-21 team.

He made his senior debut on 22 January 2012, in a friendly against Trinidad and Tobago.[8] During Finland's qualification campaign for the UEFA Euro 2016 he was a member of the team in 8 matches but remained as an unused substitute.[9] In 2018–19 UEFA Nations League he gained four caps and was in the starting line up on 15 November 2018 in a match against Greece.[10]

Career statistics

Club
As of match played 25 May 2019[11][12]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season Division League National Cups Europe Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Sinimustat
2008 Kakkonen 1670000167
Total 1670000167
Inter Turku 2008 Veikkausliiga 80000080
2009 Veikkausliiga 1930020213
2010 Veikkausliiga 1607020250
2011 Veikkausliiga 3136100374
2012 Veikkausliiga 2446120325
Total 98101926012312
FC Lahti 2013 Veikkausliiga 908000170
Total 908000170
FSV Frankfurt 2013–14 2. Bundesliga 2702000290
2014–15 2. Bundesliga 2131000223
Total 4833000513
Cottbus 2015–16 3. Liga 3441000354
Total 3441000354
Randers 2016–17 Superliga 2210000221
2017–18 Superliga 2525000302
Total 4735000523
Esbjerg 2018–19 Superliga 3582100379
Total 3582100379
Career total 287353836033138

International
As of 18 November 2018[13][14]
National teamYearCompetitive Friendly Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Finland 201200 1 0 1 0
201300 2 0 2 0
201400 2 0 2 0
201500 1 0 1 0
201600 1 0 1 0
201700 2 0 2 0
201840 0 0 4 0
Total 4 0 9 0 13 0

Honours and achievements

Club
Inter Turku
FC Lahti

References
  1. Randers henter finsk landsholdsspiller, bold.dk, 9 July 2016
  2. "Joni Kauko" (in Finnish). Suomen Palloliitto. Archived from the original on 24 March 2016. Retrieved 2 August 2016.
  3. "Joni Kauko Interistä FC Lahteen" (in Finnish). ESS.fi. 16 January 2013. Retrieved 17 July 2013.
  4. "Joni Kauko siirtyy Saksaan" (in Finnish). YLE.fi. 10 June 2013. Retrieved 17 July 2013.
  5. "Kauko wechselt zu Cottbus" [Kauko transfers to Cottbus] (in German). kicker. 16 June 2015. Retrieved 16 June 2015.
  6. "FINSK LANDSHOLDSSPILLER TIL RANDERS FC" [Finnish international player joins Randers] (in Danish). Randers FC. 9 July 2016. Retrieved 1 October 2016.
  7. "EfB henter Kauko" [EfB picks up Kauko] (in Danish). Esbjerg fB. 28 June 2018. Retrieved 26 January 2019.
  8. "Joni Kauko: Toivottavasti näitä tilaisuuksia tulee jatkossa useamminkin" (in Finnish). suomifutis.com. 22 January 2012. Retrieved 17 July 2013.
  9. "Joni Kauko" (in Finnish). Suomen Palloliitto. Archived from the original on 24 March 2016. Retrieved 2 August 2016.
  10. "Tällä ryhmällä Huuhkajat lähtee hakemaan Kansojen liigan lohkovoittoa – Kauko ja Granlund avauksessa" [With this group the Eagle Owls aim for a group win in the Nations League - Kauko and Granlund in opening] (in Finnish). Yle. 15 November 2018. Retrieved 24 April 2019.
  11. http://www.national-football-teams.com/player/46365/Joni_Kauko.html
  12. https://int.soccerway.com/players/joni-kauko/31412/
  13. "Joni Kauko" (in Finnish). palloliitto.fi. Archived from the original on 2 January 2015. Retrieved 24 March 2015.
  14. Joni Kauko at National-Football-Teams.com
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